As you have already learned, Sabrina is our second child. On this page I would like to tell you the story of how she came to join our family.

After Brent was born, I had told myself that I really didn't want to risk having another child. I was scared that the same thing would happen that happened with him. It didn't take me long to change my mind though. When I went in for my final post-partum checkup, the doctor told us we could try for another baby as early as three months after the birth of our son. During the next month and a half we did a lot of praying and talking. We wanted to make sure that I would be prepared physically, as well as emotionally, for another pregnancy.

In early December of 1984 I started having the same symptoms I had experienced when I became pregnant the first time. I went to the doctor and my suspicions were confirmed. I was once again pregnant!! We were so excited that it happened so easily. The doctor warned us to be careful and to watch for the signs that this baby was in trouble like Brent.

One week before Christmas I started spotting bright red blood. I was terrified that I was going to lose this baby too. We went to the emergency room and my doctor met us there. He said that with the bleeding I was experiencing I had two choices. I could be taken upstairs and they could do a D&C, in other words an abortion, or I could wait there and have an ultrasound done to make sure the "fetus was viable". There was no choice to make in my mind. I would never even think about killing a baby of mine for any reason.

We ended up staying at the hospital most of the night waiting for the technician to arrive. When he finally made it and started the exam, my husband immediately got a great big grin on his face. I asked him why he was smiling. He answered, "this baby is doing summersaults!!" We knew then that our baby was ok. Well, at least for now.

One week later I went back to work and started spotting again. This time it was much worse. I ended up having to take shots just to keep me from having a miscarriage. My doctor did everything that was medically possible to help me carry this baby as long as possible.

I stayed out of work for the remainder of the pregnancy. At the beginning of my sixth month, Arlen left for basic trainin in the Army. He was to be gone for eight weeks. We planned it that way so he would finish about a month before the baby was due.

On the ninth of July, my mother went in for surgery to remove her gallbladder. The next day I had an appointment scheduled for a routine ultrasound to make sure the placenta was still intact. We weren't taking any chances this time.

My sister, Nancy, had come to visit, and to help me and my mother, and she was going to take me to my appointment. On the way to the doctor's office, we decided to stop for some lunch at Taco Bell. Nancy was taking her son, Justin, to the bathroom when her other son, Bryan, lost his pacifier. I leaned over the table, quite a feat when you are 8 months pregnant, to give it back to him. All of a sudden I felt a gush of water. When Nancy came back from the bathroom, I told her what had happened. We decided that since I had an appointment anyway that we would just go there instead of the hospital.

During the exam nothing remarkable was discovered. To be on the safe side, the doctor decided to check me into the hospital for further testing. While I was being monitored, contractions started showing up. Not strong ones, but just like the last time I was having contractions early.

The doctor came into my room and told me that he was going to induce labor and let the baby come early. I was told that there were risks but at this stage that everything should be fine. I was only four weeks from my due date. I was really nervous because Arlen wasn't due to graduate from basic training until the next day. He would miss the birth.

After labor was induced, not much happened. I had contractions but nothing was happening. I wasn't dilating or effacing much. I labored for only about five or six hours when my doctor decided to perform a c-section. My doctor insisted that I have an epidural so that I could be awake for the birth. I really didn't want to have one but I went along with him because I trusted his opinion. I wish that I had said no. The epidural didn't work in the area where the incision was going to be made and I felt him cut me. Needless to say I had to be put out anyway.

After what seemed an eternity Sabrina was born. I wasn't awake for the birth, but I was told by Nancy that she really let out a good cry. Since she was born early she was taken to neonatal intensive care immediately. I didn't get to see her until the next morning. When I did see her I couldn't believe that she had come from my body. My husband and I, along with our Father in Heaven, created this beautiful baby girl.

If it hadn't been for my sister I don't think I would have made it through the labor and delivery. She was so wonderful with me that night. I will never be able to repay her for everything she did.

I have come to realize through the experiences I have had giving birth to my children, that life is so fragile. One never knows when it will end. But I also know that families can be together forever. That is the way Heavenly Father planned it. I look forward to the day when we will all be reunited as a family.