Fitting in

My little angel Bronwyn

I have three children, Rebekah, Tavish and Bronwyn. Rebekah was a joy, Tavish a treasure and Bronwyn, well she's turning out to be a terror.

I should have seen it coming. Of the three kids, Bronwyn was the only one to sleep 24-7 for the first two years of her life. I thought No. 3 was a dream come true, no worries, no hassles, just sleep.

Then Bronwyn woke up.

From the moment she woke up until now has been a wonderful challenge. If you're ever seen the television show Family Guy you'll recognize this famous Stewy line, "Mommy, mom, mommy, mom, mummy, mom, mom, mom, mommy, mummy, mom, mummy, mom, mummy."

That's my youngest. Please notice her because if you don't she won't stop asking you to notice her.

This whole three children dynamic is new to me. I grew up with one brother, Sean. It was never difficult getting along because Sean was very good at doing anything I told him to! My parents probably recall a few backseat arguments but by and large two was a manageable number. Three kids in one family, that's new territory for me.

To be No. 3 you have to be stubborn, loud, devious, adorable and persistent. You must also have the knack for driving your two other siblings crazy. Bronwyn has mastered her role in this family.

The other day my mother-in-law Kathy mentioned how Heather never enjoyed walking anywhere and she was a bit of a whiner. I looked at Heather then I looked at Bronwyn. Heather was the third of three kids and so too was Bronwyn. Two peas in a pod!

We may want to freak out sometimes at the antics our little three year old is putting us through but at the end of the day we both know Bronwyn is just doing what she's supposed to do -- fitting in the only way she knows how! I wouldn't want it any other way.

Hernias don't have heartbeats

Hernias do not have heartbeats. That's the wonderful lesson my wife Heather and I learned three years ago. I know what you're saying, hernia, heartbeat, what's the connection? Well, her name is Bronwyn and she's our little baby oops!

Heather knew her four day a week gym regiment wasn't working. She wasn't losing an ounce and her hernia was acting up, especially during certain exercises. So she went to the doctor to see what could be done. We both thought surgery was in Heather's future. We were right, we just didn't realize the type of surgery.

Heather's doctor did what every good doctor does during an examination. But the look on his face was not one of concern, just of disbelief.

"How could this mother of two not realize she's pregnant again?" he must have been thinking.

So when Heather asked him again, "Is it my hernia?" he answered, "No, hernias don't have heartbeats."

Heather's jaw hit the floor. And when she opened the door to the doctor's office there was her mother-in-law sitting in the waiting room. That's the chance you take when you share a family doctor. She saw Heather's face and immediately thought the worst.

"What's wrong?" she asked in panic.

There was no way to dodge this bullet so Heather said it, "I'm pregnant."

She was 38 and pregnant . . .  again!

That's the beginning of this story but there's more, much  more. Stay tuned.