Since it’s Memorial Day my mind keeps wandering to all of the military families - those who are remembering someone lost in battle, those grateful their veteran is safely back home, and those still hoping and praying for a loved one’s safe return.

     I have been emailing one military wife, Sarah Winters from Denver, IN, for several months now, and thought it was time to share her story.   Earlier this month Sarah gave birth prematurely to twin boys while her husband, Jeremy, was in Iraq with his National Guard unit.  He missed the birth due to their early arrival, but was allowed to come home to spend some precious moments with Noah and Elijah.  

  I asked Sarah to share a few of her thoughts and photos with all of you who read this blog.  It’s hard for me to imagine the strength it would take to do what she’s doing right now.

     If you’d like to send her any of your thoughts, prayers, or similar experiences, feel free to do so here.  She, her boys, and her husband are certainly in my thoughts!  -Trisha

Trisha,

Well we are doing alright for our situation I guess. Jeremy already has left. He went back on May 18. Now  the boys and I are sick so I’ve had to take them back to the doctors office twice now. I tell ya this isn’t all that easy. I never realized just how much help Jeremy actually gave me in just the few short weeks he was home.

    Because the boys were premature they have to be supplemented in their feedings on top of breast feeding. It’s hard looking at the boys because all I see is my husband. I miss him so much and I just wish he was home to be with them and to help.

    I got a good taste of what my life was gonna be like when I took them to the doctor, carrying them both by myself I swear is a huge chore for me. Being pregnant with them they actually drained my body of any nourishment I had so I was literally losing weight of my regular frame and just gaining it in my stomach. After I had them Jeremy and I were able to get home for a short time for clothes and I wore my regular jeans back to the hospital just 5 days after having them. I’m still losing weight because there is just no time for yourself when there are 2 of them and a 2 year old without your husband.

   It’s so hard for me because now that I can honestly say and feel what love is all about and know without one doubt in my mind that I have that it is very difficult to be separated from my husband knowing that he’s dying inside too becsause he wants to come home. You can’t imagine how hard it is to listen to your husband who is supposed to be this tough strong guy cry to you on the phone because he can hear his babies in the background growing without him. And listening to him beg to figure out how to come home.

     A part of me is always missing without him. I won’t ever completely feel whole again until he’s back here with me. Babies in general are difficult but when you add 2 to that equation plus 6 weeks premature that is an awful lot for 1 person to take care of. Pretrty much my world now revolves around them. They are the only little men in my life that I will allow to boss me around. HA HA!!  I’ll send along some more pics from the hospital and some current ones of the boys at home. Hope all is well with your family too!!!!

Sarah