My precious little daughter Sheena was born three months too early, at 14 inches long, and 2 lbs. 2 oz. She was given to me in a private adoption, straight from the hospital, where she had spent her first two months.

  When her delicate little form was laid in my arms, at 18 inches long, and weighing exactly 5 lbs., I was thrilled beyond all measure.

  As she had shared a womb with her sister Sarah, both of my arms were full. These two baby girls were the lights of our entire family.

  Each of my baby girls had to be fed every two hours, I believe. And I do recall that each one could only drink about 1 1/2 oz. of formula at a time, and it took around 45 minutes. Until a week before I became their mother, they had been tube fed, so I had to coax and encourage for hours every day and night. I kept charts for a long time, because each baby had to drink a certain amount every day. Sometimes I was very grateful for all my older children, whose tender laps, sweet smiles, and gentle hands helped me feed one, while I fed the other.

© 2005 Rosemary J. Gwaltney