Mason Kendall Patrick-Chapter IV

As Shendra is our promise, Quinnlin our gift, then surely Mason is our miracle. After my stroke we were told I should never have another baby as my body could not carry one successfully and that there was a much higher risk of having another stroke since I had already had one. Bill and I were content with our little family and agreed that we wouldn't take the gamble. I wanted to be there to raise both of my children.
To our surprise in March of 1996, we discovered that I was pregnant. Most of our friends and family were horrified and thought I should consider ending the pregnancy, but I couldn't even think of that. Somehow I knew that all would be well. I met an amazing doctor, Dr. Einman, who told us that we were going to have a healthy pregnancy, a healthy baby and a healthy mother. He refused to listen to anything else. In fact, he went so far as to make me repeat those words until I could start believing in them.
On one of our visits, Dr. Einman had me go for an ultra-sound and then said we had to move the date of his birth up as they thought he was gaining too much weight for me to handle. They believed his weight to be around 15 pounds so Bill and I decided on the 9th of December as it was a day Bill was normally be off and wouldn't miss any work to be with us as Mason was born.
Early morning on December 9th, Mason came into this world with a loud cry. His was the easiest pregnancy I had. Unlike Shendra and Quinnlin, Mason was a towhead with light blue eyes. It is a family joke that Bill cheated on me as Mason looks nothing like me. As he continues to grow, he doesn't seem to be gaining any weight, giving him Bill's frame as well as face almost. According to Bill's mother, Mason looks just like Bill did as a child. Mason has a crazy dare devil attitude that constantly gets him in trouble and usually more than a few band-aids. He is now 13 and one of the joys of our lives. I never wonder what life would be like without him; I am just grateful for him. The funny thing is though, at the time of his birth, Mason was the exact weight (7lbs. 14 ozs.) and height (21 inches long) as Bryce was. I wonder if it is a coincidence or if perhaps the Lord realized we needed to remember the promise of all life is death. After Mason was born, Bill and I made the decision to have a tubal ligation so there would not be another chance of risking my health. We were and are happy with our four children.