The Miracle of Life

I was wondering what to write about today and couldn’t decide between the miracle of life (which includes embarrassing information about David) or the difficulties of transition. However, yesterday David said I had a big tummy because I eat too much chocolate so he’s getting the embarrassing stuff.

Children do say the most amazing and unexpected things. I am overweight and I accept that children are honest and note these things and comment on them, not intending to cause any upset but just because that’s the way things are.

What I did not expect is David’s obsession with marks and blemishes on my body. I have a charm bracelet that digs in and leaves marks when I sleep so that often, in the mornings, David will check my wrist to see if I am blemished. If I’ve been leaning on something or my leg has been pressed against a table, he will come and have a good long look to check that the mark is fading. I thought this was all sweet and lovely but now he has progressed to my armpits!! If I’m wearing a short sleeve, he will check underneath and make an objection if there are hairs there. Now, I’m of an age and make-up that the very fact I have hair growing is a joy. I just wish it was on my head.

The reason I am sharing this with you is that not long ago, in a crowded restaurant, before I realised what was happening, David had lifted my sleeve up, stuck his head under my arm and in a loud voice said “Uggh mummy, that’s disgusting.” Mortifying to me, amusing to all the other tables around us.

“How does this link into the miracle of life?” I hear you mumble. Well, I originally set up the blog as a sort of diary for David and I was never sure if I would put in the true miracle of his creation or save it to embarrass him and his father at a later date but the armpit comment has decided me.

As you know, if you have read the earlier posts, David was born via IUI using an egg from a donor and his father’s sperm. His father was particularly proud of the motility of his sperm – all ten eggs were fertilised (as he still proceeds to tell me proudly). However, that particular collection of sperm (so David in his most basic form), nearly didn’t make it. His daddy dropped him in the toilet! He and his fellow wrigglers (and the open pot they were in) were fortunately rescued and handed over to the scientists. Imagine if the angle it had tipped at had been a few degrees more! The miracle of life!

an illustration of fertilization