Hope had fallen asleep a short time later.

"Just like you," Marsha said, "Slept so beautifully."

Trudy laughed.

"Oh mom," she said, "in your eyes I was perfect"

"Anyone who had eyes could see that you were perfect," Dwight said, "and you still are."

"Hope is perfect," Trudy said with a smile.

"Of course she is. She's an extension of you"

Trudy laughed that off but inside she was glowing. She never thought her life could be so perfect.

"Mom," Trudy asked, "Did you always find it easy to love me"

Marsha knew exactly what was on her daughter's mind. Trudy had been six when her baby brother was born. She was holding him one day, when he was a week old and she had a seizure. She dropped him during it and he died shortly thereafter. Adrian also knew that this was on her mind.

"Honey I would have found it impossible not to love you," Marsha said, "even if I tried. You couldn't control the fact that you had a brain tumor. You certainly couldn't control the fact that you had a seizure. What happened to your brother could have happened to anyone! It was a terrible tragedy but it was NOT your fault.

"Even if it were I would still love you"

She was sick for almost 4 years. Her illness affected her in many ways. She would have nightmares, personality changes, mood swings and she was terrified of change just to name a few. She went into remission when she was 9 1/2.

Now, so many years later she knew she was not at risk of getting sick again. Even though she knew that was true, she was still terrified. What if she had a seizure while holding Hope?

"Every new mother has the fears you have," Marsha said.

"Every new father too," Adrian told her softly.

"Thank you," she said, "for not thinking I'm crazy"

"If you didn't worry," Dwight said, "I would think you were crazy. Parents worry all the time. It's in the job description. But you learn what to worry about and what not to worry about."

"You guys always seemed so natural at it"

"Parenting and natural are not two things that go together," Dwight said, "and everything you're feeling right now is natural"

"Right now my life is perfect. I want my baby's life to be perfect."

"Every parent does," Marsha said gently.