— Our sweet triplets — 1981 —
Following are some of my memories of perhaps the most wonderful and yet the most painful experience that Susan and I have shared during our marriage. In July of 1981, shortly after our marriage, we received the wonderful news that Susan was expecting. On the day that Susan found out, I came home to find a cute card taped to our door that said, “IMPORTANT NEWS ITEM! TO BE OPENED IMMEDIATELY!” In the card Susan told me of her pregnancy. We were elated beyond description. Susan suffered incredibly with nausea and vomiting during the early months of her pregnancy, but she was brave and uncomplaining through it all. I now quote from my journal entry of October 3, 1981: “This has been a ‘FIVE-STAR’ week for the Taylor family! We found out that Susan is expecting TWINS! I just can’t express how thrilled we are, and all of our family members are just ecstatic. Susan had her monthly checkup on Thursday and Dr. Rasmussen said she was 17 cm fundal height and she should have been only 14 cm. We both went back the next day for an abdominal ultrasound, and sure enough, there were 2 babies! We could see their hearts beating, the movement of their extremities. One even appeared to be sucking his/her thumb. We are just thrilled. What a great blessing! We had so much fun calling all of our family members and telling them.” By the end of October Susan was feeling better and had felt both of the babies move. I now quote from my journal entry of November 13, 1981: “Sorrow, misfortune and disappointment struck our lives this week. Susan’s membranes ruptured on the evening of November 9, she went into labor that night, and we lost our THREE babies on November 10. We had 2 little boys and 1 girl, born in that order. The memories are too painful to record in detail. We named our boys Spencer Dean and Samuel Glen, and our little girl Sarah Jane. No words can express the sorrow and emptiness we feel. Only time will fill the void. I have never felt so blue and forlorn in all my life, and hope I never do again. None of the other trivialities of my life seem worthy to be on the same page with the news that we lost our triplets.”
Addendum: Indeed, time did heal this very painful wound, but the sad memories linger. We have, however, discussed many times how wonderful it will be if we have the opportunity to be the parents of these three choice spirits in worlds yet to come. Such is our prayer and hope. Our other children often mention the triplets and their anxiousness to meet them.
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