t?s difficult to believe my youngest child, Sean, just turned 6. Not too long ago, my husband and I thought we?d never be done with diaper changes, car seats, and nap schedules.

Now, as friends predicted, we?re starting to get sentimental about those baby and toddler years, even though we?re enjoying the current stages in the lives of our three kids. It?s difficult to be nostalgic about Sean?s early days, though, because he had a rocky start.

First, a problem developed during birth, and he was whisked away, placed on oxygen, and hooked up to intravenous lines and monitors. For a long, anxious week he remained in neonatal intensive care. Thankfully, his condition resolved.

Not long after he came home, however, Sean developed severe colic. He grew extremely fussy, and he wouldn?t nap.

Concerned he might have a medical problem, my husband and I made the rounds of various doctors. They discovered nothing. Relatives and friends suggested ways of soothing him, but none worked.

Sean?s worst period was the first half of the night, during which time he would cry almost nonstop, appearing to be in great distress. Around 3:00 a.m. he would finally crash, sleeping through most of the morning. I wished I could do the same, but I had two young daughters, ages 18 months and 4 years, who needed me.

The stress of the situation, compounded by relentless sleep deprivation, gradually took its toll on our family. My husband and I found ourselves arguing a lot and blaming each other for not being more supportive. I resented that he could get away from home most days, if only to a busy workplace. I also became easily annoyed with the girls, frequently yelling at them and feeling terrible afterward.

One evening I finally reached the breaking point. The moment my husband got home from work, I ran upstairs, shut myself in our bedroom, and began to sob. The tears didn?t subside for almost an hour. I told him that I couldn?t go on like this. We had to figure out a better way to cope--fast.

The situation called for the best teamwork we have ever accomplished. My husband flexed his work hours so he could take on more night duty. In the morning I got up with the girls while he slept in. He also insisted that on Saturdays I go out by myself for a while.

Our families pitched in, taking care of the girls a couple of days a week. On a few occasions my mother-in-law slept over, or my parents took Sean for the night. They also encouraged us to go out on dates.

Looking back, I wish I could have had a glimpse of what lay ahead--of how well-adjusted and affectionate Sean would turn out to be. That?s where faith came in: I kept reassuring myself that the hardship was temporary, and that our family would get through it--one day, one hour, at a time.

I?m a strong believer in the power of prayer, but there were times when I felt too discouraged or exhausted to pray. Especially during those times it helped to know that friends and relatives were praying for us.

Sean didn?t start sleeping through the night until his fourth year. But now he?s the most solid sleeper in our family. Even so, when I lean over his bed to kiss him during my routine midnight check, I sometimes get flashbacks of him in that incubator, attached to tubes and wires, or twisting in my arms, flushed and sweaty from screaming. I say a silent prayer of thanks that we?re over those rough times.

No doubt other challenges lie ahead for our family--they?re an inevitable part of life. But our experience convinced me that with the help of God and others who care about us, we can get through anything together.

_________________________
Lisa M. Petsche is a mother of three, and a freelance writer.