During my 39th week of pregnancy I went for my weekly doctor's appointment. The week before I hadn't dilated at all, so I was pessimistically thinking I wouldn't be again this time.

Surprise – I was already dilated 4 1/2 to 5 centimeters, and my membranes were bulging. So a couple hours later I was at the hospital having my second child.

I got to the hospital at 6 p.m., and my daughter was born approximately three hours later at 8:54 p.m. weighing 9 pounds, 4 ounces. I had a smooth and fast delivery, and all was well – or so I thought.

After my epidural wore off a couple hours later, I couldn't move the lower part of my body! To make a long story short, during childbirth I had separated my pelvic bone 2 1/2 inches and was taken the next day to surgery to have a stainless steel plate screwed into my pelvic bone to pull it back into shape and to allow it to heal. I was in the hospital for a week.

I went home and was home for about four days when I got a blood clot in my right leg. I was admitted back into the hospital for three more days.

I came home after my second hospital visit. I was home for about two weeks when I got a second blood clot, this time in my left leg. The blood clot dislodged and went to my lung. So I found myself in the hospital a third time, this time for a two-week stay.

Today, I am doing OK. I may have to take blood thinner and depression medication for the rest of my life, but I'm doing OK. I still have some pain with my pelvic bone, legs and my lung (where part of my lung is now dead from the clots). But I'm just thankful to be alive to be able to take care of my children. Needless to say, this is my last child!