I am a mother of FOUR!

As any grieving mother knows, there is one question that never fails to create a stir of emotion. "How many children do you have?" The dreaded question! I know my answer may surprise a few, but at this point in my life...the answer is FOUR. No, I am not so out of touch with reality that I have some weird assumption that my deceased daughter is still here with me, physically. Trust me; I am VERY aware of her absence. But she is still my daughter. I am still her mother. We are separated, only temporarily. I have carried FOUR children to term (or nearly to term). I have given birth (one way or another) FOUR times. I have nursed (both literally and figuratively) FOUR children. I have FOUR baby books...FOUR keepsake boxes....and FOUR sets of memories of going to the hospital and meeting my newest child. I remember FOUR first smiles...first giggles...first time sleeping through the night, etc. I celebrate FOUR children's birthdays and FOUR children are always on my mind and in my heart. I AM A MOTHER OF FOUR! When older children go away to college or elsewhere, a mother does not stop including those children in her count when she answers the "how many children do you have" question. So why should I? I am not delusional. I am not crazy. I am just a blessed mother of FOUR and unless God chooses to somehow add to that number, that is what I will forever be!