Perfect Storm

Epilogue

"Someone wants his mama." A flustered Ryan announced, walking into the room with a screaming toddler under one arm and a newborn on his other shoulder.

"Come here Tater tot." I cooed, holding my arms out to my son, and almost immediately his cries and wails of " want mama" ceased.

"I guess I'm not his favorite person today." Ryan chuckled, adjusting our two week old daughter on his shoulder.

"You were his favorite person yesterday. Ross the day before and Chase last week. It's finally my turn." I teased, cuddling my adorable blonde haired blued eyed tornado.

Tate smiled angelically at me then placed his head on my shoulder. This child could go from little demon to angel faster than his father could make a lap at Bristol.

My heart literally melted at the sight of Ryan standing there with the baby on his shoulder. "Is she actually sleeping through all of this?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. The Blaney household was a little crazier than usual today, yet our little peanut was oblivious to it all, including her two year old brother's wailing.

"I don't know how. I had just got her to sleep when he woke up. I guess she's just a heavy sleeper. Just our luck they are gonna sleep in shifts." He laughed good naturedly.

God I loved seeing him as a dad. He was a natural at it even with Tate's terrible twos meltdowns. I had oftentimes feared we'd never get to this point.

Surprisingly, our journey into parenthood went way more smoothly than we could have possibly imagined. Anticipating a long process, we got to work just months after we got married. I fully expected to be let down, so looking to get it out of the way early,  I took the plunge and had my eggs genetically tested. By some miracle, both eggs came back free of any genetic anomaly, including the BRCA mutation.

Wanting to try for a biological child first, we contacted a surrogacy agency. Within a few weeks, we were matched with a potential gestational carrier. We met, hit it off, had the embryo transfer completed and a couple of weeks later learned it was a success. Our gestational carrier was amazing, and delivered our healthy, perfect Tate Michael.

Before Tate even made a year old, we decided to use our remaining fertilized egg. Once again, we were easily matched with another gestational carrier who blessed us with our baby girl Quinn Caroline. I actually feel a little guilty at times that both processes went so quickly and so smoothly. I know of couples who have waiting years with many pitfalls, so every day, I make sure to count my blessings. All of my blessings.

While Ryan was putting Quinn down for her nap, the doorbell rang. I looked at the clock: right on time. Today was a big day.

"Woss." Tate exclaimed, reaching out his little arms to his favorite uncle. Well his favorite at the moment anyway.

Ross took my happy, smiling son and raised him in the air over his head as Tate giggled and squealed.

"He's getting some good practice." His wife Rachel chuckled, patting her small baby bump.

Yes, Ross's wife's name was Rachel. We teased them unmercifully about it, but all in good fun. I adored Rachel. She was Sturgill and Stormy's vet. We struck up a friendship after Stormy had a little surgical procedure and me, being her overly worried "mom" bugged her vet relentlessly. Thankfully Rachel was happy to answer all of my questions and praise me for being a good "dog mom." Of course I had to play matchmaker and introduce her to my bestie when I invited her to a race. To my delight, they completely hit it off. They are now married with a baby on the way.

The last few years have been nothing short of amazing. The off season after Ryan and I got married, I made the difficult decision to leave Trackhouse and go back to work with Ryan at Penske. As much as I loved Trackhouse and working with Ross, I felt my place was with my husband. It was quite the year as Ryan won his first championship. He then followed up with his second, then just barely lost to Ross last year.