Complete: The Story of Olivia

We always knew we wanted another baby. We just didn’t know when the right time would be.

Our hands were already full, and we wondered if having one more would simply be too much. But no matter how busy life got, we couldn’t shake this feeling that someone was missing from our family.

We already had four kids, and our youngest son had been diagnosed with Down syndrome at birth. Between doctor appointments, therapies, school, sports, and all the activities our other three children had, life was definitely busy.

Our son with Down syndrome wasn’t walking quite yet, and he was getting pretty heavy to carry around. He was also VERY busy. His favorite place to play at the time was, unfortunately, the toilet. He definitely kept us on our toes.

So when we started talking about having another baby, a lot of people were surprised.

Honestly, we were a little surprised ourselves.

We had decided we were ready to start trying when I found out about some health concerns I needed to address before getting pregnant. Looking back, I’m so grateful I found out when I did. I spent the next little while focusing on my health and eventually got to a place where I felt healthier and stronger than I had in a long time.

And then one night, I had a dream.

In my dream, there was the most beautiful little girl. She was probably around three years old, with big blue eyes and curly brown hair. She was dancing around, and then suddenly she ran right up to me, got right in my face…

And I woke up.

The dream felt so real.

I told my husband, “We’re going to have a girl. She’s ready to come.”

What I didn’t know was that I was already pregnant with her.

When my period was late, I had a feeling I was pregnant. I took a pregnancy test the day after I was supposed to start my period, and there they were—two extremely faint little lines.

But they were there.

We were having another baby.

Of course, everyone was excited when we told them, but we kept hearing the same thing:

“Stringhams have boys. It won’t be a girl.”

We had already had two boys together, so everyone was convinced another boy was coming.

But I couldn’t stop thinking about that dream.

I just knew.

A couple of weeks later, we were talking to our five-year-old about the baby. We still didn’t know the gender yet, so my husband and I asked him, “What do you think we should name the baby if it’s a girl?”

Without even thinking about it, he immediately said,

“Olivia.”

My husband and I just stared at each other.

There was no way he could have known that Olivia was the girl name we had loved for years. In fact, before he was born, if he had been a girl, his name was going to be Olivia.

“It’s a sign,” I told my husband. “She’s coming!”

This time around, we decided to do an early blood test to find out the gender.

And sure enough…

It was a girl.

I burst into tears.

The little girl I had seen in my dream was coming.

Our Olivia.

And from the moment she arrived, she has been such a light in our family.

While I was lying in the operating room delivering her via C-section, “Peaceful Easy Feeling” by the Eagles was playing in the background.

I don’t think there could have been a more perfect song.

Because that is exactly who Olivia has been.

Peaceful. Easy. Sweet. Happy.

She came into our loud, busy, beautiful family and somehow brought this calmness with her.

For so long, we had wondered if having another baby would be too much.

But looking at her now, I realize that feeling we couldn’t shake was right all along.

Someone really was missing from our family.

And it was her. 🤍