On The Verge Of Tears
It’s hard to miss: the glassy eyes, the occasional blank stare. Ever since my triplets were born, I began living my life on the verge of tears.
I’ll admit it, I’m a sap. I cry at commercials, tear up at weddings and I sob every time I watch the movie, “Marley and Me”. That’s just me in a nutshell…I wear my heart on my sleeve. When my husband and I found out we were pregnant three years ago, the tears became more frequent. After years of infertility, I was moved to tears of joy. The day we were shocked with news that I was carrying triplets, also brought tears of joy. But, as the pregnancy complications piled up, those tears of happiness turned to fear. And on June 23, 2013, the tears turned to heartache, as I delivered my children more than 17 weeks premature.
The loss of a child is unbearable. In the early days after our daughter, Abigail, and son, Parker, passed away, the sobs were uncontrollable. The lump in my throat consumed my body; I felt as if my world was closing in on me. Swollen eyes became part of my daily wardrobe as I tried to stay strong for our lone survivor in the NICU. But as the months passed, the tears subsided. I still cried every single day, but it wasn’t always the body shaking, loud wails. I remember the day vividly when I realized that I made it 24 hours without shedding a tear. It was a major moment for me, or as my therapist told me, a breakthrough. As the months passed, the grief changed. I could go a week without tears, and then suddenly regress with several days of heartache.
That’s the thing with losing a loved one–the grief doesn’t ever completely go away, it just changes. Over time, you learn how to live with the tears and you understand that something can trigger your heartache at any moment. It still happens to me more than two years later. Just this week, I found myself down in the dumps as I realized it was exactly three years ago when my husband and I found out we were pregnant with triplets. It’s a moment that is etched in my memory, a special day that I hope will stay with me forever.
As Peyton gets older and understands more, I find the tears changing. Recently, as I was putting on her socks, Peyton looked at her feet and said, “Parker”. My heart stopped as tears formed in the corner of my eyes. She then continued, “Parker feet,” as she pointed to her own. Tears rolled down my cheeks when I realized what she was saying. Peyton was talking about the footprints we have framed in her room. Three perfect little sets, one of the only keepsakes I have of all three of my children together.
Image Stacey Lehl
I’ve come to realize that I’m not going to change. I live my life on the verge of tears and I’ve learned to embrace it. Those misty eyes are symbolic of all that I’ve been through. Some days, they are tears from heaven, a sign from my Parker and Abby. Other days, the cries are my battle wounds, a reminder that I am human and a mother of two angels. And most recently, those tears show my happiness, the joyful moments when my miracle daughter reaches an unimaginable milestone. People may wonder what’s wrong as they see my tears at work or even the grocery store, but that’s who I am…and I’m proud to wear my heart on my sleeve.
Stacey Skrysak is a local television news anchor in Illinois, but her proudest role is becoming a mom after years of infertility. Stacey is mother to a 22-weeker surviving triplet and two angels. Even though two of her children were only alive for a short time, her triplets have touched thousands of people around the world. Through her blog, Perfectly Peyton, Stacey has become a voice for infertility, premature birth and child loss. These days, she sprinkles in the trials and tribulations of raising a daughter, who was once nicknamed “The Diva of the Nicu.” You can also follow Stacey on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
