Look How Far We’ve Come
Hi, I’m Erika — mom to three amazing boys (20, 18, and 14), wife to a man I’ve been married to for 15 years, and partner to for 18. Our life might look picture-perfect now, but the road here has been anything but easy. Still, I wouldn’t change a thing, because every twist, every heartbreak, and every hard-earned victory brought us exactly where we are today.
Now, if you’re doing the math, you might be wondering — how do I have a 20-year-old if I’ve only been with my husband for 18 years?
Let me take you back.
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Becoming a Mom Before I Was Grown
When I was 16, I got pregnant. Scared but determined, I believed the next “right” step was marriage. We were young, and he was heading into the Army. My parents agreed to sign off for me to marry at 17, thinking the structure of military life might be good for us.
At five months pregnant, I lost the baby. But we went through with the wedding anyway, convinced we were in love — or at least that this was the life we were supposed to live.
Not long before he left for boot camp, I found out I was pregnant again — this time with my oldest son. At 14 weeks, doctors told me I was losing this baby too. I was crushed. I remember the doctor looking at me and saying, “You can pray to whatever God you believe in, but this pregnancy won’t make it.”
But I wasn’t ready to give up.
I put myself on bed rest. I stayed still, stayed hopeful, and ate whatever my friends brought me. I gained weight. I worried constantly. But against all odds, he stayed in. My boy was strong.
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A Rocky Beginning
Labor was rough. I wasn’t progressing, his heart rate dropped, and I was rushed into an emergency c-section. When he was finally born, my joy was quickly replaced with concern. He cried constantly. He couldn’t keep food down. Doctor after doctor tossed out guesses — colic, reflux, lactose intolerance — but nothing helped.
Four long months later, I found myself in the ER again, desperate for answers. That night changed everything. They did an ultrasound, found the real issue — pyloric stenosis — and rushed him to the nearest children’s hospital for emergency surgery.
After a long stay, he recovered. He started gaining weight. Smiling. Thriving.
But behind the scenes, my life was unraveling.
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From Survival to Strength
My husband had left the Army and started working construction. That’s when the drugs started. The abuse followed — first emotional, then physical. I was scared and alone, but also stuck.
When my oldest was just five months old, I got pregnant again.
I tried to leave. I moved. He followed. Over and over again. The abuse didn’t stop. It felt like it never would.
In 2006, I had my second son. And for years, I gave his father more chances than he ever deserved. I told myself I was doing it “for the kids.” But deep down, I knew I had to break the cycle.
Eventually, I did. I got out. I stayed out.
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And Then… Love Walked In
When my boys were two and three, I met the man who would change everything — the man I now call my husband. He stepped into our lives and never once hesitated. He loved my boys as his own, no questions asked. His patience, his kindness, his strength — it was everything I didn’t even know I needed.
In 2010, we got married. Later that year, we had our youngest son together.
We moved to Florida. We built our life from the ground up — started our own businesses, created a home filled with love, safety, and laughter.
We’ve taken our kids on unforgettable trips. We’ve shown them what it means to work hard, to love harder, and to never settle for less than what they deserve.
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Look How Far We’ve Come
When I look back at that scared 16-year-old girl, I want to hug her. Tell her she’ll make it. That better days are coming. That the heartbreak and the struggle won’t last forever.
Now I know — life isn’t about how perfect it looks from the outside. It’s about what you fight through to get here. It’s about the memories we build, the love we share, and the family we create — no matter how it started.
So yes, this is our story. And when I stop and think about it all, the only thing I can say is:
Look how far we’ve come.
1 comment
♥️♥️♥️thanks for reading✨