After 3 Boys, We Gave Up Our Dream of a Daughter—Then My Husband Called Me to the Hospital and Said, “There’s a Baby Here”

So we started protecting time.

Nothing impressive.

Sometimes just sitting outside after the kids slept.

Occasionally dinner.

Once, my mother took all four children overnight.

Marcus and I stared at each other across the kitchen.

“What do people do when nobody needs them?” I asked.

“I don’t remember.”