Tears trickled down the cheeks of Darlene Martin last year on Mother's Day.

There were no flowers or opened greeting cards explaining her joy. Those would come later.

After more than 16 hours of extreme, unbearable pain, the release of tears wasn't from the sudden freedom from the relentless spasms of labor pains, but for the newborn baby that Dr. Robert Bury, an obstetrician at Mid Dakota Clinic in Bismarck, placed on her chest.

Conner Henry Martin, son of Darlene and Cody Martin and brother to Abby, 10, Zach, 8, and Olivia, 5, was born at St. Alexius Medical Center on May 8, 2005, at 11 a.m. at a weight of 8 pounds, 13 ounces.

"Things are never going to be the same," Olivia, then 4 years old, said in the delivery room afterward.

Darlene Martin had completed her lifelong dream of having a family.

"Always as I was growing up, I was thinking of just having kids and being a mother. It's what I always wanted," she said.

Motherhood didn't come easy for the 38-year-old.

Three of her pregnancies, including one miscarriage, were complicated with the need for fertility drugs and surgeries.

"I didn't know if I was going to have any kids. I realize how lucky I am," Martin said.

Together with her husband, she wants to make sure her children are raised with Christian values. "I want them to put God first in their lives. I want them to root for the kids that are getting teased. I want them to walk over and include that kid. I want them to treat others as they would want to be treated."

Not wanting to depend on day care became a priority for the Martins as their family grew. While she worked days for Montana-Dakota Utilities Co., Cody Martin worked nights at the Melroe plant, allowing him to be with the children during the day. Occasionally helping with baby-sitting duties was Darlene Martin's mother, Sharon Sherman.

Even though a change in Cody Martin's schedule to days was welcomed, it created a void in child care. Darlene Martin decided to quit her job and work out of the home.

She became a newspaper carrier in the fall. Although Darlene found the route provided the needed exercise for her to lose weight, the early morning hours, lack of sleep and the daily grind of running a household took its toll on her. She quit in December.

She now works as an independent contractor for a medical transcription company. She works at her own pace and at a schedule that fits around family needs. On certain mornings, her mom watches Conner and Olivia.

Each day, the Martin household begins a hectic pace of early-morning routines before school, mid-morning and mid-afternoon activities, work, after-school pick-up, supper, evening activities and ends with exhaustion or occasional reluctance by the children to sleep.

"It's busy, that's for sure," Darlene Martin joked. "It's been stressful. Some days I feel really overwhelmed," she said more seriously.

She and her husband have talked about cutting out a few activities, but they're hoping the summer months help ease their schedules.

Cody Martin has sensed the need for his wife to have some time away from the children and has encouraged her to take up playing softball, something she used to do in the past.

"Every time Darlene wants to do something for herself, she takes a kid with her. Now she will have a couple of hours for herself," he said.

As a child growing up, Darlene Martin now recognizes she lacked confidence in many areas of her life. She witnesses her children growing and maturing every day.

She observes them becoming confident, independent and able to adapt.

In Abby, she sees a kind-hearted young girl who shows an intensity in everything she does.

"Shy" is the word she uses to describe Zach. "He cares about the underdog."

She depicts Olivia as a free spirit. "She's unpredictable. She's always with a smile."

And even though Connor is still developing his personality, he has one trait that occurs often. "He knows what he wants."

"I'm just really proud of them."