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CAMP WILLIAMS -- A Utah Marine enjoyed quite a Memorial Day weekend. He returned from Afghanistan, reunited with his wife and helped her deliver their baby -- all within 24 hours.
Matthew Romney's wife Courtney was almost a week late in having their baby when he returned home on Saturday. Those Marines came back just in time. Another day, and he would have missed the moment.
Already, things have changed for Matthew.
"It's definitely different," he said.
This past Saturday, he was one of 105 Marines who returned home from Afghanistan. The very first thing he did when he got to Camp Williams was hug his wife Courtney, who was pregnant with their daughter -- and six days late in giving birth to her.
They both were hoping he would get back in time.
"We were nervous all night last night, but it's working out just right for us right now," Matthew said Saturday night.
"Every night I was hoping I would make it, so I'm glad I did," Courtney said.
She did, but it was a close call.
That night, the Romneys went to the hospital. Their baby girl Blaire was born the very next morning.
"I'm tired, but it's way better than what I expected," Courtney said.
Now, only three days old, Blaire has melted the heart of her tough-Marine-just-back-from-war dad.
"She's got me wrapped already," Matthew said. "I've been carrying her around and she's so sweet."
Romney--Corporal Romney, to be exact--has now served in Afghanistan and Iraq. He says when times got tough, all he had to do was think of what was waiting for him back home in West Bountiful.
"You've got to have things back home to keep you going, because it's tough out there," Matthew said.
Now, the only thing he has to worry about waking him up will be the little cry of his newborn daughter -- which, really, isn't that much of a worry at all.
"It just played out so well and it was so perfect," he said. "It was amazing."
Perfect for Courtney, too, who in less than a day got her man back and got her daughter.
"It's way better," Courtney said. "I mean, I thought it would be good, but it's way better."
E-mail: acabrero@ksl.com
