We're Having A Baby!

My heart is overflowing with gratitude at the responses since the first blog post! I can honestly say that my heart was pounding out of my chest when I hit that ‘submit’ button for the first time! Thank you all for accepting me into your hearts and homes and being willing to come on this journey with me. Now let’s get started!

Our story begins… well, at the beginning!

I was a very excited young girl who was expecting her first baby. I was only 22 years old and nauseated as all get out; but my obstetrician said this would be a temporary thing. I’m here to tell you that this lasted sixteen LONG weeks! I never knew how much advertising was on television for food until I went through this time! Everything… I mean everything made me sick! The thought of food, the smell of food, the sight of food! My poor husband at the time, had to even eat his Thanksgiving dinner, which was brought over to him by a caring neighbor, outside on the front porch!

Despite the hyperemesis, I made it through with help of IV fluids and a few hospital admissions. I lost 40 pounds but quickly gained it all back plus 30! Yup, it was like a slingshot! I made up for lost time, after all, I was eating for two! My doctor had us coming in for multiple ultrasounds during that time just to keep a close eye on me and baby. All looked perfect and we were expecting a healthy, happy baby and a normal delivery. I am a planner by nature so the list making commenced. I had even joked with my doc and asked if it were possible to have my epidural on standby for when I was on my way to the hospital because I didn’t want any pain! This was my biggest worry. My mom told me stories of how she felt ONE labor pain for me and that was it! So I began planning for every circumstance!

Seven months into my pregnancy, I went into preterm labor. I was at work and thought I was having hunger pains. Brilliant me, I said to myself, let me grab some crackers and cheese, that that should take care of it. After all, everything can be solved by a little cheese, right? It wasn’t too long before my co-workers starting timing my ‘hunger pains’ and they were about five minutes apart. They nervously urged me to contact my obstetrician who had me go in for a checkup immediately. Yup, it was definitely labor. I was admitted to the hospital and labor stopped after being given IV medication. I was discharged home and stayed on medication and was monitored very closely until my due date. Still, we were expecting all would be well.

Our ultrasounds continually showed our baby girl kicking, sucking her thumb, and swallowing. She was growing and gaining weight right on target. We were already completely in love and couldn’t wait to meet her. Our due date was August 7th, 1990. She would be born August 8th and our lives would be forever changed. We were just kids; 22 and 23 years old. Our entire family was there that day; waiting anxiously for their first grandchild! Friends crowded around the nursery window… but our girl wouldn’t arrive there for them to see.

I hope you’ll join me next time as we continue our story...

Wendy