Our story starts in 2000. My husband and I were married in a small ceremony on December 23rd of that year.
We had discussed having a family...I was 33 and had never had a child...my husband was 44 and was the father of 2 grown boys, as well as being a grandpa.
Well, we didn't have to wait long at all to get pregnant...little did we know...that I was pregnant the day we were married. We found out on December 28th just 5 days after our wedding, that we were to be parents.
We were shocked and thrilled all at the same time....Wow! we were having a baby!
I made an appointment to see my doc in early January but never made it.
I began to bleed just days before I was set to see the doctor.
I was told at first...to rest. put my feet up...it was common 1st trimester bleeding...nothing to worry about.
well for 3 nights I bled...went back and forth to the hospital (military hospitals UGH!)...until I was finally told that I had lost our baby.
I was devastated...the doctors asked if I wanted to have a D&C done....I told them no...that I just wanted to be left alone...let nature take it's course.
Well, the weeks passed and I still felt that cruddy icky feeling, tired
nauseous, etc.
I wondered when I would stop "feeling pregnant".
after 5 weeks of feeling this way...I went to see my doctor (a civilian) to get checked out.
I have a large fibroid tumor in my uterus and he felt it might be becoming a problem...he told me my uterus was the size of a 3 month pregnancy.
So, he sent me to have an ultrasound done.
The US Tech knew my history...miscarriage and all.
As she began the US she began to get a funny look on her face.
Running the wand over my tummy...she kept looking at the screen and looking at me.
"When did you say you lost your baby? And who told you you lost it?"
"Five Weeks ago...at the hospital at NAS Jax" I told her.
"Well, I don't know who told you that you had a miscarriage...You're pregnant...12 weeks by what I see here....Heartbeat and everything."
If I hadn't been laying down...I would have hit the floor!
Pregnant?! How can that be?
Oh Miracle!
I was so excited...I called Joe at work to tell him the news...I was standing in the middle of the
women's clinic crying hysterically and laughing hysterically all at the same time.
Women were looking at me...some with wonder...others with huge smiles.
We WERE having a baby after all!
I worked 2 more months and then went out on medical leave.
My job has long hours and involves heavy lifting and lots of movement.
My poor body just couldn't take it.
Besides the fact that the doc had put me borderline high risk because of the Fibroid tumor in my uterus.
So for a month I stayed at home...planned our baby girls room...played on the computer...watched
TV. napped.
On Mothers Day wondered how it would be next year...I would really be a mother...oh
I couldn't wait!
But in the early morning hours on the Monday after Mothers day.
Something went wrong. As I lay in bed half asleep...My water broke.
I wake my husband who immediately calls the doctor.
And we are on our way to the hospital.
There they do what is called a fern test....to see if I have actually broken my bag of waters...the test shows positive.
I am sent to Shands Jacksonville, who has what is supposed to be one of the best NICU's in the south east.
There I wait 5 days in the Anti partum...total bed rest.
On Thursday night I begin to feel a bit crampy...they put me on the monitors to watch the baby...and for contractions...the give me an IV because they feel I'm dehydrating....the pains stop...and I go to sleep.
Later...I awake to stronger cramping...this time...it's off to L&D...more monitors...more IV's...I think...after the IV Fluids...I'll be good as new.
But I'm wrong. The pains get stronger and stronger.
After hours of continuously increasing pain...I FINALLY realize...I'm In Labor!!
"No...its' too soon...this can't be...why is this happening."
It's so much to take in..."I'm sorry honey...mommy is sorry...she is trying. she really is"
With my wonderful husband Joe and my beautiful friend Cindy at my side...I endure the hours of
contractions. until they wheel me to the OR to deliver.
My feet go up in the stirrups...and the Doc tells me to push...I push...just one time...and into the world comes this beautiful little creature, she doesn't cry...she is tiny and silent.
I don't get to hold her...they rush her away to the throng of NICU staff waiting in the next room.
I am happy...and scared...and tired...and I want to hold our Savannah Grace.
