Lost in the Woods

First off is my eldest son Nathan. He is not in college anymore, but he has gotten himself a job and has a legitimate apartment that he is maintaining the expenses for! He is twenty years old. I had him in Tacoma, WA on one of the coldest days in history. He was an emergency C-Section and three weeks late. He was a joy. We used to play him opera to put him to sleep and he always was so exploratory. I loved his zest for life, even when he scared the shit out of me when he snuck out to hunt for pirates and treasure at 2 am when we lived in MA.

Amanda came second and almost four years to the day that I had Nathan. I had her in MA with a scheduled C-Section and it was a hellacious surgery but what came was this beautiful daughter. We named her after our favorite song by Boston, with her middle name after her father’s recently deceased mother, Carol. What a beautiful name for a beautiful girl. We were living in Webster, MA at the time in my husband’s cousin’s three decker.

Josephine Elizabeth came around Easter of 1996. Her pregnancy was unexpected because I was on Norplant at the time. But she was definitely a blessing. I was considered high risk for my pregnancy but my doctor was sure that I would be able to deliver vaginally and not have to have another C-Section. I was induced about two weeks before my due date and as I have said in many tales in the past, she came smoking out of me like a bowling ball. They checked me and I was at five centimeters and I asked the nurse to check me minutes later because I felt like I needed to push and I was at ten! The doctor made it in time to get back on the elevator and catch her like a football! I was so happy I did not have to have surgery again!

Willow was a surprise pregnancy for Bill and I but not unblessed. I had a beautiful pregnancy and was blessed to have a midwife through the military taking care of me. I did not have to have a high-risk tag on my pregnancy.  My midwife and I created a herbal remedy to put me into labor when it was time and I actually got to experience my water breaking. The funny thing was that I was complaining HIGHLY on a e-list that I was sick of being pregnant when I stood up to get hot chocolate I felt my water break. I had back labor so I had to be induced which caused problems. The one nice thing about being so big was that if they wanted me to move they had to have me WANT to move. I waited till everything calmed down and was able to have her without ANY complications. I even got to see her birthed through a hand mirror held by a guy with a Dallas Cowboy srub hat, which drove Bill crazy!

Liam was a surprise pregnancy again. I had an IUD put in and was NOT expecting to be pregnant. His pregnancy ended up being high risk because of the IUD. I was lucky to still have the same midwife and was able to give birth to him easily. In fact Bill and I delivered him by ourselves in the delivery room. I had the hardest time with him as an infant than any of them because he came so soon after the last birth but he is still the most awesome kid!

Overall I am blessed. My family consist of many people, but the one person I do not want to miss is Geoff. If it was not for him I would not be here today. He has made my life worth living when I thought I was not worth it. He has kicked me in the ass and made me get up and keep going. He has made me remember that there is love still in the world!