(This was copied from an email I had sent to a friend, and it was as close to a summary of the prior events of our lives that I could find) It has been a crazy couple of weeks for our family. 3 weeks ago we were getting ready to head for the beach when we got news that my grandmother passed away (Grandma Beck). She was my last living grandparent and I was very close to her. Anyhow, we went to the beach with some friends in our ward and then I had to leave the beach mid-week to fly to UT for the funeral. I was there for 5 days and really enjoyed my time with my family and was so grateful for the chance to be there to honor my grandmother.
I came back on Sunday evening the day before Labor Day. On Labor Day I started spotting a little bit, but the next morning I had a
dr. appointment and an ultrasound already scheduled. When we went in for the ultrasound they couldn't find a heartbeat of the baby. They scheduled a D and C for later in the week. However, later that afternoon at home my water broke and I actually delivered the baby here at home. I was only 14 weeks, so the baby was so tiny. We called the Dr. and she said to come right in, and on the way to the Dr. I started to hemorrhage (an unbelievable amount). I was leaving a trail of blood as I walked in, and I'm sure it was terribly disturbing for people to see me covered in blood from my waist down!! They immediately rushed me to the Operating Room and did an emergency D and C. So, it has been quite an emotional roller coaster for us but I am doing much better now.
It was interesting because the recovery was similar to my other births, but I just didn't get to have a baby to enjoy. I also had to take 4 different prescriptions which was different because I normally don't have to take anything other than
tylenol after my babies are born. The medications were for things like shrinking my uterus (since I wasn't nursing) and an antibiotic to ward off infection in my uterus because of the stress, etc. etc. It was the drugs that made me feel so yucky and seemed to slow down my recovery. I still am not supposed to lift anything over 10 pounds, but I go to the doctor this next week and hopefully she will give me the okay to resume so normal activity!
Overall it has been a good experience for our family. It has made Luke and I realize that we really do want to have another baby, and we will definitely try again. It has given us a renewed desire to focus on what is important in life, and that ultimately nothing else matters than what we do to bring our family unto Christ. We also treasure our four healthy children, and want to add to our little family! It has been a very emotional and spiritual experience for our kids, especially for Spencer and Logan. They were so excited about having another baby in our family, and they were so devastated when all of this happened. It was a bonding experience for all of us to go through this together and to learn and grow in this experience.
Our family has also been OVERWHELMED by the outpouring of love we have felt from friends and family through this experience, and we have had a meal every single night for the last 11 days! My kids have really been touched by the service that has been rendered on our behalf, and it has been a motivating thing for them to feel like they want to serve and repay people for the kindness that has been shown to us. So, overall, we have truly felt like this has been a blessing for our family.
Well, sorry for the long details of the events of our lives as of late. We are now doing well and the kids are really enjoying school. The boys are playing baseball and Maren is taking ballet and tap. Piano, scouts, etc. keep us busy, as you well understand!!
