How events played out...

It was Monday, September 14, 2009.  It was an incredibly exciting day for both Joe and I.  It was the first regular season game for the New England Patriots! We couldn't wait to get home and watch the game!  I ordered sushi from our favorite place, Sushi Express.  Four orders of double shrimp rolls and one miso soup to go.  We were ready for some football!

After we had dinner, you know me Miss Sugar Fiend, needed a treat.  Joe and I decided to hurry and make some cookies.  (I know you're thinking what kind of fans are you? The game started at 5:30pm and here it was going on 7:00pm.  Don't you fret, we had the game recording on our DVR so we wouldn't miss a minute.) 

As I was creaming the sugar and shortening, Joe was keeping me entertained.  He had me laughing.  One hard laugh later I went running off to the bathroom.  Joe always teased me that I would be in depends before I was 40, but seriously...could I have really peed my pants? Two minutes later Joe came to find me.  He said "are you still peeing?"  I laughed and said "I'm not sure.  I think so." At this point, Joe started getting nervous. 

I sent him upstairs to grab the "What to Expect when Expecting Book".  He asked what he was looking for.  Ummm...I don't know...maybe the index under-water, water breaking?  I had no idea what was going on. 


Joe clumsily flipped through the index, found the page and started reading. The next words out of his mouth were "we are going to the hospital."  I was completely in denial.  I told him nah, I'm just going to call my mom and see what she thinks.  He was like, No...we are going now...call her later. 

For those of you that know us, Joe is always the calm one.  I am the stressor.  But the thought of my water breaking made Joe lose his cool.  He went upstairs to get some things that I had asked him for.  A few minutes later no sign of Joe.  I hollered at him from downstairs.  A stressed voice yelled out "I don't know where your things are...".  I went upstairs totally calm and collected what I needed. And off, to the hospital we went.

Admitted to the hospital, followed by an hour of much unwanted poking and prodding, Joe's worries were confirmed.  My water had broke and my membranes had ruptured.  Only 28 weeks along my body had decided that it was time to get things moving.


Okay so now, calm and in-denial me finally started to get scared.  My baby couldn't possibly come yet. This was not happening. 

Ironic, we were just saying this pregnancy was going too smoothly.  With my cervical cancer I was termed high-risk but up until today nothing had gone wrong.  What was strange was that my cervix ended up not being the problem. It remained closed.  This was a good thing (if there was a bright spot in this).  Also, I had had absolutely no labor pains or contractions.  Again, another reason to smile (even if faking it)! 

The doctor's explained to us that the plan of attack was to admit me to the anti-pardum maternity floor where I would stay until Boston decided to come.  They really wanted him to stay in the oven until 30-34 weeks of age.  However, 90% of all babies came within a week of the water breaking.  But by darn, we were going to try and keep this boy a cookin'. 

So, Monday night I got acquainted with my new home away from home.  Monday night, Tuesday, Wednesday...day after day we thanked our Heavenly Father above that Boston was staying in mom's belly.  He was such a good boy that Sunday, the 20th we thought...one more night to go through and it's been a week!  If we could just get past a week the chances of him staying in until week 30-34 would be greatly increased.  By golly, we might just make it!

That Sunday night we were in great spirits.  To celebrate Boston staying put, Julie, Joe's mom made us a homemade meal. I was enjoying some funeral potatoes.  In fact, enjoying them so much, I didn't realize I was having contractions.  I would have one, tell Joe "I'm having some cramps" and go back to stuffing my mouth.  Joe kept saying "call the nurse".  Nah, I'll just wait to see if I keep having them, "smack" as I took another bite. 

Thirty minutes later after much coercing from Joe, the nurse was called in, monitors hooked up, and down to the delivery floor I went.  I was certainly having contractions. I was dialated to a 1, fully effaced and full of funeral potatoes!  Thanks Boston for letting me finish my yummy dinner first!

Nine and a half hours later on Monday, September 21, 2009 at 5:55 am Boston Joe Stewart was born!  He was 29 weeks and 1 day, 2 pounds 8 ounces, 15 1/2 inches long and had a full head of dark brown hair!

And sorry a novel later, finally the pictures you've been waiting for...

 

From the Beginning

For those of you who know me, and know Joe, our life was complete. We had the american dream (at least according to us)...we had great jobs, owned a home, had some toys-boat, motorcycles, and already had two beautiful children-Diesel, a 6 pound chihuahua and Mia, a chocolate tortie kitten. Who needs anything else?



Well, of course everyone else thought we were missing one crucial part of life...REAL children. Pets did not count, so they said. Joe and I have been married since October 26, 2003. Almost 6 years and no children? What was wrong with us?

In June 2008 something happened that rocked our world.
I was diagnosed with cervical cancer.

Everyone will tell you that the big "c" word will scare the bejesus out of you, and yep...it sure did.
I had to undergo two surgeries- one in June and one in August 2008. Being that they had to cut out the malignant area, this shortened my cervix. For those of you, like myself that had NO IDEA what this meant it was explained to me that the cervix is the area that needs to remained closed and strong enough to hold a baby in. When it is shortened sometimes it becomes incompetent. Great, just what i needed. More body parts that were bad. Poor Joe, he asked me-do you come with a warranty or replacement? Can I upgrade to a newer model?

As we learned more about cervical cancer and what had been done to my cervix, the doctor begin asking questions- one in particular. Are we going to have any children. Why does everyone have to ask that?

The doctor explained that if we did want any we should probably start somewhat soon. Especially if my cancer were to continue to grow. Great, I thought...I now have a deadline for having kids?

Joe and I started looking at life just a little differently.
As mentioned before, we thought we had it all. We didn't need kids. But the thought of waking up one day and not having this choice...
This shook us up quite badly. Enough that after MUCH discussion, in January we decided to attempt the feat that NO ONE else thought we would.
No, it wasn't the ACT that was the feat (ha ha), but the decision. That's right, the decision to have a baby was unfathomable. Joe and Jayme wanting/having a child? I wouldn't blame you if you fainted right now.

No sooner than we had started trying, fertile mertile here (that would be me) got pregnant. I found out on April Fools Day 2009. Just imagine how that went over when I tried to tell Joe on that day. No matter how hard I tried, Joe thought I was just messing with him and it was a joke. He even thought I had somehow painted the positive stripes on the pee stick!

The very next day I called the doctor to see when I could take a blood test to confirm. They told me that I could that very day. Within 5 minutes I was in the car and off to their office. Blood drawn, a nerve wracking day, a sleepless night, an anxiety-filled morning, and a confirmation later...this was your beginning.