Friday, April 6, 2012

Miracles

I believe in miracles. Let me explain why?

Andrew and I were sealed in the Mount Timpanogos Temple on a bright sunny day, July 29, 2005. I couldn't have been happier seeing my fiancé bouncing down the stairs to greet me when I arrived at the temple. I waited excited and nervous for my turn to be sealed to my eternal companion for time and eternity. We were sealed, and I had to say yes twice, because the first time I was too quiet for anyone to hear besides Andrew. We stepped out of the doors of the temple a new fresh couple, happy and blissful with no clue as to what awaited our futures. We had been sealed maybe an hour when in a brief very quiet moment sitting with my husband the spirit very distinctly spoke into my ear and said,"you will adopt your children." At first I turned to my spouse and asked him if he said something. "No," he replied and stared at me quizzically. Again the prompting came, quiet but clear as if a voice speaking. "you will adopt." Andrew and I went about the day and the hectic night of receptions and greeting friends and family. Finally that night alone with my spouse I related to him what I had experienced. His response, "I heard the same thing."

We had no idea that anything was wrong, no idea prior to marriage that we would struggle having children. I quickly learned that fertility specialists will not see you until you have tried to have children for at least a year. 1 year after being married and I was at the doctor. They tested everything, I recorded everything. They sent for more tests, they told me to just calm down and quit. Eventually we went to a specialist-whom it took six months to even have an initial appointment. He told us, "Right now, under the current circumstances you cannot have children." I asked, "Do we have any chance at all, 5%? Anything?" His response, "No. I suggest that you adopt your children."

I was heartbroken. In my mind I decided that the doctor had to be wrong. I told most people that the doctor just gave us a 2% chance because saying 0% was too difficult for me to accept. Plus, I felt very strongly that I had at least one child to deliver-a son I was to name James. But the pain of 2.5 years was short lived. We had that same week we went the fertility specalist been offered the adoption of a little girl- we were told about this girl through my cousin Julie, whom we had told nothing about us seeing doctors. In fact, we had told no one about us going to doctors, not even my mother, who I would tell first.

We prayed about the little girl, and although nervous and terrified to adopt we did feel that we had a choice to adopt her or not. We decided to adopt her and Sarah-Ruby came into our home.

On the day she was adopted my husband and I were in California awaiting our flight back to Utah when my cellphone rang. Upon answering I was greeted with this question, "Mrs. Rosenvall, I understand that you are adopting a child. She has a half brother here in Utah, would you like to adopt him?" I answered yes, hung up the phone and informed Andrew that we were now the parents to 2 children. Michael would end up coming into our home 1 year later.

Due to circumstances surrounding Michael, he trusted Andrew at home better than I and so, I went to work and in the process supported Andrew as he finished his bachelors degree.

Our family was coming together, but we still felt the gap of missing children.

On July 18, 2011 Andrew and I with the kids were sitting at the table eating dinner. I noticed that Sarah was acting very sad. "Sarah darling, what's wrong?" I asked. "Mom, we forgot to pick up my brother and sister from the grocery store." I very gently explained that mom and dad needed to save up for adoption and that we would try to get a brother and sister as soon as we could.

She brought me her piggy bank. "Is this enough to buy my brother and sister?"

That night, I cried myself to sleep. July 19, 2012, Sarah woke up bouncing off the walls with excitement, "Get ready Mommy!" she shouted, "You are going to have a little brother that looks like daddy, and a little sister that looks like me!"

I found this statement very sweet and after excusing myself, I again cried over what she said.

I found out I was pregnant July, 26. I turned to Andrew and said, "Its a boy that looks like you, Sarah told us." and she was right.

I called our kiddos birth family to inquire if they knew where our kids birth mother was-they didn't know. One month later she was arrested and booked into prison-pregnant with a little girl.

I was due March 23. Birth mom was due April 4.

My little boy came 4 weeks early and I adore being able to cuddle and hold the little miracle doctors said I would never have. I also love hugging my two other older miracles who told me what was going to come.

The birth mother choose a different couple through LDS family services to adopt the little girl, my children's sister. I am happy for that other couple, I know how hard it is to go through infertility and being told you would never have a baby, I am happy for them. I also feel in a way that I was expecting twins, but my little girl didn't make it. I know that if the Lord wanted that baby girl with us then it would have happened. But for now I will hold my children close and mourn a little for my baby girl.

Andrew and I both know that there is one more baby we are supposed to adopt. When and where we find this missing little one only the Lord knows. Will I ever be able to deliver another? For now, I don't know-ask my daughter Sarah-Ruby or maybe my sons Michael or James.

Believe in miracles.

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Baby Girl

Sometime in the last few weeks, or maybe not yet-a precious little girl was born.

She will have dark brown hair, big brown eyes and probably weight somewhere around 5-7 lbs at birth. She will be half cuban and in some ways look similar to my Sarah-Ruby.

Somewhere a couple is happily adoring their new baby. Her brother, with bright red hair getting used to his new sister.

LDS Family Services decided to go for their adoption family. They have also decided that they will not tell the other couple that we even exist. It would be better for the other couple to live in happy uninformed bliss.

The Lord allows us our agency. Most would say "If the Lord wanted her in your home, she would be." and though I slightly agree- the Lord allows us our agency. He told us in his power to prepare for her, and we did everything in our power to do so. But I can also see the Lord watching the choice that birth mom picked, and hurting in His heart-as I am hurting in mine.

My children will know they have a sister. She will not have a name or a face-since we'll probably never see one, unless she seeks us when she's 18.

For me, I have to treat this as a death. My little girl died and I never was able to see her. Whisked away quickly, my child who I will never know, can't hold a funeral for, I don't even know her proper birthday.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Tragedies

Two tragedies in two days.


I am really counting my blessings today. I'm so grateful that my little guy is home, though on oxygen, he's home and eating well. At his doctors appointment he measured 8lbs, 2oz and is very healthy.

Tragedies. Yesterday I learned that one of my students was murdered. Today I learned that my coworker friend delivered her baby- he is in primary children's for holes in the lungs, kidney failure and several other issues. I really hope her baby boy will be able to pull through.

Sunday, March 4, 2012

NICU


James to go home list:

1. Learn to suckle/ get rid of feeding tube. He now takes 2 bottles out of every 3 feedings.
2. Suckle at least 71 mL at each feeding. He is up to 65 mL
3. Lungs mature enough to not need oxygen- or mommy and daddy trained on how to use an oxygen machine. Still destats within 5 mins of not having O2.
4. Car seat test. Last test before he will go home.

James actually suckled down 2 bottles today in less than 10 mins! Woo hoo! I am having to pump and feed through bottles, because nursing stresses him out too much- as a preemie he doesn't quite have the energy.

Friday, March 2, 2012

NICU

Baby James is doing alright. He is still in the NICU on oxygen. His lungs are just a little preemie. I have had several nurses ask if I had gestational diabetes-no. He is the largest preemie in the nicu and actually has cute little chubby cheeks. For a few days he was the only one, but now he has been joined by several girlfriends. As the only boy he is teased by the nurses because "he just wants to be with the ladies."

It's interesting to listen to the other parents in the nicu. Optimism is high in the nicu. Parents celebrate the tiny successes, quietly whispering to their newborns. The parent next to me has been saying, "the first thing I noticed about you." to his newborn and in response to others. Funny though that he has now said " the first thing I noticed about you was playing with your tongue." yesterday it was something entirely different.

So, James the first thing I noticed about you was how active you were. I felt you jump as early as 13 weeks. I noticed you jumping strongly the entire time and when you got too long you jumped your way out 4 weeks early. At birth the first thing I noticed was your high squeaky cry. When I first saw you I noticed the dimple in your chin- just like your daddy has. When I saw them checking you I noticed your cute little toes, and how active you were kicking. When I held you the first time I noticed your curly light brown hair and dark eyes. I noticed your long fingers and the way you love to grab at everything. Lastly, the very first thing I noticed about you, is how much I love you.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Journey of James

Monday, I woke up slightly early in the hopes to be on time to school, I'll admit I had been greatly struggling with being timely. I drank some milk and ate a small breakfast, my stomach was a little upset from acid-then promptly spent the next 15 minutes throwing up.

I was late to school.

I wanted to have my students just watch videos, but I was prepared in advance so used my intended lesson- section review for 9, test revision for 8.

During 5th I kept losing my breath and didn't know why. The students actually asked me if I was in labor-I said no, as I honestly thought that the baby was just bouncing on nerves.

I left school early at 2:50, because I had a scheduled dr appointment at 3:20-it takes that long to drive from my school to my obgyn. Twice while walking to the minivan I had to stop walking because of supposed nerve pain.

I arrived at the doctors office, waited my turn. Dr. James Lamoreax checked baby heartbeat-strong, size of my uterus-measuring 38 cm, then he said, "I'm going to check your cervix."

His face said more than his words. "Amy, are you having contractions? Are they painful?"

"yes, but I'm alright."

"you are dilated to a four and completely thinned out."

"I don't know what that means, it's my first pregnancy."

"it means I am going to request an ultrasound and find out the position of the baby. And you have a very high pain tolerance."

I got ready for the ultrasound-but first got dressed- in the process my mucus plug came out completely. The nurse escorted me down the hallway the whole time saying, "take your time, slow down, don't rush.". When we reached the room she asked, "so, if you don't go back to school tomorrow, will your sub be okay?"

"I have someone lined up, they should be fine." at this point I thought that the dr. was going to put me on bed rest.

Ultrasound showed that the baby was a footling breach. I had another 'nerve pain' while at the ultrasound machine, dr felt my belly and said, " you are in labor my dear and he's breach which means I'm sorry but this will have to be a c-section. Reason being that babys bum is smaller than his head and if he tries to come out he could get caught and suffocate. So, Where are your kids?"

"at home with my husband."

"call a neighbor to watch the kids, tell Andrew to meet you at the hospital."

"I have the carseats, can I drive home and pick him up?"

"how far away are you?"

"5-10 mins"

I wasn't too freaked out... I mean labor can last a long time right? I went home, called my mom to watch the kids, called my sub for my class, Andrew threw together a maternity bag, I never had time to pack and 30mins later we were at the hospital.

Nurses checked my cervix-dilated 6+, contractions 2.5minutes apart-I wasn't in a lot of pain...And I was progressing very quickly. Within less than 1 hour I was prepped, received an epidural- that makes you feel like you are flying, Andrew was in his cute white scrubs outfit and "let the party begin!" said Dr. Lamoreax One c-section later. Baby came out feet first, I felt the pressure as they guided out his head and hear the cute little squeals of my baby. 7:23pm 7lbs. 11 oz. 19in. (dr said if I went full term he would have been 10-12 lbs. He was 4 weeks early.

He has a high pitched little squeal. He stopped breathing for a second and so I only saw him for a brief moment before he was taken to the nicu and placed on a Cpap machine to assist with breathing. His lungs were not fully developed, after several hours they gave him artificial surfactant and he was finally removed from Cpap at 3am.

I was not allowed to hold him until Tuesday morning. He has dark blue eyes which will probably turn brown. Light wisps of curly light brown hair. He looks like his daddy. I have to go to the nicu to hold him. They have been having me pump to feed him. Even though he has a good size, he behaves much like a preemie. The nurses tell me that he will be at the hospital for 2 or 3 weeks. I'm grateful he's here healthy.

James Charles Rosenvall (named after his grandpas)

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Yawn

So... tired!

to do:
1. Lesson Plans Sci Oly, Lesson Plans 8, Lesson Plans ES
2. Science Olympiad Prep State
3. Quick meals for Home
4. Fix car (rews)
5. Paint Kitchen (rews)
6. Organize Classroom/Bring home personal items-pictures/books
7. Pack maternity bag---I should probably do this first....

Stats:

Today starts week 36.
I am measuring 2 weeks early.
'Practice' contractions started on Saturday.
Baby J has already 'dropped'.
Walking around school causes contractions-hmm, I wonder what would happen if I played bball.