Our Journey.....

January 2001, it was a cold, blistery, icy day in Oklahoma City, the day my future husband asked me to be his girl!!! March 31, 2006 was our wedding day.. We had decided that since we'd already been together for 5 years that we would immediately start trying for a baby. So in April that's what we did.. It took us 3 months and in July we were looking at a positive pregnancy test.. It was the 5th of July.. I remember thinking the 4th that I had to of been pregnant, as the beer just tasted horrible and I was wanting to sleep.. That pregnancy was not the easiest.. We started bleeding from the beginning, it was diagnosed a subchorionic hemorrhage.. It was a huge blood clot between the uterus and placenta.. Well fast forward to 12 weeks after getting off bed rest and having no more bleeding.. We had an ultrasound to find that our precious baby had passed on 3 weeks before.. I had what they called a missed abortion (you won't see me use this term as I HATE it..) So I had to schedule a d n c for the next day.. That morning around 4 am I woke up to severe pains and bleeding only to find out that my body had finally realized that it was miscarrying, so we got bumped up a few hours to do the d n c.. Our dr. sent the 'remains' off to the lab for genetic testing and he called a few weeks later to tell me that our baby was a healthy baby boy.. We named him Xavier Ahren. He was 9 weeks 5 days and our d n c was on 9/19/06.. We were told we could try after our first cycle, so we did, we got pregnant 4 months later, we were excited, yet nervous.. There was no bleeding and our number's were progressing well. Well at 5 weeks we had an u/s.. Nothing but a sac. We were told to come back 2 weeks later, at 7 weeks we went back and still there was only a sac, but a second sac was visible now too..The dr. thought he had seen a second sac at 5 weeks but we didn't think nothing of it.. We were told to come back in a week.. We went back at 8 weeks 3 days, still only a sac, that was starting to shrink, and the second sac completely gone.. We were diagnosed with a blighted ovum and decided to do a d n c right then instead of waiting.. We were devastated, again....We call this baby (well what should have been a baby) February, we needed closure.. well I needed closure) 4 months later, June 27, 2007 could it be? Yes it is, a big fat positive, I couldn't believe it, whoo-hoo we were pregnant again.. I was nervous as all get out, could barely stand myself I was so nervous. We had slight spotting at 5 weeks and went to the ER, only to be told we had a slight subchorionic hemorrhage, you can about guess my nerves shot straight through the roof, great here we go again.... I prepared myself to lose this baby too, but wait, it's 12 weeks and we're still pregnant, and there's a heartbeat?!?! Wow, 19 weeks and it's a BOY?!?! Is this for real? Is this really happening? We're going to be parents for real this time? Little did we know what God had in store for us....... January 21, 2008, Martin Luther King day, Monday, and the beginning of our 33rd week.. Everything started out great, Our little boy had woke me up at 5 am having a little kick-boxing tournament, this was the VERY FIRST time this had ever happened. I went about my morning, got on the computer, was fixing to start chatting with some girlfriends of mine, when I got the most oddest, most painful cramp I've ever gotten.. In all honesty I thought I had to go to the bathroom.. So I finished typing out what I had to say, and headed to the bathroom, the only thing was the pain was overwhelming, I was literally on my tip-toes.. (if I knew then what I know now, I would have just started pushing right then.... :( ) I sat down and hear a pop, gush....My first thought was Oh shit, my water just broke, I'm only 33 weeks, and we still have 7 weeks to go, ok, we can deal with NICU.. But then I look down.. The image I seen will forever haunt me, blood, and lots of it, I've never in all of my life seen so much blood as I did this day.. From here everything went down hill and FAST!! I stood up, grabbed some tissue and put it between my legs and ran to the living room, grabbed the phone, and called my husband, I was so scared, and deep inside, I knew he was gone...But I get a hold of him.. We talk he leaves work.. Well not thinking of the holiday it was I called my dr's office, no answer, I'm starting to feel faint and light headed, so I lay down on the floor, I called the ER and told them what was going on, all they could say is "why are you calling the er?" I just hung up.. Aaron called and was on the phone with 911 when he walked in the house.. He helped me to the living room couch where I laid down and was in so much pain, more pain than I ever imagined possible.. The paramedics showed up. finally.. Well apparently I got the pick of the day, 2 of the most ignorant, most hateful, degrading, pieces of crap people to come help us.. One was a rookie, and the other was a jerk.. The jerk asked me if I was pregnant? Duh, I'm 8 months freaking pregnant!! I'm huge!! He then says "Are you bleeding?" My reply was yes, his was well you miscarried......WHAT?!?! You're seriously going to tell a freaking 8 month pregnant woman that she just miscarried.. I already hated the idiot.. He then asks me if I can get up on my own and move to the gurney, sure I say, and as I do I throw up, he then thrust this bag in my face and say's "throw up in here not in my bus, I just cleaned it" they then proceed to wheel me out of my house, with no blanket on, just panties and a t-shirt.. I asked for my own blanket. Then they wheel me over the stepping stones instead of picking me up and carrying me, this hurt like you wouldn't believe the pain is still very vivid in my mind.. We'd already told them 2 times they've asked what hospital we were going to, twice, Women's and children's.. they get me in the ambulance, and pull out.. They didn't give me oxygen or anything except an iv. of saline.. I keep feeling the need to pass out, and gushes of blood coming out of me.. I told him that I felt like I was going to pass out, and he said there was nothing he could do, I was already laying down. So about this time I look out the window wondering why it's taking so long to get to my hospital, the idiots took me to the wrong hospital... . I keep feeling the need to close my eyes...just go to sleep.. Well they FINALLY get me to Women's and Children's, and upstairs to Labor and Delivery, where I coded, on the spot.. I remember the nurse checking me, and her saying that I was dialated 2 cm, and trying to find Tristan's heartbeat, it wasn't there.. I remember looking to Aaron and saying he's gone honey, my baby's gone, and Aaron, and the nurse both saying no he's probably hiding.. then I vaguely remember hearing Aaron say her eyes are rolling and the nurse saying Oh shit (as she hits the wall) and saying I need help in here.. (Later found out she called a code blue on me).. The next memories are in and out, and still comes back in flashes.. I remember waking in this room, very cold, and 2 people above my head, one woman on man, and I hear them saying we need to intibuate and start cpr, where is everyone at? I remember my dr. Dr. H standing next to me saying "Hi Shannon, it's me Dr. H and there's no fetal heart activity we need to operate immediately to find out where the bleed is before we lose you.. Then I felt him cut me, and everything went black.. The next thing I remember is waking up in the recovery room, looking up and seeing Aaron's face, and knowing that something was VERY wrong.. Then our social worker, Ms. Mary asked me if I would like to hold our son.....This was the first time I seen my little boy, he was gone, lifeless, but the most amazing creature I've ever seen, the most beautiful little boy.. Beings that I had a c section I had to stay in the hospital for a few days.. We were released, on Jan. 24, 2008 and it was hard leaving that hospital with only plants and a memory box full of Tristan's belongings, yet leaving him there.. This blog is full of the last 2 years and the years of battling infertility, and our journey to parent hood, if it's meant to be..
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Tuesday, December 24, 2013

6 years ago



6 years ago we were so very excited. Christmas was filled special 'little boy' gifts. 6 years ago we were eagerly awaiting your arrival, preparing your nursery. 6 years ago I was filled with a joy I never imagined possible and ignorance was bliss. Today is different, I have joy, but nothing like when you were here. There is a huge hole in my heart with your precious name on it. I have grown, I have healed the way mothers heal, there is still a band-aid over that wound, but I know that you're in the arms of Jesus and grammy, and mommy couldn't ask for a better Christmas for you. But mommy misses you, I wonder what would you be like, would you be like your daddy? Would you be like me? I imagine you'd be of your own little self, full of wonder and life. I imagine you being so excited to see what Santa was going to bring you. I imagine being in the kitchen with you making Santa's cookies, and you setting up his cup of milk and setting out carrots and an apple for the reindeer. I imagine you running down the stairs coming into mommy and daddy's room to let us know that the jolly fella had stopped by. So many things we've missed seeing you do, but I imagine them all. I can picture you in so many ways it's not even funny. The rawness is completely gone, but your memory is still alive all around us. God has carried daddy and I through to a new us, an us where the pain is not as great as it was 5 years, 11 months, and 3 days ago. I don't know who I would be today had we never been blessed with you, you have taught me a love like no other. You've given me a dream I hope to fulfill, you have blessed me with empathy,sympathy and the need to help others on their journeys of loss. You served your purpose on this earth, my son even in the shortest amount of time you were here, you have been a blessing more than any other. God thank you for allowing us to be the earthly parents of our Tristan, and thank you God for your favor and continued healing. I don't know what it's like to see your children's face light up on Christmas morning, but I pray daily that God allows us that. I thank you Jesus for taking my son to a better place, and never allowing him to see the evils of this world. Even though his daddy and I miss him every single day of our lives.
Thank you family and friends for your continued prayers. We love you and wish you a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Happy New and Blessed Year!!

Oh I just know this is going to be a year full of blessings. God tells us to claim it, and I have. I am ready to accept God's guidance more and more! I have been happy, and I am getting happier. I still find myself feeling pangs of guilt when I'm extra happy, I chalk it up to remaining survivor's guilt, and that's ok, I'm still healing, every single day, I'm still healing. Those around me, though can attest that I've come almost full circle. I can see the laughter in my own eyes coming back, and for the first time ever, I can fully admit, that I was so terrified that I was not coming back, that I would never find myself out of that painful darkness I fell into after losing my 3rd child.  I seriously wanted to die, I was self sabotaging myself with food. Seriously. I was bored, I'd eat, I was sad, mad, whatever, I would eat, and there were times (I'm kinda embarrassed to admit this, but here goes) that I would literally pile butter high, and anything else. Not all the time for the most part I tried eating healthy, but when no one was around, and I was alone, I would eat, and eat, and eat, and eat I wouldn't stop. I wanted to die, I felt that I deserved to die. Everything was a fight, I was constantly arguing with my husband, my mother, you name it I was negative. I was not a pleasant person, and I owe my everlasting love and gratitude to those who never left my side, and was on that phone every time, or rushing to my aid when I was so beside myself I couldn't breath. I don't know why, but a lot of the rawness, and darkness seems so distant, but like a faded memory I still feel so sad when thinking about it, and how the people around me that loves me felt so helpless. I wish my momma was here so that I could apologize for being so negative and angry with God.But I know she's got the best seat to it all!!! 
I am not going to list everyone's name, I am however going to say you all know who you are and I LOVE YOU!!! I appreciate you!!

Now on to this year, so far to date, this year I've lost 66# and can proudly say that I am weighing in at 180.2 that is awesome since at the beginning of the year I was 20ish, and in August I was 246. My body seems to be getting back to what used to be normal and that's exciting!! I'm feeling better, I'm getting closer to God, and starting to enjoy life as god gives it to me. I'm going to vow to treasure every moment, that God blesses us with. Our prayers are being answered slowly but in His time!! ;) There is still childish family drama, but that's no longer my burden, as I've given it all, and all involved over to God, so that He may release me of the stress, worries, fears, and heartache. I am positive that God is going to bless us with a little one this year, I feel really really positive!! And that's ok if it don't happen this year, I feel it's nearing!! ;) :) And boy are we looking forward to the day we're holding our living, breathing pink healthy baby in our arms. 

While everything is still not perfect, especially on the family front, so I ask that you continue to pray with me for salvation in my family, for peace, and for growth. I appreciate it. 

I am really looking forward to what this year is going to bring. Tomorrow A and I will celebrate our 12th anniversary from when we started dating. It's hard to believe that it's been 12 years, and I still sometimes feel like a giddy girl when I see him. I am blessed that he is mine, granted on loan, but still God loaned him to me, and I couldn't be more blessed. Sure we have our issues, but in the grand scheme of things, he is my soul mate. I love him, even when I could throttle him, he is my sweetie. He loves me, respects me, and honors me in every essence of the word. He has been a true blessing in my life!!

I close this with my prayer for all to have the most blessed of years, may your dreams come true, and may you not struggle to make ends meet. May God wrap you all in His loving grace and heal all who are sick, those struggling with addiction, and those that are well. May God keep us all safe from harm, and may blessings always find you with every door that opens. 

Good night my readers, and God bless you all! 
Love, 
 Shannon
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Rest in Peace Mommy

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