Ben's story is the most familiar - the most memorable. It was so exciting. Here Aaron and I were, a couple of kids really, making a transition into responsible adults who had to care for another person. Exciting, but terrifying. This is a long one - get comfy.
First, convincing Aaron that it was time for us to start a family too a lot of effort. He had just started going to school with a long road ahead of him, and was trying to work also. I was teaching, and directing shows. We were busy, and happy. Aaron had a hard time seeing how a baby could fit into our time schedule. We started to learn there, though, that when you pray about something that you KNOW the Lord wants you to do, you're probably going to get an affirmation. So we prayed.
I remember sitting in a restaurant one evening for dinner, when Aaron took my hands in his. He told me that he had been praying, and that he felt like I was right, and that it was time for us to start our family. He said that he had this image of a little girl in ponytails - ready to come down and join us. We laughed, and joked and said that she got her impatient streak from me. :)
Um, it took no effort at all to get pregnant. We were in Phoenix visiting my family when I realized that I was late. However, I was NOT about to start speculation among my family members. Aaron and I headed back to Houston, giggling about getting a pregnancy test as soon as we got off the plane. We went to the nearest Walgreens to the airport and took the test that next morning. We were so excited about our little secret!
I was hesitant to tell anyone at first. I didn't want to jinx it, I guess. I think I was about 11 weeks by the time we told our families. They were thrilled! We had some bills we were trying to pay, and we needed a new car - mine had been destroyed in an accident in the spring. So we moved into Aaron's parents' garage apartment to save some money. I'm not sure that we actually did, though - we ended up going to dinner almost every night!
Aaron and I were super anxious by the time the ultrasound came around. We had to sit and wait for a while - it made me crazy! We were so wound up by the time we got in there. And when we were asked by the ultrasound tech if we wanted to know the sex, both of us KNEW that she was going to say girl.
But she didn't.
I put on a smile. Aaron grinned at the thought of HIS boy. We finished up and got out to the car. I called my mom and told her, and quickly got off the phone. And I started crying.
I know. It was ridiculous. I blame the hormones.
We got back to Aaron's parents house and I went straight into the little apartment and got into the shower - ignoring Aaron's mom who was pressing for answers. Aaron went and talked to her. I sat in the bottom of the 3' X 3' shower for at least a half hour. When I got out, Bobbie Jo was banging on the door, demanding that I come out. She was fighting mad that I had upset her mom - not processing that her mom was upset just because I was upset. Aaron took some time, and tried to diffuse the situation, despite Bobbie Jo's vocal threats. Ugh. I hid and went to bed early.
By the next day, I was fine! I was having a boy and it was good. He was healthy. And I could handle it.
Not that much later, Jessica gave birth to Elijah. It was fun to have a brand new nephew, and to know that in a mere 5 months, I was going to be the one with an adorable baby to love. Four days later, the Twin Towers came down in New York City. It was horrible. I sat in my classroom for the next couple of days wondering what kind of world I was bringing a child into. Had we made a mistake? The feelings of dread and angst were miserable.
Aaron had a very sweet way to show me how excited he was that I was carrying his child. He fed me. Every morning, he would make me breakfast as I went out the door. He would make dinner every night - and always foods that I loved! I gained over 60 pounds while I was pregnant with Ben. Ridiculous.
I ended up having 3 baby showers. Jessica threw me one with all the ladies from church, the family friends, and a few friends from the singles ward. My mom and sisters came from Phoenix to be there. The teachers at school threw me a shower. Then, some of my drama students got together and threw me a shower at one of their houses. I felt so loved - and we had so much stuff! It was fantastic to be so prepared.
Ben was due on February 14th - Valentine's Day. I was in the middle of teching the senior musical, "Guys and Dolls". It was a huge stressball! The director kept changing what she wanted, my help wasn't helping as much as I thought they would, and I was exhausted. My feet were huge, and moving around was becoming more and more difficult. I saw the doctor on a Friday before the show went up and fell asleep in the waiting room. Then, when she asked how I was doing, I ended up in tears. And she told me that I was done with the show. It was such a relief, but I felt horrible. It wasn't fair to disappoint these kids that I had known for years for this baby that I didn't even know yet.
So Monday came. February 4th. I taught, and then headed to rehearsal. I talked to the people that I needed to - making sure that I had backup. I set up the last details, doing my best to cover all the bases of the show. Finishing sound and light cues. I was at school until after 7.
I came home, and Aaron asked what I wanted for dinner. We had grilled cheese and soup because I wasn't feeling that great.
I woke up the next morning and headed to the bathroom, as usual. When I was finished going, I sat there and realized that there was still dripping. I called for Aaron, and he didn't know what to tell me. So I got on the phone and called Jessica - from the toilet. "What exactly does amniotic fluid look like?" She said, "You need to call your doctor!" I sat there and thought, "Naw, there's just a little trickle - I could still teach..." Then, Aaron told me to call the school, and tell them that I was going to need a sub. I finally got up, and decided that we should probably go to the hospital. Aaron hurried around, getting ready and gathering our stuff. I stood in the closet, staring at the clothes for at least 5 minutes when Aaron came in. "What are you doing?" "I can't figure out what to wear..." He handed me his basketball shorts and the Phoenix Suns shirt, and hustled me out to the car.
We listened to the entire Dave Matthew's Crash CD on the way to the hospital. There was a lot of traffic that morning. We had called my mom in Phoenix that morning and hoped that she would make it in time. We got into the hospital and got settled and waited.
And waited.
And waited.
And nothing.
My water had broken, and I was strep B positive. But there were no real contractions. So I sat there. We watched a lot of movies. Every single movie had food in it, and I was super hungry - thanks to a small dinner the night before and no breakfast. Not fun. They decided to start me on pitocin.
My mom arrived mid-day. Jessica picked her up from the airport. She was grateful to be there in time. And we sat. And the pitocin levels went up. And nothing really happened.
When they maxed out on that round of pit, they decided to try it again. And there were the same results. No real contractions. Everyone was calling, asking if we had a baby yet. I was super annoyed - I didn't want anyone around - just Aaron and my mom. And I was ready to be done!
About 9 pm, we spoke to the docs. There was some concern because I was strep B positive and my water had broken, about transmission to the baby. But they left it up to me, "We can go ahead and do a c-section now, or wait, and do one in the morning." I said, "Go ahead!" I was SO ready to hold my baby.
Aaron was in a minor panic. He was SO nervous. (But he looked so cute in scrubs!) My mom was bummed that she couldn't watch the birth, and worried for me and Aaron. I was a little dazed - I hadn't read that section of the book! It was a little surreal to be wheeled into a room on a table with your arms tied down and blue curtains all around you. I could see the docs just over the top of the curtain that was at my chest. I remember these 2 women diving into my abdomen and watching their muscles flex and they were moving things around to fish out this baby. I remember that they had to pull part of him out from under my ribs. Aaron was almost giddy, and terrified at the same time. They showed me my boy just over the curtain, and I was a little grossed out. And, it was less than 10 seconds. I wanted to examine him, but he and Aaron got wisked away while I got sewed up.
I remember sitting in post-op with the nurses trying to move me. I couldn't help as they tried to lift each of my legs individually. I felt like I was shaking like a leaf - my teeth were chattering - but I didn't feel cold. Aaron and my mom got to come in and see me, and tell me that Ben was perfect. Finally, I got moved back to my room.
I sat awake, mostly, because I really wanted to see my baby! They said that they would bring him in from the nursery after a few hours, and I was waiting. I was so glad when the nurse finally brought him in, and I got to see his fingers and toes, his sweet cheeks, and his fuzzy little head. Then, I went to sleep.
And that is how Benjamin Martin See came about. :)
The Right Path...
9 years ago
