Jen's Journal: Birth Stories Part I

I thought I'd post birth stories... get them out of my brain and in written format before I forget them. After all, I did turn 31 yesterday and memory does NOT get better with age lol!

SO... we start with Part I.

Stevie Lynn was conceived on a tiny island in the middle of the Indian Ocean. I was deployed to Diego Garcia in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in January of 2002, and I guess I got bored or something one night! Anyway... in a small tent, far far away, Stevie started her life. No - she wasn't born there... she was merely conceived there!

My pregnancy with her was one of uncertainty. It was the first time I'd ever google abortion. I was unmarried, I wasn't dating her father (thank God)... I was living in someone else's townhouse back in the US, and I didn't even own a car! How on Earth was I going to raise a baby on my own? Somehow though, I KNEW that things would be ok...

Up until I got pregnant with her, I'd quit everything I ever started. All my jobs, ballet, choir, whatever.... I quit it all. I'd just get tired of doing whatever it is I did - and I'd give it up. That was a huge reason I joined the military - I knew it was something I couldn't just quit. So it was no surprise that the most influential people in my life were so disappointed when I called home to tell them I was expecting. They were so excited when I'd joined the military, but were no so afraid that I'd ruined everything on the count of "entertaining myself" one drunken night.

I vowed to prove everyone wrong. I returned from my deployment (early,) and I set out to make a life for myself. First item on the agenda, a new home... My first apartment. A one bedroom in Shreveport, Lousiana. Next, furniture. Black, leather couches, a Wal Mart entertainment center, a K-Mart kitchen table, a queen size mattress set on a bed frame, and a crib/dresser for the baby. Then, a car. I had an awesome friend who cosigned for my 1999 Honda Accord (4 door, green in color.) I promised him I'd NEVER be late for a payment... As a matter of fact, I ended up paying it off early! Thank you SO much Scott for helping me!! My beginning was in full swing. Deep inside, I was beaming with pride... I was pulling my life together with a reason for living. God sure did bless me more than I could have hoped for. I was really looking forward to having this baby!!

Sleep, wake, eat, work, and sleep.... Fast forward to October 17th, 2002. 0530am, my friend/supervisor Keri Swalley picked me up from my apartment and we headed to the hospital. Dr. Adams decided to induce me because my blood pressure was rising. Stevie would be born 2 days before her due date :D I arrived at the hospital, checked in... and at 0700, the pitocin drip was started. Keri stayed with me, and we'd decided early that we'd keep things lighthearted and fun. She joked with me, we talked about stupid stuff.... laughed together. 0830am, the doctor came in and broke my water to get things moving farther along. It was then that the REAL fun began!

By 1130am, I was dilated to 4cm and the contractions were unbearable. Keri tried to make me laugh again, but by then I was concentrating so hard on not puking that nothing was funny anymore. The epidural was administered shortly after and life was ok once again. In fact, I was on my laptop chatting with friends throughout the rest of labor! It wasn't until 2pm when I put down the computer to start pushing! 20 minutes of my best effort, and Stevie Lynn Stroud was brought into the world.

How do I describe the flood of emotions that showed when Stevie was born? I didn't just shed 1 or 2 tears of joy. I SOBBED! She was covered in goo, but she was the most beautiful thing I'd ever laid eyes on. All the pain of the last 9 hours couldn't possibly compare to the love that just overflowed from my heart! My firstborn love...

It wasn't until early that evening that I was finally alone with her in our hospital room. I turned off the TV and brought her to my breast and fed her and stared down at this awesome baby and just beamed. I didn't know what life had in store for us, but I DID know that everything was going to be O K! Now, writing this 8 years later.... life is O K :)