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Since I have been blessed with 4 children I didn't think I would have anything to contribute this month. Although I had suffered a miscarriage many years ago, infertility has never been an issue for me. My insight comes from the perspective of parenting a child, who has had difficulties sustaining not one but 6 pregnancies.
Our oldest daughter Jennifer is a lovely, Godly woman, a pure joy and privilege to call daughter!! Jennifer and her husband Corey have always been held in high regard within our family. Although they married young, they put their dreams of children on hold until Jennifer graduated from College with Corey following, 3 1/2 years later.
Wedding Day 1998When the time was right, we were thrilled to get a call from them telling us we'd be a GIGI and Grampy again. (We had became grandparents for the first time in 2002 when our daughter Jessica had Jacey Beth) I immediately ran out and bought Jenn a pregnancy journal and shared in the anticipation of a new grandchild! I still remember the phone call telling me that she had miscarried at 6 weeks. We were saddened but I gently told her that something must have been terribly wrong for this to have happened and that she would come to see that this was for the best.
We received another phone call, less than 2 months later informing us that once again, a grandchild was on the way! While the thought of her recent miscarriage was still fresh, we had no reason to think that the same thing would happen as before, 6 weeks in, she lost this baby as well.
One of the hardest things as a mother is to watch your child in pain, whether it's physical or emotional pain, you want to protect your child. How do you answer her questions of "why"?
"Why did this happen again?
"Why is that women who don't even WANT children can get pregnant so easily?
"Why do these same women have abortions when all I want is a child of my own to hold?"
"Why, when Corey and I have done everything right in our lives, is this going terribly wrong?"
"What is the physical problem?"
There is no band-aid for that kind of hurt! I remember praying for her and asking God to give me the right words to comfort her. I prayed for answers to her questions...
After her second miscarriage she decided that her OB/GYN was much too casual about her losses. I believe that God provided answers for us through giving Jennifer special insight and discernment through the Holy Spirit. My first-born is very direct and decided that she was going to a infertility/high risk OB/GYN. Enter Dr. Penney in Columbia, MO, now retired. After performing tests and discovering that Jenn is RH-, he also determined that getting pregnant wasn't the issue, sustaining the pregnancy however was! Jenn's body wasn't producing Progesterone so that by 6 weeks, the embryo, lacking nourishment would miscarry. I am thankful that God answered our prayers and that Jenn followed the Holy Spirit's leading in this matter.
For the 3rd time in less than 5 months, we found ourselves receiving the news that Jenn and Corey were expecting! This time was different however, her doctor was addressing the issues at hand and a game plan was in place even before she conceived! Receiving replacement hormones, taking baby aspirin and a constant vigil of prayer over this child and on February 25th 2004, I received a phone call that Jenn was being induced the next day! I left Texas at 5PM, drove straight through the night and arrived in Columbia 11 hours later. That afternoon, Alyson Jordan, an answered prayer was born!!
Aly with Dr. Penney.
Our "Aly-Cat"!When Aly was 10 months old, Jenn unexpectedly found herself pregnant. Dr. Penney began her hormone replacement but it was too little too late and she had a 3rd miscarriage.
In February of 2006 we were awaiting the arrival of Jennifer and Corey's 2nd child. Dr. Penney had planned to induce Jenn on that Valentines Day and I had made the trip in from Texas to be there when she was born. Accompanying Jennifer to her appointment we were disappointed to find out that the baby had flipped and was breech. Once again, my direct daughter went into "take action" mode. We visited her chiropractor who worked her "magic" and sent us home. While rubbing specific pressure points I literally watched our grand-daughter roll over and right into position! The next day, February 15th, our Ashley Elizabeth was born!!
Baby Ashley with big sister Aly and Mommy!In 2009 we were blessed with our first grandson, Joel Michael. I was unable to be there for his birth since our youngest was graduating from High School but I was able to hold him a week later!
Dave holding our first grandson!
My Mom LOVED her family!!I recognize that our family has been blessed and that not everyone has a happy ending to their story like we do. For what we have, we are eternally grateful!!
Ashley, Joel and Alyson!
