18 years ago, my son Allen Arthur Nelson was born. That in itself is reason to celebrate. But the road to get to that event was paved with angst, stress, drama and horror. We had trouble getting pregnant,
so we started seeing a specialist. It is no small road to travel when looking for reasons why no baby has happened. There are tests for both of you. There is lots and lots of waiting and seeing.
When I finally did get pregnant after 8 yrs, it was the happiest time I can remember. For 21/2 months. Then, I started spotting. My 10yr daughter was horrified. We went to the clinic and the doctor said, " It looks like your threatening to miscarry !" I was put on bed rest for 4 days. OMG !! That was THE worst time of my life. The bleeding stopped, and everything was going OK, until I started passing clots. I convinced myself I had lost the baby and became very depressed. My husband then insisted we go immediately to the doctor. The same doctor did an ultrasound. And, there he was, doing flips like a little fish. No more spotting problems occurred after that.
5 months into the pregnancy, I developed gestational diabetes. I dealt with that like a champ and actually lost weight while I was carrying my son. After we found out he was indeed a he, the naming process began. We knew for sure he was going to be named after his male ancestors. So, Allen- Dave's middle name, was chosen for the 1st name after Allen's father. Now the middle name- Arthur- as luck would have it was Dave's fathers first name, my fathers middle name and if we called him Al as a nickname, that was after my Grandpa Latzke. So Allen Arthur Nelson it was.
The last month and a half of my pregnancy I was leaking amniotic fluid slowly, but so slowly I thought it was a weak bladder. Dr Wasson decided to induce ( secretly, I think he suspected the fluid was gone ).
After 2 1/2 hrs of 3 stages of contractions at once going on, Allen entered the world at 10:56AM. I looked at Lindy and said Merry Christmas. The December before, she got an early Christmas present. A note telling her " We are going to have a baby ". She was in the delivery room and watched him come into this world. In fact Lindy saw Allen before Dave and I did. She has always loved him fiercely and protectively.
So, celebrating the birth of my son brings back the flood of memories every year, but this year, is a little harder. He is now an adult. He can vote, be drafted into war, and even get a credit card. College isn't far behind. Wow, where did the time go ?
