Last year at this time I was dreaming about the new baby we would meet in just a few months. At 6 months pregnant I was feeling great and loving my baby bump! We spent a wonderful Christmas holiday in IL (despite major ice and snow) and made our way back to AZ after the new year. We spent NYE a little bit differently—just relaxing at Jeff’s mom’s house and ordering in Maria’s pizza in Morris. It was the first year in a LONG time that we did not stay up past midnight!
2009 started out wonderfully and ended on some sad notes, but we’re moving forward into 2010. Here's a little recap...
The beginning of 2009 continued the baby preparations with two more baby showers in AZ. The first with my friends Lexie and Kellyn from out of town and the second with my aerobics class from Pure Fitness. Then in February I had shower #4 with friends from work. Whew! I felt really lucky to have FOUR showers. Our nursery was definitely stocked with stuffed animals, clothes, towels, washcloths, diapers, baby lotion, etc., etc…March came and I turned 31—eek—I’m in my “30s” now! Jeff painted the nursery, got the crib put together and watched me grow bigger and bigger every day. I was so excited for April to arrive because I could be done with work and just relax before Andrew arrived. The week of his due date, I had to go to the hospital with gall bladder problems, but was sent home to wait it out. Luckily I haven’t had any more gall bladder attacks. Then late on Thursday, April 9 (his due date!) I went into labor and it all began. I think I was in shock and overtaken by all the excitement because I wasn’t really scared or anything. Jeff was there to help me through and he really was a big support. At 10:11 a.m. on Good Friday, April 10, 2009, Andrew Thomas came into the world! We were so happy to meet him! We took him home on Easter Sunday, April 12 where he was met by his Aunt Beth and Grandma May.
The next few months went by so fast and I went back to work from home in June and then was matron of honor in my sister's wedding June 27. So many milestones already in the first half of 2009! Jeff was off for a couple months too and that was so great. He hadn’t been very happy with his sheriff’s deputy job and the politics of it was making us both very mad. He decided he wanted to find something else and began looking for a full-time guard/Army job in Phoenix. However, a job that DID come up was a deployment with the Multinational Force and Observers in the Sinai Penisula (Egypt/Israel). This is something I had heard Jeff talk about numerous times and something he has always wanted to do. Did I want him to go? Truthfully, probably not, but this is who he is deep down and I surprised myself by being OK with it. Of course this was horrible timing with Andrew just being born, but a crappy job mixed with the opportunity to do something he’s always wanted to do made this something that he decided to do. He knew he would make a lot of money and is so focused on providing for his family.
I am thankful for those first 3 ½ months that we both got to spend with Andrew without having to worry about work. We just got to be a family and get to know our new little boy. Jeff officially arrived in Egypt on his 38th birthday (September 2) and will be there for 10 months. We talk almost every day on the phone or Skype, but I have to say this deployment is harder than when he was in Iraq. He’s not in any immediate danger, but emotionally, it’s rough. With Andrew and everything Jeff is missing, it breaks my heart.
I have my good days and bad days, but Andrew is what keeps me going. We are blessed to have the most good-natured baby on the planet and he is constantly smiling and laughing! He is simply amazing.
Just when I thought things (my emotions) were calming down, I started having some weird things happen with my legs at the end of October. I had tingling/numbness and that asleep feeling in both legs and feet so I went to the primary doctor. They did some tests and then said I probably had nerve damage and would do physical therapy. I thought this was pregnancy related because I had those sciatica numbness symptoms at the end of my pregnancy, but they said the nerve damage could be from anything. It was very odd because one leg was “giving out” like when you stand up too fast after your leg is asleep. However, the next week I got more numbness in my armpit area and chest. I said screw this primary doc and got a referral to a neurologist.
To make this long story short, I have been diagnosed with MS (Multiple Sclerosis). I am still in shock. Jeff feels helpless and this doesn’t make my emotional rollercoaster any better. From what they saw on the MRI, it looks like I’ve had this for years, but didn’t have symptoms. I’m guessing the stress of having a new baby, dealing with Jeff being gone and all of the life changes I’ve been through lately probably brought on this first “attack” of symptoms.
I found all this out the first week of December, spent a week in the hospital for IV steroids (to help reduce inflammation to my brain and spinal cord, which is standard procedure in new MS cases) and found out I have to give myself injections 3X per week for the rest of my life. Did I mention I’m still in shock? The medication is not a cure, but designed to slow the progression of the disease. It’s one of those things where only time will tell how it affects me. Every case is different and I may be fine for a while and then years down the road have more symptoms or maybe none at all. The unknown is what kills me.
As of now my symptoms are manageable, but a constant reminder I don’t like to have. I have numbness/tingling in both arms/chest and one hand, but the legs are a lot better. I start the injections Monday and I’m scared how they will affect me. Most people get flu-like symptoms until the body gets used to the medication. I pray they are mild so I don’t have to find help in caring for Andrew. I also pray I don’t get the debilitating fatigue or vision problems that a lot of people get. I am trying to stay positive, but it’s hard right now as you can imagine. Jeff is coming home at the end of February for a 10 day break thank God. I really need him right now.
If I didn’t have Andrew right now, I don’t know what I’d do. Jeff calls him our little angel and I really feel like he is a our miracle and even more of a reason for my positive attitude and determination to stay healthy as long as possible. He literally keeps me going everyday. So 2009 was a year of extreme highs and lows. Maybe that’s why it happened this way. God knew I couldn’t do this alone, but now I have my family. I am so thankful for our own little family. 2010 is going to be another year of highs and lows I’m sure, but that’s what life is all about. I am going to get more highs I’m sure with Andrew growing up and making us smile even more. I think 2009 officially started a new chapter in my life and it’s one I have to keep writing. Happy New Year to everyone and cherish every moment!
Looking back….
12/31/2006
Mini party at our house with a few friends.
12/24/2007
We spent the holidays in IL and our flight back to AZ was on 12/31/06. We hopped off the plane and met friends Rachel and Scott for a late dinner to ring in the new year!
1/1/2009
We spent NYE in good ole’ Morris, IL at Jeff’s mom’s house. Pasta for dinner and to bed before midnight! Waking up on New Year’s Day looking a little larger I think.
12/31/09
Dinner at Oregano’s with friends and in bed by 10:30 p.m. Andrew was my man to kiss this year!
