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Saturday, June 21, 2008

Josh

Josh at 12 years

My mom always says that Josh was a miracle baby and I believe he was. We thought we had lost him at the 6th week of my pregnancy.
I wasn't really ecstatic when I found out that I was pregnant with Josh. After going through 3 miscarriages, you learned not to invest your hopes and I had misgivings about this pregnancy right from the beginning.
We were having dinner on a Sunday afternoon when I felt a cramp and a sudden gush of warm fluid down my legs. The feeling and the sight of the bright red blood were all too familiar. Perfunctorily, I saved the tissue and any solid fragments in a jar so my doctor could make an analysis of what was wrong with me.
In truth, I almost felt relieved. The uncertainty was finally over and I was glad that this rollercoaster ride of emotions had come to an end. I was tired of obsessing over the need to constantly check if I were spotting and noting every twinge or cramp.
The next morning, after a night of heavy bleeding and cramps, my mom, hubby and I went to the hospital. Just before we left the house, I overheard my mom telling my dad on the phone that I had lost the baby.
At the hospital, the doctor took a look at the contents in the jar and I could tell from his expression that it didn't look good. A nurse prepared me for an ultrasound. Then I saw the image of my baby floating inside my uterus. With a look of disbelief, the doctor detected a weakly beating heart!
My mom cried tears of joy and hubby was euphoric. All this time, he buried his personal torment in his concern for me. Me? I was in a fog of ambiguity and completely overwhelmed. You know the rest of the story.
Briefly, it wasn't an easy pregnancy. The doctor gave me progesterone injections that made me nauseous the entire first two trimesters. It was a struggle to get through each day. I couldn't keep my food down. My gag reflex seemed to be working overtime.I survived only on sips of water and nibbles of biscuits and toasts. I couldn't even swallow the supplements and folic acid tablets the doctor prescribed and was really afraid that my baby would be born with defects. And if things weren't complicated enough, I had gestational diabetes.
I still vividly remember the recurring nightmares I had of my baby floating on the sea in a Moses Basket, drifting farther and farther away from me as I tried desperately to reach for it.

 Josh was born 2 week earlier than the expected date. Weighing only 2.5 kg, he was no bigger than our cat.

 Miracles do come true



With his favourite toy, a stuffed wombat
 
Graduating from Kindergarten
 

 Me and my precious Bubeleh (Josh's pet name) in Madam Tussauds.

23 comments:

  1. HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOSH!
    He's so handsome! I'm sorry you struggled through your pregnancy, yet the outcome was one of joy and happiness. YAAAAAAAAAY Bestest Buddie!

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  2. Love the pictures of your young man! Happy Birthday to Josh:)

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  3. Happy birthday Josh! And wow what a story! I didnt know any of that and Im so glad you posted it :)

    tracy

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  4. Love the pictures. happy Birthday to Josh!

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  5. Happy birthday, Josh!

    Wow, look at him now. :)

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  6. What a marvelous story!! I am so glad you made it through the pregnancy! The pic in the basket is so adorable:)Happy Birthday Josh!

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  7. Thanks for being a great blogging buddy, stop by and pickup The Humane Award :)

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  8. Happy Birthday Josh! Your little guy is absolutely handsome!

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  9. Happy Birthday to your Josh! Your story made me cry! He truly is a miracle!

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  10. Awww what a touching story! He really is a miracle child. Happy birthday, Josh!

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  11. Happy birthday Josh! What a beautiful story Veronica. I do sympathize. My oldest was a difficult pregnancy and fought for life the first 10 weeks she was born. Life is so precious.

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  12. Wow, Veronica! That was terrible what you went through! But, what a miracle Josh is. I'll bet there isn't a day when you aren't remembering what you went through to get him. You are very blessed.

    Happy Birthday, Josh! You are quite the young man. :)

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  13. Such sweet pictures. Happy Birthday, Josh!

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  14. What an awesome testimony. He really is a miracle, and a very good looking young boy too.

    Happy belated birthday, Josh!

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  15. such a sweet post, and a happy happy and healthy birthday to you josh! beautiful pictures, thanks for sharing.
    *smiles*
    shelley
    http://iamstillstandingafterallthistime.blogspot.com

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  16. Hi, Veronica, thanks for stopping by - I appreciate it.

    And happiest of birthdays to Josh! Our son was quite premature, had a number of medical problems that kept him in intensive care for six weeks before he came home to us - as you may have figured out from my blog, we adopted our children.

    Today at 20, he's utterly amazing. A miracle indeed. And how I wish his family in Korea could get to know him as we have!!

    So sorry to go on, but this post just touched a heartstring!!

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  17. Wow, this story is amazing your son is a miracle. As I was reading your story it was like my own life. I have one son he is 2 and i have had three miscarriages. I know the feeling of checking for spotting and then having the feeling of here we go again. Happy belated birthday to your miracle son.

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  18. Happy Belated Birthday to Josh. I love all the creative artwork posts, especially the people dressed to blend into their background scenery. Still, my favorite is the story about your miracle baby. I have 3 babies, 7 and 4-yr-old twins and they are all miracles, aren't they? Thanks for stopping by my blog.

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  19. What an amazing story!!! What a Miracle! Hope he had a great birthday!!!

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  20. Love the baby pics! What a great post- I always enjoy reading about your family!

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  21. Very, very nice and thanks for sharing! Love the pictures for sure, and the story gave me goosebumps. My last baby was ceasarean so I guess I can relate a little. She was only born at 3 lbs. 2 oz. & had to stay at the hospital until she reached 4lbs. 8oz. It felt weird coming home with out my baby that's for sure, but had a few days to recoup! What a handsome young man he's turning out to be, and I'm sure you're very proud. Thanks again for sharing. Have a great day my friend, and stay healthy, be safe & don't forget that mask!

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