We had been married for five years. We had purchased a home and we felt ready to embark on the dream of parenthood. Trying to conceive was hard but after a year, we were pregnant!
We were preparing with glee. Our friends and family were so happy for us. The first red flag happened at 22 weeks. I felt so drained of energy all of the time and wondered why? I had a friend who was 30 weeks pregnant and she went around her day like nothing. Shortly after this, I went for a doctor’s appointment and they thought their BP cuff was broken. My blood pressure was through the roof!
They sent me straight to the hospital for monitoring. I was admitted and put on a magnesium drip right away. There was nothing I would not do to help my baby. After a couple of days, I was let go but with a strong monitoring plan in place. My urine was monitored for protein. Sadly, after a couple of weeks with my protein in my urine getting higher and higher, it was determined that the hospital was the only safe place for my baby and I. I was closely monitored in the hospital. Daily blood draws and by 26 weeks our condition had deteriorated to the point that baby Josiah was safer outside of my womb than inside. My body had failed our baby!!! He was born on November 12th, 2003 via emergency C Section. His trajectory in the NICU is the hardest thing my husband and I have ever experienced. We understand true grief, now. Baby Josiah lived for 22 days in the NICU. He fought so hard. It broke our heart!!! We were completely devastated. Our marriage grew stronger but we could no longer live in that house that we were so joyfully preparing for him. We ended up moving states and starting a new life.
Two years later we adopted internationally and that was Josiah’s gift to another child. That same year, I got pregnant by accident. Preeclampsia DID rear its ugly head again but it came later and I am happy to report that Josiah’s brother- Jeffrey is with us today. He just turned 19 and we are so grateful for our million dollar babies, including our angel in heaven. Jeffrey means “a gift of peace”. And this is why we picked the name.