Recovery and Relapse

So my surgery went well when they finally did it. Things on Friday went wrong from the beginning. I was told to call first thing in the morning to get a time set up to go in. After waiting for 45 min on hold with the midwives office, they finally picked up my phone call. There was a new secretary filling in at the desk and didn't know how to pick the phones up from being on hold. So after her apologies I told her I was supposed to call back and get my time to do a D&C. She had no idea what was going on as she told me they don't do D&C's. When I then explained to her I knew that, I just needed the time that was scheduled with the doctor, she still didn't understand so I just had her page the midwife. I was told to sit tight as the arrangements were being made. At 11:30 I got a phone call from the hospital's surgical center asking the general questions of when I ate and drank last and told me to get ready because they would be calling me within the hour. After 2 hours passed I was starting to get sick. I had not had anything to drink for almost 12 hours at that point per my midwife's instructions of being ready for an earlier surgery. I called them back and told them I was starting to get dehydrated and feeling sick because of it. (I get dehydrated really easily. It's very difficult for me to even go without water for two meals on fast Sunday's.) I was instructed to come into the surgical center and get checked in so they could start me on an IV. We then went to same day surgery where the receptionist knew nothing of what was going on. I had to explain to her what was happening and what I was sent to have done. Then she asked me which doctor was doing the surgery. I was lucky that I knew the name but that was only because his nurse had called me earlier that day to also tell me to get ready for surgery within the hour right after the hospital called. The frustrating thing to me at this point was that with all the tests I did the day before and all the visits I had had to the midwives (who are also located in the hospital), I had to give all my information to every department. Every different place I went I had to give them all the same documents. Don't they had computers that can collaborate all that information? And also, why did I have to explain to everyone what was going on? When I had my visit with the midwife the day before, they told me it was urgent and that we had to do it on Friday and it couldn't wait. So why did I have to do all the chasing down and making sure everyone was informed about what was going on? I have not been pleased with the midwives I have been seeing.

We were then taken to a room where I changed into size XX clothes that they put out for me. (Did I really gain that much weight in the 3 months I was pregnant?) Kelvin laughed when he saw me because I was literally swimming in them. We were barely able to get the pants to tie in the front they were so huge. After the laughs and a few jokes the nurse came in and gave me my IV. It hurt when she put it in and stung the whole time. I later realized when my hand turned up all bruised that it was because the vein was blown. (Basically she went right through it) It still worked though and I'll count my blessings for that. We sat for a few hours and then we went into surgery at about 5:30. They had had a couple of trauma's come in and so the surgeries that were scheduled were pushed back. But they got me in, gutted me like a fish, and then got me out. It went smoothly and I felt good as soon as I woke up. My mom was there and took me home as Kelvin had to go to work right after I was awake and stable. Thank goodness for mom's. What would we do without them. The weekend went well, except that with all the excitement that past 2 weeks, we completely forgot that it was Stake Conference on Sunday. We found out about half an hour after it ended that we missed it. I was bummed because we were ready for church early and were ahead of schedule and our Stake has excellent Stake Conferences. But what could we do at that point. Monday is when it hit me. I hardly slept Sunday night because I was in so much pain and felt so sick. Monday was just a bad day. I am feeling better today but missed work once again. Tomorrow is the day I am counting on. I need to feel better tomorrow so I can get back to work and my life. It's funny how much you appreciate feeling good when you feel so bad.

Thanks to everyone who did so much for us! We really appreciate everything from the phone calls, to the dinners and treats, the company, the well wishes and the love yous! They all meant so much to us. A special thanks to my Mom who has been here when I needed her and let me laugh, babble or cry! She had to drive a little ways to get to us and came up whenever I needed her. I love you so much!

D&C; It's Not Just About Scripture!!

I tried to get an appointment 1 week after the miscarriage like the midwife wanted but the receptionist wouldn't squeeze me in. I had another appointment originally scheduled that happened to be 2 weeks after everything happened so I decided to wait it out and stuck with that one. Last week was terrible! I had horrible pain, muscle aches, muscle weakness, low grade fever's on and off and other things on top of it all. I missed so much work and school but this week has been a lot better. I was able to go back to work and school and thought things were finally getting back to normal. When I went into my appointment today, things appeared quite the opposite of normal to my midwife. After 2 hours of tests, I was finally released and about 45 minutes later I got a phone call when all the results were in and you guessed it.......I get to have a D&C tomorrow. I know this is a procedure that is done a lot and carries minimal risk to the patient, but I have to say I am a little nervous. I don't know what to expect or what's going to happen. I understand the general idea of it, but don't know any particulars. This is not something I have studied or am that familiar with so I guess I need to do a little homework tonight. At least this will be the end of it all and I should be back on my feet in a few days, or so they say. We are both so ready to have this all done and behind us. I just want to feel good again and am really hoping that this will help that to happen. So watch out, once this is all over those dancing shoes will come on and the party will start!!!!

Bad News Baileys!!

Unfortunately, on Friday morning we lost the baby. I wasn't feeling well on Thursday and called the midwives and was told to rest. By 5 am Friday morning I was having intense pain and bleeding. I called again at 7:30 and was told to come in as soon as they open which was 8:30. We went in and after a small chat and a look on their ultrasound (they couldn't see anything, the machine was very old) they sent us to the High Risk Pregnancy doctors down the hall. They did an ultrasound and confirmed that I was having a miscarriage. In fact they told us that by the look of things, the baby had probably died a couple weeks ago and that it was just cleaning itself out now. As this was the third miscarriage we have gone through, you can imagine we were pretty upset by the news, but we held our cool together (except for a few unavoidable tears from me during the final ultrasound).

As we told our families on Friday morning that we were going in and that there were some possible problems, they all started to pray. As our extended families started finding out they all dropped to their knees and started praying for us. The news spread to Chile fast and our sweet little cousins and their parents also were on their knees. We literally had an army of people pleading with the Lord on our behalf at the same time. Because of these prayers we were blessed and helped through this trial of ours to go as smoothly as possible. During the ultrasound there was a good piece of the sac left and so they started talking about our options, surgery or a pill that they now have to clean things out. After the minute it took to tell us about these options, she started looking at the ultrasound again and almost gasped! We asked what and she told us that the sac had actually moved from the top to the bottom and was going to expel itself naturally. She couldn't believe it, she said she had never seen that happen before. This is a miracle to us that came by the power of prayer! Because of this small blessing, I was saved from a lot more pain and a longer recovery. Never underestimate the power of prayer!

We are doing as well as expected. My pain is lessening and I am able to do a little more each day. Hopefully by Wed I will be able to go back to work and school. We also have our good moments and our bad moments emotionally, but for the most part we like to focus on the positive. There are blessing that will come out of this that we probably don't even know yet. There is a quote we have hanging on our wall that says "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...It's about learning to dance in the rain." With all the ups and downs we experience in this life, we have each other. What more could we ask for? Our marriage has been incredibly strengthened through this trial as we have clung to each other and the Lord. Experiences come and go, some are good, some are hard. I just hope that this one is one where we have learned to dance in the rain!

Musing of a Soon-to-be-Father

Well I haven't written in quite some time and I suppose it's time for me to write again.

It feels pretty crazy to think that I could be a dad, it's one of those things that you always plan for and never quite expect to happen. I am so grateful for the wonderful example that I have had all my life. I think I've probably had the best dad ever. I know a lot of people say that, but I really feel like it's been true for me. I can remember when I was little, my dad taught me to respond to the question, "Why are you so cute?" by saying, "because I look like my daddy!" Probably from that day I've tried to be like him. I would try to tell jokes like him- much to my little sisters dismay- I wanted to be as good at bowling as him, and be as strong in the gospel as him. Well if I am ever good enough to be asked the question, "Why are you a good father?" I will know that the response is, "because I'm just like my daddy!" I love my father so much, and he's been so great to me always willing to sacrifice to spend time with me and teach me. He has always supported me in any goal I ever had, ready with good advice if I ever needed it. Sometimes I wonder if I'll ever be able to measure up to a great man like him, I am so proud to have been named after him, Kelvin Bailey. He has taught me what it is to be a man, both my doctrine and by example.

I am so grateful for my wife as well and the wonderful woman that she is. Always ready with a joke and one of her beautiful smiles. She's going to be a great mother, she has so much love in her! Not to mention she's a wonderful cook, even if sometimes she "burns" things (they are actually not burned at all ;) ). We have both been blessed with wonderful parents. I pray that we, too, will be able to follow in their example. Life is crazy but I'm glad I have Emilee by my side to help me as we get ready to enter a new stage of our lives, and I'm glad of the examples that have been set by our parents.

I have to say that one of the things I'm most looking forward to are Saturday morning cartoons with the little guy/girl. At least that way I won't feel so guilty for enjoying them so much, not to mention all the LEGO's I can finally justify buying. Don't worry mom, I'll start 'm off on Duplos, just like I was. I know it's not all going to be fun and games, but I figure the more of it we put in there the less room there is for all the rest.

SURPRISE!!!

So we have been waiting for a while to make the announcement but considering I am almost in my fourth month, I guess it's time to tell everyone who doesn't already know (which is pretty much most everyone) that we are pregnant!!! It was a TOTAL shock when we found out considering that we weren't planning or trying for kids just yet, but as the shock has worn off we are getting excited. It all started one day when I wasn't feeling well at work. (Well, to say not feeling well is an understatement.) I thought I had an infection and so went home. I was going to take some medication before I went into the doctor but my doctor had told me a while back that even if I didn't think I was pregnant, I should check before I took this particular medicine. (He gave me enough to last a while) So when I left work sick, I dutifully took a pregnancy test before I took the medicine (which I never ended up taking). It turned up negative just like we thought. That is until I went into the bathroom a couple hours later when I saw it in the garbage can, it was positive! I called to Kelvin and we then read the instructions which we failed to follow before....."wait 3 min". So while we tried to stay calm, we went to the store and got a couple more tests. I took another one the following morning and believe me we waited the full 3 min. It was positive once more. I thought this can't be, my doctors told me I would need to do fertility treatments to have kids and here I am pregnant? So I waited a whole week and on the 9th took another test and sure enough, that pregnant line popped up faster than the other one, no waiting required! I kept saying that they must be wrong and Kelvin would just laugh and say 3 tests were wrong? We made an appointment and they verified the pregnancy with the first prenatal exam. I was really sick when a month and a half struck and it stayed for 4 weeks! I was so nauseous I thought I could die. But it went away after that and I haven't been sick since. Our second appointment we got to see the baby's heart beating. The angle was bad and the baby was hiding so all we saw was the heart beating for just a moment on the ultrasound, but we did see it! That was when things started to feel a little more real to me. Right now I am 12 weeks which is 3 months. They count 5 weeks for the 3rd month before you exit the first trimester, so just 2 more weeks for me and I will be done with the first third of my pregnancy. We figured it was safe enough now to tell people and I probably won't be able to hide it much longer anyway. Crazy!! But we have to face it sooner or later, there will be a little Kelvin or Emilee in the world come Sept 5 of this year!


Can you tell that I am just scared out of my mind in this picture and don't really know what to think or do?

Birthday Party!

This weekend we celebrated my brother Matt's 15th birthday and our niece Samantha's 1st birthday. We had a lot of fun and it's crazy to think of my little brother getting so big! He has passed me in height by a good few inches and is a teenager in almost every way. (I say almost because he will still hug me and tell me that he loves me which is not something every teenage boy will do, especially in front of their friends.) We have such a special relationship and I just love the kid so much!


Sammie opening her presents....Well trying anyway! I think the wrapping was more fun to her at first.



Matt and his presents



You know you are a Wager when you want Pie instead of cake for your birthday




What is it about kids and chocolate all over their faces that is so cute?




So we had a good time with the family even though Kelvin wasn't able to make it to the party. He had to work and couldn't find anyone who would trade shifts with him.

I got a new calling in church on Sunday, the 2nd counselor in the Primary Presidency. I am excited but have my work cut out for me. There are a few issues in the Primary that might be a little challenging but I am excited for the oportunity to try to help and hopefully make a difference.

We are enjoying this time of life with each other and good friends and family.

Christmas and New Years Catch up!

So the blogging thing has gotten a little away from me lately. But no worries, I still live to tell another tale! When Christmas was approaching we got a phone call from Kelvin's family saying that his dad had a large aneurysm near his heart and would have to have open heart surgery. He had open heart surgery about 10 years ago and it didn't go so well. Needless to say we were all a little worried. We were not planning on going to Texas for Christmas because we couldn't get work off. When this situation presented itself the Monday before Christmas, I went right to my boss and explained the situation. After a little deliberation, they finally decided to let me have off Christmas Eve and the day after Christmas. Kelvin got off work without a problem and on Tuesday night at about 9 pm we left for Texas. It was a long drive but we both felt strongly that we needed to be there for Christmas. We completely surprised his parents and the look his dad gave us was priceless! Both Kelvin's sisters were in on the surprise and so excited that we were going to come for Christmas. We had a wonderful Christmas and were so blessed to be able to spend some time with his family.

New Years was a fun night! Us, along with two other couples decided to go dancing to ring in the new year. We had dinner at one of their houses and after a little deliberation on where to go, we finally left. We danced for a couple of hours and had a great time. We would have danced longer but they were really only playing hip hop music which gets old after a little while. We got a few country and salsa dances in there but other than that it was mostly just hip hop. It was still a lot of fun and a great new years! We made some new years resolutions for our little family and are excited for this new year.

To wrap up my catch up email, Kelvin's dad (aka Texas dad) had his open heart surgery last Thursday and although it took a little longer than expected, it all went as planned. The surgeon was skilled and knowledgeable and the recovery thus far has been incredible. He is doing so well and we couldn't be more pleased. We have prayed and prayed for the surgery and his recovery and we all have been truly blessed by the Lord for the gift of having him with us a little longer.


Here is us on New Years!