Calvin's story

My entire pregnancy seemed to be an up and down ride. Everytime it started to seem like everything was going well, another obstacle was put in our path ... right down to the very last min. when we finally had our baby boy and everything was perfect. Let me explain.

I got called to be the Enrichment Counselor in Relief Society in Oct. of 2006. First, this was a very big and scary thing for me; a major jump out of my comfort zone. Everyone else in the presidency seemed to be having HUGE trials. In Nov. we found out I was pregnant. This was wonderful news. It was mostly planned ... it just happened RIGHT AWAY instead of taking a few months like it had in the past. My due date was July 23rd (my sister, Tiffany's birthday). As you read on, you'll see how my due date played a huge part in the ups and downs through it all. But Heavenly Father sure knew what He was doing because our prayers were definitely answered.

--Obstacle #1 We found out Glen would be getting deployed. That's when my turn for the presidency trials began. We thought he was leaving on a 4 month deployment in April with my due date smack dab in the middle and I'd have to have this baby w/out my husband by my side (this is #4 by the way).

--Triumph #1 Glen wasn't getting deployed for 4 months, but for 6 months. On the plus side, he wasn't leaving until the beginning of Aug. which left him home for the birth.

--Obstacle #2 I got my ultrasound and they pushed my due date to Aug. 5th. Glen would be gone by then.

--Triumph #2 Glen found out he was going to a 2 1/2 month training at Fort Riley, Kansas. Not so exciting, but there would be a 2 week break between training and going to Afghanistan. My dr., Major Rensch, said she'd do what she could do to get the baby here when Glen was home. Since Andrew and Izzy were both a week early and healthy, it's a good possibility. Glen also applied for a 2 week waiver which would extend his stay between training and heading out and hopefully have him home for this baby for sure.

--Obstacle #3 Glen got to Kansas 2 weeks early. They changed the dates for his training and didn't notify him in time. Crazy military.=) The good news, he got to come back home for 2 more weeks (even though we'd already gotten through the goodbye's and were in the "he's gone" mode). Bad news meant the training was extended for 2 more weeks so he may not be able to come home between the training and deployment.

--Triumph #3 We were so blessed. Glen got to training and found out there were 3, 4-day weekends scheduled and he'd be able to come home (on our bill, but it would be and was definitely worth it). The last one scheduled was for the 4th, so that was too early for an induction, but definitely nice to get him home for some weekends. One of these weekends, we were able to visit Dane (Glen's brother) and Jenn to see the birth of their 3rd child Porter. That's a whole different story, and it was nice to be there with them. This was the day she went in for her Cesarean. I still have 3 mths. to go. Why do we look the same bellywise.=) --Obstacle #4 We still haven't heard about the waiver. We're starting to assume it's not going to happen. I got a phone call from Maj. Rensch (my dr.) saying that my ultrasound showed a low-lying placenta. If it stayed low, it would mean a Cesarean. This was a Thurs. and I had an ultrasound scheduled for the following Tues. I did not want to have to deal w/ a surgery w/ Glen gone. How would I do this? I called my home teachers to stop by and give me a priesthood blessing. Aaron Andrews was at a meeting but his wife would have him stop by on the way home. Turned out it was an Elder's Quorum Presidency meeting and a group of the men had carpooled. So, 4 of these men showed up on my doorstep to check up on me (Aaron Andrews (my h.t. and EQ secretary?, Alan Kent (pres), Shane Leavitt (1st couns.), and Mike Ballard (not sure his calling). Anyways, they gave me a wonderful blessing and I knew that no matter what, everything would work out. Glen also fasted that I'd be fine. He said he'd rather miss the birth and know that I was o.k. and not dealing w/ a surgery situation. There were lots of prayers from me and friends. My v.t. stopped by out of the blue that day (before the blessing) cuz one sister (Sari Livingston) randomly called looking for a phone #. She could tell by my voice I wasn't o.k. and knew that Aurie was my companion. So the 2 of them stopped by that evening and sat on my living room floor folding a huge pile of laundry. I knew I wasn't in this alone.

--Triumph #4 The ultrasound came back with great results. The problem fixed itself. Whew!!!

--Triumph #5 Glen got a surprise 4-day weekend scheduled for July 14th-17th. This would mean the baby would only be 3 weeks early. If worse came to worse, I could be induced Mon. the 16th and he'd leave the 17th. But he'd be home.

--Triumph #6 I had a dr. appt. Wed., July 11th. Glen would be home that weekend and we could possibly be induced if things were looking well. I'd been praying all morning that there would be good news, and there was. I was at a 4 and 80% effaced. Major Rensch stripped my membranes in hopes that I could have this baby on my own w/out induction while Glen was home. She put in my paperwork that I was only at a 3 so that if I did start having contractions and they saw that I'd progressed to a 4, they'd possibly keep me. I talked to Glen on the phone that afternoon and when he found out how far along I was, he talked to some people and got a flight home that night a whole 2 days early. He was going to be home almost a whole week and with how far along I was, we were sure this baby was going to come on it's own. It seemed too perfect and that our prayers had been answered.

--Obstacle #5 It's getting to the final countdown. No contractions all weekend despite all efforts being made to have baby. One night I had some contractions and went in to Labor and Delivery. They hooked me up to the monitor's for about an hour, but since I hadn't progressed past the 4, they sent us home. It was getting closer and closer to Glen going back to training for good. We wanted to have this baby while Glen was home, and not just the day before. We wanted me to be home from the hospital and let him have some time with the baby, etc. The days kept passing, yet nothing. My faith was wavering.

--Obstacle #6 Before Glen had come home this last time, I'd made some phone calls to find out what I could about this waiver. Glen had applied for it 3 months before, but still no word. I talked to Donna Alley (the Colonel's wife) and asked if she knew who I could talk to. She said she'd mention it to her husband and have him see what he could do. I didn't hear anything back from them, so I went in to Glen's boss, Maj. Canales, to see what he could find out. That day both he and Donna called. Maj. Canales said that everything had been done on our end. We were just waiting for someone in Afghanistan to approve it. At this point, I was o.k. with a "no" answer. I just didn't want to find out after he got to Afghanistan that he could've stayed home for 2 more weeks. That happened w/ his Ft. Riley training. What was to say it couldn't happen again. Col. Alley either made a phone call or sent an email to the person in charge of Glen in Afghanistan to see if he knew what was going on. Didn't get a response.

--Triumph #7 Sat. (July 14th, just a few days before Glen was going back to training and not coming back for the next 6 months), Glen got an email from the person he was supposed to be replacing (they'd been in contact a few times). The guy said, "Congratulations, I heard you got your waiver." What? We hadn't heard anything. My only thoughts are maybe Col. Alley's request finally made it through.

--Mon. morning, 8 a.m. was my dr. appt. We went in for the appt. and Maj. Rensch requested that I come see her upstairs at labor and delivery. When we got there, jokingly she said to me, "you've been having contractions all morning right!" Then to the nurses she said that I have fast deliveries (which I do) and last time I almost didn't make it to the hospital (this was to help keep me in there. Last time I was already in the hospital when they broke my water, but about an hour and a half later, Alexandra was born. I do have a fear that one of these days I'll have a baby in the car or the Walmart parking lot.=) They were going to hook me up to an IV and get this show on the road, but we told her Glen might be home after all. We just needed to go check it out. She sent us on our way and told us to come back w/ the news.

--We went across the street and Airman Cruz made a phone call. Sure enough, Glen was approved for the waiver. He's scheduled to leave in a week and they're finally saying yes he can be home for an extra 2 weeks. The news couldn't have come any closer. If we hadn't gotten that email ... If we hadn't gone and checked ourselves ... Wow! That was close.

--Triumphant ending--Glen went back to Ft. Riley Tues. morning. We were worried that after all this work, this baby might come before he came home that weekend. My Aunt Fay drove up w/ my cousin Sterling Tues. afternoon (just a few hours after Glen left) and stayed til Glen came home Fri. night (they left Sat. morning). There were a few times that my Aunt thought I was never going to be able to hold out til he got home, but we made it. He was now going to be home til Aug. 5th (my due date).

--We tried everything we could to get this baby to come early. Nothing! I was starting to worry that this baby wasn't going to cooperate.

--July 31st I had a dr. appt. I was at a 5 but no contractions. I told her we were ready to have this baby today. I did not want to go home w/out a baby. I was at a 5 w/ Alex (my 3rd child) and went home hoping things would progress on their own, only to come to my appointment the next week at a 6. They finally said, "Let's break her water." This time, we only had 5 days left before Glen had to leave. This baby needed to come today. Maj. Rensch called upstairs to find out they had only one postpartum bed available. Then she had to talk to the head dr. to get it approved. (He must've been off duty the other time when she didn't need approval?) Being that my labors are fast and easy w/ no complications looked very favorable. Also that my husband was leaving was very favorable. So, 5 days earlier than my due date, they finally sent me upstairs for good.

Maj. Rensch broke my water at 3:10 p.m. I'd had some contractions, but nothing major. An hour later, I hadn't progressed and my contractions were still too sporadic so she put me on a LITTLE Pitocin. That did the trick. At 5 something (I'm forgetting details here), it was time to start pushing. Maj. Rensch had Glen dressed in a gown and got him some gloves so he could deliver the baby. Yep, he delivered our baby. After all this time, we didn't think he was even going to be home for the birth and he got to do the actual delivering. Calvin finally made his appearance into this world and Glen was able to be part of it. After all the obstacles we'd been forced to face, the ride finally over and was absolutely worth it. Never had I felt closer to my Heavenly Father than through all the prayers during those few months. Never had I prayed so much and so sincerely in my life. Anytime I thought about having a baby, it was time to pray. If Glen was home and mentioned anything about a baby, it was time to pray. And I believe that because of all those prayers, Glen was able to be home. We have truly been blessed.