My pregnancy with Kevin was nothing like my pregnancy with Melissa. I was extremely tired and dragging throughout my entire pregnancy with him. I could not tolerate taking vitamins, although I forced myself to take them anyway. I got plenty of rest and ate well, but I still was tired. I was fasting to be home with my children during this time, but I used common sense and adjusted my fasting to meet my baby’s needs. We had flown to Louisiana to visit Jerry’s grandfather. He died while we were there. Jerry stayed for the funeral but I needed to get back for work. Melissa and I flew back from Louisiana alone. I was very tired. I got off the plane and drove the last two hours home. I went to work the next day and then to my doctor’s appointment. The doctor ordered me off work immediately. I was 7 months pregnant with Kevin and my blood pressure had skyrocketed. I had no one to take care of Melissa so I promised the doctor I would stay in bed until Jerry came home the following week. When he arrived home I was put in the hospital. My blood pressure was 190 over 150 when I walked into the hospital door. I stayed in the hospital for a week while they tried to get my blood pressure down. I woke up early in the morning sick and with heartburns. Later I realized it was my heart acting up but I did not know at the time. I called Jerry and had him get Melissa up, take her to daycare, and come to the hospital. I knew Kevin was going to be born that day. It was 7 weeks before his due date. Jerry arrived just as they were wheeling me into the surgical room for a C-section. When the heartburn would not ease up the nurses finally woke up my doctor who was asleep in the doctor’s lounge at the hospital. He came to check on me. When he walked into my room I was sitting on the side of the bed. Suddenly my nose just started pouring blood as if someone turned on a water faucet full force. It scared my doctor. They took me to surgery immediately. Later he told me that he was extremely frightened. He thought he was going to lose me, the baby, or both of us. I appreciate God having his hand over us that day.

Kevin was born without any fat. He looked like a swiveled up old man weighing in at 3 pounds and 5 ounces. He stayed three weeks in the hospital until he finally came home after gaining one pound. He was so tiny I could hold him with one hand. For a premature baby he did fine. My blood pressure settle back down and we both did fine. You can read more about Kevin in his section on this website. Melissa was tickled pink to have a brother, but once he came home from the hospital she got very jealous and wanted me to take him back. I told her that I would take him back to the hospital because she was there first if she wanted me too. She did. When she saw me packing his bags she changed her mind and decided that she wanted to keep him after all. That was the end of the jealousy. I don’t know what I would have done if she hadn’t changed her mind to deal with her jealousy because there was no way I was taking Kevin anywhere except into my arms like I did her.