After trying for a year and a half to get pregnant, using BBT, ovulation
prediction kits, and Clomid, we just stopped trying. On January 21,
1998, we found out I was pregnant! I determined that we conceived on
Christmas. What a wonderful gift from God! My whole pregnancy
progressed very well with no complications. I'm diabetic but it was
kept under good control. A few times when I felt a decrease in activity
I ran to the hospital and it always turned out to be nothing. The baby
was breech from the 32nd week on. It was planned to try and turn him in
the 37th week. My doctor did not feel confident that he could do it
because of the type of presentation he was in. So, I was looking at a
scheduled c-section for August 28, 1998.
I had my regular weekly office visit and a NST on August 12. They even
did an ultrasound just to have a look. He looked beautiful. His
heartrate was strong at 150 bpm. That was the last time I would see our
son alive.
On Friday, August 14, I woke up with a burning sensation and a tight,
rigid feeling in my belly. After resting a while longer, the burning
went away but not the rigid feeling. I also hadn't felt the baby move
in a while so I called my doctor. He said to come to the hospital and
get checked. Two nurses could not find the heartbeat with the doppler.
They assured me that this was common and the u/s would pick it up with
no problem. The doctor began to scan me and I watched the monitor. No
movement, no heartbeat, no nothing. Our sweet little baby was dead.
This just could not be happening. My labor was induced but after 36
hours, I was not progressing so a section was done on Sunday, August 16,
1998. Our beautiful son, Joseph Daniel Hill (Joey) was born asleep at
8:13 a.m. He weighed 9 pounds, 3 ounces, and was 20 inches long. He
had dark blonde hair and blue eyes. He was the perfect combination of
his father and myself. I have never felt the kind of pain I felt since
that Friday afternoon.
We laid our precious boy to rest on August 21,
1998. He sleeps next to his Great Aunt Billie Rose who only lived for
21 days. Our son will never be forgotten. His memory will live on in
our hearts and minds forever. The love he brought to us was like that
of no other. I feel I am a better person because of him. If I had
known how this would have ended, would I change it? The answer is this,
I would have rather had one breath of his hair, one kiss of his cheek,
one touch of his hand, than an eternity without it...ONE. We will see
our sweet "Turtle Man" in Heaven someday. We love Joey so much and miss
him more everyday. Until we all meet again, LOVE LIVES ON...
