My Baby Story

In the style and tradition of the Discovery Channel, I give you, my “Baby Story”:

My husband and I met our first year as law school students at a keg party at Mr. Enough Already’s rented house. Then, he was known as the “Rooster” b/c of the picture in our law school face book in which his hair was styled in a manner that resembled the comb of a rooster. I was playing outside with his roommate’s dog, Dante, when the Rooster approached me to strike up a conversation.

Thereafter, I would waive at the Rooster when I would see him around the law school campus. He would smile, waive back, but never approach me for a conversation. What I didn’t know at the time was that the Rooster had had quite a bit to drink the night we met and he did not remember who I was. It was not exactly a love at first sight encounter.

One lonely night before spring break 1992, I called the Rooster after having had one too many glasses of wine while packing to leave for a trip. The Rooster was out with the boys at the time, so I left a message for him to call. Though the Rooster did not recognize my name, he looked me up in the “face book”, called me back and agreed to come over. The Rooster did not let on that he did not remember ever having met me before.

One thing lead to another, and we consummated our brief relationship on the first night (using a condom of course as all responsible adults should do). When I got back from my trip, the Rooster agreed to pick me up at the airport. After I met him at the Gainesville airport, we drove around to the parking lot to get my car. When we went to leave, the Rooster said “Look, I’ll distract [the parking attendant] while you blow through the gate.” It was then that I knew I’d found my soul mate.

We moved in together shortly thereafter. After a mediocre law school career for both of us, we managed to graduate December 1994. At this time, the legal market was flooded with wannabe lawyers b/c of the popularity of shows like L.A. Law and Law and Order. In Orlando, Florida, you could make more being an experienced paralegal ($32,000) than you could as a 1st year law school graduate ($28,000).

So, to build my resume, I moved to St. Louis to get my Masters of Laws in Taxation and the Rooster moved in with his brother and his wife in Philadelphia to attend a Masters in Health Care Law program. After the Rooster wore out his welcome in Philadelphia, he came to live with me in St. Louis and never went back, having completed only half the credits he needed for his Masters.

After eight years of non-wedded bliss, we finally decided it was time to tie the proverbial knot. October 29, 2000 was not the perfect day of happiness and culmination of our perfect love. Oh, it appeared that way, but the truth is, it was one filled with anxiety over hair, makeup, guests, ceremonies, relatives, and a big wedding dress that would not allow me to use the bathroom without a lot of help. Since I’ve vowed that the day I need help in that department would be the day I ask to be “put down”, I started restricting my fluid intake at 2 pm.

The months of planning leading up to this event were pure hell. At some point, I got into an argument with my mother’s husband b/c he declared it to be “too Jewish”. It’s like “hello? We are Jewish, it is a Jewish wedding ceremony…” But the day finally arrived and since I’d hired a wedding planner, the flowers were beautiful, the chuppa was beautiful and the venue was beautiful. Since I’d also hired a hair stylist and make-up artist, I didn’t look half bad either.

Everything went well up until dinner was over. The band sucked ass. The one my wedding planner originally suggested played blues and Motown; but according to mother’s husband was too “south side Chicago” (I guess a Midwestern expression for “black”?). Since he was paying the bill, and he’d lost out on the goyim theme he wanted, he got his way. I regret not standing my ground to this day. No one danced, and everyone left by 10:00.

After the reception, we left for our honeymoon suite at some hotel downtown that the wedding planner had arranged. The room was old and musty and smelled like mold. We left in a huff and checked in at the Adam’s Mark Hotel. The only thing that was good about this place was that they still had room service and we had a room overlooking the Arch. My husband then had to spend about 15 minutes unbuttoning each little button down the back of my dress before I could finally relieve myself after over 8 hours time.

Now that we were married, it was time to start a family. We made a half hearted attempt in December 2000, but decided after that, neither one of us was quite ready. Then, in spring of 2001, after having what was in hindsight an anovulatory period, I panicked and decided that I was in the early stages of menopause and we needed to get on with it. It’s almost funny now at how clueless I was. Almost.

So, we bought a small house in the summer of 2001 and I made an appointment with the OB/GYN to get clearance to get pregnant. Of course, we were stopped dead in our tracks when the doctor discovered that I had a massive fibroid tumor. Well, after a 2nd opinion, surgery, 2 miscarriages, and 1 ectopic pregnancy, that’s where this blog picks up. And you know the rest: unemployment, 5 aggravating medicated cycles (of which 2 were cancelled b/4 IUI), re-employment in Cincinnati, the passing of a couple of beloved pets, donor egg IVF, pregnancy, unemployment, re-employment in St. Louis, bed rest and that pretty much catches us up to where we are today…“After 3 failed pregnancies, years of trying, infertility treatment and a high risk pregnancy, a couple await the birth of twin girls.”

I'm 34 weeks and still waiting!!!

Comments

[Heather]

Thanks for the earlier background. Can't wait to hear the end (more like middle) of this story, but let's all hope that that's not for a few more weeks.

[Kris]

34 weeks is F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S !!! Congrats -- now get to 36 and you are in the clear.

[chris]

I'm glad for the background too. I almost thought you'd had the babies there for a moment. Wow. 34 weeks. I'm impressed.

Soon, babies, soon, you'll meet your parents.

BTW, the Rooster? Very North Florida. Sometimes I miss it.

[Thalia]

I too thought this was the birth announcement. Thank you for filling us in. What a time you've had. Keeping my fingers crossed for another two weeks cooking. Exactly how bored are you with the bed rest? And Mr Enough Already shaped up on the attitude yet?

[Emily]

I'm waiting with baited breath for the happy ending and you holding your babies in your arms. After all you've been through -- it's finally enough -- now time for smooth sailing.

[chee chee]

Thanks for sharing your story! Congrats on your pregnancy! Good luck for the final few weeks and delivery.

[RamonGustav]

I think you are not quite right and you should still studying the matter.

[Music_master]

I think you are not quite right and you should still studying the matter.

[Antivirus_man]

You write well will be waiting for your new publications.

[school_dubl]

Happy New Year! Happiness and success in 2011.