After having my baby girl Alexis in 1996, I knew that I didn’t want to have another child until she was at least in kindergarten…having two children home all day and in diapers, was something I did not want to have to go through.
Alexis reminds me so much of myself and more and more each day of her daddy; with her strong will and need for being right. She has a heart of gold. She brightens the darkest of rooms with her quick witted personality and hysterical humor! Her heart longs to help those in need and often carries others burdens. She is a problem solver. When someone is in need or hurting, she does her best to fill their needs.
Learned New Years Eve of 2001, I was with child. Nervous? Yes, but excited to embark on this new journey with Jace and Alexis. Alexis was tickled pink that she was soon to become a big sister! Jace, he was skeptical and nervous. We knew this was in God’s Plan and not ours, as the timing didn’t seem right. I was seventeen weeks into my pregnancy. Alexis was super excited to go to the doctor with me so that she could hear her sister’s heart beat and see her for the first time in a sonogram. I’m lying on the exam table, we are both excited. The sonogram begins. The tech tells us she is a girl as we watched the screen. The tech grew nervous and silent. She left the room and returned with another tech and then later she brought in the doctor. No one was saying anything to me. They didn’t answer me either. The doctor comes in and states (in front of my baby girl Alexis); “I’m sorry, but your baby does not have a heartbeat. You are going through a miscarriage. Your baby has died.”
Seventeen weeks along…feeling my baby girl in my abdomen, relationship has already been established, I’m completely in love and I haven’t even met her yet.
Alexis looks at me and the doctor and begins to cry. The doctor left the room to give us some privacy. We held each other and cried for some time. The drive home that day was long. It was devastating.
We didn’t have a concrete name for her as we just learned our baby was to be a girl. Though Mercedes seemed fitting.
The doctor said we should wait for at least a year to try again. After what had happened I was unsure if I even wanted to try this again. So I focused on my health. On July 8th of 2001 our son was conceived. It wasn’t until August that I realized that something had changed within me. Very skeptical and scared to believe that I could be pregnant again. I had Jace go with me to our first heart beat and sonogram appointment.
Here I am, on the exam table, the monitor is on…I look Jace in the eye…his hand met mine, fear reigned within me…Jace’s presence helped me remain calm. As the doctor seeks the heartbeat, tears fill my eyes, our Baby’s heartbeat was strong and beautiful!! The sonogram proved he was to be our first son. He looked incredible on the sonogram screen too!
Alexis waited in anticipation for our return to learn of what was hopefully Great News! We shared with her the news of her soon to be Brother. She leaped with Joy, Jace and her hugged my growing belly, talking to him frequently, sharing with him, how they cannot wait to meet him and show him how much we love him. Alexis spoke often of how she was going to be the best sister in this world!
Our Alec grew well and very healthy. He was my active lil’ man. My pregnancy was a dream pregnancy. The Lord had blessed me with what child-birth should be…The due date was approaching quickly! Still very much active! Until one morning when, he hadn’t moved all night. I called labor and delivery, they instructed me to drink a large glass of orange juice, in which I had already done and lay down for thirty minutes. Still no movement. They asked me to come in. I drove down to UMC L&D by myself. They brought me back, hooked my belly up to another sonogram. My mid-wife entered the curtain and began the sono. She asked me lots of questions. She was more than I could ask for in a doctor!! During the sono, she learned that my lil’ man was grabbing his umbilical cord and cutting off his own oxygen supply, causing him to lose movement and possibly worse things…she then made the decision to induce. She asked me if it was ok that she call Jace and explain what was going on. Jace arrived about an hour later, looking concerned…causing me to be concerned. Contractions began. Oh did they begin. They gave me an oversized room, nice radio to listen to my country music; beautiful panoramic views of Mount Lemmon…Mama & Daddy arrive. Mama was amazing at helping me rotate and breathe through my contractions; she helped me laugh and massaged me with my nurse. It was truly a moment to remember. Four hours go by. I’m at seven cm. Our lil’ man decided to turn sunny side up, causing back labor. That was when I made the decision for some pain relief. My anesthesiologist was heaven sent. He did his job with perfection! I was numb to the pain, but was still in control. Life was good!
Right after that, my blood pressure dropped so rapidly that all of a sudden I was placed on oxygen and the room was full. Through all of that, my water broke, while laying on my right side, seven pushes later, our “Alec” came into this world! He was absolutely beautiful! He was happy, content and immediately latched on for nourishment like a pro!
I never truly believed that I would be blessed with a boy. So when they all shouted, “it’s a BOY!” I balled!! My heart was filled with JOY.
Alec is a healthy lil’ man with all of his fingers and toes :) He weighed 8 pounds 12 ounces and was 21 5/8” long.
Just looking at My sweet Alexis, I knew she was relieved to know that her lil’ brother was alive and well. Her eyes met mine and together it was as if our hearts danced.
Grandma & Grandpa Scharpnick joined us too! Pure Joy from Heaven filled the L & D room that day.
Later that evening, Jace, Mama, Me and Alec were alone in our room. For a moment, I felt as though each one of us thought of our baby girl who danced in Heaven when her lil’ brother came into this world a few hours prior. We smiled and continued to gaze upon our handsome new addition.
Praising and Thanking our Lord for His Unconditional Love and Grace. Alexis and Alec, like most siblings, have their moments…but, we are blessed by their relationship. They make loving one another look so easy. They comfort one another in times of sorrow; they create an atmosphere of complete laughter, enjoying the audience, bring much joy to those around them. Alexis is an amazing big sister, I couldn’t have asked for anything better! Alec, being the lil’ brother, He acts as a big brother when sissy is in need of one. A blessing only the Lord knew we needed.
& Until we meet again...when I dance, I will carry you with me. Forever. I love you Mercedes.
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