My New Mission in Life

The day I found out I was pregnant, I was ecstatic! My husband, Carlos and I have been trying unsuccessfully for three years. Finally, we gave in and got a little help. Well, lets just say that with a lot of help of Jamaican Rum and a few of those pills, it was a successful mission! The day I was supposed to find out If I was pregnant was the day after Labor day. I was not in no mood to go to the Dr., but I went anyways. The docs usually have the results on the same day, but for some reason mine were not available on the same day. I was being a pessimist and I had already told my husband not to get his hopes up when, the following day I got the call, "Congrats, you are pregnant!" I was like yea right, check again. Well it was positive! So there I am knocked up and happy as can be! 2 weeks after the call I went for my first ultrasound, and there was Joaquin, how do I know, you will find out later. I was scheduled to go back in 2 weeks, so there I am 2 weeks later. As I walk in to the room, I am goofing with the ultrasound tech and told her that I was told it was one, and that Carlos wanted two, but he was crazy because my immediate family had no twins and the chances of having twins with this medication was 5%, so pretty much non-existent! So the tech said, "Well we will find out in a minute...," "Mrs. Jara, you are having twins!" I was so happy but at the same time I was terrified. I had no idea if I wanted to cry because I was happy or because I was scared!!!!! Everything after that was a blur and I was the happiest pregnant person alive, until my alpha-beta protein test.

Right between the first and second trimester, I was given a test to rule out any neuro-tube defects. I got it done, and so far all the test I had were coming back with good news. Well, not this one. "Mrs. Jara, it seems like one or both babies might have Spina Bifida." I was shocked, especially because since I knew I wanted to have children I made sure to take the prenatal pills and take care of my body as much as I could. I was sent for an ultrasound 2 weeks later and, they found the Lemon head shape on Louie, Baby number 2. My boys never changed position while I was carrying them, so I knew who was who. Plus according to the Ultrasound tech, Louie was conceived 24 hours after Joaquin. How do they know, I have no idea. So I am at the hospital, shocked and scared. Since it was pretty early, the OB did not want to diagnose because baby was still small and he had some growing to do. So, I did not own the news.

I go back around the 20th week, and it was confirmed. Louie has spina bifida, and the following were the words of the OB, "He has spina bifida, may we suggest fetal reduction. His quality of life will not be the greatest and you should consider the reduction. He may not walk, he may need a trach, he may have hydrocephalus, etc." I could not contain my emotions. I mourned my healthy baby for a week, but I made the decision that I was not going to give up on his life, and I was to proceed with the pregnancy. I was asked about the reduction 3 times, and all 3 times I declined. "Please do not ask me again!" I told the doc. I am keeping this baby and i will make sure he has the best life possible.

So after a week or so of crying, I got on gears, and researched as much as I can. Every night after I got home from work that was my mission, to educate myself on his condition. I joined a support group on babycenter.com that has been a lifesaver and such an advocate for Spina Bifida along with the reassuring words of a great and educated Spina Bifida Nurse (who lost her job because budgetary reason..DONT GET ME STARTED ON THIS!) Well, when it came time to the visits with the Spina Bifida team, I felt I was empowered! I was able to talk their language and my outlook on the quality of life for my son was immense!!! So I carried on with my pregnancy and prayed for the doctors to be wrong.

2 months later, Something unexpected happen. Joaquin and Luis pulled a fast one on me and decided I was going to do things on their terms. They started to alert me they wanted out!! On February 23, I was at work and I felt some contractions. I didn't pay any attention to them since I new it could happen. I went shopping after work, got some Popeye's' and went home. Once I got home the contractions got a stronger, I knew that wasn't a good sign but decided t go to the ER anyways to get checked out. I had a feeling it was nothing and I was going to get sent home on bed rest..man was I wrong!! I was 3 cm dilated and i was not going home until these boys were born..........