Of course I remember like it was yesterday. January 15th 2018. I had just gotten back from Las Vegas for an adjusters conference. When (my sister in law and I) were in Vegas, I remember trying to put my boots on and couldn't because my feet and legs were just that swollen. I thought it was normal and we laughed at what a struggle my pregnant self was having. On day while we were there I woke up and my whole face was so swollen! I stayed i the hotel room until it when down a little. When I got back home I was on the Facebook video chat with my cousin. I was being very expressive and using my hands. She stopped me from talking and said "Tajshina let me see your hands!" I held up my hands so she could see. They were so puffy and swollen. She said "why are your hands so fat"?, and "I said that's part of the pregnancy isn't it?" She said, no, your hands should not be that swollen, your ankles yes but your hands shouldn't be that puffy, "you need to get that checked out". I didn't know... I had researched everything from birthing centers, to what exercises to do while pregnant. But I hadn't really researched the different changes and things that I needed to look out for. I was eating VERY well and doing pregnancy exercises I had found on Youtube. I was even reading a few books. One was "Gentle Babies" an essential oils guide for pregnancy and babies, and "What to expect when your expecting". Mind you I was just four months pregnant so I hadn't finished either book. She told me I needed to get that checked out. I noticed that the day before I wasn't feeling too well. I was EXTREMELY tired and fatigued to the point where I had gone to the grocery store, couldn't get out of the car so I just sat there and next thing I know when I WOKE up, the sun had gone down. I said omg I fell asleep. But something was off, really off. And I knew it. I could feel it. Something told me to check my blood pressure. This was a Sunday. I checked it and it was way too high. I don't even remember what it was but I had to get it down and fast. I'm a naturalist so to me, anything can be cured, eased, or minimized naturally. I went home and took out all of my books about high blood pressure. I read and prayed. The books advised to eat raw fruits and vegetables. So I went to the store again and bought things that would help lower the blood pressure. When I got back home I had juiced a bunch of celery, cucumbers and beets, put beans in the crock pot and made some vegan nachos! LOL. I was determined. I ate and went to sleep....
The next day, a Tuesday I had a doctors appointment, the nurse came in and did the usual, and then she checked my blood pressure. She said "um let me try again.." I was like ok? She went and got the doctor and the doctor said (so calmly) "Mrs. Jones your blood pressure is too high, I'm going to have to call an ambulance" I immediately started crying because I knew something was wrong,very wrong,I also knew that everything I had worked hard to keep from happening was now happening. I had never been admitted to a hospital none of that. They wheeled me out of the office (still crying) and loaded me in the ambulance. They checked my pressure again and asked me if I had dizziness or a headache, but I didn't. The paramedics were surprised that I had no symptoms and they even told me I should've had a stroke! (but GOD). I fell asleep and woke up in a hospital in Mesquite. By this time I had texted my husband who was in Michigan on business for a week. I had no idea what was going on. So a nurse comes in, gives me something that made my whole body seem like it was on fire, sticks a tube (up there) and tells me from now on I have to pee in a bag.... I ask what is going on and she says " we're going to transfer you to the best hospital in Dallas to deliver your baby". I said huh?? She said " oh they're great, they have the best NICU in Dallas". I couldn't speak, but I had so many questions like why was she talking about delivering a baby???? I was four months pregnant. Again I couldn't TALK, everything was literally happening so fast, I was drugged, scared, confused and alone. So she monitors me until I fall asleep. When I woke up there were two nurses and two paramedics in the room telling me it was time to go...
I doze off on the way to Medical City Dallas. When I woke up they were wheeling me through the door. They were so nice and I remember thanking God for the way they were treating me and helping to keep me calm. The nurse was right, in my opinion they were the best. I felt safe and like they cared. Even though it was a very difficult and scary situation. So they get me to a room where I had to be watched around the clock. The nurse couldn't leave my room. They told me that the medicine (the burning one) might make me sick. Minutes after they told me I threw up, I felt miserable
By this time it had been hours, my initial doctors appointment was at 10 AM and it was already 5PM. I'm still confused, still don't know what to think or do! Nobody is telling me anything but they're being really nice!! Well I was fed up already with the niceness and I needed answers. I was finally able to put on a brave face and ask the lady what was wrong with me? She told me that they were trying to get my blood pressure down (with the medicine) and the doctor would be in to see me in a few. I said a few WHAT?? Hours, minutes? What's going on, she calms me and says soon. So I wait, doze off and wait. I'm getting hungry and thirsty, she tells me I can't eat or drink.....!!! "Um, when"? she says for a while.... A while turned into two days....
Meanwhile my husband called his mom to tell her what happened. She and my sister in law came to see me. I'm still waiting for answers I told them. My mother in law assured me I would be fine. She said she had gone through the same thing. I said WHAT? Then what is it?? She said well they are going to try to get your pressure down and if they can't then they will deliver the baby. WAIT... WHAT?? She says "oh you'll be fine" "I had a preemie baby". I said a WHAT baby?? Ok look rewind... why are these people telling me about having this baby 28 weeks?? I AM NOT ready to have (her) and she's not ready to come OUT! Yes she, the sonogram said I was having a girl...smh. ANYWAY second... I am suppose to deliver this baby at a birthing center!! You know the one with candles all around and soft music???!!! Yeah THAT! I'm suppose to be at one of those in FOUR MORE MONTHS. But she nonchalantly brushed it off yes, what seemed like a brush off to me. I later realized it was her confidence and faith in God that made it seem like a brush off. She had been through it, she lived, the baby is doing well and has grown into a beautiful, successful grown woman. So you see God had her to go through that over 20 years ago because He knew I would be her daughter in law and He knew that I would need her type of faith at moment and through out the whole situation. So she and my sister in law stayed until they were put out of my room literally for making me laugh. The nurse told them the laughing and joking was making my pressure go up lol she was looking out for me and she was right it was going up was but at that moment I needed them, I needed to laugh. So they said their goodbyes, and the room was lonely again.
(June 18, 2019)