The Story of Jadon

As many of you know, Jamie and I have suffered several miscarriages during our marriage. While working as houseparents in Northern Virginia last summer, I had my fifth one. It was August 21st, and we were at a Christian camp in Maryland with the girls from the group home. On Wednesday night, approximately 80 troubled teens and all of the campus staff attended a worship service. Both Jamie and I felt it was a great opportunity for us to stand before everyone and talk about the suffering we had previously and were currently experiencing. Although it was difficult, through the tears, I was able to explain to the teens something they all knew too well, that life is hard. I told them that I wanted so much to have a baby with Jamie and to experience all that comes with a nine month pregnancy.

The sad truth was, however, that I, nor Jamie, had any idea if we would ever be able to have a baby together. I told them that we may need to look into adoption or foster parenting, in order to have a baby, and that would be fine because I had faith in a Great Big God who would give us our hearts’ desires, and He would do the same for them, if they would just have faith and hang in there. Life would still have its difficulties, but we have a hope in Christ that will carry us through those times. Many wondered why God would allow this to happen to us. The truth was I wondered myself sometimes, but it was worth it to have a strong testimony to share with all of those kids…

When we returned from camp, I went to what was supposed to be our first ultrasound, but it ended up being a check-up from the miscarriage. We saw the baby on the monitor, which was hard. There was no heartbeat of course, and the doctor said everything should be complete in a week or so, however, I stopped bleeding that day. It wasn’t until early October that I realized I might be experiencing complications from the miscarriage. It still hadn’t “completed” itself. I felt tired, a little nauseous, and my stomach seemed harder…my pants just weren’t fitting quite the same!

On October 18, 2006, we went to the doctor. She seemed very concerned that I hadn’t come in earlier. She ordered some blood work, and asked me to come back the next day. I was a little hesitant because Jamie had a dentist appointment the next day, so he wouldn’t be able to go with me, but I agreed. The next morning, I said to Jamie, “Either my body still thinks it’s still pregnant or I am pregnant. You don’t think I could be pregnant, do you?” We both knew that idea was crazy.

As I sat in the chair getting my blood pressure taken, I asked the nurse what the results of my blood work was. She said, “Well, your HcG level is 83,000.” My jaw dropped.

“I’m pregnant?!?”
“Yes. Very pregnant. The doctor is getting ready. Don’t worry, we’re going to do an ultrasound in just a few minutes.”

I was speechless. As I lay on the table, I laughed and cried at the same time. On the screen in front of me, for the first time ever, was a baby with a heartbeat!!! It measured eight weeks and three days old. You do the math. I had gotten pregnant two weeks after the miscarriage in August. I had no idea it was even a possibility! I thought it was complications…not another pregnancy!!! I immediately called my mom. I couldn’t wait! I had to tell someone, and I couldn’t tell Jamie over the phone. As soon as he got back from the dentist, I showed him the ultrasound picture. Needless to say, he was stunned!

Fast forward seven months…Jadon James Russell Salamanca was born on May 27, 2007. Since then, he has grown over six inches and now weighs almost 16 pounds. He was born with a full head of black hair, lost it all, and now has a full head again. He smiles, giggles, and has two teeth :) He has been rolling over for almost three months, lifts his chest off the ground, can sit up unassisted for short periods, and is beginning to lunge forward, while on his belly. He eats lots of fruits and veggies, cereal, and loves nursing from his mommy still :-) He loves to jump in his jumper, play with his ABC ball, and chews anything he can get his little hands on! His favorites are being outside, listening to Christmas jazz music, getting a bath from daddy, and listening to mommy sing. He has brought such joy to everyone in his family, and we can’t imagine a day ever existed without him :-)

Run's Coffee House

On October 17th, Jamie and I celebrated four years together as husband and wife ;-) We had just returned from our trip to West Virginia the day before. Before the trip, I remember thinking how nice it would be to spend our anniversary together with Jadon and our friends and family in WV. It was a wonderful trip for so many reasons, which I'll post at a later time...but with everything it takes to drive nearly 12 hours with a four month old, I had forgotten all about our anniversary!

At midnight, we had just laid down in bed. I, of course, was nursing Jadon. Jamie leaned over and said, "Happy Anniversary!" I kid you not, I laid there thinking, "What is he talking about? The anniversary of our first date is in May!" I was honestly confused!!! A few minutes later, it finally hit me! Duh! I felt like an idiot! (Everything you hear about pregnancy and memory loss is 100% true!)

When I got up to change Jadon's diaper early the next morning, I found a card and gift laying on his changing table. Jamie had wrapped the box in plain, white paper, and he wrote on it with black marker: "Cabin Fever Survival Guide." I put Jadon in his crib and opened my present and read my card. I cried and laughed at the same time. I've said this a thousand times, and I'll say it again, "MY HUSBAND GETS ME." If no one in the world ever understands who I am at my best and at my worst, he does...and he somehow loves me, inspite of it :-)

What he wrote in the card took me back to the times when we first started dating. With the slobber and/or throw up stain on the shoulder of my shirt, my hair an absolute mess, no makeup, dressed in unmatching pajamas, I felt wooed, and it was the best feeling I've had in a while ;-) I know regardless of how I look, how I act, how I feel, Jamie loves me for who I am. It's as close to agape love that I'll ever have here on this earth. (Then there's the whole issue of God's love for me...for us...that is triggered, when I say that, and...well, I could go on and on about how awesome that is...another time.)

So inside the crafty gift wrap was the Seasons 1 & 2 DVD of the show "Run's House," my most favorite show ever. It's like the Cosby Show, but a modern day reality. So this winter, when it's too cold to take Jadon outside, I have lots of episodes to keep me occupied...that is, of course, when Jadon's sleeping, the house is clean, and the laundry is finished ;-)

Obviously, since I had completely forgotten our anniversary, I hadn't bought Jamie a present or even a card. I didn't run out to get one either. I didn't want it to be a gift without thought, so that will come when it's unexpected...stay tuned, James ;-) I do want the world to know that I have the best husband ever! Jamie, you are so wonderful, thoughtful, so patient, and such an amazing father and provider...we love and appreciate you very much! Happy belated anniversary, James :-)

Jack-o-bubs

I was looking back over October's album on my computer, and thought so many other pics were worth posting. These pics were taken about a week before Halloween. I just love the way Jadon's eyes look in these! We're still not sure what color his eyes actually are...a mixture of mine and Jamie's, I suppose. Jamie's eyes are a very dark chocolate brown, while mine are blue with specks of gold.

I had bought the hat and bib a long time ago (back in February) on sale at the Carter's outlet, and almost forgot to put them to use. The only time Jadon actually wore them was for these pictures :-/ I guess we got our money's worth out of them :-)

Baby Chickens and Pageant Moms

Still trying to catch up to now...so last week we celebrated Jadon's first Halloween. We took his first picture in his baby chicken costume way back in early September....sooo adorable! He hadn't started eating solid food back then, so he really did have chicken legs just like his daddy ;)

We obviously weren't going to take him door to door for candy, so we opted for a costume contest at the Inlet Square Mall in Murrells Inlet. Jamie was off that day, so we lounged around most of the day, allowing Jadon to get lots of rest before the big event. Registration was from 5pm-5:45pm. We arrived as close to 5:45pm as we could, in order to eliminate any fussiness while we were there. He was so good!!! We put him in his costume in the parking lot, then put him in his stroller. He sat right up like he was supposed to be a chicken in a stroller at the mall...hehe. He never fussed at all, even with that fuzzy yellow hat on his head.

I told Jamie before we went in that I wanted him to go register Jadon because I didn't want anyone to think I was some kind of "pageant mom." After Jamie got him registered, they announced that the judging would begin at 6pm. I called my mom immediately because she was on her way there, but we had no idea it would begin so early. I was worried as we lined up because they still hadn't arrived. As I stood there in line waiting to go before the judges with over 25 other 0-4 year olds and their parents, I talked to the mom of another baby boy who was dressed as Eeyore. With only a few parents ahead of us, I saw a group of crazies waving to us ;-) Ladies and gentlemen, Jadon was the only child with a cheering section! There standing beside Jamie with a video camera was my mom, my step-dad, my mom's neighbor Sandy (Jadon's Ya Ya), and my sister (Auntie Em).

With the crazies screaming in the background, the announcer lady from STAR 92.1 announces live over the radio, "Awe, next we have a baby chicken! How old is he mom?" I tell her five months, and proceed to walk in front of the judges and wave Jadon's little hand at them, telling him to "say hi." So then the announcer lady says, "Looks like we have a future pageant mom here."

So, yeah, I wrote all of this to say (1) Jadon was the cutest baby chicken ever, (2) we are so blessed to have such a supportive family who loves him enough to drive 90 mph to make it to see him walk in a line of some judges at the Inlet Square Mall, and (3) I'M NOT A PAGEANT MOM...NOW OR EVER!!! I'm just a proud, new mommy, darn it!

Oh yeah, and by the way, Jadon made it to the top three in the 0-4 age category...either 2nd or 3rd place. By that time Jadon was fussy, hot and hungry, so we jetted outta there to head to the Outback Steakhouse where my sister's friend Kayce met us. I'm sure we really looked like sore losers, since we didn't stick around, once they announced a cute little turtle had won 1st prize, but as you can see from the pic below, Jadon just needed to eat, so oh well. Fun times!

Gone with the Wind

Before Jadon was born, we bought the cutest outfits at Baby Gap. As soon as I saw the outfits in the display window back in April, I was inspired to use them as a theme for our first official family portrait. We didn't know if Jadon was going to be a boy or girl, so we bought one of each, and planned to return the one we wouldn't need, once the baby was born. I knew I wouldn't want to take a newborn baby to the beach, and I would want to lose a few of those 60 pounds I gained(!!!), so we opted for the 3-6 month size.

Obviously, we returned the outfit for the little girl ;-) and Jadon had definitely grown into size 3-6 months clothes, but we had to wait for the weather to cooperate, before we could make our way to the beach. With lots of overcast days and a trip to WV last month, we didn't get to take pics until October 30th. We initially planned for Auntie Em to play photographer, but she had class until 5:45pm that day, so Gramma (notoriously known for cutting heads off people in pics) was the next best thing.

Everything seemed just right. Jadon was in a good mood. Jamie and I matched his adorable outfit from Baby Gap. The beach, waves, and sky were beautiful. But the wind!!! Oh the wind!!! No matter where we positioned ourselves on the beach in Pawleys Island, my hair was a disaster! I had a clip in the car, but we were all the way down on the beach, and I didn't want to risk going back to get it for fear that Jadon would become fussy. This was no ordinary wind; it was fierce! I'm going to swallow my pride and post the HORRIBLE, worst pics of the day. The one of me makes me laugh until I cry. I honestly get the 1st prize for worst face in a pic EVER! Then there is the prize for worst parent ever, when you see the pics of Jadon's eyelids blown back so far he can no longer see. Enjoy (she says, rolling her eyes):
But honestly, it wasn't all bad. My mom actually took some great pics, despite the circumstances. Below are two of my favorites: (1) Papa bear, Mama bear, and Baby bear and (2) one of Jadon first putting his feet in the sand and looking at a seashell. This was his very first trip to the beach, by the way, and he LOVED the sand on his feet. Sooo much fun! So many great memories...many hysterical because of the wind and the priceless expressions on our faces, and others because my mom played photographer. Such a scary thought, but she did great (as you can see below), and we are all so thankful to have shared the experience with her. Love you, Gramma!!!