The Front Porch Swing

[LeslieDJoyce]

LJ, hit me with a few wet noodles.  I completely flubbed your pun.  Sorry. 

Lisa

It wasn't a very good pun. And my spelling is bad enough to confuse things. I'm always typing bowl as bowel ... that's subliminal, probably. Family history of colon cancer so lots of bathroom jokes here.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

Tell him it's Asian corn pone...he'll love it! 

*I* love it!

I made myself hungry with the raisin & honey idea.

 

[Blooie]

Okay, I'm back from Powell and I did promise a story. Everyone got their drinks? Snacks? Tissues? (definitely tissues this time) Been to the potty room? All cozy on your swing, bucket, or porch rail? Then let us begin:

Once upon a time there were 3 bears....oh, wait. Wrong story. Lemme turn the page here. Ah, there we go.

Once upon a time there were three kids - amazing little critters - two girls and one boy. But our middle daughter has a mental illness that caused her no end of pain once puberty hit. It's called "Borderline Personality Disorder" and it can rip a family to shreds if you let it. I constantly reminded myself of two things...the times I loved her the least were always the times she needed me the most, and she didn't want to live the way she was living either. If she could have been any other way she'd have thrived. But it's a nasty mental illness. The good periods are fantastic. She's funny, and warm and talented. She can walk into a room and light it up like summer sunshine. But the bad times are ugly, and that's all I'm going to say about that.

She married her first husband, and they soon found out they were going to be parents. Jamie was born in May 1989, the only one of triplets to survive. She got through it. Another pregnancy followed and Lacey was stillborn at just under 7 months gestation. She got through it but her marriage didn't. She remarried and she and her new husband lost two more babies. She got through those too. So when she came to us and told us she was expecting again, we weren't exactly jumping for joy, I'm ashamed to say.

Because of her history, we took her to a high risk pregnancy doctor in Sioux Falls. Dr. Gebinck recommended an immediate internal ultrasound. When she sat us down the news wasn't good. Terri had some tumors. The baby was right where it should be, but there was also tiny little cervical tumor, and what looked like another tumor in the uterus. She advised that Terri abort the baby in order to start aggressive treatment of the possible cancer.

I've been proud of my daughter, despite her problems, many times, but never like I was that day. She held on to my hand and told the doctor, "Look, you've been to medical school. Your job is to try to save this baby - mine is to do whatever you tell me to do to make it happen,." That began an amazing partnership between the three - four counting the baby - of us. Her husband John was working really odd hours, so it became my joy to take her to every doctor's appointment and every single scan. In her 4th month, we began weekly ultrasounds. At first we could clearly see the slow growing tumor - it stayed relatively small. But soon the baby grew large enough to obscure the tumor, so from that point all we could do was imagine. Nowadays the scans are so much more advanced and precise that I'm sure we could have kept better track. But the baby continued to grow and move, and Terri felt really good, so things were going well. I never missed a phone call or an appointment.

We found out the baby was a girl, and Terri and John were thrilled. They named her Taylor Jonelle, and that's what the family and her doctor and nurses called her. Taylor Jonelle tried to enter the world early a few times, but hospitalization and medications stopped the labor and Terri diligently followed the bed rest instructions. Ken and I took Jamie to live with us to make it easier on her. As the time got closer we had a family conference and we all decided to have her move in with us too because of the many hours she had to be by herself with John's schedule. Then on October 24 I took her in for an appointment and after the scan and exam Dr. Gebinck just winked at us. "Well," she said, "Is your bag packed? I'm not comfortable waiting any longer so Taylor will be here today or early tomorrow."

We called John, who brought her bag up, and called Ken to tell him what was going on. My sister got Jamie and my son Kenny and daughter Tam met us at the hospital. Terri wanted her entire family in that room with her, even if her brother did spend the final minutes sitting in the shower in the bathroom. ("Ma," he said, "There are just some parts of a guy's sister that are better left unseen!") Labor went very quickly, which was good. Dr. Gebinck had previously consulted with Mayo and they all agreed that unless absolutely necessary a c-section would not be the wisest choice because the tumor also would have a blood supply, making the surgery risky. Finally, with the entire family there, we suddenly beheld a head of thick dark hair. Dr. Gebinck asked Terri, "Just like we planned?" Terri and John both said, "Absolutely" at the exact same time. So Dr. Gebinck said, "Get up here, Gramma." I moved to the foot of the bed. "No, I mean right here at my elbow." I moved as close as possible, and as the baby was born, cord still attached, Dr. Gebinck handed me this amazing, red, squrimy, wet, little gift.

Terri said, "Ma, I don't know if I'll be around to see this baby grow up. You are everything to me, even when I didn't make it easy, and you're just the most loving person I've ever known. If her having your name helps her become more like you then we'd like you to meet Diane Jonelle." (WOW!! I'm bawling again just typing this.) Dr., Gebinck had John cut the cord, and shortly after that this picture was taken.

Terri went on to have a total hysterectomy. The original tumor had stayed relatively small, but there were two more there and they were definitely cancerous. She also had an early tumor on one ovary. Then in 2007, when Little Diane was around 13, Terri had a double mastectomy. She's still with us. She still has troubles with her mental illness. Her kids are now grown, and she's delighted to now be a gramma herself to Jamie and Rachel's son Landyn. But even with Little Diane turning 20 this October, when I think of her I remember what it felt like to hold her at her birth. she'll always and forever be a confirmation of faith, a ray of hope, and a bundle of sunshine.

And they all lived happily ever after.

 

[lovingmyhens]

Good Morning everyone!
I have been lurking here for a few days, ever since my friend told me this is where she like to hang out...took me awhile to figure she wasn't really sitting home on her front porch!
She is a very dear loving person.  She said and I quote  "There is nothing like a good friend!"
 That's the truth but it takes a good friend to have a good friend.
I hope you all are as blessed as I am with someone as dear that not only loves our LORD but also shares the chicken "addiction"
She is the perfect enabler!
BTW you all have become my favorite "swingers" and look forward to hanging out on this porch also when I can, hope you all have room for one more on this wonderful swing.

Well it's like we tell all the new folks-pull up a bucket, flip it upside down, grab a hay bale, or just lean as I do cause I'm always running back and forth trying to get stuff done I between stories. Careful of sitting on the railing cause someone said yer git yer butt whipped. Plenty of room For everyone. I got some chocolate chip cookies-get em while they are hot!

 

[Blooie]

Oops, forgot to post the photo! Those crutches are mine - I'd broken my foot the day before she was born.

 

[Beekissed]

Most excellent story...sob

....excellent! Praise the Lord for all those blessings in one story! Good thing I had tissues handy...that was wonderfully told and a wonderful story!

 

[lovingmyhens]

Okay, I'm back from Powell and I did promise a story.  Everyone got their drinks?  Snacks? Tissues?  (definitely tissues this time) Been to the potty room? All cozy on your swing, bucket, or porch rail?  Then let us begin:

Once upon  a time there were 3 bears....oh, wait.  Wrong story.  Lemme turn the page here.  Ah, there we go.

Once upon a time there were three kids - amazing little critters - two girls and one boy.  But our middle daughter has a mental illness that caused her no end of pain once puberty hit.  It's called "Borderline Personality Disorder" and it can rip a family to shreds if you let it. I constantly reminded myself of two things...the times I loved her the least were always the times she needed me the most, and she didn't want to live the way she was living either.  If she could have been any other way she'd have thrived.  But it's a nasty mental illness.  The good periods are fantastic. She's funny, and warm and talented. She can walk into a room and light it up like summer sunshine. But the bad times are ugly, and that's all I'm going to say about that.

She married her first husband, and they soon found out they were going to be parents.  Jamie was born in May 1989, the only one of triplets to survive.  She got through it.  Another pregnancy followed and Lacey was stillborn at just under 7 months gestation. She got through it but her marriage didn't.  She remarried and she and her new husband lost two more babies.  She got through those too.  So when she came to us and told us she was expecting again, we weren't exactly jumping for joy, I'm ashamed to say.

Because of her history, we took her to a high risk pregnancy doctor in Sioux Falls. Dr. Gebinck recommended an immediate internal ultrasound.  When she sat us down the news wasn't good.  Terri had some tumors.  The baby was right where it should be, but there was also tiny little cervical tumor, and what looked like another tumor in the uterus.  She advised that Terri abort the baby in order to start aggressive treatment of the possible cancer.

I've been proud of my daughter, despite her problems, many times, but never like I was that day.  She held on to my hand and told the doctor, "Look, you've been to medical school.  Your job is to try to save this baby - mine is to do whatever you tell me to do to make it happen,."    That began an amazing partnership between the three - four counting the baby - of us.  Her husband John was working really odd hours, so it became my joy to take her to every doctor's appointment and every single scan.  In her 4th month, we began weekly ultrasounds.  At first we could clearly see the slow growing tumor - it stayed relatively small.  But soon the baby grew large enough to obscure the tumor, so from that point all we could do was imagine. Nowadays the scans are so much more advanced and precise that I'm sure we could have kept better track.  But the baby continued to grow and move, and Terri felt really good, so things were going well.  I never missed a phone call or an appointment.

We found out the baby was a girl, and Terri and John were thrilled.  They named her Taylor Jonelle, and that's what the family and her doctor and nurses called her.  Taylor Jonelle tried to enter the world early a few times, but hospitalization and medications stopped the labor and Terri diligently followed the bed rest instructions.  Ken and I took Jamie to live with us to make it easier on her. As the time got closer we had a family conference and we all decided to have her move in with us too because of the many hours she had to be by herself with John's schedule. Then on October 24 I took her in for an appointment and after the scan and exam Dr. Gebinck just winked at us.  "Well," she said, "Is your bag packed?  I'm not comfortable waiting any longer so Taylor will be here today or early tomorrow."

We called John, who brought her bag up, and called Ken to tell him what was going on.  My sister got Jamie and my son Kenny and daughter Tam met us at the hospital. Terri wanted her entire family in that room with her, even if her brother did spend the final minutes sitting in the shower in the bathroom.  ("Ma," he said, "There are just some parts of a guy's sister that are better left unseen!")  Labor went very quickly, which was good.  Dr. Gebinck had previously consulted with Mayo and they all agreed that unless absolutely necessary a c-section would not be the wisest choice because the tumor also would have a blood supply, making the surgery risky.  Finally, with the entire family there, we suddenly beheld a head of thick dark hair.  Dr. Gebinck asked Terri, "Just like we planned?"  Terri and John both said, "Absolutely" at the exact same time.  So Dr. Gebinck said, "Get up here, Gramma." I moved to the foot of the bed.  "No, I mean right here at my elbow."  I moved as close as possible, and as the baby was born, cord still attached, Dr. Gebinck handed me this amazing, red, squrimy, wet, little gift.  


Terri said, "Ma, I don't know if I'll be around to see this baby grow up.  You are everything to me, even when I didn't make it easy, and you're just the most loving person I've ever known. If her having your name helps her become more like you then we'd like you to meet Diane Jonelle." (WOW!!  I'm bawling again just typing this.)  Dr., Gebinck had John cut the cord, and shortly after that this picture was taken.


Terri went on to have a total hysterectomy.  The original tumor had stayed relatively small, but there were two more there and they were definitely cancerous.  She also had an early tumor on one ovary.  Then in 2007, when Little Diane was around 13, Terri had a double mastectomy.  She's still with us.  She still has troubles with her mental illness.  Her kids are now grown, and she's delighted to now be a gramma herself to Jamie and Rachel's son Landyn.  But even with Little Diane turning 20 this October, when I think of her I remember what it felt like to hold her at her birth. she'll always and forever be a confirmation of faith, a ray of hope, and a bundle of sunshine.

And they all lived happily ever after.

Oh girl! That was a wonderful story and boy were you right-I've never shed as many tears for a complete stranger as I am now. Well you're not a complete stranger-proud to call you friend! What a blessing. I tell you what there is nothing truer said then that a parent would lay down their life for their children-how poignant that our Heavenly Father did this for us! You're a fabulous story teller, big Diane!!

 

[Beekissed]

Oops, forgot to post the photo! Those crutches are mine - I'd broken my foot the day before she was born.

Awwwwww.....she's beautiful!!! Like Grandma.

You left out the broken foot???? That was integral to the story but I'm not sure how

...maybe as just one more obstacle one of the heroines had to overcome? Good read all the same.

 

[enola]

Two tissues, that was a two tissue story......... but I am smiling through my tears.

 

[Beekissed]

Oh girl! That was a wonderful story and boy were you right-I've never shed as many tears for a complete stranger as I am now. Well you're not a complete stranger-proud to call you friend! What a blessing. I tell you what there is nothing truer said then that a parent would lay down their life for their children-how poignant that our Heavenly Father did this for us! You're a fabulous story teller, big Diane!!

And all God's people said, "Amen!"