On November 11th at 9:30 AM our whole world fell apart.  I went to the doctor for my appointment with the high-risk OB and when they had me on the sonogram table, the tech was behaving oddly. She wouldn't speak to me or turn the screen so I could see it, and she said she had to go grab the doctor and would be right back. The other two techs standing in the back of the room wouldn't make eye contact with me.  I was starting to feel panicked...When she returned with the doctor, the three techs left the room and closed the door.  I had seen the other high-risk doctor on my last visit to their other office, but had yet to meet this doctor. She walks in and takes my hand and introduces herself to me. I was getting upset by their behavior and asked if something was wrong. She said, "Yes, Mandy can't find the baby's heartbeat so I'm going to take a look". She turned the monitor back on and scanned my belly and said, "I'm sorry, there's no heartbeat, the baby's dead".  I started flipping out and screaming and basically jumped off the table and grabbed my purse to get my cell phone and call George at work.  I was crying so hard by the time he got to the phone he couldn't understand me at first.  I told him what was going on and he got upset and said he was coming to me, but, he had no idea where the office was, I was all the way in Martinez, GA and he was clueless had to get there, I got lost going there and had to call and get the receptionist to talk me there, and I was afraid he'd get into an accident on the highway in all the construction traffic being so upset and lost, so I told him to just meet me at home.  The office made me sign a waiver saying if I got into an accident that they weren't responsible (nice, huh??) and I left...I talked to my friend Kathie and my daughter Kayla and George on and off the entire drive home.....When I got home I called my regular OB's office and they had me come in for another sonogram to confirm what the other office saw. George and I hoped and prayed all the way over there, but, sadly it was the same news...Alessia was gone.   They sent me home (at this point it was almost 3:30) and I made arrangements for Marygrace for the next two days and George called his work and my doctor called in medication for me...Valium for my nerves and medication to start the labor process the next evening. On the Wednesday, November the 13th at 4 PM I took the first pill and three hours later I took the second. At 9:00 PM I went to the hospital, I was already beginning to have contractions and was very upset so my doctor told me to go ahead and check in.  Thursday, November 13th at 7:30 AM after 2 pushes I gave birth to our sleeping angel. She weighed just over a pound.  The cord was wrapped around her tiny neck three times and it also had what they called a "true knot", which is what took our baby's life.  They let me hold her  and took some pictures of her for me and her tiny footprints....I can't share the pictures, due to lack of oxygen her tiny mouth had already began to turn gray and she didn't look very good....it was very heartbreaking.    She was cremated by the hospital and her ashes were placed in their "Garden of Innocents". They gave me a beautiful memorial memory box, and that's what I have left of my baby....   Anyway, I just thought I should update.  ~Shea

 

I'm Pregnant!!!!   I'm due on March the 10th, which would have been my Daddy's 82nd birthday. We are currently leaning towards the name Selena Faith Clarke.  Other names on our list though:

Vanessa, Aileah, Georgia, Ivy, Emmalee, Anissa, Allena, Adrina.  (the middle names we like are Rose, Faith and Caroline). Give us your opinions.  If it's a boy it will be George William and he will be called Liam. But, George doesn't make boys, LOL.    Anyway, please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.  We are so happy, excited, scared and nervous. But feeling so blessed and thankfu!!!

~Shea

 I used to be so into Blogging, but, then *Life* happened, and I just sort of lost the desire to do much of anything....   Let's see.....Kayla,  Bobby and Lorelei came home for almost 2 weeks at the end of Feb. for the baby's 1st birthday...it was so awesome! having them here, but it sucked when they left. I got really depressed, I miss them so so much! The baby walks and has a mouth full of teeth and is sooooo smart and adorable!!!  Marygrace is doing awesome in school as usual. Softball season has once again and so that's where I spend most of my free time lately, LOL....   Shannon and the little girls are great as well, the girls stay with us after school while Shannon works, so the house is always full of kids playing and laughing (and fighting, LOL) so I am loving it. I just wish Kayla and Bobby and the baby were here as well.    George and I are still trying to get pregnant, so, keep us in your prayers on that front. I still can't believe it's been over 9 months since we lost Olivia....I still miss her so much....Anyway, I don't want to dwell...I am trying to look to the positive....school is out in 9½ weeks for summer vacation, the little girls are going to stay with us part time for vacation and part time in day-care.  So, we are planning some fun things to do.   George and Marygrace and I are planning some weekend getaways and also a family vacation for a week as well.   I know this is a boring update but, I promise to try hard to do better and to start visiting all of my Xanag friends sites again.  Here are some pictures and a video  before I go...

~Shea

 

Video of Lorelei's 1st Easter Egg Hunt!

 Shelby, Haley and Mg before the "Hannah Montanna Movie"  Mg waiting for Kayla, Bobby and Lorelei to arrive,  Lorelei the night they arried!  Bobby and Lorelei in our back-yard while we were cooking out.

 Mg and Lorelei at the Savannah River Walk, Bobby, Lorelei and Mg at the River Walk, Lorelei and bobby at the baby's 1st Birthday, te baby looking at her Birthday Balloon.

Grandma's little sweetie,  Kayla and Lorelei the day they left, Bobby, Lorelei and Kayla right before they left, One last picture before they pulled off....

 

A drawing Mg did of Lorelei from behind while I was feeding her...  Lorelei one Easter, I love this picture!!!

 Marygrace at her school awards Banquet before her hair-cut, Marygrace after her hair-cut dying Easter eggs.....