“My husband, Victor, and I have been married for 28 years. I was 14 when I met him. We lost six children together. The first one was born dead. Then we went to 6½ months, 4 months, 3 months, 1½ months and 2 months. All miscarriages.

“We finally were able to have our daughter in 1992. Then about a month post-delivery, I started getting really sick. I was swelling up. I couldn’t walk. I was bleeding from everywhere. All my veins surfaced. And I was getting seizures in my sleep that developed to grand mal. It got so bad that my body was shutting down and it felt like I was dying. They finally diagnosed me with a rare disease called Henoch-Schonlein purpura and vasculitis.

“It was a long road back to regaining my health. Part of the treatment was some medication they said would make me sterile. They told us I wouldn’t be able to have any more kids. So we were kind of rejoicing in the fact we were able to have our daughter and thought we were done. Six years later, we were looking to be foster parents and to adopt. That’s when we found out I was pregnant with our son. Nolan is 18 now.

“Looking back, it was a very weird and painful experience. But at the same time, it was very beautiful. We have two healthy, grown kids. We feel so very blessed to be able to say that.”

— Teresa Rising

Related:

• She teaches self-rescue swimming lessons for kids
• ‘Painful’ to watch as 5-year-old son nearly drowned

The post Six miscarriages later, ‘blessed’ to have children appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“Before all of this, I had a miscarriage. Then they told me I was miscarrying again. They said, ‘You’re about to lose this pregnancy, too.’ So we waited and waited, but nothing happened. I had an ultrasound to see what was going on, and there were twins in there and they were perfectly healthy. I just couldn’t believe it. I was in shock to go from thinking something’s probably wrong to learning it was twins.

“I had wanted another one, and he came right before the twins started kindergarten. They’re typical boys. They’re really adventurous. But they love having a little brother. They’re so sweet with him. They’re always telling him he’s so cute. They even tell him not to grow up anymore. It’s so funny.”

— Christy Eaton

The post It’s no baseball team, but three boys keep them busy appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“I’m due in December, 10 days after my birthday. It’s a girl. I had two miscarriages last year, so I’m excited for this one.

“The first time, we didn’t know what it was. The second one was a baby boy. I was 16 weeks pregnant, and I had to deliver the baby naturally. I got to see what he looked like and I got to hold him. It was pretty sad.

“This time, I know everything is going to be OK. The doctors are more prepared because of my history. They’re checking me every two weeks, so I feel really confident. I can’t wait to see her.”

— Yesenia Rodriguez

Related:

• ‘I had my hand on his chest when he died’

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“When I was living in Arkansas, I was with this girl who had gotten pregnant and then miscarried my baby. The thing is, I didn’t even know she was pregnant. She knew two or three weeks before springing it on me, and all this time she was over there drinking and stuff.

“I hold it against her. I probably would have a 5- or 6-year-old right now if she had done the right thing.

“Some day, I hope to have two kids and a wife. I think it can still happen for me. It just takes time to find the right woman.”

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