What's in a Name?

Since the day I found out I was pregnant, I knew it was a boy. I also really liked the name Jack. My Mom's favorite Grandpa was named Jack. From what I've been told he was a wonderful person. The story I have heard most often about him, is of his passing. He was on a bus, on his way to the temple for Stake Temple day, when he suffered a heart attack and passed away. Showing that you never know when it is your time to go. My mom's favorite uncle is also named Jack. So, it would be honoring my family tree. Dan really wanted him to have the option of having a more formal name so we went with Jackson. It is also a way to honor his mother whose maiden name is Jackson. So that is how he got his first name.


Now on to his middle name, Taylor. I am a firm believer that babies come at a specific time and try to acknowledge that when it come to naming them. With Noah, we found out we were pregnant shortly after my Grandma Partin passed away. One of her last lucid moments was spent telling my mom that when she got to heaven, she would pull some strings, and send me a baby. She kept her word, we welcomed Noah into the world 9 months after her passing. If he would have been a girl he would have been named Lillian Velora; Lillian after Dan's Grandma Lillian, and Velora after my Grandma Gereldine Velora Partin. Zoe came sooner than we thought was possible, but I wouldn't call her a surprise. We just never imagined another child would come so soon, given our struggles to get pregnant with Noah. I really liked the meanings of her name: Zoe - life and Sofia - wise. They seemed to fit our lives and feelings at the time.


Back to Jack's story. I was about ready to give up trying to get pregnant at the same time Dan was about ready to give up finding his biological father. We had been in contact with his biological mother's family for over a year and didn't have much information about him to go on. We knew his name was Kyle Taylor and at one time he lived in Utah and was married to a Ramona. Nothing too specific. He had tried a few searches and finally came across a Ramona and Kyle Taylor in the Denver, Colorado area. He wrote a letter and mailed it off. It seemed like an eternity had passed and he had accepted that his letter would go unanswered. While trying to decide what to do next, he received an email confirming that this was in fact the right Kyle Taylor. From there more emails were exchanged, phone calls were made on the holidays, and Christmas packages were received. The following month we found out we were pregnant. Since this wonderful discovery (Dan's biological father) happened during a very trying time (trying to get pregnant) and had such a positive outcome (pregnancy). I knew it had to be honored.

So that is how our new addition ended up with a very strong name. We figure it honors almost every branch of our ever growing family tree.


Jackson Taylor McDonald was given a name and blessing on Sunday, November 7th, 2010 by his Dad, wearing the same outfit that Noah wore on his blessing day (9/4/2005).
Those who stood in the circle were Daddy, Papa Tim, Papa Mike, Uncle Brandon, Bishop Powelson, and Brother Murdock. Grandpa Woffinden and Uncle Ed couldn't get over the Donner Pass due to the first Snow and chain controls of the year. They were greatly missed along with Grandma Woffinden and Auntie Charlynn.

Those who were in attendance from Mommy's side: Grandma Sandi, Papa Tim, Trenity , and Chelsea - Auntie Tiffany had to work, Auntie Sabrina, Michael, Michelle, Chandra, Ella, and Madeline - Uncle Trevor was in Texas for training, Uncle Brandon, Auntie Melody, Adia, Layla, and Cali.

Those who were in attendance from Daddy's side: Grandma Lynie, Papa Mike, and Erin - she bought a plane ticket so she was sure not to miss the festivities. Travel from Utah this time a year is not always advisable due to weather.

Some other pictures in his outfit. Sorry I couldn't pick just one.

I took some time to reflect on our journey to get to this day and wanted to make a record of it.

As many may know I have fertility issues, making it difficult to get pregnant. We had been looking forward to adding to our family since Zoe was a year old, when nothing happened by her 2nd birthday we decided it was time to seek medical intervention. That is when I started seeing Dr. DeKay and he diagnosed me with PCOS. We decided the best form of treatment would be to go on Birth Control for 6 months; to regulate my cycle. I felt this was a huge step in the wrong direction, but decided to trust my doctor. At my 6 month check up - we decided the Birth Control had accomplished the goal and it was time to take the next step - Fertility Drugs. So, in September of 2009 I started taking Clomid and seeing Dr. DeKay for mid-cycle ultrasounds.

I had taken Clomid to get pregnant with Noah, so I was very optimistic. However, this time around I decided to keep it more of a secret from family and friends - I didn't want to get too many people involved as I didn't want a lot of questions each month, or a lot of people to disappoint each month it didn't work. The only one we told was my friend Brya. I needed some emotional support. She understood and sympathized with me, plus I needed some one to watch Noah and Zoe during my appointments. At the time she was 7 months pregnant, her husband was deployed over seas, she had 3 crazy kids running around, and never complained about being pregnant, or how hard it was. She had the best attitude about her situation and I greatly admire her for that. One thing that is especially hard for me is to listen to people complain about being pregnant, or how horrible pregnancy is. She had every right to complain and didn't - she is a true friend.

Nothing happened the first round, so we upped the dose. Nothing happened the 2nd round either, so we added Metformin to the mix. Metformin works to regulate blood sugar, which in turn regulates ovulation. We were very hopeful round 3, but was once again disappointed. I was about ready to give up and was coming to terms that baby #3 just wasn't meant to be. The kids and I were driving home from visiting the Steffens and seeing Baby Austin when Noah very innocently said: "Maybe we could just take Wyatt and Dayton's baby and they could get a new one." I chuckled and agreed that that sounded like an easier plan. I told him things didn't work that way and how much they would miss their new little brother. So, he came up with another plan on his own. He decided he would pray everyday to Heavenly Father for a new baby and then I would go to the Doctor and the baby would be ready. He had the faith, I no longer had.

I decided to give it one more try - I had one more refill left. However, this round I did it my way and skipped the mid cycle ultrasound. I didn't need him to tell me if it was working or not - I could tell on my own. I truly believe that Noah and Zoe's prayers worked. That it was Noah's faith that helped bring about this miracle in our family. We found out we were expecting a few days before Zoe's 3rd birthday and had my first appointment almost a year to the date of seeing Dr. Dekay. We kept the pregnancy a secret for many weeks.

Brya was the first to know and we told the kids shortly after that. Parents didn't know this time around until 9 or 10 weeks, some close friends found out around 16 weeks, but a major announcement didn't get made until we found out the gender at around 19 weeks. We were amazed out how well and how long our kids kept it a secret. Jackson was born almost a year to the date of starting clomid.

I had a lot more testing and monitoring this time around, due to Gestational Diabetes. Even with that diagnosis I had a pretty healthy pregnancy. My blood pressure was excellent the entire time and I was able to control my sugars with diet and exercise. At the beginning I was told several times not to be disappointed if I ended up on insulin this time around. However, this just made me more determined to prove them wrong and I did. My doctor often said at my visits he didn't know what to tell me, or that he was wasting my time, he even suggested that maybe I should be pregnant all the time since things looked so good. At the delivery he also remarked out how good my insides looked for my 3rd c-section.

So, with the extra appointments this time around I had to rely on a lot of people to help me with Noah and Zoe. I was overwhelmed and surprised at all the willing volunteers. I have never felt so loved. That's probably a strange way to put it, but I often wonder how or if I fit in, and I struggle to make friends. It truly was a humbling experience and a big lesson for me. I think someone new watched them every Tuesday and the Egberts faithfully watched them every Friday for the last 5 weeks of my pregnancy. The service on my behalf didn't stop there. Several meals were brought in to our home and many people volunteered, out of the blue, to pick Noah up after school for several weeks following Jack's birth. My friend, Jalyssa, even made sure I got out of the house soon after his birth to get a short break and realize that there was still a world out there.

This pregnancy taught me that it is okay to ask for, or need help. I'm not a horrible person or a failure if I can't do everything on my own. It also reminded me that it is Heavenly Father's plan and not my own. I know Jack came at the right time, as I needed the chance to learn and grow. I am so thankful for all my many blessings.

**On a side note if Jack had been a girl his middle name would have been Jeanette after my middle name, Grandma Sandi's middle name, Granny Milkshake's middle name, his Grandma Lynette, and his Grandma Anette (Dan's biological mother). The first name had been narrowed down to Mazie or Lillian - Dan's great-grandmother's or grandmother's name. I also found out I have a great grandma Lillian.**