Problems!

This summer was different for me. Being here in Marshall was new to me. And I was pregnant! I couldn't do what I used to in Pilot Station (my hometown). I really couldn't go out on a boat ride with everyone else, but I did once anyway with some young boys who went up to Russian Mission to play basketball. It was a slow ride going up because there was a boatload of us using only a small Lund with a thirty-five on it. I tried to fall asleep so the trip would seem faster. Instead, I got to catch up with the news on my family, since they were the ones I caught the ride with. Luckily there was something going on in Russian Mission, otherwise I would've been stuck here in Marshall being miserable.

When we first got to Russian Mission the guys who had gone up earlier were just getting ready to leave. I did not know what to do, come back to Marshall with the guys or stay and be with my family. Of course, I chose to come home with the guys because my boyfriend, Terence, was with them. But we ended up having to stay in Russian longer anyway, because the motor broke down. It was boring there too, but at least we got away from being in Marshall so long. After returning home, it was just another boring day.

Then I started having some problems with the pregnancy. The day I went to the clinic was the start of an even worse summer. I got sent to the hospital in Bethel the very day I was seen in the clinic. In Bethel I was checked and then sent to stay in the prematernal home where there were more pregnant women. I stayed in there for three days until I was sent into Anchorage.

At first, the thought of being in the largest city in Alaska excited me. But after I was seen in the hospital I was given strict bed rest with only bathroom privileges. I slept a lot and the rest gave me time to think about a lot of stuff, like how much I missed going swimming, boat riding, and everything else outside. I was stuck inside! I gained a lot of weight and lost most of my strength. It was also very lonely because I only talked with some of the nurses.

Because of my problems, the doctor decided to go ahead and induce my labor. That really excited me. I was about to see my baby, and I couldn't wait. Having the baby was a thrilling experience because this is my first child. Coming home was another thrill. I thought of all the fun things I could do when I get home.

After I came home the summer was almost over. I didn't get to do much even then because I had to recover from my delivery. So, my summer was mostly spent inside. I'm sure glad it is all over, and I'm especially glad to be out of the hospital!

By Michelle Polty