Sure, I'm curious about a few things. I guess, first, if I recall, at the starting point of the story she'd been a nurse of some kind or another for almost 30 years. Is there at least a basic timeline of what she'd been doing before? I.e., graduated from wherever in this year, employed at wherever this year, fully certified in this year...that kind of thing?

Oooh, nice. Now, did you want me to fill in the answer - or did you want Joy to answer in her own words? :D

...Whatever you'll enjoy most. Surprise me :)

-From Joy

*looks at picture* ...George had better have had a good day with his model train toys...as when I get home, he's a DEAD MAN. That picture was never to be posted all over, especially with all of my glorious stretch marks... *fumes for a moment, before answering further.*

Oh....yes, questions. Ummm, let me see... getting closer to AARP age here so I'll do my best for exacts... but history gets a little muddy as you get up there, you know. Born in Lancaster, PA in the 1950s... yeah, not giving you my exact date of birth, women hate having men know how old they are... I'm old enough. Went to school around there, have a bunch of siblings - mostly girls, one brother... raised Catholic, surprising knowing the area is very Amish. My mom and dad were THAT Catholic, alright? Kind of hard not to get into nursing when I was always helping my almost-always pregnant mom change and feed my younger siblings when I was older.

I got my Bachelor's of Nursing from the U of P where I had also met my future husband, George... the future dead man when I get home...still mad about the photo... He converted to Catholicism to date me, my parents didn't let me even think about dating anyone not of the faith. We got married before we graduated, he got a job with an ambulance service in Minneapolis, MN and I got a job with Hennepin County Medical Center in the labor and delivery area.

Let me see...time flies when your having fun as they say... stayed a OB nurse for a long time, eventually making it up to Charge Nurse then Department Manager later on in my life. Getting done with the 'being pregnant and big with your own kids' part of my life kind of helped me get my career out of the minors. After Portia, the one who gave me the monster stretch marks, I decided I wanted to become a midwife - something not particularly popular (or licensed) in Minnesota so I kind of took my time, taking the classes here and there, getting the certification when it was offered in the late 1990s and started working for Meadowbridge in their birthing ward about then as well...

Beyond that, I met boy wonder....err...I guess I started to call him 'fuzzy' a while back... about 2005?

Ah, well, thank you, Mrs. Sanders, that was quite informative.

If I may ask another question, I might as well get to one I'm sure you've been asked multiple times already. What do you think of Kyle (at whatever point in the story this response happens to be set)?

-Joy

Oh goodness... get bogged down delivering babies and I forgot to come back to answer this, sorry! What do I think of Kyle... hmmm. When I first met him, I hated him. Okay...hate is a strong word, a godly woman doesn't HATE anyone... I was sure he was a nice young man in an ENTIRELY WRONG CAREER CHOICE! My coworker Carla took a liking to him right away, and....admittedly, when I worked with him more... he really proved me wrong. He kind of grew on me in a way, and we eventually became friends (though I will admit that George really helped out with that). Sarah still distrusts him, can't blame her after her experience - but at least she doesn't wan to kill him or something... my job is hard enough.

...Hm, well, I can't say I'm not curious, but I have a feeling I probably shouldn't ask you what that experience was.

I have one more question. If this isn't too personal...what were your own births like?

(And actually I have one other other question, not for her, but for you and John: Is there a way I can donate to help make this book, story or whatever you want to call it happen? Or even if not, how about just to do it as thanks for what you and he have done over the years?)

*quirks her brow, looking slightly embarrassed before George pips in behind her, 'Come on...tell the nice man. You've told the story so many times that half your work place knows it by now'*

"Ahem.... ummmm, you are one of the few men who have really ever asked me that... besides Waltman. You, umm, want the whole stories or just the 'childbirth' part of it?"

(Right now, with my move - we're good on the money part - but when the story gets done, I know John will need money for copy-editing and the like, and I will likely help set up a Kickstarter for him or something. I will keep you posted. :) )

Um, wow, I actually wasn't expecting a "yes" answer, so...I'll take whatever you're willing to share ^_^

(*thumbs up* I can't make big promises, but it all sounds very worth it.)

*gazes down at the pregnancy photo of herself in scrubs, showing off her stretch marks*

Well, let me think back...

When George and I got married, Patty was our 'honeymoon' baby - I had just gotten a job out here in Minnesota as George had gotten a job with an ambulance service in the Twin Cities. Talk about a culture shock as well as a whammy - being away from my parents, my siblings, and all that... We were both over the moon to find out that I was pregnant - and I was anxious to have the family we had both wanted. I can't say that my pregnancy with Patty was all that adventurous; though my mother was sure that my nursing career would be over once I got into the swing of having the large family we had both talked about - though being the 'star' of that particular drama really helped kill my enthusiasm. You know, the HAVING part.

I think the part that was the biggest downer about it was that my OB/GYN seemed very on-board with not doing things to me without my consent, then when I actually went into labor - he did what he wanted without regard to my wishes. George even reminded him that I didn't want an episiotomy but he performed one anyway (George even tried to tap him on the head, that just pissed my doctor off, and he and George had words after all was said and done. I guess I felt violated, sore, and like the entire experience was a disaster from the get-go.

It took nearly five years before George and I decided that Patty wasn't gonna be an only child. It didn't help that my parents were on my case from the moment they heard that I wasn't being a good Catholic wife. Frankly, I didn't think it was really any of their business... and it also didn't help my mother got pregnant with my youngest brother (my only brother, matter-of-fact) around the same time... so I was pregnant with Portia at the same time my mother was pregnant with my brother Dex.

Being pregnant with Portia was *rough*... I was morning sick through half of my pregnancy and while I didn't get the 'monster belly from hell' with Patty... people were sure that I was having twins all the time I was pregnant with Portia. Stretch marks, outtie belly button and all. Patty, on the other hand, thought it was the most wonderful thing on Earth. She had been lobbying HARD for a baby brother....or perhaps a puppy. So when George and I told her of her impending little sibling - she was ON for being #1 Big Sister. She asked so many questions, wanted to read my pregnancy books (something we eventually let her do with us supervising her) and she read her little kid books to my belly. Cute, but not when she did it during Sunday Bible Study - as she was sure that Baby couldn't hear her unless she uncovered my belly and sat on my diminished lap the entire time. Not my idea of fun - letting my church friends see my bummer of a bump. *makes a yuck face*

Patty was pretty much on time in terms of her delivery date versus her due date - prompt, went into labor right at a good time - all that good stuff. Portia was cruising for a grounding - I was two and a half weeks late, and my *new* OB/GYN decided that my labor wasn't progressing fast enough for her liking, so had me put on Pitocin - which made my labor much more painful. I did manage without painkillers, but when I didn't want her to do a repeat episiotomy - and George insisted - she left the room to let us 'figure things out'... I eventually tore. I tore pretty badly, but Ms Pissy Pants (my OB) decided to freak right the fuck back IN, she managed to do her job... Yay! Shitty deliveries: 2 Joy: 0.

After that, I told George that the only way we were having any more children was if he had them - since I was officially done. Like throw down the flaming sword and give mother nature the finger done.

I just hope that George never gets those pictures developed from Portia's birth... that would be sure to damage some people. >.<

*sighs* Sorry about the long, ranting answer... just all the baggage included with my two experiences with maternity kind of killed the magic for me.... I became a midwife to help other women never have the deliveries I had... but I guess I kind of sacrificed the idea of having a large family in the long-run... George never was mad about it though - he totally got why I didn't want to ride that ride again.

Well, those were some good stories...as in quality, not so much what happened. Sorry your births weren't good...but I'm glad you didn't give up on other people.

I guess that's all I can think to ask. Thanks for sharing :)