Joseph and I have been married for almost eight years. We have been through the good and the bad together… and I would not have it any other way. God has definitely been on our side and has shown his unconditional love for us in many ways. He has shown us light in the darkest of days. Looking back at our journey to where we are today, times have changed.
Joseph and I started our journey 10 years ago in DeQueen, AR, where we were introduced through a mutual friend. Joseph had left a life of working out on the road to return home and spend some time with his parents. We started out as friends and became something much more. Within 2 years, we were engaged, married and building our first home. Marriage was great, until about three months after we were married when we found out that Joseph’s dad had stage 4 Esophageal Cancer. By the time the doctors found out what was wrong, it was too late. After a painful but short battle, we lost Joseph’s dad. Joseph had a very hard time learning how to deal with the death of his father and that began to take a toll on our marriage. He found himself not understanding “Why” and blaming all the wrong people. God gave me patience, wisdom and courage to face everyday knowing it would get better in time. Joseph was working at the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department. I was a full time student at the local university and working full time at a preschool. Life was so busy.
As time passed us by, things began to change. I was now working at the local university. Joseph was accepting and coping with the death of his father. Our lives were finding some norm to them again. God was pulling our lives in a different direction and pulling us closer together. We had sold our house that we built and bought a house in the country that needed some remodeling. Country living is the best! After a few years we found ourselves faced with an opportunity to potentially own a business but God showed us that he had different plans. I continued to work at the university and Joseph worked a couple different jobs. With five years of our lives gone we thought we needed a vacation, so we went on a cruise to the Caribbean. Our ship destinations were Jamaica, the Grand Cayman Islands and Cozumel. The first night on the ship, at dinner, we met an amazing couple that was on their honeymoon. We began to share stories, likes, dislikes and before the week was over a friendship. They lived in Longview, TX, where they were attending a university named LeTourneau. He was telling us all about this flight program they have and that we should come down to visit sometime. When we returned from our cruise, God began to work more in our lives pulling us yet in another direction. Joseph had always shared a passion for flying with his father and now with this opportunity to visit, he could make that a reality. Joseph felt that God was calling him to return to school and become a pilot.
We came to Longview in September 2007 for a visit of LeTourneau and to see our friends from the cruise. After we returned home from our visit, we began to pray for guidance. God started opening and closing doors. Before we knew it our house was sold, we found an apartment in Longview and Joseph was registered for classes. We moved to Longview in December 2007. I found a job at a local doctor’s office for a few months until I was able to get a job at the university. During my duration at the university, I worked in two different departments and positions due to restructuring. In May 2009, my husband and I found out that we were expecting our first child after waiting seven years. We were filled with excitement while our parents were worried. God had already taken us on an amazing but sometimes difficult journey and was now going to change our lives once again.
Before we knew it nine months had passed. My pregnancy was an awesome experience but now it was time for us to finally meet our little baby boy! On January 6, 2010, Lucas Edward Carlton was born, weighing 9lbs 3ozs and 21in long. After the birth of our son, I took seven weeks of maternity leave and returned to work. The lord, knowing my heart’s desire, gave me an opportunity to join Southern Living at HOME and stay at home with our son. An amazing lady, who filled in for me while on maternity leave spoke with me about what her daughter did for a living. How being a Southern Living at HOME consultant replaced her teacher salary and allowed her to stay at home with her children. So, I went home and talked to Joseph, we prayed for God to show us the path yet again. I met with Carmen and signed up within a couple of weeks.
Being a stay at home mom is the best job in the world. The time that I am spending with Lucas is time I can never get back. They are only young once, right? I have been able to witness “all the firsts” in his life. Lucas is almost 11mths. Time has passed by so quickly. I remember going to my last scheduled check up on the Tuesday before he was born and Dr. Mauldin telling us that Lucas was approximately 10lbs and his head measuring 10cm. Dr. Mauldin was afraid that I could not deliver him without his shoulders getting stuck! So with the cyst they found on my left ovary during my first ultrasound, they opted to schedule a cesarean for Thursday, January 7th. So Joseph and I came home excited and telling everyone that we were going to have a baby on Thursday. On Wednesday morning around 4am I woke up having contractions. At first I thought they were false labor pains but the pain began to be more frequent and intense. We arrived at the emergency room, I was admitted into observation around 6:30am and my doctor was notified. When they checked me at 7am, I was dilated 2cm and 90% effaced with contractions 4-5mins apart. Dr. Mauldin arrived around 8am to let me know he had a full schedule of surgeries and they would be working me in for the cesarean about 10am. My contractions were coming every 3-5mins and lasting 2-3mins. Dr. Mauldin checked me again and I was dilated 4cm and 100% effaced. At almost 10am a nurse came in to let us know that Dr. Mauldin was still in surgery, and that my scheduled time was now 11am. At 10:30 they came to wheel me to the OR. The anesthesiologist gave me a spinal (not an epidural). They laid me back and went to cutting. Joseph said, “I did not realize there were that many layers to cut through”. At 11:38am, Lucas was born! Joseph went with Lucas to the nursery and they proceeded to try and save my ovary. The cyst on my ovary was the size of a grapefruit. Dr. Mauldin tried to save the ovary, but they finally had to take my ovary because once removing the cyst there was nothing left. I had a great recovery. We live in a community were love is abundant and they showered us with food.
From his grand entrance into this world to almost a year later, Lucas has always had a personality. He is mommies little prince and daddy’s pride and joy. He is such a blessing to us and all who meet him. He has a smile that will warm your heart. He is stubborn, adventurous, loves the ladies and is our little buddle of joy from God. We are so glad we waited to be parents but now that he is here, we often ask ourselves why we did not do this sooner!!!
Blessings,
Kayla Carlton
