Teresa Dee Meyerhoeffer Christensen's Life History : Keegan Fjeldsted 1995

KEEGAN FJELDSTED — Bend, Oregon 1995

In July 1984 I was surprised, and a bit embarrassed, to be expecting again. I was concerned since I had received the MMR vaccine booster shot for acceptance into the RN re-entry program. However, I left things in Heaven’s hands and had the direct impression not to worry and all would be okay. My OB listed me as gravida 9, which means I had had 9 pregnancies. I told her I thought only 8. My OB doctor was Marlis Beier, a Jewish woman near my age. We became friends and even had lunch together a few times after I delivered. She would spend extra time with me before and after my appointments and ask LDS questions for insights and to understand our doctrine since many of her patients were LDS and had so many children. She heard we believed we were “freeing trapped souls from heaven”. I explained it was more like giving them the opportunity to come to earth to receive bodies and be tested. By the end of my pregnancy she said it was okay that our family was having so many children, because she felt we were good parents and our children could/might contribute great things to the world. My family’s reactions to the pregnancy were not as wonderful:

From my journal: Roger said the only thing that upset him was that I would be out of shape again (that made me cry, but he said he was just being honest). Emily (14) cried and said we were too old. Stephanie (12) said she was already embarrassed about how big our family was. Chelsea (almost 10) said she loved babies, but liked our family how it was too. Hailey (7) got big eyes and asked if Roger would leave me if we had another child. KC (5) was totally alright about it, especially if we had another boy. I was due February 21st and hoped attitudes would improve by then.

We had a busy 9 months, including a trip to Idaho with the family, went to San Fransisco with Roger (the first two hotel rooms they assigned us already had people in them… so awkward), Girl’s Camp, California family vacation with my mom, starting college and doing clinicals at the hospital again. I was released from Stake Young Women's, but immediately called to be ward YW President. Our lives were full and meaningful. I was even an “ultrasound model” at a doctor’s convention in Sun River :-).

KC told me he knew the baby would be a boy because he had wished for and prayed for one his whole life. I would have been happy with either sex, but for KC’s sake and to fulfill my Patriarchal Blessing (“sons and daughters”), a son would be special. At my first ultrasound Dr. Beier said she was pretty sure it was a boy as she saw a “well hung penis” and at the second ultrasound she said she was 110% sure it was a boy and she’d hate for it to be a girl with those body parts. On the way home from the first appointment the words to a song “when the prayers of the righteous reach our Father’s ears” filled my mind and I knew KC’s humble sincere prayers had been heard.

The brother KC prayed for on the day Keegan was born.

I wondered if we should call our boy "Hunter" for one of his names since President Hunter became prophet around his conception, but Roger was emphatic we name him “Keegan Fjeldsted”. I had always wanted a Keegan, so that worked. Fjeldsted was Roger's Gma Lewis’ maiden name. Her grandfather Christian Fjeldsted from Denmark was one of the 7 presidents of 70 with his name carved on the Salt Lake Temple corner stone. We would have a Fjeldsted Christensen (reversed names).

On February 5th I spent the morning in the hospital for tests. I was bleeding and they decided I had a small placental abruption and my clotting factor was borderline. Still spotting, I had to go back again for another stress test a week later. The baby was posterior, but all was well. I hoped the baby wouldn’t be overdue. Roger was taking me to walk Pilot Butte and other home remedies for delivery. A friend shared a story of woman expecting her 6th child whose husband had recently died. He told her not to wish the baby here before it’s time because it was getting last minute instructions from Heaven. I wish I had been more patient.

On February 23, 1995 at 4:55 A.M. Keegan Fjeldsted Christensen was born weighing 7 lbs 13 oz and 19 and a half inches long. Labor pains began at 12:45 A.M. After four very hard contractions with my legs shaking we took off for the hospital. The doctor said my contractions weren’t going to get him here, my uterus was acting worn out. The baby’s heart rate was slow and flat or not reacting, so they screwed a monitor into his head and began turning up the Pitocin IV drip to get him delivered. There was an awful B movie playing on the TV in the room that we could not turn off and Roger fell asleep in the chair, but finally with one long, major push, I pushed Keegan into the world.

As soon as Keegan was born, Roger called home and had all the kids at the hospital by 5:30 A.M. They watched the baby get his bath and foot-printed etc. Hailey stayed home from school that day and stayed up at the hospital with me to help with Keegan. Emily brought her friend Treena's birthday party up after school. Visitors kept coming all day long, 20 visitors total with only two hours sleep in two days. It was a party. Everyone adored Keegan from day one.

From my journal: “Keegan is a strong little spirit with strong lungs. He hates to have his diaper changed or be bathed, but he loves to be talked to. He is a precious babe and I feel so blessed!”

Keegan grew two inches in two weeks, the doctor said I must have amazing breast milk. However after three months Keegan refused to nurse on one side, so I was extremely lop-sided with one huge and one normal-sized breast. Eventually it was so awkward, I quit nursing earlier than I had planned shortly after he was five months old.

When Keegan was two months old Roger’s brother Jared got a job in Bend and he, his wife and two kids (Wendy, Alecsy and Brady) all moved in with us for a few months before they got their own home. It was quite crowded, especially with only 2 bathrooms. I remember telling Roger I used to fear death, but now it actually sounded peaceful. With a new baby and houseful of 12 people I was just tired needed a long rest. I got hired on-call at St. Charles for a day or two a week when all I wanted to do was hold my baby. During this time I made gingerbread girl (vs. gingerbread men) cookies for the sisters I visit taught and wrote this self-portrait poem that I attached when delivered to them:

"You remember the story of the gingerbread man. You couldn’t catch him run as fast as you can. Well here is his sister the gingerbread girl. You can catch her ‘cause she runs in a whirl. She never gets finished as fast as she goes, but is always exhausted from her head to her toes. So when that overwhelmed spirit gives your heart a tug, just slow down and give this ‘ole ginger girl a hug!”

We postponed Keegan’s blessing for a month since many family members could not make it, but finally blessed him on May 7th with my parents there. Christensen’s were in Boise for another family gathering. Keegan was blessed with "a strong body and mind, to be a teacher of men, a leader, a missionary". He started to cry when Roger spoke about the missionary he would be and stopped when Roger ended the blessing. He always has been a very verbal communicator :-).

Gma Pauline and Gpa Jerry on blessing day

Keegan on his blessing day

Blessing day on Dooley Mtn. porch

(His first fortune cookie at 6 months said he would be famous someday :-). Keeg could walk at 8 months and was advanced in motor skills, the doctor said to watch him closely because he could get into lots of trouble. He did, but also had four extra mom’s who loved and helped tend that busy kamikaze boy. Life in Bend continued for 7-8 more years...