A Belated Happy 24th Birthday Jessica Emily

The day you were born Thursday 16th May 1985

I remember all too well the day you were born Jessica for several reasons. Firstly my pregnancy had been long with some complications, a low lying placenta that put me hospital for a week and then being tested regularly for diabetes which meant lots of extra hospital visits and overnight stays. In spite of my doctor knowing I was having a big baby I was still allowed to go over my due date and I actually ended up admitting myself because I was frustrated with being on bed rest for the previous 2 weeks and was so uncomfortable and tired from the lack of sleep.

I had this picture taken of me so I would remember just how big I got!

Secondly during my labour I had just about the meanest midwife ever who treated me like I was a woman suffering with period pains and not in full blown labour, telling me I was being a baby offering to give me Ibuprofen and to top it all telling Steve he needed to go home because you would not be arriving that night! I absolutely knew that there just no way that I was experiencing that kind of horrendous pain for you not to arrive within a few hours. So I told your Dad that if he went home he would miss the birth of his second child and convinced him that I needed something much stronger then Ibuprofen. He relayed this to the midwife who very reluctantly gave me at 11pm a pethidine injection which is only given if there is a minimum of 4 hours before the birth of the baby because drowsiness effect on mother and baby.

A very proud Dad - who had hair then too!

So consequently when I started pushing in my sleep just before 1am and shouting that I wanted to push (one of the many side effects of pethidine is speaking your mind) the lovely midwife came running into my room telling me to stop being so stupid and that I couldn’t possibly want to push, to which I replied oh yes I do and pushed! Horrified she said something that I can not write but was basically shouting at me to stop pushing because your head was crowning and she wasn’t ready!! HELLO I thought what a pity you haven’t listened to me and I have to say I think your Dad who had fallen asleep over the bed was dazed and shocked at how quickly things had progressed, but I wasn’t I was just very annoyed. Of course the midwife couldn’t be nice enough to me now but I was having none of it, I was wanted to get on with it and have you out at this point not knowing if you were a boy or girl. Amazingly this didn’t take very long considering that you had a shoulder dystocia which basically means your shoulders got seriously stuck.

Jessica on the day she was blessed, can you believe she was only 17 days old?

Your Dad and I both thought that the 2 nurses would just have your head in their hands, but thankfully at 1.07am on Thursday 16th May they safely delivered you a beautiful baby girl who we named Jessica Emily and you weighed 11 lbs 1oz (no wonder your shoulders got stuck!). It was only when discussing delivery options for having Beth did I realised how serious a shoulder dysticia can be because once the head is delivered there is little time before it is considered an obstetric emergency. After delivering you my body went into shock shaking uncontrollably and my blood pressure dropped drastically and I was told it was because I had delivered a large baby very quickly!

Aaron loved his sister taken on Jessica's blessing day

Your Dad soon named you his ‘Princess’ and he still calls you that today right? Your brother Aaron loved you and was very gentle and we never worried about him hurting you a bit like Josh and Rachael now. Unlike your brother you were a fairly healthy little girl, bonny, fair and bright describes you very well, with beautiful blonde hair and blue eyes. From a young age you loved to dance, sing and perform and so we enrolled you in dancing classes taking us several years before finding the right school that you and we were happy with. We found an excellent singing teacher and at the age of 12 you started having lessons and from this young age you had the ability to perform beautifully with the voice of an angel to a large audience, singing one Christmas at the Stake carol concert to over 400 people with your Dad accompanying you on the piano. You enjoyed school and the teachers loved you always singing your praises telling us what a delight you were to teach and this was the case throughout your school years with you never having a bad report. You were often in school productions and had the lead role in Fame at the age of 16. You studied A-level performing arts getting an A grade and full marks for you practical in spite of kicking over a bucket of water (a prop) and taking out all the electrics! You completed 4 years of seminary gaining a greater understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ and of the scriptures. You never gave us cause for concern, you were a good girl and you made the right choices because you were solid with a strong testimony and desire to do the right things.

Jessica's 3rd birthday a bike and 'My little pony' video, what more could a girl want?

You joined the Loughborough Amateurs Society and did 3 shows with them. From a little girl watching the BYU Ballroom dancers perform live in Leicester you decided that you wanted to go to BYU and this was a dream that came true even though it wasn’t easy because they didn’t understand the British schooling system, but we got there in the end.

You will look at the camera Jess!

You and Aaron had a love hate relationship I guess like a lot of siblings and I’m sure you will never forget the time Aaron nearly lost the top of his finger when you slammed the bedroom door on him to keep him out of your room after you had taken something from him, you felt so bad.

A family of four

A 9 year gap meant you adored your baby sister Beth so much I guess that you wanted her in your bedroom when she was first born, we warned you that she would cry and keep you awake but you still wanted her in your room.

Beth with you on your wedding day

You were always a pretty child and in your early teens we started realise what a beauty you going to be and we were not wrong. You weren’t short of admirers because not only were you gorgeous to look at you had a beautiful personality that shone. You loved animals and from a young age helped care for our rabbits, cats and your mice that sadly got eaten by one of the cats one Christmas morning! Then when we moved to Blackbrook Farm House we got the dogs, chickens, goats and Shrimp! You loved Shrimp your horse more then I realised at the time, you learned so much from her and it was indeed a sad day when she died.

You Jess with your beloved Shrimp

At 18 you started life as a student at BYU, I remember the summer of 2003 very well as we spent a fun couple of weeks together as family before you started. We were excited for you as you realised your dream of attending BYU, but we were also very apprehensive about you going to school so far away from us. I remember all to well saying goodbye to you in your apartment not wanting to let go of you thinking that Christmas (when we would see you again) seemed so far away and how would I get through the coming months. Well I didn’t and I made a visit over to see you and Aaron in the November.

Professional pictures taken of you while at BYU for an acting class you took

We knew that going to BYU meant that you would probably never come back to England to live, although you disputed that by saying ‘No I’m going to get my degree, go on a mission and live in Scotland!’ Your first summer 2004 saw you up in Island Park performing at a ‘Diner Theatre’ with the lead role of Laurie in OAKLAHOMA and I was glad I got to come and see you perform, you were just great.

I love you this photo of you taken at the time of your engagement

It was also in Island Park that you met the love of your life Mr. Benjamin Carney who had just returned from his mission and was coincidently going to study at BYU. 14 months after you started dating you were married here in England on 17th September 2005, it was a beautiful sunny, warm day just as you predicted! After the civil ceremony at the Loughborough chapel, we had a wonderful reception here at Blackbrook Farm House in a marquee on the paddock. Later that day you were sealed for time and all eternity in the London Temple a best ending to a beautiful day.

Jess and Ben on their wedding day 17th September 2005

On 18th May 2007 Jack Michael Carney was born you to and Ben and he has just had his 2nd birthday, oh how time flies. You are a wonderful mother, patient beyond believe always putting your family above your own desires.

I love this photo of Jess and Ben

We are so very proud of what you have achieved Jessie, most recently with you graduating from BYU along with Ben. Your love of life is evident with your gorgeous smile and countenance; as a teenager you went out of your way to talk to the older folk and those less fortunate than you; you really are a very compassionate person. Jessie we love you and miss you and so look forward to the day when we can see more of you and your family especially that little monkey Jack.

Ben, Jess and Jack

Finally I just love the gift you gave us at Christmas – oh I forgot to mention how gifted you are at coming up with the most amazing gifts that are priceless and I wanted to post a picture of the gift and allow others to read what you wrote.

Blackbrook Farmhouse


Some say I am old, others say I am inefficient,
To some I am a glimpse of another era.
But to a select few I am their home.
I am Blackbrook Farmhouse, home of the Presbury’s.
My nick name is BBFH.

My floor boards are creaky and say in the middle,
Each of my door knobs needs a gentle jiggle.
My stone brick walls scare heat away,
And the third floor bathroom reminds some of golf play.

I’ve watched moments unfold into priceless memories;

The Christmas Parties and birthday wishes.
Cold mornings of seminary and kids doing the dishes.
I’ve watched parents teach by love and example
Even when their kids were more than a handful.

Numerous employees have worked hard and played pool,
While good friends have stayed late, chatting in the hall.
Animals have filled my corridors with sounds and smells,
And left morning presents worthy of a YELL.

I am Blackbrook Farmhouse the Presbury’s home,
I hear rumors of them leaving me all alone.
Even if they go their memories will remain
And my life will continue but will never be the same.

…Oh the wonder I have witnessed…

By Jessica Carney