The McCoy Family
DH: Theodore James
DW: Amada Viola {nee Jules}
DAS: Domenico Desiderio (21) 1952
DS: Thomas Jacob (21)
DAD: Catalina Rosa (20)
DD: Charlotte Muireall (19)
DD: Georgia Emilie (18)
DS Walter Everett (17)
DAD: Isadora Odessa (16)
DS: Michael William (16)
DS: Douglas Fable (14)
DD: Harriet Maxine (14)
DD: Ivy Jane (14)
DD: Rosalind Hazel (14)
TJ and Madi with children,
Mimmo, Thomas, Cat, Char, Georgie, Wally, Izzy, Michael, Duckie, Hattie, Ivy, and Rosie
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Theodore James McCoy was born in southern NH during the autumn of 1928. TJ's family was comprised of two parents, a younger brother, and a younger sister. Times had been tough, having been born in the midst of The Great Depression. TJ's father ended up being drafted into WW11 when TJ was a preteen, where he ultimately passed away. Upon entering adulthood in the late 1940's, TJ got himself a job he liked as a security guard to a favored museum in Boston, Mass.
Amada Viola Jules grew up in a unique environment. Madi was the second and youngest child to two very wealthy parents. Her dad was the son of a wealthy banker, he himself was a famous athlete (turned entrepreneur upon retiring from sports) while her mother was a successful author. Despite the catastrophic state of the world with The Great Depression and WW11, the Jules family were very fortunate to have gotten through with more privilege than most. Madi and her older sister, Stella Valentina Jules, were inseparable. They'd been best friends their entire lives so it was natural to them, upon reaching adulthood, to live together. When Madi mentioned the idea of moving into her families vacation house in Brookline, Mass, while pursuing her dream job as a museum curator, Stella was quick to plan out a way to move together. As Stella worked in culinary arts, there was a wealth of opportunities for careers that aligned with her aspirations. Madi landed a job in a wonderful museum in Boston, a comfortable commute from Brookline. It felt absolutely perfect!
When TJ and Madi met on the job, they were both drawn to one another. TJ was typically a laid back, go with the flow kind of man while Madi was passionate, quick to make up her mind, and pursued her wishes with determination and perseverance. While Madi had had a handful of romantic interests, she was attracted to the way TJ pursued her. It was different than she was used to and she just had to see what he had to offer. She was used to fancy restaurants and showy gestures. TJ had a way of creating intimate, meaningful experiences.
They had only dated three months before TJ proposed to Madi. Madi was shocked, considering how he preferred taking things slow. TJ, the man of few words, poured his heart out about his love for Madi - and Madi said yes! They planned a date within the year. Their families were surprised but supportive, seeing how sure they were of themselves. They hosted their wedding at Madi and Stella's house, where everyone agreed that TJ would move in with them. Thankfully, TJ and Stella got along very well, making the scenario a pleasant one.
In an adorable turn of events, Madi and Stella had both mentioned they had something important they needed to discuss. As it turns out, Stella had felt she was ready to begin her own family! She'd never been interested in having a romantic partner, feeling more fulfillment from platonic relationships than she could ever feel from a romantic one. She still wanted to be a mother, though, so elected to conceive with a sperm donor. Artificial Insemination was still rather new to the USA at this point, typically carried out very discretely by private medical practitioners. The sweet part was when Madi had mentioned she also wanted to begin growing her family. Madi and Stella loved the idea of being pregnant at the same time! They were quick to talk of how their kids would be so close to one another. While TJ mostly listened, he was whole heartedly supportive and felt endeared at the way they spoke of the scenario.
Stella was the first to fall pregnant, only a mere two months ahead of Madi. They both welcomed beautiful baby boys in the 1950's! Stella chose the name Domenico Desiderio Jules, nickname Mimmo. Domenico honored Stella and Madi's father while Desiderio was chosen from an Italian sculptor who's art Stella admired. TJ and Madi chose the name Thomas Jacob McCoy to honor TJ's father who passed as well as carry on the family initials that first sons received in his dads lineage. The whole family was over the moon for the new babies! Madi and Stella were grateful to be experiencing such a life altering event together, able to share in the highs and lows. TJ was happy to assist in raising his nephew equally along with his son.
The McCoy and Jules families were very fortunate to have the resources they had, allowing a au paire to be employed while TJ, Madi, and Stella worked. The nanny was able to
Stella loved how close she was to Madi and attributed it to their closeness in age. So when Mimmo was not even a year old, she pursued growing her family! Her second pregnancy was far different than her first, with complications that put her on bedrest off and on throughout until she finally delivered her little girl! She named her Catalina Rosa Jules. Stella loved that she could combine multiple loved ones names into her daughters name, her best friend Catherine and her mother Rosalina.
The experience made Madi a little nervous about trying to conceive a second child for herself but she knew she wasn't ready to be done. TJ and Madi had talked a lot about wanting a large family. They soon conceived and welcomed a little girl of their own, whom they named Charlotte Muireall McCoy. Charlotte was just a name TJ and Madi loved while Muireall honored TJ's grandmother. Madi continued to have back to back pregnancies over these years, welcoming Georgia Emilie McCoy and Walter Everett McCoy in the following years. While the names weren't honoring, they were all names they loved very much.
At this point, the house was already very busy! There were 5 kids under 5 in the house! Mimmo and Thomas were 4, Cat was 3, Char was 2, Georgie was 1, and Wally was a newborn. Despite that, Stella felt strongly that she wanted just one more. TJ and Madi hadn't intended on having another child yet but upon one intimate moment where they weren't careful, they found themselves expecting again. They weren't surprised and they were happy, even if they had hoped to wait a little longer. They absolutely loved the chaotic, love filled home they had created together. As a large family in the late 1950's, they didn't know a lot of families that looked like their own.
Stella's labor and delivery turned scary quick. A prolonged labor, a broken tailbone, and a stroke lead to a medically induced coma. Thankfully her baby was relatively okay, only requiring a brief NICU stay. Stella, however, had a long road ahead of her. Madi was able to provide the name Stella chose for her daughter, Isadora Odessa Jules. Madi was only a month behind Stella in her pregnancy, nearing her birthing window. Thankfully, Stella was able to be taken out of the coma after a week as she responded well to treatment. Stella suffered lasting effects, including slowed speech, restricted physical abilities, weakness in limbs, incontinence, and pain. TJ, Madi, and Madi's parents had all talked about options for Stella which ultimately included Stella remaining in her home and being cared for by TJ, Madi, and a personal aid as needed.
Stella was still in the hospital when Madi went into labor. It was a comfort to Madi to know Stella was right there with her, even if in a different room of the same hospital. They welcomed another son, Michael William McCoy. It was a complicated time in their lives, to be experiencing one of the most joyous moments of ones life at the same time as a traumatic one. Little Michael and Izzy were absolutely wonderful babies and they were thankful for their presence, even if sad that they had the horrible memories plaguing their minds.
Two years have passed since Stella's disabling event and Izzy and Michael's births. The family has finally felt as if they were settling into their new normal. Mr. and Mrs. Jules had stayed with their daughters for a while for the immediate recovery period but as time passed, they supported in ways that were more congenial for the whole family. Stella had resigned from her job due to the permanency of her disabilities. She has a wheelchair being her bodily weakness only allows for very brief ambulatory moments that she has to reserve for truly needed moments. Mimmo and Thomas are now 7 and beginning 2nd grade. Cat and Char are 6 and 5 respectively and both in kindergarten. Georgie is 4 and beginning preschool. Wally is 3. Izzy and Michael are two. With 5 of the kids in school, the house felt far quieter during the day. Around this time, Stella had decided to sign papers that would adopt her children to be Madi and TJ's. While her mental abilities weren't affected so much as her physical ones, she felt safer with this option and of course TJ and Madi were perfectly happy to be there for their family like this. Stella remained as active of a parent as she could but required a lot of caretaking for herself.
In an absolutely shocking turn of events, Madi found herself pregnant again with multiples! They had been using birth control and it failed. Before Stella's medical emergency, TJ and Madi had talked about one more baby being the final baby to complete their large family. Since everything that's happened, they had agreed that they already have a bunch of wonderful, beautiful children and to make peace with their family being completed. It was even more shocking to learn it was quads! It was triggering to Madi to have so many complications, fearing how easily it could be her having an emergency and being disabled or even dead. While there were complications, they all thankfully weren't traumatic. They welcomed one boy and three girls! Douglas Fable McCoy, Harriet Maxine McCoy, Ivy Jane McCoy, and Rosalind Hazel McCoy! Douglas honored TJ's grandfather, Rosalind honored Madi's mother, Rosalina. The other names were ones they simply loved.
It is now 1973.
TJ and Madi are still madly in love. The youngest of the kids are teens while the eldest are beginning adulthood. Madi has continued her work as a museum curator. TJ quit his job as a security officer to be a stay at home parent and caregiver for Stella. He has begun picking up some part time hours to help with potential costs for his kids, as of course they aren't solely financing their lives through Madi's parents generosity. Stella's found a reliable and great healthcare team to manage her needs.