A Tangible Miracle

So I have always heard about miracles in the Bible, in strangers that I have never met, in people around me, but something different happens to you internally when a true miracle happens to you. It all started about a year and a half ago when we moved into our house. We both knew that we ALWAYS wanted children, but weren't sure if we were ready yet. So we decided that if it happened it happened and if it didn't it didn't. Well it didn't. Every month I kept waiting on a "surprise" but it just never happened. So about 7 months ago we started using the ovulation kits, etc and we new that we were timing everything correctly and we still were not getting pregnant. We decided to go to a fertility specialist (who is now my ob) and she sent us for some fertility testing. To make a long story short, we were told that we had a 0% chance of conceiving naturally and only had a 5% chance of getting pregnant after 6 rounds of IUI. An IUI was going to cost us $500/procedure for the first 3, and then it would have cost us $2,500/procedure for the last three because we would have had to add injections. We were basically headed on our way to in vitro which I did NOT want to do. It was going to cost us $15,000-$20,000 for in vitro, and we were only given a 40% chance of that working. As you can imagine, the last few months had not been easy. While I am sooooo thankful that I live during a time when technology is at its best, just the thought of these procedures maybe not working was devastating to me. Since I can remember, I have always wanted to be a mother, and the thought of not being able to be was something that I could not even think about. We decided to be open about what all we were going through. We have had TONS of people praying for us all over, and we are so thankful for everyone that helped us through this time.

Last Wednesday (the 17th) was day 28 of my cycle and I was suppose to get the "little gift" that I dread every month. I noticed a few days prior that I didn't have the symptoms that I usually have leading up to this glorious day. Well, when I hadn't gotten the little gift by Thursday (which I have never been late a day in my life) I began to wonder if maybe I could be pregnant. I woke up at 5:00am on Thursday and decided to take a test. It came up faintly positive. I decided that I would not tell Rich until I was COMPLETELY positive that I was pregnant. So I got back in bed and layed there wide awake trying not to say anything. At this point, I still had no idea. I thought that something was wrong with the test. So I went to work that day, and on the way home stopped by Walmart to get 4 more tests. Two digital tests and two other tests. I got home and immediately took the digital test. I sat there and stared at the test waiting for my big news. Then all of the sudden it came up "PREGNANT." I was so excited that I couldn't even get up. I just sat there crying in the bathroom by myself because I couldn't tell Rich until Friday. I decided to not tell him until Friday because he had gotten me Rockette tickets, and we were going out to Maggiano's for dinner. We had also decided to do Christmas Saturday morning and had planned on giving each other one gift on Friday. I immediately jumped in my car and headed to the KY state line to look for some KY baby onesies. I couldn't find them ANYWHERE. I finally found them at JC Penny's in Bowling Green Mall. I came home and hid his gift just in time for him to get home. Now I had to not smile or act excited for an entire night. Even after all of this, I still couldn't believe that I was pregnant so I took the last three tests. One Thursday night, one Friday morning, and one Friday before lunch. They all came back positive so I called my doctor. She said, Congrats and made me an appointment to check my progesterone levels and pregnancy hormones for Dec. 31st and set up an 8 week ultrasound appt. for Jan. 14th. Rich got home early on Friday from work and as soon as he walked in the door I turned on the video camera and gave him his wrapped Nike UK baby outfits. He was so shocked and was overwhelmed with joy! I have the videos of me telling Rich, my side of the family, and everyone in KY that I will post as soon as I find my USB for my video camera.

I am 5 weeks and 2 days along right now. We are so thankful to God for this little miracle growing in my belly. I had debated on telling our story until the "critical months" were over, but we decided that we want this life inside of me to be celebrated for as long as God gives us this child. Please pray for us during this time and pray for a healthy pregnancy and baby!