Week 5: SURE? (Beginning of March)

The best place to start a story is always at the beginning, right?  Tim and I have made it a habit to start each new year with a conversation about our goals for the year.  This year's conversation surprised me more than most.  I had my list, and Tim had his, and usually our lists don't surprise each other much.  But this year, Tim's first item on the list did just that.  His number one goal was to have another baby.  It wasn't the idea that surprised me as much as the fact that it was at the top of his list.  (He later clarified that the list wasn't necessarily in priority order.  Or so he claims.)

Thankfully, we were in agreement, so this was simply a conversation, rather than a debate.  But after January passed, without a positive pregnancy test,  I was ready for it to take a long time.  I even assigned different people to pray for us each day of the week.   I was SURE it was going to be a long road.  Especially since February posed some serious obstacles for us, and I was SURE February wouldn't be our month either.  And March would mean a Christmas baby, of which I was not a big fan.  And so on it went.

March began, and although I was desperately attempting to not analyze every "sign," I was sure I was not pregnant.  SURE.  It was taking all my will power to not jump the gun and take an early pregnancy test.  Even still, I figured it was just a couple of days and not a big deal.  But I had a test, so I took one anyway.

Even after seeing the plus and dash symbols both appear, I was SURE it was wrong.   I've told countless people over the years that there really is no such thing as a false positive.  And here I was, not believing my own eyes.  It was SUREly wrong.  There was no way.

It was early in the morning, before anyone else was up, so I left the surprise on the bathroom counter for Tim to see, and somewhat less sleepily crawled back into bed.

Tim found "the surprise" about an hour and a half later, and his excitement was immediate.  He spent about two minutes in disbelief mixed with some shock, and then he was over it.  By over it, I mean the shock and disbelief and was already into full fledged excitement.

The remainder of the week was spent in much the same way.  Tim was so excited, I was totally in shock.  For real.  In fact, Tim had to ask me more than once if I was even excited because he felt like I wasn't showing any emotion.  I don't think I did.  I have never been so surprised by a positive pregnancy test.  I am sure that for that first week, I didn't believe it at all.  I think I told two people that week (a couple of the people I had asked to pray for us), and even in talking about it with them, I just couldn't believe it was true!!!

I spent the week mulling over the fact that when God's people band together in prayer, and ask something in His name, He shows up!!!  I am convinced that this baby happened so quickly for us because we asked people to join us in prayer.  That's a new thing for me, and I'm excited to be reaping the benefits!  I am totally awed, humbled, and blessed by how God answered this prayer so quickly for us, and I don't doubt for a minute that it has something to do with prayers lifted up on our behalf.

The Journey Begins

Wanna join me on a journey?  I've been entirely absent from blogging for some time now, and there's a fairly good reason for that.

But I'm back in the game now, so to speak, and for anyone who wishes to join me along the way, I've got a story to tell.  The story isn't complete yet; it's definitely still in the making.  But you can jump in at any point, or you can not and I don't care.  I decided to embark on this journey for my sake alone, so I will not be offended to travel this road myself.

Well, I won't really be entirely alone, but maybe no one cares to read about it.  You see, Tim is definitely along for the ride.  And so are my kids.  Including the one who prompted this journey.  The one that will join our family in early November of this year.

Yes, that's right folks.  If you have stuck with me so far, and are just realizing this now, we are indeed a growing family.  Baby #4 will join us in a few long short months.  We are ALL SO EXCITED!!!  And even though we're not even half way yet, we've discovered a few things along the road so far that have made me determined to chronicle the story of adding our fourth child to this family.  There have been some things that have happened so far that I definitely want to document, some things that have happened so far that have really caused me to reflect, and some things so far that have really made me laugh.  And I want to remember all of it.  So there provides the material for this story that I am compelled to tell.  Let the journey begin!

(P.S.  I suppose I should clarify that this also helps explain my extended absence from blogging.  For the last three months, if it didn't involved laying on the couch and being completely unproductive, I've had no interest!!  I have been a completely dysfunctional member of society in a total fog of first trimester exhaustion.  Somehow, I manage to keep my 3 small children and husband safe, fed, and clothed.  Somehow.  Barely.  But I think I've finally turned a corner and am returning to some semblance of life.  Thankfully!)