The Most Exciting Entry I've Written Yet!

I haven't been the best blogger lately; I've been a little distracted & a little preoccupied the last few days.... and now I am ready to tell you WHY!

If you don't live right here in Mid-South Missouri where by now EVERYONE seems to know, please brace yourself. If you are drinking something, set it down somewhere. If you are standing, please sit down. If you are chewing food, swallow it before you proceed. ;) Would you believe the following picture!? And would you believe that this pregnancy test is MINE!!!???
Well, I didn't either...that's why I had to do 4 tests total before I really believed it - and even then, I wanted to hear it from my doctor.

Yes, we are expecting a baby, Lord willing!! I found out last Thursday while doing my routine pregnancy testing before starting a course of medication my GYN doctor has me going through since last year (about quarterly I take synthetic progesterone, which helps with my PCOS) - either the doctor or I would do a test before each round "to make sure it is negative" ... and it has always been negative. Well, much to my surprise the test this time was POSITIVE.

So, Thursday afternoon, I shared the good news with my husband! I think he is happier than I am. If you've read this blog long enough - or know me well enough - you know we always wanted more kids ... and it wasn't that I didn't believe we would have more, it was just that I didn't want to presume we would.

The last time I was pregnant was six years ago, and the pregnancy ended in a miscarriage. I had a hard time getting over that even though God's grace was so evident to me through it all. Two years after that, we kind of "gave up" on having more children. I started working at the church & Christian school, and I sold all my baby and maternity things in yard sales and consignment shops or gave baby clothes away. I kept a few of my favorite, most precious things - but otherwise, we have nothing left from that time period in our lives.

Yet, isn't it just like God to throw in a little SURPRISE when you least expect it?! I had a doctor appointment with my OB/GYN on Tuesday (yesterday). He did an internal ultrasound - and it was the MOST PRECIOUS thing I have ever seen!!! There was a 2.8 mm baby - in a yolk sac, implanted in a perfectly secure place, with a fetal pole ... and best of all, the baby has a winking, pulsing heart beat! The doctor said right now everything appeared as ideal as it could be - and the chances of a miscarriage are slim; though no one can guarantee that it couldn't happen. However, it looks very good!

We are due the first week of January 2010, so I am barely 6 weeks pregnant right now. We just went ahead & told our church family the news since we very much covet their prayers and support right now. Plus when the nausea phase sets in, everyone will know why I am slumped over at my desk at work! ;)

We told our children- and it was so much fun!! I guess I didn't realize how neat it would be to tell an 8 year old and a 10 year old this news. Dan just handed them each an ultrasound picture - and asked if they knew what that was. Andrew finally said, "Is that - is that - a - a baby?" They are both excited, for which I am thankful. Andrew wants a boy; Anna, a girl. Of course, I'm not sure if they realize that since we only have a 3 bedroom house, that one of them is going to end up sharing a room some day!?

For now, we are just taking it day by day - and asking everyone to say a prayer that God's will be done. We are thanking God for one more opportunity at the joy of being parents - and being allowed the HUGE privilege it is to raise another child, even though we have already been given more than we ever hoped for in Andrew & Anna. I am not sure I could ever ask for anything else for myself from Him ... I just feel so overwhelmingly blessed right now!