I wrote this post weeks ago - before we were ready to share our journey....
So. Thursday, July 11th is a day I will never, ever forget!
I went to get my first HCG test early in the morning. I was a nervous flipping wreck. Justin and I prayed together before I left, for peace and calmness.
I have to share this sidenote: We had prayed for the Lord to fill me/us with a sense of peace with the news, whatever it may be. Not minutes later, I received a text from a dear, sweet friend who had no idea I was going that morning for blood work, with the scripture from John 14:27, which states..
I am leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid.
Now tell me that wasn't God's hand at work RIGHT THEN. How amazing when He answers us so loudly and audibly?
Anyway, off I was for the blood test. I was WAY too chicken to POAS (pee on a stick) so we really had no idea what to expect. The few days before I had started feeling some symptoms, but I also was (and still am) on injectable hormones. So it was hard to distinguish what was what.
I was also worried sick because SO many people had made comments like "Oh, I knew the exact NANO SECOND I was pregnant." Yeah right. Most people don't know until they miss a period. Maybe a few days before if they have been trying and are looking for symptoms. That is NOT the comment to make to someone who has gone through such a physically and emotionally trying process such as IVF. Which, by the way, completely screws up your body and your hormones. Most days I can't tell if I am coming or going, much less what is happening deep inside my body!
Needless to say, I was convinced that I a) should have felt "more" pregnant and b) was making up all the symptoms in my head because I wanted it so badly.
By 3:30 that afternoon, we still had not heard from the nurse. I was so nervous I was making myself sick and had to come home form work. I knew the doctors office closed at 4:00. Well, 3:50pm arrives and no phone call. We decided to call ourselves, and it went straight to the answering service! I was SO disappointed and convinced we would have to wait until Friday for answers. We debated going ahead and using a home pregnancy test, and I was starting to actually drift off into a nap when the phone rang.
I almost threw up as I answered and heard the nurse's voice! She immediately said "Did you cheat?!" to which I replied "What do you mean??" I was so nervous and confused, I didn't realize she was asking if we had already taken a home pregnancy test. Um negative! Too chicken over here. When I told her, she exclaimed, "Oh! I almost never get to tell anyone who hasn't cheated! You are pregnant. In fact, you are VERY pregnant!" Normal levels at that point would be expected to be around 100. Mine were 800something! WOW! The nurse was so excited, and went on to say it was either one very strong baby, or a good possibility of more than one, since they did implant two embryos.
We were shocked. I held Justin and cried tears of joy and relief, and thanked God over and over for performing another miracle for us. What a testimony of God's healing powers and miracle works we can share.
We ran to Cape to celebrate by eating at Pasta House - which sounded delicious before we went, but the food tasted AWFUL to me and I gagged in the parking lot. I will take it to be PREGNANT though! We bought my parents a cute book and a bib to give to them that evening. No one knew we were having the blood test that day, so we actually got to surprise them!
I should have gotten a photo - but was too wrapped up. My mom was speechless for the first time in her life. It was a wonderful moment.
Justin's parents and sister were on vacation. We ended up calling them and saying to FaceTime us because we had our kitchen painted (which was true) and wanted to show them. We made a big sign that said "We are PREGNANT" and taped it to one of the cabinet doors. Justin was slowly panning across the room when we heard his mom scream "OH MY GOD IT SAYS WE ARE PREGNANT!" Another wonderful moment!
We could not be happier. We are just overjoyed and so grateful for God's mercy!
I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him.
1 Samuel 1:27
