Pregnant!

If you are reading this, then HOORAY! That means the 8 week doctor appointment went well and it's time to officially announce the good news, so here goes....


WE'RE PREGNANT!


again


:)


And yes, we are excited!!


Below is the "How we found out we are pregnant" story.


First of all, I am going to compare my pregnancies. It just has to be done. With 3 pregnancies within a 4 year period it's hard not to. So, with Isaac and Jared I knew right away that I was pregnant.  And then there was this time. I was late, but I've been late before, so I really didn't think anything of it. I decided that if I didn't start by Wednesday I would take a test just to rule that out. But really, stress and weird months sometimes lead to weird cycles and I figured it would come any minute. Aaaany minute. On Monday I realized that Wednesday would be Groundhog Day. This wouldn't be a big deal except that I found out about Isaac on Halloween and I found out about Jared on St. Patrick's Day. Both times were a fluke. So when I realized that I had decided to take a test on Wednesday, THEN found out it was a holiday, it did seem curious. But still. Aaaany minute.  Wednesday after school came and I realized it was time to buy a test. I was still expecting a negative result. I even bought a 3 pack so I could use another one some other month.


Are you getting how unexpected this was?


Larry knew my plan to take the test on Wednesday because I keep him informed of these things. (Yes, you can pity him.) I did what has to be done (so gross) and before I could stand up there were two lines. I immediately yelled, very loudly, OH MY GOD!!!! I ran down the stairs with my pants still around my knees and showed Larry the test. Look at this!! Oh my God! How did this happen?!


Seriously, you would think I would know by now, but I'm thinking I must be mistaken because I don't know how this happened!


But then Larry smiled. It was his special we're-having-a-baby-smile. I told him I was happy, but so surprised. I should have known! It's my third! I should be an expert at knowing when I'm pregnant. But not this time.


With shaky hands I checked my phone to figure out the due date. October 9. I checked another website. October 9. I checked another site. October 9.


And suddenly I felt at peace. My hands were still shaking, but all of a sudden I knew this was God's baby. Just like I knew Isaac was God's baby. And Jared was God's baby. It's why we continue to say no to birth control. It's why we're okay with not understanding all of the why's.


Ever since I found out Jared was going to be a November baby I said I wanted an October baby. (I also always said I would have a girl in October. Even more specifically, a girl named Katie, but we'll have to wait to find out about that one.) It sounds weird, but here are our birthdays:
Isaac- July
Larry- August
Me- September
Baby 3- October
Jared- November


It just makes me feel happy inside. But here's why it's God's baby. I don't really think God is sitting around thinking of mathematical ways to make me happy. But I do believe He has a plan far greater than my own. And I do believe that He wants people to have extraordinary Faith in Him and His plans.


I also think He has a strong sense of humor and gets a kick out throwing people off guard.


Anyway, Larry has known about my desire to have an October baby. I even talked to him more specifically about it in December when I thought that was our last chance for an October baby. His logical reasons for being careful so we could have a summer baby made sense. Financially and with extra time off, plus allowing more time between the kids, it all made sense. I understood, I respected it, and I agreed with him. (And secretly hoped for a June baby at least.) I was completely at peace with our decision to wait. So we continued to "be careful" without using birth control.


So yeah, we were careful. Very careful. As careful as you can be without being abstinent or using birth control. And not in that "I'm being careful but secretly not so much because I really want an October baby" careful. I thought the window for an October baby was gone. I definitely did not want two November birthdays. That would really throw things off. Not to mention, I was really enjoying being normal for a change. My hormones had worked themselves out, I wasn't nursing or pregnant. I was like a real human being and it was nice. I was okay with waiting 9 more months before getting pregnant so we could have a summer baby.


But then I was late. And the test was positive. And I knew/know that God is in control.


So that's how I knew this is God's baby. We made a decision that we were at peace with and God intervened. Some months it's really hard to not use birth control. The unknown of the future is what gets us the most. But this pregnancy, even more than the others, made me realize that we are doing what's best for our family. If we were on birth control (or at the very least, if we were in control) we may not have this bundle growing inside me right now. And God clearly wants this baby to be a part of our family. I don't know what He has planned for this baby or our family, but I am so, so, so very thankful for this pregnancy.


**And just as a side note, I am not against birth control or people who use it. I really feel if you pray for guidance, God puts on your heart what is best for you and your family. For whatever reason, when Larry and I talked about it we both agreed that we didn't have a number in our heads, we didn't have a start date for kids in our heads, and we felt confident about leaving it in God's hands. We continue to have confidence in our decision to let God decide and we have a peace about it. That's just how we roll :)