My husband and I were married seven
months when I became pregnant with our first child, Grace. She was seven months
old when I became pregnant with our second child, another girl, Joy. When she
was seven months old, my husband wasn't allowed close enough to even shake
hands.
We had a third child a few years
later, one more girl- Gloria, and felt we were probably done. Surgery is so
finite though, so no extreme measures were taken to secure this. We had always
joked about a mid-life crisis child, but as mid-life approached we became
reassured that we were ready to definitely claim no more children. Quite
simply, we liked our sleep. After being asked constantly about the
possibilities of having a fourth to try for a boy, we were tired of making
excuses.
What is the saying? Man makes plans
and God laughs? Well, we made plans. We planned on traveling. We planned on
more date nights. We planned mostly to have more time together as a married
couple, something we have had far too little of. This was declared and
celebrated earlier this year in honor of our mutually approaching fortieth
birthdays. We definitely planned on NOT having any more children.
In April, I was a few days late. No
worries. I'll take a test just for peace of mind and calm the queasy stomach.
Four tests later, it was obvious. God
was laughing. Big time.
After the first test, I quietly
walked into the living room and requested my husband's presence in the bathroom
for a moment. He followed me in, took the test questioningly, recognized the
significance, and began to claim it wasn't a positive test- I was just
misreading.
Oh, Men. You boys can be so cute when
reality smacks you upside the head and you want to deny it, argue it, and prove
it wrong. Your voices get higher pitched, the sweat on the forehead beads so
handsomely, and the increase in pulse rate gives you such attractive jitters.
When will you learn, when we women say "Yes it is" while in shock and
blinking back stinging tears- we really mean "Yes it is and if you doubt
me, you will make me feel crazy and I may jump on your back and cut you while
screaming like a Banshee!! "?
To assuage the increasingly desperate
denial, a second test was taken. Reference on reading the test accurately was
googled and debated. The agreed upon next action was the acquisition of a more
identifiable test, preferably one that said "Yes" or "No".
Much to my surprise on the update of technology in the eight years since my
previous pregnancy, they have a digital test that actually declares "Yes"
or "No" now. Although, I am not sure what the "No" looks
like. Both of mine said "Yes" most definitely.
After 48 hours of shock and some much needed listening by my
sisters of the heart, I was ready to admit this was it- I would be pregnant on
my 40th Birthday. My days of sleeping are once again numbered. Our plans of
traveling are placed on hold and our time alone will be extended by another 18
years.
It has been over a month now since the discovery of our new family
member. The newness of the idea has worn off. The third trimester's ending is
being greatly anticipated in hopes that food will once again be welcomed in my
body. And I have learned to grow patient with the first question that everyone
seems to ask me:
When will you find out if this one's a boy?
