In the mean time, after much discussion and prayer, we decided to become foster parents (I will dedicate another post to this story later on). During our second placement, I began to feel really weird. I thought my body was really messed up. At one point (because I'm usually pretty in tune with my body), I even thought, "If I didn't know any better, I'd think I was pregnant...Nah!" After a while, Matt became concerned too, and told me to make a doctor's appointment. I was planning on it, but decided to take a pregnancy test before I called, knowing that would be the first question they would ask. I wanted to have my ducks in a row. When two lines immediatly showed up, I handed the test to Matt, speechless. He looked at it and said, "Test again." So, I did, getting the same result.
Tears just flowed, because it was too late in the evening to call a doctor. I felt like a horrible mom. I just kept thinking, " If only I had tested a couple of weeks ago. I could already have been on medicine." It's just that it seemed impossible. Things just didn't add up. After puttings all of the kids to bed, I sank into my own bed with a heavy heart, praying for my baby.
The next morning, Matt woke me up before leaving for work. He said, "Take another test." I did (Thank goodness for three packs). I gave it to him while he was standing by the door ready to leave. He looked at the two lines, turned around and left for work without uttering a word. I'm telling you, we were shocked!
I called my OB as soon as the office opened. I told them I was pregnant, and needed some medicine. They told me that the doctor was out of town, and that I'd have to wait for him to write the prescription when he got back. I couldn't make anyone understand. I cried to them, letting them know that I could not lose another baby. They said they couldn't help me. I had to figure something out. That's it! My Mom! I try to wait to tell people that I'm expecting when I'm further along, but I also needed help. I didn't want to tell her over the phone, so I drove to the hospital where she works. I told her I was expecting, and that I couldn't get in touch with my doctor to get meds. She stepped up handled things. She called another doctor, explained the situation, and got my medicine prescribed right then. She also got me in to see the doctor very quickly. I took my sister-in-law with me to my first appointment. Matt couldn't get off work, and I didn't want to go by myself in case there may have been bad news.
The doctor gave me an ultrasound. Do you know what? Everything was fine. [ INSERT GIANT SIGH AND TEARS OF RELIEF HERE] The baby looked great! Since it was nothing short of God's divine intervention that I was pregnant, then why hadn't I figured out that God had this handled too?
To let you know how much more of a God thing this was, you should know that out of my grandmother-in-law's three grandkids, every single one of their wives were expecting. My due date was October 27, another's was also October 27th, and the other's was November 27th. That's crazy to me!
When I started showing, we decided to share the news by sending out invitations. The card said something like:
You're Invited
What: A Birthday Party
When: Sometime around October 27th
Where: Baptist Medical Center
R.S.V.P.: (I put our phone numbers here)
We stuck them in the mail, and headed off to Branson. You wouldn't believe the calls we got while we were there. Some people called with uncontrolled laughter, some with shock, some with disbelief, some were like, "Is this saying what I think it's saying?" The cards were a success! When each person called, it was like we got to celebrate all over again. It was definitely my favorite reveal!
The rest of the pregnancy went great as usual. Toward the end, my doctor started talking about an early induction. If you've read my other posts, you know that I have big babies. She was just trying to save me from a c-section. I really like to go into labor on my own, though, so I begged my doctor to give me a little longer. She agreed, but gave me a deadline. I had been having contractions for a few weeks, but they were changing me slowly.
On a Sunday, when we got home from church, Mom called me up. She was bored, so we decided to go to the hospital and have someone check on my progress. We stopped and ate Subway on the way. We got there around 2:00 or 2:30. When the nurse checked me, she said, "Raven, what were you dialated at your check-up the other day?"
Me: "She said a two. Why? What am I? Still a two?"
Nurse: "Six."
Um...say what? Did she just say six? Breathe Raven. Collect yourself. "Okay. We'll go home, so I can help Matt get the boys ready. Then I'll ride back with him."
Nurse: "You can't leave. You're in labor."
Me: "I don't feel in labor. Can I hang out in Little Rock for a while?"
Nurse: "I am going to go call the doctor." [Exit Nurse]
I scrambled to get myself together and then marched myself right out to that desk. I heard the nurse tell my doctor my status, and then that I wanted to go home and get everything together and come back. Then I heard my doctor laugh. I figured that meant I wasn't going anywhere.
I called Matt to let him know that I was aparently in labor, and that he would need to put the clothes in the dryer and get the boys ready and head my way. Well,... Matt flipped out. The boys weren't dressed, and Camden had just poured Kool-Aid in his hair. This was not going as planned. I hoped Matt remembered to put the clothes in the dryer. He got there a little after 4:00 I think (about the time I actually started feeling like I was in labor), and about two and a half hours later I was complete. A few minutes after that, my daughter was born.
This is my living doll.
Bliss Elaine
8 pounds 9 ounces
20 inches long
Born at 6:43 P.M.
This is her a couple hours later after her first bath. She's wearing an outfit that I made for her.
Of course, you know this experience surfaced a few reminders.
1. Surprises are indeed surprises!
- I always thought a surprise pregnancy would really neat. What I didn't think about, was that in order to be surprised, it couldn't be planned.
2. A mother will go any lenth to protect her child.
- My mom jokes around that I sounded like an addict
contacting whomever I had to in order to get my meds.
3.If God has a will for your life, he will provide a door.
- God arranged our pregnancy and he took care of my baby girl. Trust me, I know that things don't always turn out happy or what we see as perfect, but I do know that God has a perfect will.
4.God's plan's are always the best plans. Period.
-While another baby was not in our plans at the time, I don't even want to think about life any other way. I cannot look at this baby without smiling. She truly live's up to her name. She IS an overwhelming joy. This is the face I get to see every day of my life!
Here is Little Miss
Raven, I get tears in my eyes everytime I read one of your stories. They are beautiful just like your family.
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