January 25, 2010 - The day our lives changed forever...

Let’s back up, shall we?

We got back from a fabulous family vacation over Christmas in Beaver Creek, CO. This year was different. My “bonus dad” Gerald has been sick – very sick – since May 28, 2009. After 3 months in the hospital with kidney failure, he has been recovering at home since September and is almost 100% better! He is our miracle! He was on death’s door several times (although, he would never admit he was ever sick) and we thought we had spent the last Christmas with him. Christmas 2010 was going to be so special – not only was “Dad” there (in full force), but both my brother’s families were there. This NEVER happens. All the kids are never under the same roof. But this year, we made it happen – it was that important to celebrate Christ’s birth and thank Him for giving us our Dad back!

Brandon and I celebrated and relaxed. This was our first vacation since Gerald got out of the hospital. This was my mom and Gerald’s first time to really escape what the last 6 months entailed. Every year Christmas has a theme – complete with a “booklet” with the itinerary’s, phone numbers, meals, matching theme pajamas, and of course, a poem! This year’s theme was “Lucky Family” – and that we are. So, we celebrated just how lucky we are – if you know what I mean…

That brings me to January. After we got home I knew I had a big project waiting for me at work that encompassed me flying to Pennsylvania with a customer, work tirelessly and overtime getting this project done on a short deadline. But I did it! The next day I was sick. I thought it was just a cold that I developed from working too much on little sleep.

Nope. Nothing would work. Finally, after a week of getting worse, I headed to the doctor first thing Monday morning. January 25, 2010.

All weekend Husband kept telling me (jokingly) that he thought I was pregnant, but I just laughed. While I was at the doctor’s office, she asked me when my last cycle was and if I was still taking birth control. Well – I just knew I was about to start my cycle (TMI, sorry!) but we have not been on BC since Gerald got sick six months ago. We weren’t trying -- we just weren’t not trying! I explained that to the doctor and then she said, “pee in a cup.”

My. Heart. Sank. Not because I didn’t want to be pregnant, but for the first time I thought it could be real. Maybe I could be pregnant. What was I going to do? We never told our families we were trying. What would my mom think? What would work think? Where would we live?

Well, I peed all over everything. My hand. The toilet. My clothes. Everywhere. I was so nervous. I texted Husband 1,000 times and he decided to drive to the doctor’s office to see me. I thought that was ridiculous, so I called to tell him, “no,” but as we were talking, in walked the doctor, “Congratulations! You’re pregnant.” What? No! Not possible. How? She explained just “how” to me. Further detailing that the time of conception was between Dec 29 and Jan 4th. Yup. She’s right. Remember when I said we celebrated over Christmas. We did. Aren’t we lucky?!

Husband was on the phone and heard the news. He walked in seconds later to wipe my tears and rub the belly. He celebrated at dinner, while I just contemplated everything that I hadn’t planned yet and how a baby changed everything. How could we have gotten pregnant and I hadn’t gotten everything done that I needed to yet?

God has a sense of humor, doesn’t he? After we prayed that night, I finally had a peace about this sweet joy. God had a plan. He knew that 2010 was going to be Lucky! God didn’t waste any time – Jan 1, 2010 – to be exact.

September 21, 2010 will be our Lucky Day!