We're going to be parents

Several people have encouraged us to start a blog because of our big baby news. We want to keep everyone updated with what is going on in our lives.

The best place to start is April 18, when we found out. I had been feeling stressed out and really tired for a week or two, and David and I both thought that it was because of my new full-time job and my full load of graduate classes. For three or four days in a row, I felt nauseated. David went into overdrive to make sure that we had a calm environment at home to relieve my stress. I was describing my symptoms to two of my friends, Julia & Michael. They both said, "Mary Beth, you HAVE to take a pregnancy test!" I told them that would be a waste of $15 because pregnancy tests are so expensive and there was no way I was pregnant. After several more days, they were about to buy me a pregnancy test. David and I broke down and bought one.

The box said that it takes 3 minutes to get your results. After about 45 seconds, I was curious and looked. It said pregnant. I told David that the "Not" hadn't shown up, so we better wait the full 3 minutes. After 3 minutes, the "not" hadn't shown up. After 5 minutes, same story. After 7, still no "not". We simply didn't believe it. We thought we would wait until after a USC Choir concert to take the second one.

In the meantime, I called my sister, Sarah. I figured she was a pro at pregnancy tests since she's on her third child. I said, "What do you know about EPT? Are they crazy sensitive, or wrong often?" Sarah said no and asked why. I told her I used EPT and it said I was pregnant, so something had to be wrong. She replied, "Nope. You're pregnant" and laughed. I thought that was a hasty judgment.

After the concert we took our second test. Immediately it said pregnant, just like the first. After reading the directions, we realized that these two had to be wrong because on the box it said the best results were first thing in the morning. So, we waited for our third test... in the morning. Same story... the "not" never showed up. 3 strikes, we were out.

I called Sarah and she told me to get a doctors appointment asap. So, I scheduled one for the next Tuesday.

So we went to the doctor. They gave me another pregnancy test, and I went back to the waiting room with David. After a few minutes the nurse called us in and started to take my weight and blood pressure without saying anything about the test results. Then she told me that she was going to take some blood, which I never react well to.
I said, "Before you take my blood, what were the results of the pregnancy test?" She said, "Oh honey, you're as pregnant as pregnant can be." Immediately she stuck the needle in my arm and I began to cry. I looked at David, as tears began to swell in his eyes and a smile grew on his face. I could tell it was starting to sink in with him - he got it. I got dizzy. The next thing I knew, 3 nurses, a doctor and David were all in my face yelling my name. I realized that a nurse was holding my limp body and another one was waving a horrible-smelling packet under my nose. David and the doctor carried me to the floor. As I began to fully regain consciousness, the nurse told me I had passed out and seized.The doctor asked if I had just found out I was pregnant. He laughed and said that it would be a long pregnancy.

This was our first introduction to parenthood.

We believe God is sovereign. Even though we may have been surprised by this little baby, it is comforting to know that the Lord was not. He planned this baby before the foundation of the world. We feel so privileged to be given this great opportunity to be this little one's parents. What a relief that we don't have to be in control of our path. We look forward to seing what the Lord has in store for us!