In Need Of Sex Education!!!

How did THIS happen????  Ok, certainly I know the answer to this question and so I do not really need a lesson in sex education but, WOW!  If you haven't figured out what I am talking about, I am pregnant!  Pregnant and totally shocked!

I have been dying to announce this to the world from the moment I found out, yet I wanted to restraint myself for the 1st trimester.  And so, I have secretly been keeping little notes, a diary of sorts, to share with you when I was ready.  Now, David, Madeline, and I await the arrival of a new addition and pray extra hard (especially since I am 40!) that the baby is healthy and that we do not encounter any complications.  In the meantime, you can see our family's journey thus far.

Dec 5th - based on prior months my period was due.  However, I am not necessarily "clockwork" in this area and so no suspicion arose when this day passed with out the arrival of my "friend".

Dec 8th - left for my annual trip to visit Marysia in Baltimore

Dec 10th - Lauren's birthday. Still no "friend" at day 29.  Hmmm.....maybe because I am traveling?

Dec 12th - In the past, the sure bet way to get my period was to take a pregnancy test.  It's almost as if purchasing the test scared my body into action.  Went Christmas shopping at Target and had to separate from Marysia in the store in order to sneak a test into my cart.  Purchase made = period in the AM.  No doubt!

Dec 13th - No "friend".  Test taken, result was positive.  Impossible!!  Maybe I am reading the test wrong.  Is one line of the plus lighter than the other??  Hmmm...that certainly looks like a "+", but that can't be!  Too bad the kit I bought only contained one test.  Maybe that one was faulty.  Marysia was at work but my nephew, Tommy, wasn't leaving for school until 12:30pm.  And so, I borrowed Tommy's car to go to the store to buy a different, easier to read pregnancy testing kit.  In order to not raise suspicions of why I needed to run to the grocery store, I came back with a Christmas flower arrangement for Marysia (since it was the last day of my visit).  Early pregnancy tests are most accurate first thing in the morning.  At 12:30pm, I was convinced this new test would read "Not Pregnant", but even before the 3 minute test period was over, the test screamed "Pregnant".  HOLY CRAP!  I wrapped these two tests up in tissue and kept retrieving them from my suitcase to look at in order to try to get this to sink into my head.  Oh....and don't think that I wasn't worried about all the spiked egg nog and wine we had earlier in my visit with my sisters.  OMG!!

Also, I so desperately wanted to tell David but I didn't want to tell him over the phone.  I had to keep my mouth shut (no small task for me) and wait until I got home.  I must've been acting weird because Marysia kept asking me, "What's wrong?" but I just responded that I was tired.  When I arrived at home, once we got Madeline settled into bed, David and I sat in the family room as I showed him all the Christmas purchases I made while at Marysia's.  The last bag I took out contained a gift that I brought back for David to let him know that I was thinking of him while at Marysia's -  a "Perry the Platypus" ornament (a favorite character on the Disney cartoon Phineas & Ferb).  Next, I said to David, "I have another souvenir for you.  Not sure what you'll think about this.  Actually there are two in here."  I handed David a bundle of tissue for him to open.  He opened up the two tests that gave the news.  It took a minute for David to process what he was looking at.  His expression was priceless.  Yes, he was just as surprised as I was!

Utter happiness over this surprise will come in time.  Both of our immediate reactions were concern over the baby's health (increased risks due to my age), my well being (again, due to my age) and of course, we were concerned about Madeline.  She will make a wonderful big sister, however, we never, ever, ever, want to have any notion in her head that she is loved any less because she was adopted.  Regardless of how God started our family, she IS OUR DAUGHTER and we love her more than anything.  Our fear is that she will someday doubt that.

Week of 12/13 - Ahhh...I guess that explains my fatigue!  Also, already feeling breast tenderness and small pangs of nausea - nothing unbearable.  Two blood tests to read HCG (pregnancy hormone) and progesterone levels.

12/23 - First doctor's appointment.

12/26 - Although things are early, we shared the surprise with David's parents while in Indiana for Christmas.  I must say, however, that I am really missing my mom now.

7 week sonogram - 1/3/11

1/3 - Second doctor's appointment.  Had a sonogram and saw the baby's heart beating!

1/31 - Another Dr. appointment with a "quick peek" sonogram.  Baby is growing, saw the heart beating away again and saw him/her swimming around in there. (No pictures were printed and I regret not asking for one. A LOT of growth since week 7!!)

2/7 - Slowly we were spreading the news with more and more friends and family.  Although we didn't want to make a huge deal about breaking the news to Madeline, we felt it was necessary because we didn't want someone to go up to Madeline and say, "Sooooo, I hear you are going to be a big sister" and Madeline have no idea what they were talking about.  Madeline had a lot of questions like, "How will the baby get out?", "How does the baby eat?" etc, etc.  She was very rapid fire with her questions and we answered them in as basic a way as we could.  Then in the blink of an eye she asked if we could watch some TV together.  And that was the end of that....  the rest, we will let come up naturally as more questions arise in her head.

Madeline's artwork of baby

2/18 - 2/22 - Ugh....terrible cold and recurring fever.  It has been awhile since I have been this sick.  No, this isn't pregnancy related - other than the fact that it has given me a reason to worry.  Despite the fact that the fever kept returning, I was lucky that it never rose too high.  Yet, I was not able to shake the illness until the doctor prescribed antibiotics. Still, I worry how this (fever and meds) may effect the baby.  David and Madeline did a great job nursing me back to health.  Madeline made me this picture on her Magna-Doodle for me......notice the baby in the belly?

2/28 - Another doctor appointment.  Madeline was supposed to be at school at the time of my appointment however her school was closed today due to a power outage.  I had no choice but to bring Madeline to my appointment but figured that all would be okay since we already told her about the baby.  Madeline was so interested in hearing the baby's heartbeat.  When the doctor told Madeline, "That is the baby making all that noise", Madeline's eyes were the size of saucers.  The doctor asked if I minded if he did a sonogram....of course not!  He got out the equipment and showed Madeline the baby.  He pointed out the head, arms, legs, elbows, knees, etc.  She was so interested in this and made the experience of this particular appointment so much more meaningful to Madeline and that much more enjoyable for me and David.  The doctor printed up a couple sonogram pictures for me.  Madeline got a kick out of looking at the pictures and wanted to hold onto them.  I told Madeline that I needed to put the pictures someplace safe for a scrapbook.  Madeline didn't complain or make a stink at all (thank God) but in two seconds flat, the doctor printed up an extra picture just for Madeline.  By evening, Madeline processed this and put together, on her own, the fact that puppies grow inside doggies and kittens grow inside cats.  Smart cookie!

Week 15 sonogram - 2/28/11

3/1 - I have a lunch date planned with a bunch of friends that I used to work with.  I get to share the good news with them.  Soon after, I will post this blog that I have been gradually composing since December.  Our family has all been told the news, and the majority of our friends now know about our "addition in the making".  Once I post this blog post, our news is officially announced to the world.  You too are now a part of this adventure as we grow from a family of three to a family of four. We'll keep you posted as we grow. (Due date 8/19)