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The Best Surprise I Ever Got
By karen | November 15, 2007
November 15, 2004. 5:00 am. After a restless night it was finally Monday morning. My first thought was “Do you think Albertsons is open yet? Maybe it is open all night.” I had reached the point where I had to find out. I couldn’t wait any longer. It was already way past the time I expected it.
You see, I was late. Yes, that kind of late. I had just recently moved, perhaps I could attribute it to stress?
Of course, stress had never had that kind of effect on me before but….How could this be happening? I mean the birth control method I was using boasted an effectiveness rate of 99.2% to 99.4%, so the chances were….slim. Add to that the breastfeeding, yes I was still breastfeeding my youngest daughter, who was just turning 1 year old in two days. Okay, the chances are slimmer. And of course, I was past the age of conception. Isn’t fertility supposed to go down after age 35? I was 43. The chances are slimmer and maybe none? So what is going on?
5:45 am. I hop into my car and in 5 minutes I’m at Albertsons. The sign on the door says open at 6:00 am.
I’m sitting in my car in a dark parking lot waiting for a store to open. The butterflies feel like they are playing football in my stomach. Nerves, big time nerves. “Okay, Karen, just take a deep breath, relax”
10 minutes later, I rush into the store and grab the box I’m looking for, the one with at least 2 tests. Just to have that extra assurance. I knew that if the store tests came back positive it was pretty likely that it was positive but a negative test could be false. I didn’t know what to hope for. I was in a totally unexpected situation.
With my last two pregnancies, we had planned it, planned in detail. Counting days and charting temperatures to make sure of fertile times. Those babies were so wanted. The thrill was so intense, so wonderful when the tests came back positive, the pregnancies were so fun. Every flutter, every inch of the huge belly was a joy that we had longed for with eager anticipation.
We felt blessed to have the two of them. We didn’t even consider that we would have more.
But there were glimpses. I can see that as I look back. When daughter number two was born the doctor asked if I wanted to have a tubal ligation since I was done having babies. I couldn’t do it. I didn’t know why but I just could not bring myself to say yes. So I researched and decided to get a copper IUD. It would last for 10 years with a 99.2% to 99.4% rate of effectiveness. That would be perfect.
So just over 10 months later, I’m sitting in a parking lot at 5:50 in the morning, waiting for the store to open so I can buy a pregnancy test. What are the odds? Apparently, .60% to .80%, less than 1%. Just who is that 1%?
I purchased the test. I can remember the lady at the cash register smiling at me as she said “have a great day!” I mumbled something and hurried out the door.
I got home and quickly read the instructions. I followed them exactly and settled in to wait the 10 minutes. I was staring intently at the stick and I watched the line show up. Seven minutes later I had a positive pregnancy test.
My heart sunk. I didn’t know what I expected but now I didn’t know what to do. A million thoughts rushed through my head. “But I was not supposed to get pregnant, isn’t it dangerous to remove an IUD in pregnancy? It’s 6:15 am when can I call the doctor?”
I called and they wanted to see me right away. They took blood to see if my HCG levels changed. I knew from a previous miscarriage that the HCG levels were supposed to double, so they took my blood on Monday and they would take some more on Wednesday. They advised me that under the circumstances, it was very possible that I would miscarry. I was still in shock from the test. I thought “whatever happens will be okay”.
The roller coaster ride had begun. The emotions were so mixed, I didn’t know what I wanted. When I thought of having a miscarriage, I felt bad, very sad. But I thought that was maybe from having gone through that before. That time was such a disappointment. When I thought about being pregnant, I was still afraid because of the situation but I felt a sense of peace and I wondered how my life would be with another girl. Somehow I knew it was a girl, from day one, I knew.
Wednesday morning, on beautiful daughter #2’s first birthday, at 8:00 am I was at the doctors office getting my blood drawn again. The butterflies had not left my tummy since Sunday afternoon. Today I would find out. I kept telling myself whatever happened would be okay.
They said they would call in the afternoon or I could call them if I hadn’t heard by about 3:00. At 3:00 pm I dialed the number, my heart was pounding in my chest. Jennifer, the accountant for the office answered. She said she thought that my test was back she would check. She came back on the phone and as she looked at the test she exclaimed “Oh my God, you won’t believe….Your levels have more than doubled…”
She read off the levels to me and my first words were “Holy Sh..iya” the word didn’t completely come out. Jennifer joined me, laughing “Holy Sheister!”
“Whew, what do I do now?”
Friday morning at 8:00 am the doctor is placing the ultrasound wand on my tummy. I can see the IUD and on the other side I can see a dot, a teeny, tiny dot. The doctor said he thought the dot was the baby but at that early stage, he couldn’t be sure. The good news was that it was far away from the IUD. We could remove it and see what happened. That was a relief. It was also a relief when nothing happened. It looked as if things would be okay.
On an extremely hot day in July 2005, (I think it was 104 degrees that day), Daughter number 3 came into this world and joined our family. She was breathtakingly beautiful. She still is. And smart and sweet and part of the magical Joy of my life.
I am so grateful that I have her. My little girl that was meant to be.
She is the best surprise I ever got in my whole life.
This post is included in the December 9, 2007 edition of the
Carnival of Family Life
located this week at
The So Called Me
Popularity: 2% [?]
Topics: Real Life |
November 15th, 2007 at 10:38 pm
I remember the phone call I got probably on like the 15th or 16th. I was coming home that week for baby sister #2’s birthday that weekend. That call was one of the funniest calls from you I have ever gotten. You were in a state of shock. The conversation was pretty simple, I found out I was getting another sibling. But the way you were telling me was just so funny. I’ve never seen you so flustered trying to say something. It was classic. I’ll never forget it. All I could do was laugh and congratulate you. It was definitely exciting news that is for sure!
Love you Mom
Tim
November 15th, 2007 at 11:26 pm
First time you ever saw your Momma at a loss for words!
Yeah, pretty cool! How many 21 years old get a call like that from their Mom?
Love you too.
November 16th, 2007 at 9:54 am
What a wonderful story. Thank you for sharing that piece of your life with us. It illustrates perfectly the principle that success is getting what you want, but happiness is waning what you get. Like you, I’d rather be happy
Keep it up!
November 16th, 2007 at 10:54 am
Thank you, John!
Your comment reminds me of my beautiful daughter #1’s favorite song, “Soak up the Sun” by Sheryl Crow.
There’s a line in there that says
“It’s not having what you want,
it’s wanting what you got”
Since it’s my daughters favorite song we hear that often! Such a happy thought!
Thanks for stopping by!
November 16th, 2007 at 3:18 pm
Thanks for sharing the great story.
November 16th, 2007 at 4:55 pm
Thank you Jean
November 16th, 2007 at 10:54 pm
What an awesome story Karen. What a fantastically wonderful gift! Thanks for sharing.
November 17th, 2007 at 12:14 am
Yes, that is about the very best kind of surprise gift you could ever get in life! I am blessed!!
November 17th, 2007 at 2:46 pm
Thank you for sharing this. Congratulations on the beautiful family. It’s great to see such a proud mother!
November 17th, 2007 at 3:33 pm
Thank you Patricia. I think that is a compliment. I consciously chose to follow my heart and become a Mom again. It was the best decision for me!
November 18th, 2007 at 7:35 pm
What a beautiful story!
November 18th, 2007 at 7:46 pm
Thank you. I must say it is one of my favorite stories!
December 8th, 2007 at 3:07 pm
Karen:
Thanks for contributing this article to this week’s Carnival of Family Life, hosted at the so-called me on Monday, December 10, 2007! It is a very moving addition to the Carnival. (I have one of these types of gifts, too. His name is Matthew.)
We have many other wonderful entries, so stop by and read a few!
Interested in hosting the Carnival? The schedule is posted at Colloquium.
December 8th, 2007 at 4:07 pm
Thanks for the inclusion, I’m looking forward to the carnival.
I’m sure you cannot even imagine your life without Matthew, just as I cannot imagine my life without K (daughter #3).
Just part of the magic of life that I would never want to miss!
December 8th, 2007 at 8:11 pm
Karen, this is a beautiful post. My third child was a surprise, too - a beautiful surprise just like yours. And I went through very similar emotions. My little guy is now four, and yes, part of the magic of my life, too.
Belle
December 8th, 2007 at 8:32 pm
Thank you Belle,
K is just 2 1/2 right now, and of course I cannot even imagine life without her!
She is my joy..(the others are too!)
December 8th, 2007 at 9:02 pm
What a great story! Your daughter will sure appreicate you having written it out when she’s older!
December 8th, 2007 at 10:01 pm
You are so right. I have a few stories that I need to print out and keep safe for the girls!
Thanks for the reminder!
December 8th, 2007 at 10:38 pm
I am sure your daughter will be happy to know that though she was unplanned, she was wanted and very much welcomed!
December 8th, 2007 at 10:39 pm
Very nice story and how cool it is to have your son comment on it!
December 9th, 2007 at 12:10 am
Thank you Grace…
Yes, she is such a wonderful addition to our family!
December 9th, 2007 at 12:11 am
Parentingdiaries,
It really is cool that Tim posted the first comment…he’s right I was kind of scared to tell him but of course he was just happy for me!
December 9th, 2007 at 11:05 pm
[…] Karen Lynch presents The Best Surprise I Ever Got (Live The Power) posted at Live The Power. […]
December 10th, 2007 at 1:18 pm
Great story! My 4th was a surprise and most definitely my best surprise ever. I can’t imagine not having her!
December 10th, 2007 at 6:18 pm
Thank you! yes, isn’t it amazing how those little unexpected bundles become so priceless….