Our Pregnancy Story


 

I think that women today have to carefully think about their goals and where children fit into their world.

I got married "late"; let’s say at 33; after the ideal/official childbearing years were almost over and getting pregnant is already considered high risk. So right after we got married, I started hearing the sound of my biological clock ticking big time!!! I would like to have a baby right away where it was getting to the point where I could care less about my career and our tight finances than I do about having children. But then, my DH thought that it would be a good idea for me to go back to school first to pride myself with US Education, get a job, go out and explore the world, and especially acclimate myself with my new life and environment here in the States without a baby in the mix. Bring a child into this world when we both are ready and stable so they can "have it all" is our goal. 

Fast forward three years later....

January 8, 2002

It seems that our plans fall into place! I will be turning 36 this year. Gosh, I wish I can turn the days back and I am still be on my mid 20's LOL. Anyways, this morning, my OB-Gyn confirmed that we really are expecting a baby due on August 8, 2002 :-). I am on my week 8 now and my belly measures 36 inches and have already gained 5 lbs. My pants no longer fit me so as always my ever loving-supportive mother-in-law went with me and my DH Tony to do some shopping for maternity clothes and other stuff. The “soon to be grandma” and “soon to be dad” seemed like more thrilled than I am ;-). Every weekend or after Church, we hop to the mall or Baby's store to look around and make a shopping list for the baby. I tell you, my mother-in-law has even started buying some stuff for the baby. That's how thrilled and excited she is!

As far as symptoms, I only experience slight headaches occasionally and I easily get tired but other than these I am doing great. No morning sickness or anything like that. Thank God! Well I guess because I have always been very active and busy at work and school, do my exercise regularly and eat right… so I guess that makes it different from some of the pregnant women who stay at home feeling sick all day. Unfortunately, I had to withdraw from my classes for this winter so instead of studying I can just can sit/lay around watching TV, go online or do nothing on the weekend that I am off at work. My DH does everything in the house now. He cooks, cleans and does the laundry. I am "spoiled rotten" preggy ;-)   I am so very lucky to have found a husband like Tony and my mother-in-law who give me their all-out love and support.

God indeed is full of surprises! I never imagine that we would ever get pregnant unless we go through In-Vitro Fertilization route (IVF) which we already talked about with one of the Fertility Specialists over a year ago but we backed out after much thought and series of consultations.  (I have an inverted uterus by the way besides my ideal childbearing years are almost over!) We then convinced ourselves that maybe we have other missions in life aside from being a parent although we keep saying to families and friends that in HIS time it will come. We're glad we waited.

Now, here comes the answer to so many prayers by our loved ones, families, relatives and friends. One of my friends at work kept telling me many times during the last two months that I would be getting pregnant in January 2002. So, I just laugh and mumbled "magdilang angel ka sana!"

Oh boy, I tell you, the very first night [Dec. 24, 2001] showed a positive result, we were up almost all night with mixed feelings of emotion. I felt like I had stomach upset and the gas pains were horrible. There was no sign of conception whatsoever...no morning sickness or anything like that except that I was one week late. So my DH decided to use the home pregnancy test [Clear Blue]. Stunned, shocked but still not convince about the first result...very early the next morning he went again to the drug store and bought an EPT for a second test. Boom! Positive again!!!! I said, Oh my God! This is a miracle! Four nights in a row I didn't sleep well. I got up in the middle of the night writing email to friends and talking to my family in the Philippines.

At first, I felt quite vulnerable and my intuition told me not to tell others about the child until three months gestation or after that point only when it felt right. I know that a lot of people have fears about childbirth and project them onto pregnant mothers, so I wanted as little of that as possible, especially since this was my first time around, but it's hard to zip up my lips. I burst out with joy that if I continue to keep it to just between the two of us, I felt like I was going crazy! I dialed my mother-in-law’s phone number to let her know about the good news. She raved, she's so thrilled and so happy as she's been waiting long enough to have a grandchild too...this will be her FIRST grandchild. Of course my family in the Philippines is very delighted about the coming of this long awaited baby although my parents have 10 grandchildren already but they think mine is special because it's a mixture of "kano" and "pinay" ;-). LOL

Wow! This is really awesome! A long awaited feeling of wholeness in my being. The soul that has been hanging around for years has finally come. Wow! What a Christmas present, what a great blessing! We feel so proud, delighted, thrilled and anxious yet at the same time nervous. Our burning desire to be the best parents brought up a lot of issues and fears.

Never had I been through anything ecstatic, so beautiful, so precious, so happy and blissful than falling deeply in love, being married to my Beloved Tony and gotten pregnant. I am praying the hardest way I can to have a healthy baby. I can't thank GOD enough for all these blessings in my life now. My Beloved Tony and this very precious child are the greatest gifts GOD has ever given me in my whole life. I don't dream for money or wealth, only to pray for our health especially for our coming baby. Let's continue to pray for one another and especially pray that my pregnancy/delivery is an easy one and that we will have a healthy and normal baby. So who's going to bet for a boy or a girl?

Well, let's just wait. We'll just keep you all posted for any development later.

God bless us all,
Rhebs