Meet Luke

A little over 2 months ago I sat completely broken and ready for the worst news of my life. In fact, I was so certain I wasn't pregnant that I decided to test that next morning before work so I could start my week off not having to stress about it anymore. Note: This was waaay too early to test; in fact, according to the timeline the egg was supposed to implant on this day, so I didn't even tell John I was going to test.... I anxiously, dreadfully just went for it. Of course, it was a solid "NO" ... however a minute or two later I thought I faintly saw a second line. WHAT??? Someone was playing a horrible joke on me! It couldn't be... I forcefully threw open the bathroom door (waking John from a dead sleep) yelling, "BABE! WAKE UP? WHAT IS THIS? AM I IMAGINING THINGS?" He halfway-still asleep looked at the test and said looks like it may be something but I am not sure... and went back to bed. At this point, I still had no confidence and was sure it was just a fluke. After all, both John and I were convinced this IVF process was going to take multiple times and a lot of convincing of doctors. So I went to work and tried to ignore everything that happened that morning....

 Test 1

At 4:00 I couldn't get out of work soon enough. I rushed to the store and bought a name brand test and sped home (oops!). I gulped down 3 cups of water and went for it...  immediately there were 2 lines! NO FREAKIN WAY!

Test 2

I quickly text John and he too rushed home in utter disbelief and cautious- excitement! Again, the next morning I took another test -the second of the cheapos- and it was another faint line. Hmm... those faint lines are so disheartening. Talk about another day of stress. 

Because I still wasn't convinced I went back to the store and bought one of the digital tests. Got home and after a 2-3 minute wait (those things take forever to process.. UGH)... PREGNANT and 1-2 weeks past ovulation. I still couldn't believe it. The doctor had even emailed me, asked me how things were going and if I had taken any home tests. I think he was just as anxious about me coming in on Thursday for the blood test as I was. 

So Thursday morning came and we couldn't get to the office quick enough. A couple of agonizing hours later (what felt like days...) the nurse called and left a message saying we were VERY pregnant and my levels were amazing! I had to go back and retest in a couple of days in hopes that my levels were multiplying fast enough. Convinced yet? NOPE, sure wasn't! 

A couple of days later another blood test confirmed that we were indeed pregnant. At this point the doctors thought we just may have twins! A week or so later we had our first ultrasound and saw one little sac.  Another week passed and we had our second ultrasound and this time were able to see a little heartbeat. At that moment it was like our hearts had melted right into each other's sweaty palms... we saw our little miracle. A real life miracle. Dr. Meyer even said that it looked like the second embryo implanted but didn't make it. Although we would have loved two, we were so grateful that we still had one growing, healthy heartbeat!

Unfortunately, our tough journey didn't end there. About a week later I started spotting. I was sure I was going to miscarry. In fact, one of the doctors at the clinic (not ours, he was out of town) told us he wouldn't be surprised if we miscarried, not because of the baby but because what our doctor thought was a second implant had turned into a subchorionic hematoma (blood clot in the uterus).  I was devastated but John still had faith. We prayed and prayed and prayed some more. Each day with this baby was another day to be thankful for but I worried more than ever. I was even still taking the digital tests to make sure the numbers were going up!

Needless to say, I spotted for the next 5 or 6 weeks. There were a lot of scary times but our doctor nor the OB doctors seem worried at all. At 7 weeks we were even transferred to our regular OB. Since I was worried we had check-ups each week and things continuously got better and the baby continuously kept growing. Again, John was my rock! He was confident and prayed with me everyday. 

For a current update... because John studied genetics in college, he wanted to get the nuchal translucency test for down syndrome, other trisonomys and heart defects, so we had that last week. Thanks be to God ... everything looked great and was in the normal range. Now here we are almost 13 weeks pregnant and back to the regular 4 week or so check-ups.  Not a day goes by that I don't worry but I am so grateful that we serve an amazing God. A God who works miracles. 

We still live by the verse that stuck with us everyday through this process... 

"For with God, nothing is impossible." Luke 1:37

So... meet Luke, our angel elf! He

has already started watch

over baby Ward. :)

Featured: Baby Ward at 10 weeks

Thank you to everyone who has and continues to pray with us everyday. We truly have the most amazing friends and family.  We are blessed and humbled beyond words!

And to John... you are the best gift God has ever given to me! Thank you for being my rock, my support, my best friend, my encourager, and the love of my life. Hushpuppy (this is what he nicknamed baby) and I love your nightly belly kisses and sweet rubs! You are going to be an amazing father! xoxo