Back to the Beginning of Our Growing Family...

My First Born...
1. Was your pregnancy planned? I wasn't supposed to be able to get pregnant without help due to severe endometriosis---so weren't we surprised when a home pregnancy test came back positive...can't say I believed it until my dear OB/GYN did a blood test to prove it to me...probably to him too for that matter.
2. Were you married at the time? Yes. 14 months to be exact.
3. What were your reactions? Stunned...amazed...so surprised! We were so thrilled to be able to enjoy this experience together.
4. Was abortion an option for you? Absolutely not...we had prayed that the Lord would provide a way to have a family...whether by natural means or through adoption...it's because of adoption (a choice against abortion) that my mom lived to give birth to me!
5. How old were you? 22--not quite 23
6. How did you find out you were pregnant? home pregnancy test...and a blood test at the dr's to prove it to me!
7. Who did you tell first? My parents...at the fair...I'll never forget the looks on their faces!
8. Did you want to find out the sex? YES! I am NOT good with surprised. I like to prepared.
9. What was your due date? May 7th---she came a week early
10. Did you have morning sickness? Did I ever...it was because of morning sickness I had to tell my parents earlier than I wanted to.
Okay so you've come to expect my long windedness...so here it goes again. My brother and his wife lost their first little one at 7 months into the pregnancy. It was because of this loss, and my supposed inability to have kids that Sam and I decided that we would wait till I was at least 12 weeks to pass the word. It was a good plan...except for the fact that I worked at a small, Christian school with both of my parents. It wasn't going to take them long...or anyone else for that matter...to figure out WHY I was spending my first half an hour at school every morning...in the bathroom!!! So we decided to take the leap and tell our exciting news. I've never been so excited and so nervous to share something with my parents.
11. What did you crave? orange juice (I normally HATE orange juice), but every time I went grocery shopping I had to buy a small pint size carton of orange juice so I could drink it while I was shopping otherwise I couldn't make it through it. Pizza...although I usually regretted it...and Chinese food...same outcome unfortunately!
12. What irritated you? People telling me I didn't look pregnant!
13. What was the sex of your first child? A sweet baby girl.
14. Did you wish you had the opposite sex of what you were getting? I don't know that it really mattered to me...I just wanted healthy. I was just so excited to be having a baby! Sam was convinced we were having a boy...in his mind, I'm pretty sure (with 2 brothers) he didn't even consider the other option until my ultrasound on Christmas Eve. He was the first to pick up on HER gender!
15. How many pounds did you gain throughout the pregnancy? 23 lbs.--mostly the last 5 weeks
16. Did you have a baby shower? Yes, it made it seem so real to see all the baby clothes, toys, and paraphernalia.
17. Were they a surprise? no
18. Did you have any complications during your pregnancy? no complications...it was really a smooth pregnancy besides being sick
19. Where did you give birth? In the same hospital that my mom died in 3 years later
20. How many hours were you in labor? That's a hard question. They figure I was in back labor all day while I was teaching. I spent every possible spare moment throughout the day bending over one of the chairs in my dad's office trying to alleviate some of the pressure...silly me! :) By the end of the day, friends and parents were convinced I was in labor. I never had regularly spaced contractions. They were very sporadic. So much so that my original nurse was convinced I was at the beginning of labor when really I was in transition. WHEW!
21. Who drove you to the hospital? My dad and mom...frankly Sam barely made it to the hospital in time...only 30 minutes to spare!!!
22. Who watched you give birth? Sam, my wonderful doctor (in between putting his garb on), the nurse, my mom and dad (this wasn't necessarily by design...it all happened so quickly, but I'm so glad they were there! Dad made sure to stay at my head. Mom helped Sam keep me motivated.)
23. Was it natural or c-section?Natural...I mean completely natural...not even a Tylenol to dull the pain! :) This has its perks like having the distinct desire to push AND being able to take a shower fairly soon after birth.
24. Did you take medication to ease the pain? Afterwards...yes...before and during...no (see above) Frankly it wasn't planned to be natural...just didn't have enough time.
25. How much did your child weigh? 6 lbs 13 oz. She was so tiny...so perfect!
28. When was your child actually born? 8:45 pm
30. What did you name him/her? Cecelia Claire---fit her perfectly

That first experience was so amazing; I wouldn't trade it for the world. Each pregnancy and birth since the first has been equally amazing...and life changing! What an awesome Creator...what an amazing gift...truly miraculous...and precious!