8.06.2007

MLM ~ Finding out you're pregnant

I thought I would start "Memory Lane Monday", brought to us by MomsBlogging, a great great mommy blog site.


This week’s theme:

Share your feelings and story of when you discovered you were pregnant for the first time.

When I discovered I was pregnant for the first time, I was so so excited. We had been trying for an entire year prior to the pregnancy. I never thought it would happen at that point, so to get a positive, I was shocked and elated! Who wouldn't be? But everything after that is really a blur. I honestly don't remember any exciting points. Because there wasn't any, except for when I saw the two lines on the pregnancy test. I do remember telling friends online at my "trying to conceive" pregnancy board. A lot of people and friends sent cards or books. I honestly cannot remember, though, how I told Neil or how I told my mom. They may remember, but I don't remember one single thing.

It was 12 weeks into the pregnancy that I had my first ultrasound and it was there that I had the horrible gut-wrenching feeling that something was wrong. Terribly wrong.

The ultrasound techs cannot tell you a thing. And that just seems so insensitive, even though I do understand why. But can you imagine the feeling the woman goes through when she is 12 weeks pregnant and the ultrasound tech cannot find a heartbeat, let alone any sign of pregnancy?? It's not fun, and possibly the worst moment in a soon-to(-hope-to)-be mother's life.


What I remember most about my first pregnancy is driving away with Neil in tears, shaking, bawling, in disbelief. Because she couldn't find a sac or heartbeat, the tech told us that according to the ultrasound, I was more like 6 weeks pregnant. So on the drive home, I was trying to put together all the pieces, and it just didn't make sense. Nothing about it made sense to me. I felt ok. I felt pregnant. I kept thinking "I'm pregnant, I'm okay, they just messed up." But all I remember is that moment, driving home. We saw a big raccoon get hit on the road by an oncoming car. That right there was a pretty good sign that this whole thing was a really bad dream, and I prayed I would awaken from it.

It was Friday that we had the ultrasound, and Monday (yes I had to wait an entire weekend), when I was at work, that I found out I was going to miscarry. They told me OVER THE PHONE. At work. Alone with 25 girl scouts. It was the hardest moment of my life. I remember sitting out in the grass in a park by myself sobbing into the phone to mom with 25 girls in the hazy background looking on wondering what was wrong with me. It was that moment that I remember more than anything else.

It was Wednesday that my miscarriage actually happened. That Saturday I was in my brother and sister-in-laws wedding. I was at that wedding, but my heart and soul was not. All I could think about was my pain, how bad I looked physically, and what people were probably thinking about me.

That whole week I don't want to remember, yet I do. And I think it's because God wants me to. It was a point in my life that was the most trying. But it was the biggest life lesson I could ever learn as a "student". And it was this loss and the two losses following, that made my finding out I was actually pregnant with a healthy little dootle, Noah, an incredible celebration.

It was finding out I was pregnant with Noah that I remember like it was yesterday.

When I took that pregnancy test when I was pregnant with my miracle baby, I was sure, in my mind, that this was another failed pregnancy. But a teeny tiny part of me thought maybe there was some hope. A teeny tiny bit. So I clung to it.

At that time I was seeing a Reproductive Endocrinologist, Dr. Elizabeth. I loved her. She was meant to be that kind of doctor with the compassion and hope that she, herself, had for each one of her patients.

It was when I saw Dr. Elizabeth for my 6.5 week appointment, an internal ultrasound, that my life changed. Neil was away on business traveling, so Alexis went with me. We still joke today about how she saw my "crotch". She and I, and Dr. Elizabeth, saw Noah, for the first time, together. It was the most exciting day of my life. I was in shock. Alexis cried, then I cried. i will never ever forget that moment. I remember it more than the day I found out I was pregnant with him. I remember it more than his birth itself. That is how predominant that moment was in my life. And Alexis shared it with me. And then we celebrated afterwards. She, herself, was also pregnant, with Sami, who would later go on to be one of Noah's very best friends. How good is God? Very.

Everything about that pregnancy was scary, but I knew, after Dr. Elizabeth told me that since we had seen the healthy sac and heartbeat, that there was only a 2% chance of a miscarriage. Since my chance of miscarriage the pregnancy before was over 50%, I knew everything was going to be okay. I knew that that little "flitter-flutter" on the screen was my baby, and my baby that was going to make it. That baby was Noah William.

Why am I even telling this story? I'm not sure why exactly, except when I saw the topic for Memory Lane Monday, I didn't think of how I felt when I found out I was pregnant with my first, but how I felt when I found out I was pregnant with a healthy baby in my 4th pregnancy.

I haven't talked about this in public, and well, I feel I'm finally at a point where I can whole-heartily, and know that I can because I'm at peace with my three losses. And, that I'm at peace with knowing that what I went through only made me stronger. That it brought Neil and I closer together. That it made me appreciate my healthy baby "bumps" so much more, and made me cherish every breathing moment of that pregnancy (and the one following, little Miss Maia). But also made me appreciate all of what our short mili-second of time in this life has to offer. And made me appreciate my little miracle more. Every time he screamed during his 8-1/2 months of being colic, I would think back to how he was my miracle, and it seriously made the sleepless nights and the all-day screaming
all better for me. It was he that made me not take life for granted and appreciate every single second of it.

14 comments:

Stephanie Wilson she/her @babysteph said...

What a great story! Thank you for sharing this!

Steph

Anonymous said...

You are an amazing mother and an inspiration to the rest of us. Thank you for being so brave and sharing your story with the rest of us. I know Noah and Maia were more than worth the wait! xo

Michelle said...

I am so glad that you shared this story! Really. I know that you went through so much, and especially did the weekend of our wedding! It really meant SO much to us that you were in it...and I don't know if I have ever told you that! xoxo Our day would not have been the same without you! Thank you for being there for us. And, thank you for your strength, courage, and persistence--and for the cutest niece and nephew anyone could ever have!! :) You are a wonderful Momma!!

Love you!

Anonymous said...

What an awesome story! Thank you for sharing it with us all.


Mine is up if you'd like to read it.

http://laurawilliamsmusings.blogspot.com/2007/08/memory-lane-monday-two-lines.html

Anonymous said...

Beautiful post, Val. Thank you for being so honest and open. (You always are, but this was precious.)

Anonymous said...

I'm so sorry about the pain you've experienced. With my second I just "knew" i was losing that pregnancy about 12 weeks in, too.

Thanksfully I wasn't, but was just experiencing pains and aches I hadn't with my first.

But, those days of total fear can give me a SMALL idea of what you went through...HUGS...

Congrats on your little miracle baby...Noah is your little miracle and he came into your life for a reason. HUGS!

Nell

Cate said...

Thanks for sharing, Val! What a heartbreaking and joyful road you've had to creating your family.

mama2dibs said...

Oh, Val! You are such a special, strong lady. I love the fact that I know you. I am a lucky person for getting the chance to know you, even if it's just little snippets here and there through a blog.

Missy!! said...

Oh wow! You've gone through more than anyone should ever have too! I cannot imagine, nor do I ever want to be able to relate. You are way stronger than anyone I've ever met! And look at the cutie-pies you have to cherish and spoil. :)

Unknown said...

I'm not so sure about being stronger than anyone, but I have had no choice but to try my hardest to be. Thanks for the very loving comments, everyone! It was nice to "tell" my story . . . at least a part of it. I could probably seriously write an entire book. Maybe one day . . . :)

And Missy, I added you to my sweetness roll. Like your description?

mama k said...

Thank you for sharing your story! Very touching!


I wrote mine here:
http://mamaknj.blogspot.com/2007/08/moms-blogging-is-asking-you-to-share.html

Anonymous said...

wow, what a great story. It really hits home for me because we are going through your earlier story right now in trying to conceive our next baby. Very gut wrenching right now and wonder if it will ever happen again for us. Great ending. Thanks for sharing this because it means more to me than you will ever know.

Bridget

MomOf4 said...

Wow, this is a very powerful post. I am so happy that you now have your two beautiful children! :)

Erin said...

Your stories made me cry. You are so blessed to have your two beautiful darlings now. I can't imagine going through all the heartache you and Neil went through. Thank you for sharing that big piece of you with us and letting us into what has very obviously helped make you into the wonderful, compassionate woman you are today.