Your Birth Story

We decided in 2008 that we were ready to have another baby. Your brother Christopher was almost two years old, and we thought that would be a good span between you.

Six months later, having no luck, we talked to my doctor. She tried to help us for almost a year, with drugs, ultrasounds, etc., and eventually sent us to a fertility specialist. At that point, we were worried that we might not be able to have another child. Each month it was a huge heartache finding out that we weren't successful.

We saw the fertility specialist, and agreed to try for a bit despite the costs. So we began the monthly cycle again with new drugs and new tests, and had heartache again the first two cycles.

We decided to give it one more try. Honestly, I was scared to death. I'd been having a lot of difficulty with my faith in God, but I decided to pray as hard as I could. I stopped asking for a baby, and began asking that His will be done, no matter what that was. I took my own will out of the mix, and asked that if we were meant to have another child, that He knew what to do. I cried nearly every day that month, scared of what was to come. But I prayed even more than I cried.

Mid-month we had an ultrasound to see if I had any follicles that could produce an egg. I'd had at least one each of the unsuccessful months. This time I had only one, but it was a big one. I was happy to see it, which surprised the nurse. She said that she had to remind herself that it only takes one, because they so often look for more than that in her field. I was a bit saddened, but I tried to remain hopeful. It did only take one.

The rest of the month we followed every instruction from the doctor to the letter. I took an extra "optional" drug, gave myself injections, and had one procedure (which I prayed the entire way through). At the end of the cycle, I let myself get a week late before I was willing to take a test. Then, with shaking hands, I showed your dad the positive test.

The next month was shaky, as we had two ultrasounds and quite a few blood tests. We didn't tell anybody except the immediate family. Then, at Thanksgiving, Christopher decided to start telling people that he was going to be a big brother. We hadn't planned to tell them, but it was so funny that we admitted it all. So, he spilled the beans!

By the end of the first trimester, we were able to return to my other doctor as we were no longer "at risk". A couple of months later, we found out that you were a girl. I joked that the only thing left was for you to be a blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl. I had joked that I would love to have one kid who looked like me (Christopher) and one who looked like Daddy. I guess I got my wish!

When you were born, unlike your brother, you chose the "runaway train" method! I woke up on July 20, 2010, and had one contraction at 5:30 a.m. I told your dad, but we both thought it was probably nothing. So I went about my morning and had another one at 6:30. Now maybe something really WAS happening.

From then on, it's kind of a blur. The contractions were 4 minutes apart (ack!), so we called the doctor who told us to go to the hospital. Grandma came over to take care of Christopher until Ashley (Daddy's cousin) could get to our house for the day. Then we rushed to the hospital. By the time we got there, my contractions were 2 minutes apart. We had to wait for the doctor, so I spent a lot of time in triage, waiting to go to my room. I was in so much pain that I wasn't quite myself!

I received my epidural at 9:30 and you were born at 10:06 a.m. It seemed like no time! In fact, I later looked in the mirror and saw that I still had make-up on! It was just an hour or so earlier when I thought we might not make it to the hospital on time. Daddy was scared you were going to be born in the car!

When you arrived, you were so beautiful. You looked a lot like Christopher in the face. We both thought it was great to have two kids who looked like each other. You also had a very calm demeanor about you from the start, which is still true today. We are so glad that we persevered, and that you are here. Just by coming here, you restored my faith in God. Since then, you've shown us what true joy really is, just through your smile and your disposition. Thank you, Lydia.

An Introduction

Dear Lydia,

We're starting this blog to record our thoughts as you grow up. Our hope is that one day you will read this and know what we were feeling during the milestones of your life.

We had a very difficult time just bringing you into existence, so we both feel like you are here for a reason. You were meant to be here, with us...we just don't yet know what awesome things are in store for you.

We love you,
Mommy and Daddy