The One with the Stick

I was encouraged by some good friends to share this story on my blog… so, here goes.

Anyone trying to get pregnant knows the ultimate excitement and anticipation each time it is time to pee on the magic stick. In 2001 we started to try and get pregnant shortly after 9/11. The tragedy of Grant’s (Steven’s dad) death in April of that year and the unimaginable of 9/11 left us knowing it was time to move forward with life.

It was with grand excitement that we became pregnant right away and with even greater sadness that that pregnancy ended shortly after it began. We were told to wait 3 months before trying to conceive again. A long three months later we started trying again. For the next 8 months as soon as it was possible for a pregnancy test to show positive results, I would start taking tests. On this particular morning in October, I got up at 4:00 in the morning and took the first test. Unbelievably it was positive. Around 6:00 a.m., I took the second followed by the third and the fourth. They were all joyously positive.

Even though it was very early, we couldn’t contain our excitement. We were heading to my parents and I packed two of the test sticks with me. I placed each test in a paper bag. Told my mom and dad to close their eyes and gave them each a bag. I then told them to guess what was in the bag. Each took out a stick and started exploring it with their hands. My mom figured it out very quickly and started dancing with excitement. Dad, on the other hand, intent on his task, continued to explore the stick with his hands. We finally left him off the hook and explained what it was and then encouraged him to wash his hands. : )

God’s gift was Miss Grace. She is one of the most sensitive, loving, intelligent, inspiring people I know. She is beautiful and funny and makes me want to be a better person so that I can live up to what she needs in her mom. She will do remarkable things and I’m so very proud of her. Thank you God for my gift.

P.S. Please forgive my typos and such in this story. Tears are flowing as I remember the ups and downs of this time in our lives.