Jan 16 2008
Hallelujah Positive
Monday, January 14, 2008
Diagnostic Labs opened at 7:00 am this morning and I was there before they opened their doors. Hubby and I, along with a handful of other early-rising senior citizens taking blood tests for a potpourri of different maladies, waited patiently outside. I was #5 and just a few minutes after 7 am, I found myself in a chair with a rubber tourniquet wrapped tightly around a bicep and a needle sticking out of my vein. As I watched the blood flow into the plastic collection tube, I lifted another prayer. “Lord, please let the results be positive. And, not a faint positive — but a good, strong ‘hallelujah!’ positive.”
The night before, Hubby and I prayed together before bed. Soon after, Hubby’s heavy breathing told me that he was already fast asleep. I placed both hands on my tummy, as I always do, and cried out to God, asking Him for a miracle, because that’s truly what it would take to make me pregnant. I hadn’t mentioned it before, but the doc told me that I had a 20% chance of a successful transfer. That’s lower than the average odds for someone my age, but because of my challenging and abnormal case, he was giving me a measly, sad 20%. When he told me this (prior to the egg retrieval), I was disheartened. I mean, if your doc gave you a 20% chance to live, you wouldn’t be happy about that, would you? But, 20% was better than 0% and we decided to go for it. And besides, if it was the Lord’s will, even if it was a 0.001% chance, He would still make a way. With God, all things are possible.
Then, the call came. On my cell phone, I saw my doctor’s phone number on the caller ID. I answered in half a ring and held my breath.
“Hi Donna. I have good news: your results are back. You’re pregnant — and your numbers are really good! Congratulations!” Alia, the nurse, said. An answer to prayer: a “hallelujah!” positive!
Then she started giving me some particulars about what’s next, but I barely heard. I had to force myself to focus, my mind was reeling. Hubby, sitting next to me, was looking at me expectantly. I gave him the thumbs up and his face beamed.
I. AM. PREGNANT! I could barely believe it. I had prayed so hard, and when the answer came I was floored. I wish I could say that I had a calm confidence and an unshakable faith, but I can’t. I was speechless. After I got off the phone with Alia, I turned to Hubby. Tears of joy flowed as we embraced, a long-awaited answer to prayer, a miracle had just unfolded before our eyes.
Today is Monday, January 14, 2008, but by the time you read this it will be Wednesday. I have determined that I would not publish this entry until after the second blood test to confirm that all is well with the Snowflake(s). But yet, I am so excited that I can barely contain myself. I want to shout it from the rooftops and tell everyone I meet that I AM PREGNANT! I must restrain myself from hitting the Publish button right now and will simply Save until the time is right.
Thank you to those who have been faithfully following my progress, lifting prayers and sending well-wishes.
And now, for a whole new chapter in the journey toward parenthood entitled “pregnancy,” one that is nine months long. Heck, it took us two years to get here, what’s another nine months, right?
Update: Wednesday, January 16, 2008
We pray every night for the Snowflake(s), for their health and strength and that they are growing into nice, big snowball(s).
This morning’s first order of business: HCG blood test #2. At 7:10 am, I was #10 in line at the neighborhood DLS.
The call from the doctor’s office came at 12:15 pm. The test results are good! A solid 168! Up from 62 on Monday. The upward trend in the HCG levels confirm pregnancy. Again, God gets all the glory. Man can do many things, but only God truly gives life. Praise Him for defying my grim 20% odds and blessing us with a 100% pregnancy!
Next step: my first ultrasound on February 1, 2008!
[tags]HCG, blood test, pregnancy, in vitro fertilization, infertility, IVF, frozen embryo transfer[/tags]
A 30-something Christian girl, blissfully wedded to her perfect match (the yang to her yin) of 14 years. A new mom to her miracle baby, born on October 4, 2008. Living life in Hawaii, less than 5 miles from her hometown, a slave to her mortgage payment, but seeking balance in her pursuit of family, faith, recreation, and rest.
Donna,
That’s great news. I will continue to send all the positive energy I can your way.
-
Ryan S.
http://uncommon-cents.net/
Congratulations Donna! I just got out of bed because I couldn’t sleep and saw your Twitter post. What FANTASTIC news! God bless you, your hubby, and your healthy snowflake(s)! I am truly happy for you.
Aloha,
Kalei
I am so, so, so happy for you. Hallelujah indeed! The adventure has only just begun, but I have immense faith in you and only the brightest hopes!
Woo Hoo! i’m going to be an aunt! LOL…you will still need to take it easy for the first 3 months, and no stressing…hehe…congrats to sis, and hubs!…love ya both!
congratulations Donna,
I am so happy for you,
good luck and see again soon
Ray
Congrats!
I found your blog on 365 and what a wonderful post to have found you!
Best of wishes to you and your hubby and Snowflake(s).
Congratulations, Donna! Some food for thought that I read from A.J. Jacobs’ “The Year of Living Biblically”. Several of the stories in the book of Genesis revolved around fertility or the lack thereof. Think Sarah and Rachel. They had the hardest time having children, but…they grew up to be patriarchs. Think Isaac and Joseph. Considering the amount of effort expended in the making, I think a **great** child will come out of this snowflake. Best wishes for a successful pregnancy!
WOOOOOT!!! Halleluja and lift the praises to Him on high! Awesome, Donna - I knew it would happen. Blessings to you, your husband, AND baby!
Congratulations, Donna! I’m so happy for you! Your story truly gives me hope - I’m doing IVF in March after 6 rounds of meds, 3 IUIs, and 1 laparoscopy. We share the same doc so it’s good to hear that others have had success under his care! I wish you the very best!
congratulations!
What great news…congratulations Donna!
Congratulations!!!!
Congratulations! I just said on my blog last night that I feel like the entire world is pregnant, just had a baby or is trying to get pregnant. I think I’m onto something.
Congrats!! I have been waiting to hear the good news, and I’m so happy for you! I’ll be thinking of you on Feb 1- it’s mt birthday, so I think that’s a great day to see your snowflakes for the first time
Donna I am SOOOOO happy for you and the hubs! OMG! I am truly shaking right now because I KNEW that you were going to be blessed with a little snow family! I cannot express how thrilled I am to read this, though not as thrilled as you! Congratulations!
Wow. Did I mention WOW!????! Wow.
Praise God!! Congratulations! I’m so happy for you and your family
Let me add my best wishes to this chorus. Desert hugs from us in chilly Phoenix.
Hallelujah! and congratulations, Donna! Oh my, that is excellent news. *hugs* to you and hubby
i’ve been visiting every day.
i’m so moved for you,
donna, and thrilled.
i feel like *i’m* pregnant.
please take care of yourself!
the first trimester is especially
delicate for snowflakes.
YAYAYAYAYA! hugs to both you
and hubs!!!!!!!!!!!!!
yay! congratulations donna! I will pray your 9 months go smoothly and that the snowflake(s) continue to grow. yayayyay! =) i’m so happy for you!
I read your blog for the first time today and it made me feel like dancing. I am often reminded of the people that were praying earnestly for Peter’s release from prison. When he showed up at their door, they were so surprised. We pray, believing, and then can hardly believe when God moves mightily. : ) Humans! God is so good. Being a mommy is amazing. Blessings and prayers from Florida. (Not so sunny right now but that’s okay.)
God is good! Congratulations, Donna! I follow your blog from time to time and follow your stories. I am so happy for you and your husband! Take care of yourself, and enjoy this wonderful chapter in your life!
Oh I am so happy for you, I’m all teary-eyed!!! Praise be to God! Congratulations!!!
One more wow for the night…yeah…our God is an awesome God.
I’m a long time lurker (I think I first saw your website posted in the Rice Bowl Journals) but since I started reading about your snowflakes, you have been in my prayers.
I just wanted to rejoice with you and praise God for this wonderful miracle. I’m so happy for you.
Just wanted to let you know that prayers from California will continue for you and your family on this wonderful journey.
Congratulations!
Your news gives me hope once again!
Congratulations!
NEENZ.
Congratulations Mommy! Wow, I feel late to the party! I’ve been reading anxiously every day, and the one day I miss, the new comes in! This is so awesome! Take good care of yourself!
Getting pregnant is every ones dream, good that you are pregnant. But you have to take many precautions and care during and after pregnancy so that you will get back to normal quickly post pregnancy.
I always wonder if I will miss any exciting news if I fall a couple of days behind on reading my blogs… the answer is YES!!!!!! Such good news! I cannot tell you how excited I was to read about your news today… so happy for you!!!
Congratulations Donna! I am so happy for you, it has lifted my spirits. You have been truly blessed. “The source of all good is trust in God, submission unto His command, and contentment with His holy will and pleasure.” - Baha’u'llah If I may I would like to share with you a prayer for expectant mothers from ‘Abdu’l-Baha:
“My Lord! My Lord! I praise Thee and I thank Thee for that whereby Thou hast favored Thine humble maidservant, Thy slave beseeching and supplicating Thee, because Thou hast verily guided her unto Thine obvious Kingdom and caused her to hear Thine exalted Call in the contingent world and to behold Thy signs which prove the appearance of Thy victorious reign over all things.
O my Lord, I dedicate that which is in my womb unto Thee. Then cause it to be a praiseworthy child in Thy Kingdom and a fortunate one by Thy favor and Thy generosity; to develop and to grow up under the charge of Thine education. Verily, Thou art the Gracious! Verily, Thou art the Lord of Great Favor!”
Congrats! Looks like I started reading your blog at a really great time! Hooray for God’s graciousness!
Warmest congratulations, mom- and dad-to-be! I am tickled pink and blissfully blue to learn about your wonderful news. Little Snowflake is blessed to have you for parents!