I think that's everybody....

Well, we told the rest of JW's family on December 23rd. It turns out that my father-in-law figured we would want to tell everyone ourselves but failed to mention that to us until last week. Anyway, I wore a bulky cable knit cardigan so it wouldn't be so obvious when we walked in the house.
After dinner while everyone was sitting around talking JW announced our news. It is kind of exciting because everyone else we told knew all the details about the IVF and was sitting on the edge of their seats waiting......but JW's grandparents, aunt and cousins were truly caught off guard and not expecting the announcement.
JW's grandfather was so cute. He got so excited and started talking all about his great-grandbaby.
I was really nervous about telling them because I felt bad saying "Hey we're pregnant. I'm 16 weeks along and you're just finding out." But they didn't seem to care. They were just excited.
On Christmas morning, one of my gifts was pajamas. JW's grandma says, "I didn't know you were pregnant or I would've bought a bigger size. They have a drawstring though."

So, now I'm pretty sure everyone knows that we're having a baby. Now they just all want to know what it is.....too bad we aren't finding out!

Another appointment down....

We had another appointment with the OB/GYN today. The heartbeat was in the 140s and everything else is looking good (blood pressure, weight gain, etc). It is so weird to go to the doctor only once a month. Through infertility and especially through the IVF cycle I just got SO used to going all the time....I can't believe they only want to see me every four weeks now.


We scheduled our next appointment for Jan 21st. It is the "Big Ultrasound" one but I don't think we're going to find out the gender. JW says the suspense might kill him but then I remind him that the suspense shouldn't build too much because it is either a boy or a girl.


We're headed to my in-laws for Christmas. I'm excited and it should be fun times. It should also be interesting because we found out last week that my in-laws haven't told any of the extended family (grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc) that we're expecting. So, we're rolling into town, visibly pregnant and springing the news on everybody. "Hey, didn't you know we're pregnant? I'm already 4 months along!" This might be slightly awkward.
When I first heard that my in-laws didn't tell anyone I kind of freaked out because I wondered, "Are they not excited about their first grandbaby?" I wondered this mainly because my parents, in contrast, were slightly irritated that we asked them to wait to tell their friends until after we had our ultrasound and saw the heartbeat. On a side note, my parents didn't even wait that long to tell my aunts and uncles.
But then I realize that this isn't really about the in-laws level of excitement and is a lot more about communication within their family. They just do things differently than my family. And I guess if their communication style is my biggest complaint than really in the grand scheme of things I lucked out as far as in-laws are concerned.

But, don't you think it is a little weird that they didn't tell anyone?? Just a little??

My husband has opinions....

My senior year in college some friends of ours were engaged. The guy refused to go with the girl to register. He just wasn't interested in that type of thing. I remember at the time being appalled by his behavior and worried that JW might be the same way if we someday got married. I worried for nothing.

I went to all the stores before we registered and kind of "pre registered" in my mind so it would seem painless to JW. I didn't think guys were particularly interested in china, towels, toaster ovens, etc. So, the lady at the department store lays out 5 place settings of china including the one I "pre-registered" for in my mind (and had already showed my mom and sister). The first words out of JW's mouth were "Not that one" as he pointed at my favorite. I was totally shocked that he even had an opinion on china. In the end, we compromised and got something different. And I love my china although I sometimes still think about that other pattern.

Fast forward 4 1/2 years later to the baby furniture store. I've been thinking white crib since long before we got pregnant...infertility gives one lots of extra time to think about such things. So, today we browsed a furniture store on our way to my sister's house. We walk up and down the aisles looking at TONS of different cribs. JW asks, "So, why do you really want a white one?" I couldn't help but think "Crap. This man gets opinions at all the wrong times." He found an espresso colored crib that he likes. And I like the espresso crib too and I have friends who have them and they look great.....BUT in my mind I've been envisioning the white crib, the white dresser...and well honestly the nursery isn't planned much farther than that since we've decided not to find out the gender which makes bedding choices a little difficult. But I want white.

Part of me wants to just say "We're getting white. End of story." But I know this is his baby too and he should get some say in the investment we're about to make in furniture.

I know that in the grand scheme of life the color of the crib is insignificant and meaningless but I just wonder why men get opinions at all the wrong times.

Out of the mouths of 7th graders...

So today I was observing a teacher. I'm sitting in the back of the classroom with my notepad. One of my 7th grade cheerleaders is in the class. She leans over and asks me....

Alex: Are you one month pregnant yet?
Me: Well, actually I'm almost 4.

Poor thing she looked so shocked. I just had to laugh. It wasn't the time or the place to explain that by the time you find out your pregnant you are pretty much already 1 month pregnant.
I did tell my girls right after Thanksgiving though and I guess it never occurred to her that I was pregnant for a while before I told the cheerleading squad. Gotta love 7th grade.

God's timing is perfect...

God's timing is perfect and good even when we don't understand it. We have learned so much about God's sovereignty over our lives through our infertility journey. I knew learning these lessons about God's goodness and provision were important but I didn't know how quickly I'd get to apply my faith and knowledge about who God is and that He is in control of our lives.....

Yesterday afternoon JW received some bad news. The firm he works for is closing it's Texas office where JW works. The firm will official close its doors on February 1st.

Obviously this is stressful for tons of reasons--suddenly my husband needs a job, we're having a baby, we have bills to pay, it's Christmas. One of the most stressful things is that it could mean we need to move. Right now I just can't really wrap my brain around finishing the school year, having a baby and moving.... I know I need to set that aside and cross that bridge when I get there.

I do know that the firm's announcement did not catch the Lord off guard. It is stressful and disappointing but we have also been so blessed by JW's job with this firm. He has worked with great people and the benefits have been great. Especially the medical insurance. JW's firm is actually based out of Massachusetts so we had full fertility coverage. We paid only copays for 5 IUI cycles and our IVF cycle. The frozen storage for our embryo has already been paid by the insurance for the next two years. We are blessed. God's timing is so good because I don't know what we would do at this point if we were still in the throws of IVF. It is a little too much to think about.

I'll now be back on my school's insurance plan which is decent medical coverage but has not infertility benefits. They will cover my pregnancy though and I don't have to switch OBs or anything, so that is good.

For now the job search is on and the budgeting has begun. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. We're buckling up and hanging on to Jesus because this might be wild ride!

Out of the bag....

So, today the ladies in the front office confronted me to "spill the beans" about the baby.....it was so funny because I thought that they already knew....I feel like lots of people know but I'm not going to make some HUGE announcement or anything at work. I didn't send out a mass email to my friends so why would I do that with my co-workers??
Anyway, it was pretty funny because I said, "I thought y'all knew" and they said "Well we did know because it is obvious but it wasn't official."