In the beginning...

In December 2009, Cody and I decided there was something missing in our lives...and the dogs and cat weren't cuttin' it.  It didn't take me long to figure out I was ready for mommyhood.  Cody, however, wasn't so sure.  The biggest thing for him (which I'm sure it is for most men) was money.  All Cody was hearing was how much doctor's bills are, and how much formula costs, and diapers.  Oh the diapers!  Of course, all I was noticing was EVERY pregnant woman on earth and how I longed to be part of that "club."

It also didn't take long to realize why I wanted it so badly.  It wasn't necessarily wanting to experience pregnancy (although I did), or thinking it would make me "cool."  It was the fact that I'd met the man of my dreams, fallen in love, and gotten married.  It just came so naturally.  I knew this was the most perfect man with which to raise a child.  (Turns out, I was right!) HA!

We knew that it was the right time.  We'd also heard people say, "If you wait to have kids till you can afford it, you never will."  So with all the "logistics" in place, we set out on our mission to try and have a baby.  I had been reading every bit of information I could gather about pregnancy, trying to conceive, etc.  I'd even joined an online forum to talk to other women in my same "phase."  From what I'd been hearing, it would take an average of six to twelve months before conception was successful.  Evidently, all we had to do was talk about having a baby and that was that.  On January 10, 2010 around midnight, I decided to take a pregnancy test.  I didn't really feel pregnant, but my monthly female "incident" was two days away and I figured, "Why not?"  Cody was working and I didn't have anything else to do.  So I grabbed the one test I had and skipped off to the bathroom, expecting to emerge the same as when I had entered.  I go about my business and a few minutes later I decide I should glance at the results.  I knew they'd be negative so it wasn't really a big deal.  And there it was.  The big, glaring, blue plus sign.  I then officially entered panic.  I had wanted it so badly, but there was no way this was positive.  (I'm not sure what I expected all the "trying" to lead to.) But there it was....in blue and white. 

I called Cody and tried to side step around some bogus reason for needing to meet up with him.  He had never heard me in such a flustered state so he blurted out, "Are you pregnant?"  I certainly did not want to tell him anything over the phone....so I did! (I knew I couldn't hold in that kind of news until he got home).  And he and I agreed a run to the 24 hour pharmacy was in order.  Because if this one test was positive, surely 18 more were needed to confirm the results.  Ok.  Not really 18.  A total of four tests were taken and they all stated very plainly that a baby would be entering the world in nine months.  Doctor's appointments were set and the journey began.  I prepared myself for the morning sickness, fatigue, and hormones.  Just a word of advice.  You can never prepare for that! Morning sickness hit me like a ton of bricks.  I ended up losing about 14 pounds in the first trimester.  There was NOTHING I could keep down.  And I knew if I heard "Have you tried ginger ale and crackers?" one more time, I was going to lose my ever  lovin' mind!  I remember one night just sitting on the side of the bed crying while Cody rubbed my back because I was mentally and physically worn down.  There was no point in lying back down.  I would just be up in another three minutes running to the bathroom.  I had no idea anyone could throw up so much.  And of course, everyone offered their advice.  All I heard about was how at 12 weeks, the sickness would stop and I would feel great.  12 weeks came...and went....13...14...15...still no relief.  Several times I was threatened by the doctor that if I went a few more hours of being so sick, I'd be admitted to the hospital.  Of course no one likes that so I would force down some Gatorade and perhaps a bit of fruit.  By 17 weeks I started to feel somewhat normal.  I was still sick, but at least I could finally control it with medication.  That was definitely one of the most trying times.  It doesn't sound like it, but being sick for 24 hours a day 7 days a week really wears on you.  It was also a testament to how fantastic and supportive Cody was and would always be.  I tried really hard to keep in mind that his life too was changing and he was entering a world he knew nothing about.  At least working in medicine, I had somewhat of an idea of what to expect.  Cody thought I had been posessed. 

The next question on our minds was "Boy or Girl?"  We knew what we both wanted.  Cody a boy and myself a girl.  But oh boy (or girl!) I never expected things would go the way they did.