In May 2010, I went to see my GYN, Dr. Mestemacher, for my yearly checkup. A 10 cm cyst was found on my right ovary. I had to wait until my next menstrual cycle so that I could start on birth control to shrink the cyst. I was two weeks late. I was scared and did not want to take a pregnancy test. I got sick with a sinus infection. I went to see my doctor and she would not give me medicine until I had a pregnancy test. So, I had a pregnancy test. Remember, I wrote in an earlier post that doctors said I could not get pregnant without assistance. Well, doctors are not always right. I was pregnant. I was surprised. I was scared. I was in shock. I cried. I was turning 41 on May 20th of that year. I was too old. I kept thinking, "What is God thinking?" Noah turned 11 on April 21st of that year. I just could not believe I was pregnant.
When we told Noah, he asked if the baby could be named after him. He was excited. I explained to him that was not how it worked and then I thought why couldn't we name the baby after him. Whether it was a boy or girl, the middle name would be Christian just as Noah's.
After the shock wore off, I started getting excited. My sister in law, Katie, was 2 months pregnant ahead of me. Wow, two babies at the same time. Sundays at Memaw's and Pepaw's was going to be loud and fun. I was due in January 2011.
I do not remember all of the exact dates. After a couple of months I started getting really sick. I could not eat. I could not drink. I ended up in the hospital two times for dehydration. After the second time, my OB/GYN suggested I see Dr. B.K., a high risk pregnancy doctor. After several visits with Dr. B.K., nothing unusual was showing up on the ultrasounds. I had an ultrasound about every two weeks. J.R. was going with me to every appointment. After several appointments and no change, I told him that I could go by myself. On that appointment, the doctor proceeded to tell me things that no Mama wants to hear. He thought the baby had Trisomy 18. If the baby had Trisomy 18, I may not carry the baby to term and if I did, the baby would not live long after birth. He thought the baby may have Down Syndrome. He gave me only bad news. He wanted to perform a Amniocentesis. I agreed and thought he left the room to make an appointment. He left the room to have a nurse set up a room to perform it right then. He was talking and I could not listen anymore. I actually ran out of the office crying with Dr. B.K. still talking. I heard a nurse tell me to be back the next morning at 8 a.m. for the test. Needless to say, I did not go to another appointment by myself. J.R., Jan, or my Dad always went with me from then on.
I was so upset. I called J.R. He was working on a job. I told him I was going to his parents. I called daddy and he went and finished the job for J.R. so J.R. could be with me. We had a prayer time for this precious life I was carrying. I did not sleep that night. J.R. went with me to have the test. Dr. B.K. explained to J.R. what he thought was happening. After the test, I went home and laid down.
We decided to go out of town. On our way to Florida, the doctor's office called my cell phone. The baby did not have Trisomy 18 or Downs Syndrome. We found out the baby was a girl. We had decided if the baby was a boy, his name would be Luke Christian. If the baby was a girl, her name would be Faith Christian. So the good news was we could call her Faith now.
