If you've been reading my blog regularly (or as regularly as I post, which is not very regularly), then you know that we've been trying to get pregnant since last summer. I had a horrible doctor's visit in October, swore off doctors for a few months, made an appointment for a visit in January to a new doctor (a female one this time), and then at the last minute felt led by God to cancel it and wait a little longer. I made a new one for March 12th and felt very at peace about it.

In February, Juliette, on her own accord, started praying consistently every night (and oftentimes at meal times too) for "God to put a baby in mommy's tummy." We had not talked about having problems getting pregnant in front of her...she just decided she was ready for a little sister or brother and she needed to pray about it.

On March 5th, after suspecting that I might be pregnant (because I had been feeling some implantation aches and just felt a little "off"), I took a pregnancy test that morning...one of the ones with words.

However, March 5th was also the day that Matt had to take his last comprehensive exam, so I didn't want to tell him that morning in case it distracted him from his test. I went to work and kept my little secret all day long...longest work day ever! As soon as Matt walked in the door from his test (around 5:15), I pulled him into the bathroom to show him the pregnancy test that I had saved from that morning. He got all excited and wanted to tell Juliette right away, but I wanted to wait until I was further along. He overruled me and said it would be too hard to live in the same house with her and not talk about it, so Matt told her. At first she didn't believe him (because he is always joking with her), but once I told her it was true, she started jumping up and down, and asking a bazillion questions. (Seriously, even after I put her to bed that night, she got up and came and asked me more questions--one being, "How do you know it's coming out in November?") Juliette at one point did say, "My wish came true!" to which I replied, "Prayers aren't wishes. God answered your prayer." She said, "That was fast!" And I said, "It sure was," thinking to myself, if only all prayers were answered that fast! Obviously, my same prayer took longer than a month to answer! It was so great, though, to see God answer her prayer in such a tangible way.

My mom had also been praying for my body to "act normally," and I can not tell you how excited I was to see my cycles becoming more regular and to be able to conceive this baby naturally without medication. I have never been "normal" in that area, and it thrilled me!

God has shown me time and time again (through getting pregnant with Juliette; finding my job at UL; etc.) that his timing is the perfect timing, and once again, he showed up! And, it is 100 percent his doing, because, like I said, I wasn't taking any medications to control my cycle or control my ovulation date (which would have possibly put me in control of my due date). Our due date is November 13th. Since I'll be having a repeat c-section, the baby will be born the week before. I will have 6 weeks of sick leave accrued by then. When you add the 6 weeks, plus the 2 days we have for Thanksgiving holidays, it takes me right up to the 2 weeks the university is closed for Christmas, allowing me 8 weeks at home. Talk about perfect planning! I could only dream of it working out like that!

Since I had the March 12th appointment already with the new doctor, when I called, they told me to keep it, so I went in and had some blood work done (to confirm the pregnancy and check my progesterone levels). My progesterone was low, which wasn't a problem I had with Juliette (but I had been taking progesterone on and off for over a year when I got pregnant with her so that's probably why), so they prescribed me Prometrium (progesterone) and told me that it was a possibility I might miscarry if my progesterone levels didn't increase. I was told to come back in 5 days for more blood work. (This was all God too because normally the doctor would not have seen me until 8 weeks, which might have been too late.) Those 5 days drug by (literally and physically, the Prometrium makes you even more tired than normal first trimester tiredness) and I was incredibly nervous. I prayed a lot, and Dr. Google helped calm my fears when I realized that low progesterone in the first trimester is quite common for a lot of women. The blood work came back great, and since then, I've had an ultrasound and the baby looks good and has a strong heartbeat.

Picture is upside down so that you can see the baby right side up!

I'm giving God the glory and thanking Him for all the answered prayers and this incredible miracle of life! I can't wait to share this pregnancy with you through my blog...we are so excited and feel incredibly blessed!

"I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him." - 1 Samuel 1:27