The Best Thing We Never Planned

As some of you know, and many of you don’t, I will have to change my blog title soon.  My new title should read, 1 Mom, 1 Dad, and FIVE kids.  Yep, that’s right.  There’s going to be another kiddo in the Harrington household.  Look out world, I’m pregnant again.  I'm popping another one out in July 2012!

To say that this pregnancy is a surprise would be an understatement.  But please do not read this and equate surprise with unwanted.  Some of the best moments in life are those that are unplanned and uncharted.  Jeff and I are so happy about this, knowing that this baby, like all babies, is a blessing from God.  Now, I know that some of you are scratching your heads and wondering about all sorts of things, so let's list some F.A.Q.S……..

1.       “Five kids!  Oh my Gosh, don’t you two know how this happens?  Well, yes we know exactly how it happens, and we’ve got quite good at it over the years.

2.       “Which one of you is getting fixed?”  Neither.  We’ve been down this road before and it just didn’t work.

3.       “Did you do fertility treatments?” No.  This happened naturally.

4.       “So this was your own egg?”  Yes, I’m only 41 not 50!

5.       “Aren’t you worried there’s something wrong with the baby?” Nope.  All tests show a healthy baby. 

6.       “Boy or Girl?”  Well, the baby was moving a lot, but it looks like a girl.

7.       “How will you ever be able to afford another one?”  We just will.  You make an effort to afford the things you really value in this life.  We value our children more than fancy vacations and big screen tvs.

8.       “What will you use for birth control?”  None of your stinkin’ business.

9.       “Are you planning on having more kids?”  We weren’t planning on having this one silly.

10.   “Aren’t you embarrassed to be pregnant at your age?”  Ummm, let me think, NO.  Why would I be embarrassed?  I’m not sure why some people view my pregnancy as a failure on my part, something I should be ashamed of.  This baby is in no way a mistake.  She is a child that was meant to be here.  Jeff and I were chosen as her parents, among all others, by God.  Nope, not embarrassed at all.  I’m proud to be pregnant with another child.  My ob/gyn high fived me.

And just a final note:  I am not as old as the woman on 19 Kids and Counting.  And yes, I know she lost her last baby.  But it doesn’t mean that I will lose mine, nor does it mean that I even want to think or hear about it.  My heart goes out to Michelle Dugger, as it does to all women who have suffered a loss at any stage.  But pregnant women as a whole do not want to hear horror stories, about labor and birth or about the loss of any baby or infant.  This has been my public service announcement.

Now on to the Good Stuff……

Want to see a picture of my new little blessing?  I knew you did.

There's her profile.  I wish it was clearer.  But her ultrasound was done on an archaic machine.  I picture some poor tech realizing that her machine was broken, and her supervisor telling her, "Well, go grab one of those old ones from the basement!"  And then the poor tech did as she was told, and after dusting off the ten years worth of cobwebs, she proceeded to use it on me.  I have had other ultrasounds at this facility before, and they were all clear and it was all very modern high tech equipment. Just not that day.  This was taken at 19 weeks.

Here is another that was taken earlier at 13 weeks:

Pretty cute, huh?

Ok, I know ultrasound pics are kinda grainy and not always so clear.  But we moms love them.

So, that's what's new in my life.  We are all excited, except for junior who just doesn't seem to care one way or another.  We are still thinking of names although my niece Gracie has already picked out the lovely name of Elizabeth Ella.  We'll have to think about that.  But there's lots of time to decide.

May you all have unexpected blessings in one form or another.  It's the unexpected that keeps life exciting!