we're, um, a little pregnant?!

It's every couples dream...the husband quietly paces the kitchen floor while the wife is in the bathroom taking a pregnancy test. She emerges 3 minutes later with a huge smile and tears in her eyes and says, "I'm pregnant!". The husband scoops the wife up in his arms and hugs her tight, overwhelmed with joy and excitement. They spend the next couple of hours flipping through baby books and chatting about baby names, holding hands and staring romantically into each other's eyes. It's touching, it's beautiful, and it's compelling. I expected nothing less they day I found out I was pregnant...

Unfortunately, reality isn't always made of dreams come true. When we found out, we were certainly overwhelmed with joy and excitement, but we were also filled with a little worry and a little shock :) It's not that we didn't want to start a family, it's just we didn't think were prepared just yet. The insurance my company provides doesn't kick in until January and pregnancy-related doctor bills are beyond expensive! The first trimester/first three months are filled with doctor visits, blood tests, and sonograms (not to mention morning sickness, moodiness, and copious cat naps!). It's a lot to take on and definitely a lot to take on without insurance. The other thing is, we moved mid-September from a two bedroom apartment to a "cozy" one bedroom to save money so we can buy a house in the next year or so. We had talked about getting pregnant in the past but decided to put it off for a year or two until we were more settled and prepared. We wanted a bigger place to live, more dollars in the bank account, active health insurance....you know, the fundamentals of starting a family.

It was Sunday, September, 20, 2008. A few friends and family had just left from helping us move the last bit of boxes and furniture from our old place. Brian and I were unpacking when I decided to mention my period hadn't started yet. By my calculations, which aren't always on track, I was supposed to start my period last Sunday. We figured with the stress of moving, my new job, and the shift in my birth control prescription, my period was just late. But, we decided to get a pregnancy test anyway. Returning from the drug store with our 3-pack of tests (why do they only sell pregnancy tests in packs of three? It only takes one to tell!), I went to the bathroom while Brian paced the kitchen floor. 3 minutes later I emerged from the bathroom with the pregnancy stick in my hand. It clearly showed one pink line but next to it, a very, very faint pink line. So faint that if you turned it, the second pink line disappeared. My rationale, if there was a second pink line at all, faint or not, the test detected a level of HGC (pregnancy hormone) in my body and therefore, I was a little pregnant. Wait, a little pregnant?!We were so confused! Brian was somewhat doubtful. I called my very close friend/sister-in-law, Jennifer, and asked her advice. She agreed I was pregnant but to clear up any doubt, we should purchase a digital test. She said you can't go wrong with digital tests. Tells you "pregnant" or "not pregnant", unlike the conventional tests that can leave you guessing with faint pink lines.

Brian and I went back to the drug store and purchased another 3 pack of digital tests from the same store clerk who rung us up the last time, and he was giving us questioning looks. You have to give it to those store clerks, I'm sure they see very weird purchases but they never comment. I'd have a very hard time if I were a clerk because I'd want to know more! Anyway, we arrived home (again) and I went to the bathroom while Brian wore out the kitchen floor. This time, it only took 1 minute for the 3 minute test to read "pregnant". I emerged from the bathroom and into the kitchen.

We both stood in the kitchen staring at the digital "pregnant" pregnancy stick for a moment or two. Then, Brian scooped me up and hugged me tight! I could hear the excitement in his voice, "everything will be fine, we'll make this work! I'm so happy we're pregnant!". Hearing my wonderful husband say those words put me at ease. We kissed and cuddled for a few minutes and then, Brian fell to his knees and started talking to baby Bub (go ahead, you can say "awww"!).

Although we weren't flipping through baby books and chatting about baby names, holding hands and staring romantically into each others eyes, we did spend the next couple of hours searching online to see whether or not insurance companies consider pregnancy a pre-existing condition and trying to figure out where in our small, one bedroom apartment the baby's bassinet will go (we have decided to sell the love seat in our bedroom and put a bassinet and changing table with drawers in the corner). Our "cozy" one bedroom apartment will now be even cozier with the arrival of baby Bub! Thankfully, we'll be able to move to a bigger place when baby Bub is only 4 months!

While reality isn't always what we dream of, we realize you can never be fully prepared for baby. The best thing any couple can do when they find out is to stop buying those Starbucks lattes and cute shoes on a whim (guilty and eh, guilty), and start saving money! Being a parent doesn't mean you have to be perfectly prepared. That will never happen. Being a parent is a process and knowing to learn from your mistakes. It means loving your child from the moment you find out you are pregnant, to when they are born, and every moment thereafter. If you are ready to do that, then the rest will fall perfectly into place.

Brian and I are overwhelmed with joy and excitement, and actually, our dreams have come true, just a little early! It didn't happen as we dreamed it would happen, but we love baby Bub already and know we'll be great parents!