day 10: meet SURPRISE!!!

remember Gomer Pyle from The Andy Griffith Show and his

“SURPRISE! SURPRISE! SURPRISE!”

***********

meet: Jake Russell

enter: comic relief

so I guess God decided we had met our quota of sadness, frustration & disappointment for a spell…as well as our repeated failed attempts of trying to run our own life.

Tuck turned one in April of 2007..the summer had come and gone..J and I had discussed trying to have another baby but had decided neither of us were ready for the Clomid and hot flashes and CRAZEEE me that came with all of the above ..

School had started..I had a great group of 1st graders. Life was good and it got even better when I got word I would be getting a student teacher.  She was wonderful, eager and hands down one of the most organized women I had ever met.

One day out of the blue she said, “Are you pregnant?”

I’m quite certain that I BURST out laughing.  She had heard me speak of our history with infertility and loss and I reminded her “that I don’t work right.” I assured her there was no way I was PG and we went on our merry way …

Days after I had still not had a cycle- even with the prescribed progesterone that was supposed to cause me to cycle.  I had convinced myself and told J,

“Well. .. I guess this is it. This must be the beginning of menopause.  This should be fun.”  and with that I called Doc and made an appointment.

I distinctly remember the day of my appointment discussing with the mommies-to-be in the waiting room…”Yep.  I think I’m premenopausal at the ripe old age of 32.”

At last it was my turn..the nurses and I had become great friends through the years.  I frankly discussed the fact that I had taken the ten pills that were to help me start and yet had had no cycle.  When she asked, “have you taken a pregnancy test?”  I laughed out loud.  I said, “are you having an off day? this is me we’re talking about.  I haven’t taken any Clomid so there’s no way I’m PG.”

“Let’s try one.” she said.

I replied, “It will be a wasted test but whatever you say.  You’re the boss.”

Before I could get my hands washed and back to my chair she said, “Karmen, your’re pregnant.”

I laughed out loud-again.  “No I’m not. You must have stuck that in the wrong cup.”

And I meant it.  Without so much as a thread of doubt.

Her polite and firm reply. “You’re as pregnant as anybody else I’ve seen today.”

My rebuttal,”I want you to do another test…and this time I will bring you the cup and I want to watch you do the test.”

And I did. And she was right. Absolutely, POSITIVEly right.

I was pregnant.  Just over 9 weeks.

She told me the doctor was running behind.  “It’s going to be about an hour and a half before he can see you.”

“That’s okay. It’s going to take me that long to catch my breath.”

I was winded. Really, really winded.  Pregnant? Without Clomid?

“What are you up to God?” is how my prayer began as He and I discussed the situation alone in the room while I waited to see Doc.

Doc joyfully confirmed that I was indeed expecting.  He said he felt it would be in my best interest to plan to have the same surgical procedure that I had had with Tucker which  meant another 24 weeks of bedrest.  Only difference –this time- I had a toddler.

I left with a, “Yes sir, see you in 3 weeks”

This all went down the first week or so of November.  Which meant I had just shy of three weeks to train my student teacher and prepare her and my students for the switch: me-to-her.  Shop, wrap and deco for Christmas because after the surgery the only things allowed on my “to-do list” were

#1 pray #2 rest #3 grow a health baby.

And by the grace of God we accomplished all three.

The Lord rallied the troops-again.  People from all over prayed, prepared meals, cleaned, shopped and ran errands for us..others watched Tucker for me or came and babysat both of us..

At 36 weeks I was given the “ok” to get up and rejoin the rest of the world.  It was a delight to have 2 weeks of life as a normal pregnant woman. Is that an oxymoron? Normal-pregnant woman?

Anyways.

At 38 weeks and one day we arrived at the hospital -right on time.  Friends and family gathered for the morning-all anxiously awaiting baby boy #2.

I was my nurse’s very first patient.  She was pleasant and nervous and doing her very best..  I was mostly relaxed because my very best childhood BFF-who just-so-happened to be a delivery nurse at another hospital was spending the morning with us.  My BFF was keeping a close eye on the monitor while the rest of us were chatting and carrying on as if we were just strolling around Target only except – we weren’t. I was about to have a baby.

My nurse had just broken the bed down and said “it won’t be much longer- I’ll be right back” as she left the room ..

J, Sister banker, momma and I were still carrying on-cacklin’ about this and that when my BFF said, ” are you ok? you feelin’ anything??” with her eyes fixated on the monitor.. I  very cordially said, “no, not a thing. should I be?”

And then just as she began to stroll across the room to take a closer look at the monitor I heard her say to sister banker “GET ME SOME GLOVES..GET ME SOME GLOVES! GET ME SOME GLOVES…”

AND- JUST. LIKE. THAT.

SHE CAUGHT MY BABY BOY.

nope.  I’m not kidding.

simultaneously -Doc,  my nurse and the nursery worker all entered the room just a few seconds later…all DEER IN THE HEADLIGHTS– like…what just happened.?!

and then in the madness of the moment –the world stood still…

the noise shushed…

it was as if  I was there all alone–

just me and the tiny, perfect, AMAZING little miracle.

Jake Russell’s entrance was every bit as much of a SURPRISE as the news of his conception.

and worth every millisecond.

This baby boy.  My baby, looks just like his daddy on the outside but is his momma’s –

He is MIGHTY in spirit and keeps me ever-so-needy of My Heavenly Father..

He reminds me daily the importance of the little things…hugs, kisses=both eskimo AND “the butterfly kind”!

He keeps me humble with his earnest honesty.

He is my passionate child.  He LOVES strong. Cries, works and plays hard.

His life verse of which he quotes to us daily “Momma, ‘the eyes of the Lord see everything that happens'”….. “You’re right son, you’re so very right.”

Thank you Father for showing out with your Sovereignty.  For SURPRISING us with such an affectionate,  spirited, JOYFUL child. Who’s crystal blue eyes and charm can draw a crowd like few I’ve seen.

Lord, I can’t wait to see what you have in store for our lil’ fella <3

amen.