Pregnancy: The timeline of facts Part 1

So, it's pretty much common knowledge that I am expecting a baby, last we heard and saw, a little baby boy. I have had so many people ask the who, what, where, when, why questions that I figured it would make a good blog post, not to mention document the history of the occasion before I forget it all. Here is the timeline of facts:

*First, a little history: nearly two years ago I had been tested for fertility issues and basically been told in layman terms that the chances of getting pregnant, naturally, were a long shot.

Back in early May I was feeling...let's just say weird. In the weeks before running Beach to Bay, I was feeling particularly drained. Actually, drained does not even describe the exhaustion I was experiencing. I could not figure out why. I had been running on a fairly regular basis for months, so I was perplexed as to why all of a sudden my energy levels were at negative 55% percent. But still, I didn't think too much of it...

May 20, 2011 - The day before Beach to Bay, I was still feeling oddly tired. So, I decided that I could not let my team down and I decide that I would make a rash decision of ensuring that I was awake and energized for my early morning leg of the race. I am a team player, afterall! I manage to run Beach to Bay quite successfully - all pumped on caffeine. More caffeine than I probably have consumed in my life. But hey, I never do it, and it was for the good of the team. Right? Right. I should add that I felt great that morning, by the way! Whew, good ole' caffeine - quite the witch's brew!

End of May/beginning of June - I am progressively feeling worse, the exhaustion is at it's worst and I now am experiencing terrible, burning, nauseating pains in my stomach.

Thus far, not once did I ever - EVER - consider that I was pregnant. Never.

June 1st - on my birthday, I am having a lovely lunch with two of my aunts and my precious grandmother and I begin to tell them how awful I had been feeling. I describe the symptoms and state that I need to schedule and doctor's appointment. My aunts suggested that it could be early diabetes or thyroid imbalances. Perhaps. I was considering anything. I had never felt this way before, after all. And my grandmother has thyroid issues anyway. Totally plausible!

June 2nd - I get a text message from my gay husband (not really, but I thought it sounded good) inviting me for jog down Ocean Drive, just like old times. Problem was, I was leveled. I had nothing to give. No energy, no desire, nothing. And boy, was I feeling particularly nauseated. I told him I was feeling yucky and was not up to it. Maybe next time! When he asked what my symptoms were, I told him what I was feeling. His immediate response was: "You're pregnant!"

Later that evening, about 10:00pm, I am talking on the phone my good friend Koth (pronounced like "cloth" but without the "L". To everyone else, she is Kathryn ;-)) I begin to tell her how weird I have been feeling. She asks "What are experiencing?" So, I begin to tell her. "Tiffany, it sounds to me like you are pregnant! Have you taken a home pregnancy test?" "Well, no. I haven't even considered it. Its not possible, remember?" "Well, you should at least take one to rule it out. GO GET ONE RIGHT NOW AND CALL ME AS SOON AS YOU TAKE IT!" "Don't I have to wait until the morning to take it?" "Oh yeah, you do. Ok, well, go get one now and then take it in the morning and CALL ME SOON AS YOU GET THE RESULTS! I won't sleep until I know!". "Ok, I will. Leaving now. Bye." "Bye"

June 3rd - I wake up and I take the HPT.

I'm shocked, I'm bewildered, I'm speechless - I'm pregnant.

The test came back with an unequivocal and positive POSITIVE.

Words cannot describe the flood of emotions that I experienced in those moment. I just stared at the test stick. The most prominent of my emotions was utter confusion. You must understand, at that point in my life I had sincerely and fully accepted that I would most likely not have children in this life. And, I was at total peace with that. I was at a point where I no longer yearned for children of my own. If truth be told, as I was approaching 32, I was beginning to seriously doubt my abilities to be a good mother. I was inching closer to becoming that woman that lost patience for those parents who could not soothe their crying babies in restaurants, or control their waddling toddlers down the aisles and pews at church.

I was not upset or disappointed. I just wasn't sure how to feel about it.

After about an hour, I decided to take the second test that came in the 2-for-1 kit. And, the results were the absolute same.

I did not tell Josh right away. I was still mulling. This whole revelation was still processing in my mind.

I had doubted that the tests were even accurate. I mean c'mon. They are only 99.% accurate. I could be that one in a million, you know. It happens everyday....

************************* PART 2 to Come*****************************