Sharing the News...Part 1!

Although this pregnancy is going to remain a secret to MOST of the world, there were a few people that we really wanted to share our glorious news with right away!

I'll never forget the day that my sister called me and said "Well...the good news is...I won't be pregnant ON your wedding day!" This was her way of telling me that my nephew Joshua would be arriving just before my wedding day... And the perfect October day when he was born, will always be one of the most precious days of my life!

And then there was Manda... Unfortunately, she and Brandon struggled in some of the same ways that Zig and I have in the "baby-making department," so when they found out Halle was on her way, Zig and I knew before Brandon! She was home alone, and after a negative blood test, she got a positive home test and was hysterical! She called us...until she could call Brandon at work! I was so happy that she shared her news with us! That was the beginning of so many memories while waiting for Halle Bug! We watched Manda's belly grow, saw the ultrasound pictures, heard her little heart beat, and BEGGED the Mommy and Daddy to find out if she was a boy or a girl!! I couldn't break them, but I knew all along that she would be a girl!

And then there was Max...or "Maximus" as we call him! Max made his entrance into this world with total surprise! A panic-stricken Manda called me and said she was LATE and SICK...needless to say, I was soon on my way to her house with a home test for her... She thought there was no way she could be pregnant...especially since Halle was turning 9 months old on that very day! I forced her to take the test while Halle and I sat together and watched TV, and I told Manda that I was going to sh*$ myself if she got a positive test... About 10 minutes later, Manda came downstairs and said "Go ahead and sh*$ yourself...it's positive!" We sat and basically just looked at each other for the rest of that day until Brandon got home! A few months later came Max... and what a big boy he has turned out to be!

My closest friends and family have been right beside me through the difficult miscarriage and all of the emotions that hit me so hard. It was only fair that they celebrate with us for this pregnancy since they had prayed so hard for us to get through these rough times and eventually have a precious baby for our own.

After the positive pregnancy test brought me to my knees in thanks to God, Zig was obviously the first call I made... He was in his tree stand, in the woods, on the last day of bow hunting for this season. When I called, I was still crying and after the week we had, he was so relieved to hear that the test was positive. I could hear how big his smile was and he was just as excited as I was! He was very soon on his way home...

We decided we wanted to share the news with Brandon and Amanda, my sister and Jason, his brother Scub (Shawn) and Stephanie (who are also expecting a baby in August!) and of course, our parents.

The phone chain went a little like this...
Zig called Brandon, Scub, his Mom and his Dad...
I called Manda, my sister, and then we visited my parents to share the news!

Manda and Brandon basically new what was happening... Manda and I talk at least 5 times a week and know everything that is happening in each other's lives... so the fact that I was testing in the morning was no surprise! She was so sure that we were pregnant, even when I doubted! She was rooting for us all along! When I called her with the news, she yelled so loud that at least one of the kids woke up! Halle and Max are definitely going to think we're crazy when they grow up!

Brandon was in the woods with Zig...so Zig was talking back and forth on the radio with him when I called, then called him with the news! It was just so exciting!

When I called my sister, I very simply told her that I just called to say "Good Morning" to AUNT MEGAN, UNCLE JASON, and COUSIN JOSHUA! "NO WAY..." was all I heard on the other end of the phone and we spent the next few minutes talking about just how exciting this really was for our family... I just love my big sister! She truly is my biggest supporter and my very best friend!

Zig's Dad was very excited, but seemed overwhelmed with the idea of having TWO grandchildren all in a matter of one month!

My parents were excited too...but they worry so much...they just want everything to be OK with this baby... They know what we went through after the loss of our angel baby, and no one wants to see us go through that again!

I think Grammy Kathy's reaction tops the charts...the noise charts and the excitement charts! She was already SO EXCITED after hearing Stephanie's news, but adding yet another baby to the list was just enough to send her over the edge! She was screaming and yelling, laughing, clapping...and saying lots of "SHUT UP," and "OH MY GOD!!" She has already offered to clean my house and do whatever other chores I can line up for her, just so I can rest and have a healthy pregnancy! She is saving up her vacation time to spend with two new little people very soon!

The most important people in our lives already know our news... but I have one more person to tell...

I can't wait to tell Vicki - my partner in crime at school - tomorrow! After all, I need someone to cover for me if I get sick or have to run out of class... My sixth graders just won't know what to do with me! I can't wait until I can share this with my students... This is just so much fun!

I think I've already prayed harder than any other time in my life!
Over the last 24 hours, I've prayed and prayed that God will give us a healthy pregnancy...
I have trouble believing that he will allow us to go through such pain and heartache all over again. I trust His plan and I can't wait to see what he has in store for us!