I was 21 years old. I had been in the Air Force for 3 ½ years. I had been with my 27 year old boyfriend for 2 ½ years. We loved each other.
We had been through so much together in such a short amount of time. He decided to propose. Well the best way he knew how.
Hiding a ring in the linen closet when I hate doing laundry and NEVER put it away wasn’t the brightest idea. But I found it. We celebrated. We were just beginning our lives together.
Feb 2003
Still 21. No period. No big deal. Sometimes I was late because I exercised so much. Few weeks later still no period. Doctors decided to draw blood just to be sure. I had been on birth control for almost 4 years straight.
Hanging with a neighbor my cell phone rang. Congratulations……is all I heard. I hung up on them. Dear lord please be joking. I cannot be pregnant. I can barely take care of myself.
Too bad. When you pretend to be an adult, adult situations get thrown upon you. Fiance’ is excited. He is already a father to 1 so he’s happy to be a father to OUR child.
The next day. I head down the road to mom’s house. I am nervous. I’m not sure how they will take it. My dad comments about me gaining weight and jokes that I’m pregnant. I don’t laugh back. They stop and stare at me. The yelling begins. The tears fall. I feel ashamed and dirty.
Options are thrown at me. Abortion. Adoption. I will take none. I brought this baby into this situation and will deal with it the right way.
Oct 03
22 days after my 22nd birthday she is born. Everyone’s opinions vanish. This little girl has commanded all the attention. She has brought peace to a stressful and ugly situation.
For almost 6 years she has been the light of everyone’s life. God brought her into our lives for reasons we will never quite grasp.
Sep 09
I am pregnant again. I call mom. She almost runs the car off the road in excitement. Mother-in-law is already planning a baby shower. Husband is wishing it were a boy.
No shame. No yelling. Tears of course, but ALL happy tears.
I will bring another life into this world. I am ready this time. I am prepared.
Bring. It. On.
That post was so beautiful, I have tears in my eyes.
ReplyDeleteHeartfelt congratulations to you and your family.
You beat me to it. You are so copying my post ideas before I get a chance to post them. Damn you. ;)
ReplyDeleteThis was beautiful and brought back many memories of when I announced I was pregnant.
Way to hang in there all those years ago.
Your writing style is really enjoyable to read. This story reminds me of when we announced our pregnancies, 3 of them. All was unicorns and rainbows until #3 - that's when I got yelled at. Oh well, like you when baby arrived everyone adored him.
ReplyDeleteHow sweet it is!
ReplyDeleteMany congrats on the newbie cooking in your lady-oven.
What a double dose of blessing she turned out to be! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet post! And congrats to you!
ReplyDeleteAwwwe! That made me tear up a bit! You do have a sweet little girl and Im sure the next child will be just as wonderful!
ReplyDeleteCongrats! How wonderful! This was such a sweet post.
ReplyDeleteI am so happy for you, especially now that you feel ready for it.
ReplyDeleteI though I was pregnant but luckily,I'm not!! I was not ready for a baby and I would never choose adoption or abortion never in my mind.
It was a great post!
Congratulations!!
ReplyDeleteWhat an exciting time. And such a sweet post. Congrats, Keyona!
ReplyDeleteThis made me cry. I dont really know why. Maybe because i am 33 weeks pregnant and over emotional about everything or maybe because i never got that excitment from any of my family for any of my pregnancies. Either way i am so happy for you and i hope you have a easy and special pregnancy!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe I missed this post. I just caught on while reading a tweet "all day sickness."
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy for you, lady!!!!
And I love how you write.
So sorry I missed the news...