I’ve thought about today’s date a lot in the past year. I’ve written it down in doctor’s offices, entered it into websites, and made multiple calculations based on it. Ladies and gentlemen, let me present to you the 2005 date of my Last Menstrual Period.
Most women who have struggled with infertility know about all the hopes that can be placed on Cycle Day 1. I remember going to church a year ago and praying that God would use this fresh start to give us fresh hope. Then we began the race to see if Baby Boyd would outwit the miscarriage odds and stick with us. And she won! (“Go 46!”) Here are some other markers in the weeks and days along the way:
|5 weeks, 6 days|First ultrasound and we see Baby’s hearbeat|
|8 weeks|Mama’s first pregnancy barfing experience — we are encouraged that Baby is making me sick|
|10 weeks|We rent a doppler from StorkRadio and start listening to Baby’s heartbeat just about every day — we call it “visiting Baby”|
|12 weeks|I feel safe enough to write my due date in my calendar|
|15 weeks|I feel Baby’s first fluttery movements, and I start knitting my first project for Baby: a white hat with fuzzy gray stripes (gender-neutral)|
|18 weeks, 6 days|We learn through an ultrasound that we are growing a girl-baby|
|37 weeks|We are officially full-term|
|39 weeks|Ready for Baby to show up; begin walking regimen to encourage labor to begin|
|40 weeks|Where is Baby?!|
|41 weeks, 2 days|Lucy becomes an “outdoor baby,” gets her first breath of air, and we get to kiss her|
|52 weeks|Lucy is 10 weeks, 5 days old and smiles her head off at us every day!|
My prayers go out to all the women who are on Cycle Day 1 today. May you be blessed with a grinning baby a year from now!
We celebrate with you. And rejoice over Lucy’s life!!
Last year, when I received your newsletter saying that you had had your third miscarriage I was in the midst of terrible morning sickness. I ached and grieved for you. God placed you on my heart and I prayed almost daily for you.
We had recently moved and Advent was upon us and I remember waddling to the mail box….(I have loved being pregnant during Advent) and finding your prayer letter…I tore it open and the first thing I saw was Lucy’s ultrasound. I cried and called Andy with the news!! I honestly think it was a day or two before I read anything more in your letter….I just kept thanking God with you for this little girl that He was growing in you.
My Korean friends have told me that when a baby is 100 days old there is a big birthday celebration because that child has been living for a year. So Happy Birthday little Lucy. May you be richly blessed.
Nicole — I’m awestruck and so thankful over your compassion for us! We’re so grateful and humbled that God has given you so tender a heart for Lucy!