Give a Cheer
I was inspired to do this page by Simple Scrapbooks May/June 2006 issue, page 66. The topic was writing from the heart. I also incorporated another theme in the magazine this month about scrapbooking when you don't have the pictures to tell the story. I think this is a surprising page once you read the journaling. Hope you enjoy:
I don’t think anyone could guess what I think of when I see this ring. Valentine’s Day 1995 Steve took me to pick it out. I had had my eye on it for a while at James Avery. The band is gold, the stone is my birthstone, a Garnet. He bought it for me and, I had to leave it at the store to be sized.
The end of 1994 is the year I started fertility treatments after trying for over a year to conceive on our own. I was anxious to get pregnant, but not feeling despair or desperation. I always felt like we were waiting for a certain child, not just any child at any time. This attitude helped me to be patient about the process. I went through a couple of months of testing and blood work then I was put on Clomid, a fertility drug. The first month that I took it was January, 1995, I did not get pregnant. I was disappointed, but still not despairing. I continued on with the treatment hoping that the next month would be “the one”. I went through the process of having my blood drawn before taking the medication in February and then having the blood drawn after the period of fertility had ended. Surprisingly, I didn’t give it much thought as I went about the next week.
On February 21, I was anxious to pick up my ring from James Avery. I couldn’t wait to wear it and show it off. I had already planned that we would go by my parents’ house after we picked it up. That afternoon while I was at work, the doctor’s office called. Fatima, the doctor’s nurse who I was working with, told me that the hormone levels in my blood were really high and that I should come in the next morning for a pregnancy test. I felt butterflies in my stomach as I waited for the end of the workday. Not being a very patient person, I stopped at the drugstore on my way home and got a pregnancy test. We picked up my ring, I hadn’t even had a chance to take the test, and we went on to my parents’ house as planned.
I showed my Mother the ring and was so proud of it. But really I was sort of shaking inside with anticipation of finding out if I was pregnant or not. I excused myself to go to the restroom. Steve and I exchanged a knowing look, I think he already thought I was pregnant. I took the test and it was an immediate, strong positive. Time stood still for a moment as the depth of it sank in. I looked up and saw myself in the mirror with tears in my eyes and thought, “You are going to be a Mom.” I walked back into the kitchen where Steve sat visiting with my Mom. He looked up and knew right away what the result was. I went to him and hugged his shoulder and looked at both of them and said, “I’m pregnant.” My Mother looked from me to him, trying to tell if it was a joke. Steve kissed me and grinned from ear to ear. My Mother stood with tears in her eyes and kissed my cheek and said, “Really?” I showed them the stick and we all just stared at it. It was the beginning of a new life.
So when I see this ring that I don’t wear so much anymore, I still remember that evening of anticipation. I still feel the little butterflies that flitted in my stomach as I waited to find out. And I will never forget the moment of realization and knowing. Our sweet Nathan was on the way into our hearts and our lives.
P.S. I sat and read this out loud to the kids and I ended up crying thru it. I kept telling them it was tears of happiness.
No products have been added to this project.
Thanks for spreading positivity!
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