Thankful Thursday, Bella Boo (the Best Surprise I’ve Ever Had)

Lately I’ve been looking through old pictures and was reminded of a crazy time in my life, when I found out I was pregnant with my sweet Annabelle Lee. So my post today is dedicated to how thankful I am for the biggest and best surprise I’ve ever had!

When we brought Katie into this world after three and a half years of trying, praying and many tears we thought we had our one miracle baby from God. If you haven’t read our long journey to get Katherine you can read it here. Once she arrived we never even considered birth control, we just assumed my body was not able to do it again. Also I was breast feeding exclusively and the doctor said it would be birth control enough. So, when I started feeling nauseated at 10 weeks postpartum I thought, “no way!” Well I went and got a pregnancy test one afternoon to just ease my mind and took it. It’s was positive! I was in shock. I picked up my 2 month old baby and walked into the kitchen with the pregnancy test in my other hand and showed it to Eric. He looked at me, looked at our tiny infant and put down what he was doing and walked out of the house, got in his car and left. Not one word! Hormonal and more than a bit shocked also I melted into a puddle of tears and confused feelings.

Well 2 hrs later Eric came back home, and before anyone judges him too harshly, he brought me a huge bouquet of flowers. He apologized saying he was in total shock also and needed a little bit to process such crazy information. We went to see my doctor, and didn’t forget to mention she said breast feeding exclusively would prevent this! We found out I conceived at six weeks postpartum and was four weeks along with baby #2. Still in shock, when we started telling family and friends we got widely varied reactions. Some laughed and ask, “you DO know what causes this right?” Some pitied my poor unrecovered body, some rejoiced with us that God was giving us the family we never thought we could (just with crazy timing). Now I know without a doubt it was one of the biggest blessings of my life. She was a huge surprise but the best I’ve ever had (yes I know I keep repeating that but I mean it with all my heart).

My body struggled because I had not fully recovered from the first pregnancy. It was more like being pregnant for 20 months, and the second half of that with a brand new infant. At the time it was challenging, but I tried to stay positive and grateful for a second baby when I had thought I would never even have one of my own. The pregnancy otherwise was great, no complications.

I went into labor on her due date, I woke up to contractions that morning but they were so far apart Eric went to work and I stayed at home with Katie just timing contractions and caring for my 10 month old. By the time Eric got off work they were close enough to head to the hospital after dinner. We went and my doctor admitted me, everything was going pretty smoothly until around 10 pm. The nurse came by to do her normal check and before I knew what was happening there was a lot of yelling and calling for my doctor. They rushed me out of the room and down the hall to an emergency c-section. The nurse found that the cord had prolapsed, come down first, and the baby was going to be in trouble if they didn’t get her out immediately. Having a c-section while pain meds were being administered (not pleasant), without my husband (forced to stay in the hall during emergencies), and fully unprepared was the worst night of my life. I know that sounds horrible, but it was traumatizing to say the least. I didn’t see my Annabelle for two days, I was in shock and on meds to help me with that. Every time I would wake up some I was not making sense and I don’t remember a thing. My husband cared for Bella and I, even helping her breast feed because he knew how important that was to me. When I did come around I realized the nightmare night was MORE than worth the gorgeous baby I was holding.

Bella has been a little piece of sunshine in our lives ever since! She laughs all the time, is always making us laugh, she loves deeply and thinks her sister is her twin. The girls were babies together and so they don’t remember life without the other and are inseparable. They won’t even sleep apart, it is so special the twin-like bond they share. The pregnant-for-so-long thing was hard, but knowing what I do now about the girls I would choose it all over again.

There is so much amazing packed into such a tiny little four year old girl! She wants to be a dr., she loves the color purple, unicorns, Mickey Mouse, singing “You Are My Sunshine”, laughing, her sister, animals, babies, telling knock knock jokes, painting, being silly, snuggles and learning. I’m so proud to be her momma and thankful each day for her sweet life. I would go through the very close pregnancy and scary emergency c-section again to have her in my life. I’m beyond blessed she is mine, and I pray every day that I can nurture her beautiful spirit into the woman of God I know she will be someday.

Thanks for stopping by!
Johanna 🙂