Maybe it's not the flu

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.  (James 1:17 NIV)

 

Just around Christmas of 1999, I got sick.  Jay & I were living in Lawrenceville with Gunner, Macey & the Meepie.  It was a terrible stomach flu.  I remember going to basketball games and just feeling like total death.  It was just awful.  I missed a couple days of work.  Then the new year came, man alive, that flu bug would just not go away.  I could not seem to get over whatever was ailing me.

Finally about mid-January, my circuit clerk (and dear friend ML) says to me, Sarah, honey, maybe it's not the flu.  Maybe you're pregnant.  Hhhhm, I suppose I could be.  So for whatever reason, I waited until the next morning to drive to Wal-Mart before work and buy the test.  I don't know why, but it is so embarrassing to buy a pregnancy test.  I was married, I was 24 (going on 25), but I was still mortified to have to buy the silly test...I'm guessing, now that I think about it, that is probably why I waited until 6:00 a.m. to go shopping.

Well, without all the gory details, the test indicated that, yes, as a matter of fact, I didn't have the flu, I was only pregnant.  Only pregnant.  Well, good...at least it's not the flu.  Pregnant?!!  I remember yelling at Jay, we are going to have a baby...and then I remember him not responding for what seemed like forever.  Jay finally muttered, "We are going to be parents,"  I'm not sure if that was a statement, question or cry for help.

So I went to the doctor and figured out that I was about ten weeks along.  Thought maybe that flu bug would go away, but it didn't.  That 'flu' stuck with me for what seemed like FOREVER.  At one point, I had a countdown going and I would report in to the State's Atty's office in Lawrenceville every morning.  I know it went on for three months, every day.  I'm sure they appreciated all of my whining and details.

I wasn't one of those happy pregnant people.  I was more like the grouchy, when-is-this-going-to-end pregnant person.  Only to realize that it doesn't end, the symptoms just change.    After the sickies passed, I progressed from the oh-crap-this-is-what-heartburn-is to the what-is-that-pain-in-my-lower-abdomen phase, and finally onto the I-just-want-this-to-end-so-I-can-sleep-again phase (boy, was I clueless:). Some enjoy being pregnant and love how they feel; if you are that person, good for you, really, that is so great, honest, but excuse me, while I find the nearest toilet...again.  Ha!

Miss Madolyn aka Stinky arrived on August 11, 2000.  Although she was a handful as a baby, we love her and are grateful that God blessed our lives with her.  She's still a handful, and although I know I NEVER acted like that, we'll keep her.  Even though it seems like so long ago, I will never forget my friend, ML, laughing and teasing me about the time she told me, Sarah, honey, maybe it's not the flu...