Healthy Family
We never thought we would have big baby news again. The doctor told me we were done, but God had other plans. A new sidekick is on the way!
If you’re on my newsletter list or follow me on Instagram, this might be old news, but it dawned on me the other day that I hadn’t announced our BIG NEWS right here on the blog!
I’m pregnant!!
If you’ve followed the blog for any length of time, you might be surprised by this news, as I wrote several years ago about how we were “done” having babies.
The back story I never shared?
Hubby was “done” but I still had that longing in my heart for one more baby.
Fast forward a few years, and hubby had a change of heart. Our plan was to just see what happened last summer in Costa Rica. Our youngest was turning 3 at the time, and the age difference seemed perfect. I had had a much longer break between babies than during my first three near back-to-back pregnancies.
But, to our surprise, nothing happened.
Month after month, my period came, and even a pregnancy test here or there confirmed that I was simply…late.
By January of 2016, we decided to get some tests run.
The prognosis came in and it was grim: This time the doctor said we were done having babies.
We were experiencing secondary infertility.
It might sound silly, especially considering that we already have three beautiful daughters, but we grieved this loss of fertility.
We grieved the chance of a fourth biological child.
We grieved not being able to make that decision ourselves.
Each question of “Are you done? Will you ever have another baby?” stung. But few knew what the doctor had told us.
I drafted blog posts about it, but I could not bring myself to click “publish.”
By spring, though, we had come to peace with this news. I was looking forward to embracing the school-age years, as our girls are now 8, nearly 6, and 4.
New seasons of life can be bitter but they can also be wrapped with so much sweetness. We looked forward to what lay ahead.
Then, in May, it hit me one day that I had missed my period–by nearly a week. I began to be alarmed and wondered what was wrong.
But I remembered I still had one pregnancy test left in my cabinet. But I can’t be pregnant I thought. Still, I had to rule this out before I began worrying about other things that a missed period could signal.
I took the test at 11:30 p.m. on a Sunday night.
The day before, we had cleaned out our garage and had donated a few remaining baby things to a charity yard sale. (I’m so not kidding!)
The plus sign appeared almost immediately. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I was pregnant!
Since then, I’ve been in shock, but we are happy.
To have thought we would never have this opportunity and then to have the Lord grant our desire just a few months later….it’s been unreal.
I’m one of the blessed few who do not experience morning sickness, but I am usually extremely fatigued during my first trimester.
Thus, I slept for around 12 hours per day most of the summer. Hence, I didn’t show up on the blog as much, I stopped writing newsletters, and I was a bit quieter on social media.
Will you forgive me?
I’m now 22 weeks pregnant and am still taking it much easier than my normal fast-paced life.
We found out a few weeks ago that baby is a BOY, so I am preparing to enter a whole new world after mothering three girls for so long!
This time around, I’m savoring every minute. I don’t mind when people comment about how “big” I am because I never thought I would get the opportunity to have God weave a life together inside of me again. I look at my round belly growing, the skin stretching, and I see a beauty in it that I missed the first three times around.
I’m learning there’s a benefit of having a large space between babies: I never forget I’m pregnant. I treasure every kick.
With third (and probably second too), there would be days I would forget I was even pregnant because I was so consumed in the busyness of having other babies underfoot.
But this 4.5-year gap–coupled with the fact that we were told we wouldn’t be able to have more and knowing this baby boy will probably be our last–helps me to not forget.
Are you expecting your own little one? Get FREE week-by-week pregnancy updates here!
Liveseygirl
Congratulations, that’s beautiful news x
Erin
Thank you!
Ashley
Congratulations!! The quickest way to get pregnant to get rid of the crib!
Erin
Thank you! LOL! YES, indeed!
Andrea
Aaaw congratulations <3 What a beautiful surprise 🙂
I think inwardly women can block getting pregnant. My mum lost her sister in an accident when her firstborn (my older sister) was 2 years old. She was grieving for years and simply could not get pregnant again, even though my parents desperately wanted another child. Only when she had accepted that it just wouldn't be happening did I come along. 🙂 Life happens and it's beautiful when it does.
Congrats again!
Erin
Thank you! YES,it was when we accepted it in our hearts that it happened! Thanks for sharing your mum’s beautiful story! <3
Krista
I was wondering why I hadn’t “seen” you much these last couple of months…what wonderful news!
Erin
I’ve felt so bad to go MIA. 🙁 But this news has been so worth it!!
Krista
I’m so happy for you all and you are positively glowing 🙂
Erin
Thank you!!!
Kristen @ Joyfully Thriving
We struggled with infertility for years before getting pregnant with our first. The second was another wonderful surprise. God is good! I’m giving thanks with you and your family for this precious gift of life!
Erin
Thanks so much for sharing, Kristen! Yes, God is SO good!!
Kathryn M
Such wonderful news! You are absolutely glowing, love.love.love the beauty of pregnancy. Praying you both continue to be healthy and do well.
Erin
Thank you so much! I do feel like I have that “glow” more this time around! Is it a boy thing–or just that I am not taking it for granted?!
Barbara
What a wonderful blessing!!! Congratulations to your entire family!!!
Erin
Thank you so much!
Julia
What a gift! I love how you can fully enjoy it this time, and I’m sure the girls are beyond thrilled as well. God is good in all his ways. This has been a hard one for me, I long for a 3rd baby but hubby is done, and for good reason. We had both primary and secondary infertility and both pregnancies were rough, with many complications. Still my heart longs for another. Thank you for the reminder that God knows what is best, and can surprise us long after we decide about something. Can’t wait to watch you prepare and have a sweet baby boy!
Erin
Thank you so much for sharing our joy and also sharing your story, Julia. I pray you the Lord will give you a peace and help you and hubby to be on the same page. <3
Kelly
Congratulations! I’ve been patiently waiting for a 4th for 7 months, no baby yet, but this gives me hope!
Erin
Thank you! I will pray right now for you! Let me know!!
EMILY
Congratulations! I had a similar experience…I had three girls when my husband and I decided that was enough. Five years after our youngest daughter was born I found out I was pregnant again. We were actually NOT trying to get pregnant but the Lord blessed us with our sweet baby boy. It has been a whole new experience having a boy but I LOVE every minute of it! I know you will too!!
Erin
Your story sounds SO similar to ours!!! WOW!
Keelie Reason
So very happy for you. 🙂 I know that God has done all of these things for His glory.
[email protected] Humbled Homemaker
Thank you, friend! AMEN!!
Deb
Congratulations. I hope you and the baby continue to be well. I was told at 8-1/2 mos. I was having a boy, but 1 week later after seeing the legs spread it came out a GIRL! Wonderful family.
Erin
OH WOW!!! When was that? I have heard that happening to others too!!
Janice Wills
Children are a blessing from God, a wonderful, rich, overwhelming blessing. Congratulations. We have eight children and are now in the years of…”You’re going to be grandparents again!” …and it is amazing. Just this week we heard this wonderful news for the twelfth time. We are so grateful for God’s kindness and grace. May you continue to experience great joy as you carry, birth and raise your precious son. May your family be blessed.
Erin
Thank you so much,Janice! This will be grandkid #10 for my parents, and they are so excited!
Nicole Surrarrer
Congratulations !!! Your story is so similar to mine, I had to comment. We have 3 boys, 7, 5 and 4. I had a miscarriage18 months a go and thought that was it. Then I got pregnant! I was cautious of getting too excited. I just wanted to savor every single moment of our beautiful miracle. I really enjoyed this last pregnancy, and to make it a little sweeter we had a baby girl! Now our family is complete and we couldn’t be happier. God knows the desires of our hearts! God bless your family and your little man to come! Boys are a blast!
Erin
Wow! That is so similar! A huge congrats, and I am SO happy for you!!!
Rebecca
Congratulations! I understand completely! I have three children from a previous marriage( 20, 18 and 13). My husband and I had been trying for over a year and a half and I was just coming to terms with not being able to give my husband a child and just enjoying grandchildren when that time came. In April my daughter (20) got married. I found out the very next day I was pregnant. I am now 28 weeks pregnant and we are very blessed!
Erin
Oh wow! I am SOOOO happy for you!! That is so amazing! There is a friend of ours from church who is expecting her third, much-desired baby and her oldest (age 19) is about to get married too. What a blessing!! A HUGE congrats, and I hope you will have a great rest of the pregnancy!
Morgan
Congratulations! We just had our “surprise blessing bonus baby” in March. Our other kids are 16, 14 and 9. We were all in shock, but he’s the most amazing gift.
Erin
Thank you so much! Congrats to you too!! What helpers you must have!! That is SO exciting!!
Aimee Hadden
This is so beautiful – congratulations! What a wonderful surprise!
[email protected] Humbled Homemaker
Thank you so much!
Morgan
Oh my goodness! You look awesome, and your family seems so happy and excited for a new baby! Congratulations on the new addition! Thanks so much for keeping us updated!
Erin
Thank you!
Karla N
Your family “situation” is remarkably similar to ours it’s uncanny! We have three boys 12, 9, and 5. Getting pregnant had not come easily with all of them and I had a miscarriage at 15 weeks 2 years ago. After that we said goodbye to our dream of having one more in our family and it appeared God’s plan was for us to be content with three boys. After working hard to come to peace with that, we found out we were pregnant in June. I’m 23 weeks along with a girl! Which will change our family dynamics as your boy will change yours! Congratulations
Erin
Wow! We are really close in due date too!! A HUGE congrats to you!!!
J
Congratulations ! We just had our 4th take home baby, we have 3 in Heaven and infertility issues that lead to miscarriages so we are very thankful for the kids we have, too.
Erin
Congrats, mama!!
Becca
Congratulations! What a sweet story! You are going to adore having a little boy!
Erin
Thanks so much!