Harper's story

Harper doesn't technically turn one until Sunday, July 22nd. But I won't be around much this weekend, so I'm going to go ahead and celebrate here.

Let's recap shall we?

Will and I knew we wanted to try for a baby the minute we got married. We were still "fresh" off his deployment and we knew exactly what we wanted. We figured we would start trying on our wedding night. We obviously didn't get pregnant that night or even that month. We tried for a couple of months after that and nothing happened. I got frustrated and said..."what will be, will be". So we just went about our lives. I took many pregnancy tests just waiting for that positive. I "just knew" I was pregnant, but never was. Will would get so frustrated with me and tell me to just "chill out". So I did.

On Dec. 12th 2010, I woke up and thought I should pee on a stick. I had no reason what so ever to believe I was pregnant. We weren't really actively trying, I didn't feel weird, but something in my head told me to just do it. I took the test and waited about 15 seconds and bam....PREGNANT!

I flipped out and all the sudden found myself scared to death. What have we done?! I go wake up Will to tell him, and didn't believe me. His reaction.."how? when?" Good question...we have no idea when it happened! Will advised me to go to work and grab a digital pregnancy test on my lunch break. I sat at work and so many thoughts were going thru my head. I couldn't even fathom how much life would change. But honestly, I was scared to death to go the doctor...I knew it would mean blood work! (how funny now!) I zipped out of work at lunch and ran to CVS and literally ran thru the front door to the guest bathroom. Sure enough...PREGNANT! I took a picture on my blackberry and sent it to Will. His reaction..."you have to be shitting me?!" Nice, huh!? :) I immediately called the doctor to make an appointment and started to fret about telling my parents! I went 26 years actively trying NOT to get pregnant and now I feel like I'm going to be in trouble! LOL...

That evening I had plans to go to a cookie exchange party at a sorority sister's house. On my way there I was talking on the phone with K.Hart. I remember her asking me if I had any baby updates. It took all I had not to shout it from the roof tops. But I remained quiet..barely. I make it to the party and of course, my friend is waiting on me and hands me a glass of alcoholic cider. Oh crap! I take it and she notices I'm not drinking it, she then asks, "are you pregnant"...I reply "no, I just have to work tomorrow and have to drive home". Shew...dodged the second bullet!

My toughest lie was that Saturday. We had booked a hotel room in DC to celebrate Maggie's birthday. We were going to paint the town red! As we were driving into town we couldn't stop talking about the future and all the fun things that were going to happen. From the moment we even talked about kids, Will had already picked out the stroller he wanted us to use. So we were driving and saw a lady push a stroller across the street in front of us. I couldn't hold it in any longer, I needed to tell my mom. Will begged me not too, because of course he felt like we would be in trouble (seriously?! Will!). And he felt like it was still too early. I called her and told her to start saving her money for an Orbit. She laughed and said some day. I said nope...seriously, you only have 9 months! She was more shocked than excited I think. We never mentioned we were trying. Of course my dad figured it out quick. I asked him what he had planned for his birthday in August, he said, "why, are you pregnant?!" Haha, oh Grandy!

I ended up telling Maggie that night because I can never get one past Maggie! She shed a tear or two from excitement. Will and I were on cloud nine!

The next seven months ended up having so many ups and downs. I had a miscarriage scare, I was hospitalized twice for kidney stones (one 4 day stay during Easter!), PIH, Pre-eclampsia, etc. I think it was God's way of getting me over that needle fear I had before Harper. I was certainly a pro with needles by this point.

When I was exactly 35 weeks pregnant I found myself back in the hospital. My blood pressure was high and I got strict orders to stay off my feet. I was distraught thinking I would be stuck in bed for 5 weeks! I was advised to follow-up with my doc in 2 days. Will and I went to our doctors appointment on Thursday, July 21st as a family of two and left as a family of 3! They took me straight over to the hospital and starting inducing labor ASAP. I was scared to death, my baby still had 5 more weeks to cook. They prepared me for the worst and told me no matter what she would have to stay in the NICU because of her gestational age. I was just praying for a healthy baby, but I was mentally prepared for the NICU stay.

12 hours of labor later, I was wheeled into the operating room for an emergency c-section. At 6:50am, I met my daughter for the first time. All 6 lbs and 11oz of her. Unfortunately, meeting her was a blur. I was very nauseous and hazy from the 12 hours prior.

But I will never forget wheeling into the NICU to see my daughter. She was just perfect. So peaceful and content.

Harper and I were released from the hospital three days later and that is where our life begins....

To Be Continued....