A Suprise Baby?

Our children's converse shoes plus a new pair for a new baby

In case you haven't heard, we are expecting a new addition here in the Land of Lentz.  We are very excited.  We have shifted in the last few weeks into full pregnancy mode - cravings, exhaustion, nausea, maternity clothes - everything you would expect when you're expecting.

The above picture was taken by Scott on our sidewalk out front.  This was how we announced to the world, via Facebook, that we are expecting again.  It was cute, fun and easy.  A lot easier than tracking down 20 to 30 people and telling them one at a time.  That was great with the first three but we thought this would be quick and easy.  We would let the shocked public spread the word for us!

Of course, we've gotten some great comments.  Most we smile at and just go on.  Scott has his own way of dealing with inappropriate comments that is usually funny but embarrassing to the one bold enough to venture something they think is clever.  Of all the comments, the one I actually had to think about was "is this a "surprise" baby?" 

After contemplating that for a couple of days I came up with the answer - Yes and No.  First, I'll explain the Yes.

Yes, this baby was a surprise, just like the last 3 have been a surprise.  Why? Because we had 8 years of infertility.  We didn't just have a hard time getting pregnant - we had a hard time getting pregnant, staying pregnant, ovulating, everything! Before we had Lyra Kate in our tenth year of marriage, we experienced the following things:

Diagnosis of PCOS and anovulation (meaning I had no eggs to ovulate)
Medication therapy resulting in a pregnancy
Lost pregnancy at 14 weeks due to progesterone underproduction
Several years of anovulation
Many tests to determine exact problems with a fertility clinic
Fertility drugs
Declaration by fertility doctor that in vitro was our best hope, but even then I may not be able to carry a 
   child to term
Found a new doctor and started over with treatments
More drugs - every drug on market for fertility tried over 3 years in varying dosages
IVF injectable drugs used with Artificial Insemination
Artificial Insemination - tried 14 times
Surgery to correct issues - some endometrosis removed, a tilted uterus fixed, a herniated uterus fixed,
    ovarian resectioning
Recovery time from surgery waiting for my body to try to ovulate
More drug therapy
Another miscarriage at only 5 1/2 weeks
Declaration by our doctor that there was nothing else he could do for us so he was recommending in vitro
Consultation with in vitro doctors who declared we were good candidates

And then what happened, we got pregnant with Lyra Kate.  I took hormone therapy until my 16th week to stay pregnant with her.  We were actually waiting on my cycle to go start our first round of in vitro when we discovered we were expecting - surprise!

After she came, we were told the worst thing that I could do for my body was to introduce any type of synthetic hormone (birth control) to my system.  We decided to forgot birth control.  I mean we hadn't used any birth control for 10 years and we only had one child!  What were the chances....

We then found out we were expecting Lila Grace.  Surprise!  We were ecstatic!!  We just "got pregnant"!  No trying. No waiting.  I still took hormone therapy for 12 weeks to stay pregnant.

After Lila Grace's birth we thought long and hard about birth control.  We decided to forgo using any form of birth control and just see what happened.  Shortly after Lila's first birthday, we found out we were expecting Tucker.  Surprise!  We were thrilled. 

After Tucker's birth, our birth control decision remained the same.  We spent so much time worrying about getting pregnant for so many years that we just were not going to worry about it and let God send us the children that he wanted us to have.  I know, we crossed into crazy land on that one. 

And that leads us to now, expecting number 4.  When this one arrives, and it is only one, we will have a 4 year old, a 3 year old, a just turned 2 year old, and a newborn.  The girls will soon have birthdays and be 5 and 4, but we will still have four under five years old.

So, yes this child is a surprise.  Why?  Because I still have PCOS and can stop ovulating at any time. Because this child was unplanned.  Because, we lived a lot of years thinking and being told that this dream of having children would never happen for us. 

Now, let me explain the NO....

No, this child is not a surprise.  Why?  Because of what happened when we were waiting to start in vitro.  I was devastated.  I did not want to go through in vitro.  I was tired.  We were broke.  I didn't think I had the resolve left to walk through that.  So I had a moment, a conversation with God.  A conversation very similar to the one Christ had in the garden.  I asked God if there was any way for me to avoid this.  If he would just provide a different way.  Well, he did.  Without even trying, we got pregnant.  I knew the moment the test read positive that this pregnancy would end with a baby.  We had done all we could do.  Medicine had fixed what they could and then God stepped in an provided. 

After Tucker was born, we had a lot of sleep issues with him.  I don't think I got a regular night sleep for the better part of a year.  I was so exhausted.  I also had a c-section with him and  hiatal hernia surgery when he was 3 months old.  I was told by my doctors it would be best if I waited a year before getting pregnant. Well, I just trusted that if we were going to have another baby, God's timing would again be right.  What do you know, it's been 13 months since my hernia surgery.

So I guess that's why this baby is and is not a surprise.  He or she is a surprise because I am still amazed that we have 3 children and are expecting a 4th after all we went through.  And that he or she is not a surprise because God is still in the business of miracles if we only chose to see them.

A visit to Nanney's

Tucker was fascinated with the tractor

The first weekend of June, while my Mom & sister Kendall were visiting, we headed down to visit my grandmother (Nanney) on Sunday night.  We ate a huge supper around 4 pm and decided to make the 45 minute drive south to visit.

Gracie viewing the chickens

My grandmother and two uncles live on a little farm.  Well, by most peoples standards they live on a farm.  They grow a lot of their own veggies that they preserve, raise chickens for eggs, raise pigs for meat, raise goats and rabbits, and even raise an occasional steer for beef. 

Lyra Kate checking out the bunny

The little Lentzes loved the farm.  Grace wanted to dig in my uncle's garden dirt, which was beautifully dark and loose. Lyra Kate loved the little baby bunny - I mean who wouldn't, he's white and fluffy and can fit in your pocket!  And Tucker was all about the tractor.  Yep. He liked the big wheels of the tractor - boys.

Feeding time

I loved taking the kids down there to see all of it.  Both sides of my family had lots of gardens and kept animals as long as I can remember. My paternal grandparents, the Tuckers, had pigs and chickens too.  We always had fresh eggs, home canned tomatoes, and peas from the garden.

Lyra Kate and Uncle Joe walking past the tomato plants

I must admit, a part of my heart still longs to live that way.  To see my pantry filled with jar upon jar of veggies that I grew and preserved.  To go out each day and gather eggs, a chore of mine when I was small and visited my grandparents.  (Yes, I just realized I used the words chore and grandparents in the same sentence.  Boy has things changed).  I love the smell of the garden in the early morning, dirt and dew as the sun comes up. (We always worked the garden at first light or last light to avoid the heat).  Shelling peas all day long under the airconditioning and in front of some rented movies (usually Star Wars or Back to the Future).  Eating fresh fried green tomatoes dredged in our own grown cornmeal.  Yummy.  Ahhh...I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. 

My sweet Nanney and her great-grand Allie

Unfortunately, I live in a suburb on a third of an acre where we can't even put a shed in our yard without it matching the exterior of our home.  I bet if we got some yard chickens the neighbors would never speak to us again! I am also married to a man who has so many wonderful qualities but working in the dirt ain't one of them!  So, for now, I will have to just visit our last farm in the family and show my littles what it was like to grow up like Mommy did (boy, do I sound old)!  At least I can come home with a few fresh eggs, a bit of home smoked bacon, and a bag full of fresh veggies for supper.  Oh, and the best part of the visit - hugs and kisses from my Nanney!

Tucker playing on the tractor stool

Family Fun Friday

We've had such a busy spring and now we are off to a busy summer.  The first two weeks of June, Lyra Kate took her first sports lessons.  We started with a two week Tennis Camp.  I know, tennis isn't where most 4 year olds start learning sports, but have you met our redheaded 4-year old?  She is just not your t-ball kinda girl.

Lyra Kate, standing on her circle, listening for instruction Lyra Kate, standing on her circle, listening for instruction

We were only supposed to have lessons Monday through Thursday, but the first day of lessons was canceled due to thunderstorms and we had to make up a lesson on Friday.  So, the hubby and I decided to make a day of it.  We got everyone up and ready to go, drove 22 minutes to the courts, got there just in time for the 8 a.m. lesson, and watched the hour long lesson complete with a popsicle break.

Popsicle time - look who jumped in line for her a treat too!



We then left the craziness of tennis and went to Connie’s for breakfast.  Ahhh, Connie’s.  How I miss living near Connie’s.  If you don't know what I'm talking about, Connie’s is this great little Chicken place that is locally owned.  It is across from the hospital (in town) and has the best ever chicken biscuits for breakfast.  They also have the best blueberry doughnuts, the best onion rings, and the best chicken strips.  When we lived in town, Connie’s was a once a week thing - before children.  Now we have to make an outing just to go have Connie’s. 



Tucker eating off the ground, his favorite way to eat anything Tucker eating off the ground, his favorite way to eat anything

After breakfast, we ran by Fred's for sunscreen since I forgot it, and went to the Splash Pad at Veterans Park.  Oh my, what fun we had. 

Lyra Kate enjoying the water

Lyra Kate jumped right in the water and had a great time.  So did Tucker.  It was his first trip to the Splash Pad and he loved it.  He squealed and giggled and ran, ran, ran!

Ain't he stylish

Unfortunately, Lila Grace decided that the Splash Pad was not for her.  I was a bit confused since she loves the sprinkler, but she panicked and spent the hour hiding from the thing. 



Lila Grace's only run through the water

 Our strategy was to get there right at 10 a.m. to avoid the crowds.  It worked until around 11 when the second daycare van arrived.  Needless to say, it was time to go.

Lyra Kate under the flower sprinkler

We packed up to head home.  Of course, my hubby ran into someone he knew and spent 5 minutes catching up.  Meanwhile, I was attempting to change 3 kids, 2 in diapers for the the 20 minute drive home.  We managed to get it all together and headed home for lunch.

He was just fascinated by the water

 

We need more days like this, especially when they include long afternoon naps for the littles and for Mommy and Daddy.