So there have been some really neat things that have happened these past few months in the midst of some really hard things.
You know when things you totally were not planning happen?
This was one of those unplanned things:
It happened when we did not expect it and yet the Lord has used this little life to bless us so richly already!
As many of you know Jason's Grandmother had been living with us and we had told her that we were waiting for years for more babies etc.
So when this surprise came along we sat down one night for dinner and Jason started the conversation with- "So Gram you know how we talked about how sometimes things happen and there is nothing we can really do anything about it?"
At that point she looked at me and said: "It better not have already happened!" LOL!
Yeah about that Gram...I was six weeks at that point and once the shock wore off and we assured her we were not going to be kicking her out once the baby arrived she started to get really excited!
We had decided on names already. William Nathaniel for a boy. Claire Elizabeth for a girl.
But then as we were eating we were sharing with her that, while we have a good friend named Claire, we weren't sure if we should keep that name but we really loved it.
That is when she came up with the name Clara Beth and we fell in love with it.
But we knew it was going to be a boy.
A few weeks later Gram very unexpectedly ended up in the hospital.
For a week and a half we were sure that she was going to be coming home then one Saturday we realized one Saturday-she was not going to make it.
She died the next Monday.
I had the privilege to be with her when she passed and shared some really precious moments with her in the days right before she passed.
One of the amazing things was that in my whole life I had only met one Claire.
In the three days I was with Gram in the hospital we started meeting Claire's everywhere it seemed!
One of Gram's nurses names was Claire.
The hospice lady who was hugging me by Gram's bedside as she took her last breath was named Claire.
Then, after she had passed away and we had said our goodbyes, we went to go home and as we walked through the lobby the grand piano was playing a song-the song was "Clair De Lune".
My mother-in-law and I were floored! I did not believe that these events were a coincidence and I just "knew" that Gram was going to get her little girl even though she was in heaven.
So I went home and we waited.
Finally we had out 20 week ultrasound scheduled and then I began to have some issues with my thyroid so I ended up having to go to some specialists.
You know when things you totally were not planning happen?
This was one of those unplanned things:
It happened when we did not expect it and yet the Lord has used this little life to bless us so richly already!
As many of you know Jason's Grandmother had been living with us and we had told her that we were waiting for years for more babies etc.
So when this surprise came along we sat down one night for dinner and Jason started the conversation with- "So Gram you know how we talked about how sometimes things happen and there is nothing we can really do anything about it?"
At that point she looked at me and said: "It better not have already happened!" LOL!
Yeah about that Gram...I was six weeks at that point and once the shock wore off and we assured her we were not going to be kicking her out once the baby arrived she started to get really excited!
We had decided on names already. William Nathaniel for a boy. Claire Elizabeth for a girl.
But then as we were eating we were sharing with her that, while we have a good friend named Claire, we weren't sure if we should keep that name but we really loved it.
That is when she came up with the name Clara Beth and we fell in love with it.
But we knew it was going to be a boy.
A few weeks later Gram very unexpectedly ended up in the hospital.
For a week and a half we were sure that she was going to be coming home then one Saturday we realized one Saturday-she was not going to make it.
She died the next Monday.
I had the privilege to be with her when she passed and shared some really precious moments with her in the days right before she passed.
One of the amazing things was that in my whole life I had only met one Claire.
In the three days I was with Gram in the hospital we started meeting Claire's everywhere it seemed!
One of Gram's nurses names was Claire.
The hospice lady who was hugging me by Gram's bedside as she took her last breath was named Claire.
Then, after she had passed away and we had said our goodbyes, we went to go home and as we walked through the lobby the grand piano was playing a song-the song was "Clair De Lune".
My mother-in-law and I were floored! I did not believe that these events were a coincidence and I just "knew" that Gram was going to get her little girl even though she was in heaven.
So I went home and we waited.
 |
| 16 1/2 weeks |
My mother-in-law came to the first doctors visit and when they went to take me back for the ultrasound she came along. We got back to the room and SURPRISE-the ultrasound was not on my thyroid like I thought it would be-it was for the baby.
It took some time but eventually the lady turned to me and said: "It's a....GIRL!!!"
We cried.
It was so special just because of what we had been through together during Gram's sickness and passing as well knowing Gram had been so excited for a baby and hoping it was a girl.
Clara Beth Hollands.
Every time I say her name I think of Gram and smile.
Right before she died I had leaned over and told her about my first ultrasound and how I just knew we were going to get our girl-and Gram smiled.
What a precious memory and it just made this surprise of finding out that it was a girl so much more special!
So I went home and since Jason was working late that night decided to let him figure it out for himself.
I got some adorable GIRLY outfits and made a trail to this:
Melt my heart.
He was so excited and it was so fun to be able to surprise him :)
Currently I am 24 1/2 weeks along and we are due March 9, 2016! There will be 27 months between Micah and Clara which I am super excited about (since the other two were 19 months apart it seems SO much bigger of a gap)! :)
So do you have stories of being surprised with a baby? I would love to hear about them!
Do you like to find out the gender of your babies or do you prefer to be surprised?
I found out with all three babies and, while we have thought about waiting and being surprised, it lasted about two minutes lol! :) I enjoy knowing so we can name the baby and get all the stuff for him/her. Who knows though? Since now we have boys and a girl-maybe we will be surprised next time ;)
It was so special just because of what we had been through together during Gram's sickness and passing as well knowing Gram had been so excited for a baby and hoping it was a girl.
Clara Beth Hollands.
Every time I say her name I think of Gram and smile.
Right before she died I had leaned over and told her about my first ultrasound and how I just knew we were going to get our girl-and Gram smiled.
What a precious memory and it just made this surprise of finding out that it was a girl so much more special!
So I went home and since Jason was working late that night decided to let him figure it out for himself.
I got some adorable GIRLY outfits and made a trail to this:
Melt my heart.
He was so excited and it was so fun to be able to surprise him :)
Currently I am 24 1/2 weeks along and we are due March 9, 2016! There will be 27 months between Micah and Clara which I am super excited about (since the other two were 19 months apart it seems SO much bigger of a gap)! :)
Do you like to find out the gender of your babies or do you prefer to be surprised?
I found out with all three babies and, while we have thought about waiting and being surprised, it lasted about two minutes lol! :) I enjoy knowing so we can name the baby and get all the stuff for him/her. Who knows though? Since now we have boys and a girl-maybe we will be surprised next time ;)
