All the Way to the Moon... and back

That's how much my four year old loves me. She'll tell me that at night after we've snuggled and I've read her a couple stories and tucked her in. As I tell her I love her and get ready to close the door, that sweet little voice chimes out, "I luff you... all the way to the moon and back." Sometimes she changes it up and says all the way to the sun, or Ziraq (Iraq, where my nephew used to be stationed), or whatever other place she can think of. I sigh, blow her kisses (which she of course catches), and close the door.

My girl. I can't imagine life without her. Even in the moments when she's driving me crazy.

When my hubby and I got married, I was already 29, and that baby itch was coming on pretty strong. So we starting trying for a little one soon after we said "I do." A year later, we were still trying. A few months after our first anniversary, I FINALLY got that little second line on the pregnancy test! We had just moved into our new house and timing couldn't have been better. Until I miscarried. I was almost 12 weeks along when I went to the doctor to hear the heartbeat... and there wasn't one. I was devastated. That was January of 99.

We started trying again soon after and a year later, still no luck. I was doing the temperature taking and charting daily but things just weren't happening. Every month would end the same. And I was beyond frustrated. So I made an appointment to see a specialist. He ran a couple of tests on both my hubby and myself. And found nothing wrong. One of the tests he did though, was our stroke of luck. It was called an hsg. In short, it was an xray test that sent a dye through my tubes to see if there was any blockage. There was none. That was good news. A side effect of having the test is that is cleans out your tubes and lubes them up so to speak. Because of this, fertility is increased for 2-3 months. But that month, June of 2000, I wasn't pregnant.

My husband and I had decided that in August, we were going to do a fertility procedure called an iui, which is where they basically use a catheter to shoot "the boys" up where they need to go. We were all set with my prescription for the meds I'd need to take. Just waiting out our time. Throughout July, I was still temperature charting so I could tell when my new cycle was going to start, as I'd need to make an appt as soon as it did. Well, imagine my surprise when instead of falling my temperature stayed up. (Quick lesson... after you ovulate, your temp rises for several days then falls right before you start). A temp that stays up indicates success! So, I took a pregnancy test... and OH MY, can you believe it?!... got that second line I'd been hoping and praying for!!

I was pregnant again. Finally. After almost three years of trying. Over the course of the next couple days, I took 3 or 4 more tests... just to be sure. And they all came back positive. Since I was seeing a specialist, we had three ultrasounds before I was 10 weeks along. I remember how nervous I was each time, especially the first time. I was only 6 1/2 weeks along so my doctor had to zoom in to even find the heartbeat. But there it was... Strong and steady. I think that is where I first fell in love with her!! Watching that bleep bleep on the little screen was mesmerizing! We waited until I was 10 weeks along to share the news with our family and friends. I told my parents on Grandparents' Day! My mom cried. I think my dad even got a little teary eyed! They knew how long we'd been waiting for this.

My pregnancy went great... no morning sickness, very little nausea.... just a rather easy nine months. Around 20 weeks, we found out we were having a girl! I went pink overboard, as did my family and friends. When my sweetie was born, my hubby and I were the only ones in the delivery room. Well, except for the doc and nurse!

As she was being born, my husband kept saying, "she's got hair!"

"How much hair?" I'd ask.

"I don't know... but she's got hair!"

Turned out she had a headful of gorgeous black hair and was just a cute as a button! How fitting that I had always wanted a baby with a ton of hair. My thinking is that God made us wait so long for our angel, that he figured he might as well give me what I wanted! :)

Five years ago this month, our lives changed. We didn't know it yet but oh how we know it now. That love to the moon and back thing. Yep, that's at least how much I love her.