A Book Is Coming!!!
In just a few weeks, we will have a book available. We are so excited!
I just wanted to share a short excerpt from the book. This is a section from Chapter 3, entitled: “Then Comes a Baby in a Baby Carriage”:
It is a gorgeous day in Orange Beach, Alabama as we spend time with our closest friends and family on our church family beach trip. Enjoying the sun, getting “sand massages” from our friend’s kids, and chatting with some of the best friends in the world- it is a wonderful day. As I enjoy everything about this day, I hear that one of my dear friends is pregnant! I haven’t heard yet, because the pregnancy is apparently unplanned and she is still processing it all. Not quite in the excited phase yet, more like the “everything is about to change” phase.
As I see her walking on the beach, I jump up from my chair to congratulate her. I run up to her and give her a huge sweaty, sandy hug! I am truly ecstatic for her, but it is the first time I feel a longing for me to have a baby growing inside of me. For so long, we were waiting because of finances, or not knowing if it were God’s timing, or just enjoying being married, but for the first time, I desire a baby. This is it. I desire a family. I felt God give me peace.
This can’t be happening. It won’t happen like this, right? I thought God would speak to me in our quiet time together, or in church, but out here on the beach in the midst of so many distractions? But, yep, that’s when I know, without a doubt- it is time.
As we drive home from that beach trip, my husband and I have a discussion around attempting pregnancy, and we realize that we are both ready. He hasn’t felt confirmation from God yet (surprise, surprise), so we decide to take a week and pray about it and see how he feels after a week. I pray desperately for God to show us what to do. It is after this week, that Josh joins me in confirmation! So, we begin trying for a baby in August 2011.
Here’s another excerpt from that same chapter:
Tears, seriously tears? I know every website says that sometimes it takes a while to get pregnant, but of course I still think it will happen quickly. It has been two months since we started trying, and my “planning” self has already planned everything out. In my mind we would have gotten pregnant in September and have the baby in June. We are building our new house, and we won’t even have to re-paint a baby room! We can just do it from the start. Doesn’t that sound perfect? But it isn’t happening that way. I try to remain positive.
I think every little symptom is a sign of pregnancy. From all the baby websites, I read that one of the first signs of pregnancy is that your breasts are sore. I am in the shower one night, convincing myself that they were sore, and I feel a really small knot. I think it is nothing, but once I get out of the shower, I have my husband feel it. He agrees with me that it was nothing. Whew, that would put a kink in the pregnancy plans!
A few more days go by, and we decide it will be a good idea to have it checked out. After all, I had family members who had lumps removed that were totally nothing. I have surgery to remove the lump on Friday, October 14, 2011, and the doctor calms our fears- everything looked completely benign in surgery. We are relieved and ready to continue the journey of starting a family. That Sunday after church we discuss how much our lives would have changed had it been cancer. It really put things in perspective, and we are thankful to know it is nothing. Back on to baby-making!
That following Monday on October 17, 2011 at around 5:00 I receive a call from our doctor’s office. He says, “We are in complete shock, but we got the results from your biopsy. You have breast cancer.” As I fall to the floor and see the devastation in Josh’s eyes, the world stops. It literally stops. What about first comes love, then comes marriage, and then a baby in a baby carriage? What about my hopes and dreams? What about my husband’s hopes and dreams? Were they all dying on account of me? It is after this call, after our world stopped, that our vows are put to the ultimate test.
Even reading this back sends chills down my spine- from possible pregnancy to breast cancer? From a new life to possibly a lost life? It still is hard to comprehend. I write lots more about what was going on within me during this devastating time much more in the book.
Okay, one last short excerpt to share from our IVF journey. This is from Chapter 7: “What About Making the Barren Woman a Mother?”
It is August 18, 2014 and I cannot do anything today. Today is the day we find out if we are pregnant. Scratch that. We find out we ARE pregnant. We just believe it. We have had so many praying for us. So many believing with us. This is just going to be another miracle in our life. I just know it. I can feel it and I trust it.
I can’t do anything today. How am I supposed to be productive when I am waiting on a call of the results of my pregnancy test?! Everyone is posting ALS Ice Bucket Challenge videos on social media, and I watch them all day to try and get my mind off of the call that could come at any minute. I have the video camera set up to be ready at anytime to catch mine and Josh’s ecstatic reactions. Phone rings, heart drops– oh, it’s my mom.:) Breathe, Aly, breathe.
Back to waiting on the call. I see it is a Jackson, MS. number. I grab Josh, put the video camera on “record” and answer the call that will change our lives forever. “Hello” I say expecting to hear my nurse’s happy, sweet voice saying,“Congratulations!” Instead I hear the voice of my doctor. Bad sign #1. He regretfully says, “I’m so sorry. You’re not pregnant.”
This particular day in time was especially difficult as I just couldn’t understand. I did a lot of questioning of God as I just knew we would get pregnant. I can’t wait for you to read more of what God taught me through all this “confusion” and how he totally changed my perspective.
As time goes on, I will post more and more excerpts. It’s amazing to see your story in type. I can’t wait to see the HOPE it will bring to those struggling with fear, a cancer diagnosis, an illness, infertility, going through the adoption process—SO EXCITING!
Be On The Lookout!!!
We have future books in the works, but for our first book, it will be a short, easy read telling a little bit about our cancer journey, and even more about our infertility journey and decision to adoption.
We will have this book in print form, as well as e-book form for others that prefer to read on their kindle/phone/iPad/tablet/computer.
Can’t wait till it is available to you all. STAY TUNED! All glory to God!!!
I love y’all and your continued support and love for Josh and me—and our growing family,
Aly
2 Comments
This is exciting! So pumped for you guys
I’m excited to read it and praying for God’s peace, guidance & favor for both of you!