Friday, February 26, 2010

A West Side Baby



The last 3 1/2 years can be summed up like this:

We're most definitely done having children.
Well maybe not definitely.
Let's just pray about it for awhile.
Let's go ahead and give it to the Lord and see if we get pregnant.
Not pregnant, not pregnant, not pregnant...
Let's stop trying for awhile. We have peace we tried and his answer was no.
We're done. Yep done.
uh, babe, we're pregnant.

It was quite the surprise for the both of us. Maybe more so for Chris. I had five days to wonder but I didn't bring him in on my wondering. It's taken 4 pregnancies to learn that my husband prefers to be brought in on the wondering. Rather then my, "Surprise".

The week itself was crazy. It started off with a bad case of the stomach flu. I was in bed Monday & Tuesday. And yes it really was the stomach flu and not the pregnancy. We went to a block party and a little kid there had it the night before and consequently almost everyone on the block got some form of it. Wednesday, I get a call from my mom who left her scheduled heart dr. appointment. She called with some less then great news. Her Doctor was talking seriously about open heart surgery. Something that has kind of loomed in her future for quite some time now. But this time in addition to her three vales needing replaced, her aorta was enlarged too. More tests needed to be done to confirm. So I prayed, cried, begged with God for his will for her life to be done. And that at the end of the day that his will would be for her to be healed and live. Then, what served as a beautiful distraction from it all, I was throwing a large bridal shower for my friend Luz. In the back of my mind I knew I was late. Each passing day had me wondering. But I'd been late before and I knew that there was no reason why I would be pregnant. We weren't trying. On a whim I bought a test. I took it in the afternoon, walked away and fully expected to come back and confirm that I was indeed not pregnant. I was wrong. There were two lines, clear as day. Looking back I think I would've been better served to have waited till after the weekend was over. After I had a chance to recover a little more from the flu and catch up on life. After I knew that the next test would reveal my mom's aorta isn't in as bad shape as they originally thought and they would wait another year before discussing surgery again. There probably would've been less tears.

All of that being said, we are truly excited to have another child! What the pregnancy has revealed more then anything these past couple of weeks is my selfishness. Upon the confirmed test I was quickly aware of how life would change and how easy life had become having children who sleep through the night, dress themselves and wipe themselves :) I use the word easy loosely. There's nothing easy about staying home with three kids AND homeschooling. But having done it before I also know how fast babies grow. I am purposing myself to treasure each and every moment. Every kick, hiccup, the delivery, first smile, laugh and all the things that are gone before you know it. In a blink of an eye this child will join the older three in doing big kid things! Of course this nausea and tiredness could go away just a tad bit faster...

It's strange to think that this child might grow up only knowing this house and this side of Phoenix. Of course we will quickly introduce him or her to all of our friends and special places we love on the east side but this child will forever be our west side baby.

19 comments:

Stephanie said...

Oh wow! Thought the headline referred to someone else - what a surprise! Congrats!!

PS Happy to hear about your mom's good news, too!

Hudson508hawk said...

OH!!! Congratulations, Tara (and Chris and kiddos and extended family and really all of us because we all get the benefit of another precious Daukas child in the world, whom will be just as precious as the first three! ;))!!!
I've been surprised by number 4, so I know the range of emotions, but I know that you will be an amazing mom of 4! :) Welcome to the club! :D
~Jenna

Brandy said...

This was such a sweet little post. I will pray for you to feel good through this pregnancy and for your kiddos to support you through it. Can't wait to meet Daukas grandbaby #10!!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations!!!!!! I love the way you did the photo op to announce it! I definitely understand your feelings. Life had gotten "easier" for me and part of me dreads going back to the newborn stage. I'm not naturally maternal and don't particularly enjoy the first year. So I get what you're saying!

BUT it is exciting how everything worked out for you guys! God's timing always is perfect! I bet the kids are excited!

Ruth J Leamy said...

Congrats! I have three who dress themselves and I am loving this "easier" stage of life, but oh, another baby would be fun!

Briana Almengor said...

Congratulations, Tara and Daukus family! I love the pictoral announcement at the heading of your post. And, I appreciate how you wrote it's "easy" now with; your three, qualifying that "easy" is used loosely. I would concur with that b/c really, does raising children ever get "easy"? I haven't found it to be so yet.
I hope your morning sickness passes quickly and that you are able to enjoy this pregnancy & the anticipation of adding another life to your clan!

Briana Almengor said...

Congratulations, Tara and Daukus family! I love the pictoral announcement at the heading of your post. And, I appreciate how you wrote it's "easy" now with; your three, qualifying that "easy" is used loosely. I would concur with that b/c really, does raising children ever get "easy"? I haven't found it to be so yet.
I hope your morning sickness passes quickly and that you are able to enjoy this pregnancy & the anticipation of adding another life to your clan!

"Summershine" said...

Congratulations!! He or she will be so blessed to be a part of your beautiful family!!!
P.S. - Malia and Loegan want to tell Taylor that they miss her and the rest of the family!! : )

Rebekah said...

WOO HOO! We think you guys have the greatest kids, and we are so excited to see "who" this little one is going to be! I know there are LOTS of emotions that come when you see that second line ... believe me, I went through them all ... but it's so wonderful to know that God has a very perfect plan for this child, and for your family. I hope you are feeling well and pray that these next months go by SO smoothly for you.

Unknown said...

CONGRATTTTTTTTSSS!!!! =D y'all are so blessed beyond belief. we miss you here in gilbert. keep on being lights for Jesus. <3

Luz said...

This makes me smile so big. :) Can't wait to see you all cute and preggo at the wedding!

ginny said...

awesome!! congratulations :) we are there with you on the whole #4 thing...it is daunting to imagine life with 4 children, but i am hoping it doesn't go by so fast i miss out on all the good stuff. will be praying for a smooth 1st trimester as well as throughout the pregnancy. thanks for sharing so early :)

Amy said...

Great post, Tara! And CONGRATS on baby! I can't tell you how ironic this post is for me this week as we discuss all of the same things you and Chris did BEFORE conception. Praise God for his perfect ways! :)

Laurie said...

Yay! Congratulations. Can't wait to watch from a distance again, cyber friend.

Spirit of Adoption said...

Congratulations!!!!!!! : ) I love the way you shared w/ pics - super cute!!!!

Saying a prayer for you mom right now!

megan haughery said...

congratulations! praying for strength and grace for you in these first months of sickness...

Tiffany said...

so thrilled for you! :)

Bethany said...

So exciting. Congrats. I think I told you that on fb but I never can remember because I nurse and surf and can't always comment on what I want to haha. Ps I adore your pic announcement if we decide to go for 5 I might have to copy....it's just so cute and clever.

Tara said...

Thanks Bethany! Only if you copy it'll look 10x cooler & better... can't wait to see it one day :)