The Announcement Since this is my first column, I'll start with introducing my family to you. I am Karen, married to Sander and we are the parents of five kids. Cees (pronounced as Case) is 8yo, Tim is 6yo, Tara is 3yo, Jane is 2yo, and Kate is 1yo. Yes, we have our hands full, but we love it! We are originally from the Netherlands, but are living in New Hampshire now and thoroughly enjoying it. We do not plan on going back to the Netherlands, we finally got our green card. Actually, three of our kids are Americans! We home school and home birth, last time we even had the older kids at the birth for the first time! If you want to read more about us, visit our home page! This column will tell the story of my pregnancy, it will be a weekly journal. Now for the column! We had been loosely trying for our next kid for a few months. More like not using protection, than actively trying. I did keep track of my cycles, so I would know whether things were happening or not. I actually got pregnant once, but suffered a very early miscarriage. Last week, I noticed that my temps went up more than I expected (I use Basal Body Temps for birth control/achievement) and I hoped for a pregnancy. Even although it was still two days before my period was due, I decided to take a test, since I still had a two pack left from last month (when I suffered the miscarriage). I sneaked downstairs before my husband got up (easy, he is not good at getting up at all :-) Got out the test, went to the bath room, peeled the wrapper off and peed on it, with almost shaking hands. Got the usual mess, somehow holding something in your pee stream is not good for toilet cleanliness! :-) Still, I didn't really care at that point, it wasn't much worse than the mess my boys seem to make whenever they pee. I was more focused on the test. Would it be positive? Would it just stay WHITE? I saw the color starting to creep past the window.... Took a few deep breaths, moved myself and the test to the kitchen and laid it down on the counter. Started some tea and tried not to look at it... I figured I could use a nice cup of tea if it was a negative, to deal with the disappointment. Two minutes seemed like an eternity! I started the kids breakfast and then decided to finally look. Was there a second line? The control line was very easy to see, it was harder to make out whether there was a pregnancy line or not. I picked it up to hold it closer and to get more light on it. Yes, there definitely was a line, but it was very, very faint! Still, even a faint line is considered positive, so I was slightly optimistic. Put the test away, since I didn't want to tell hubby yet, till I was more sure. So two days later, repeat the whole ritual! Including the mess! This time it was the day my period was due and the test was positive faster and the line was less faint! Still lighter than the control line, but much clearer, so I was convinced I truly was going to have a baby! What a joyful moment! How to tell hubby? I wanted to tell it him in a special way, but it took me a while to find the perfect one. With my fifth one, I had announced it by tracing my hand on a piece of paper, cutting it out, putting all the names and birth dates of each kid on the fingers, and the due date of the fifth one on the pinky. I wrote 'A hand full' in the middle of the hand and then put it as a bookmark in a book I gave him as a present. I wanted to find another original way, just like that! Then I got it! He is a long time Lego addict and is always happy to receive a new Lego set. So I took my toddler out at night, telling my hubby I wanted to pick up something for a friend who came to visit and we hit the toy store. Couldn't take one of the older kids, because they would immediately have told daddy about the exciting new box of Lego! We found the perfect set. Not too small, not too big, and a castle one, which is one of his favorite series. I actually found a nice Star Wars too, but let the toddler choose, since the new baby was too small to have any way to let me know which one she would prefer to give to daddy :-) So Saturday night I got everything ready. Got the most clear positive test, opened the box a tiny bit and let it slide in. Then I got some glue and got it put together again. The tampering was not evident at all. Wrapped it and waited for the right time to give it. Later that night, after finishing most of our household chores, there was a good opportunity. I gave him the package, telling him I got something for him. He was very happy seeing a new box of lego. Little did he know! He didn't start building until later, I had a hard time keeping my mouth shut and not telling him to open it NOW! But I was able to keep my secret for a little longer, but was sure to be close to him when he opened the box! He shook the box to get out the lego and looked surprised when the test fell out too! It took him only a few seconds to realize what this meant! He was mostly in mild shock, he always needs some time to adjust to the reality of a pregnancy, but he built his lego anyway! It was fun doing the announcement this way! Have been announcing it to my different email lists too, it is fun to get all the congrats. I still feel fine, but based on my earlier pregnancies, nausea should hit soon! My knees are killing me though, have had knee problems for the last few years and pregnancy hormones seem to aggravate them! Oh well, it is all more than worth it! Page design by mabear | Send email to Karen | Page last updated: Dec 29, 2001