Chirky: Spelling It Out

When Roger and I miscarried last fall, it was the single most grievous experience of my life. I’ve never cried like that – it was wailing, really, and gnashing of teeth – and I’ve never really understood that level of sorrow, that depth of mourning until October 6, 2008. But I learned a lot, too.

I learned about myself, and my own capacity for feeling, for loving, for trusting. I learned about Roger and his quiet strength, drawing comfort from his protective arms wrapped around me in a way that I had and had never known before. I learned about us as a couple, and who we would become as parents. I learned about the character of our friends, and it changed my own character, the way that I respond now when friends or family members share with me when they have miscarried.

When we were pregnant last fall, we all but screamed it from the rooftops, sharing our good news with nearly everyone we knew before we had even had our first sonogram.

This spring, though, we have waited. And over the last two weeks, we’ve begun telling our family and our friends that, once again, we have exciting news to share.

And then our family and friends had to unscramble the letters

We’ve seen our child three times now: first as a little blobby lima bean, heartbeat sounding off loudly. The second time, our baby was proving that it likes to dance as much as mama, with its arms and legs performing the most perfect version of the Running Man that I've seen in a while. (Well, for a 10-week-old fetus, I mean.) And the third time, it was sleeping peacefully with a steady 138 bpm.

Later this month, we’ll find out the baby’s gender. I think it’s a boy, and Roger has a feeling that we’re having a girl. Either way, one of us is bound to be right - and we couldn't be more ecstatic!

Comments

Congrats!! And may you be blessed with a healthy, happy baby!!!

Posted by: Roz | April 8, 2009 06:04 PM

Delurking to say "congrats" - such exciting news. I'm glad all is going well this time.

PS - I'm a fellow Dallas-ite and was very tempted to take you up on your free cake off the other day :)

Posted by: Jessica Karlinski | April 8, 2009 06:43 PM

I am so excited for you guys. Congrats.

Posted by: Brandy | April 8, 2009 07:56 PM

Jessica and Roger, Thanks for keeping us in the loop. We are so very excited about your great news. NEAT.

I'm so sorry that you had to go thru the suffering last fall with your miscarrage. What a rough time. I'm reading Paul's letter to his friends the Philippianes and he talks about his suffering there, but how it brought him closer to understanding Christ.

Anyway, a big hug from all of us. Love,
ABC&D

Posted by: Brigitte, Craig, Addie & Diego | April 8, 2009 08:17 PM

Congratulations Jessica and Roger. I am thrilled to hear the good news and celebrate
in my heart with you both. You will be wonderful parents! Blessings.

Posted by: Kim | April 8, 2009 08:35 PM

Congratulations!! I'm so happy for all three of you. When I was carrying M, I was convinced he was a girl. My "mother's instinct" just knew it. I even corrected the sonogram tech and made him double check his results!

Posted by: Lulabelle | April 8, 2009 10:03 PM

What a unique and wonderful way to announce the coming of your new little blessing. I am so thrilled for you and Roger and for your little one who gets to have you as parents. Thanks for keeping me in the loop. I feel honored to have gotten to share in both the sorrow of last fall and now the joy and hope of this spring. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.

Posted by: Mary | April 8, 2009 10:41 PM

Jessica!! I cried reading your delivery for this. I am soo happy for you both. Here's to a happy and healthy near 7 mths!! (30 or less weeks to go!)

Posted by: Michelle | April 9, 2009 07:51 AM

Congratulations to all of you! :) I'm so happy for you and can't wait to find out if it is a boy or a girl.

Posted by: Melissa | April 9, 2009 08:40 AM

Oh HURRAY! Jes, so happy for you!

Posted by: Skye | April 10, 2009 11:14 AM

Congratulations! I have a 2 week old baby girl and it's awesome being a new mom!!

Posted by: Julie | April 10, 2009 06:40 PM

Congrats!! I'm sure everything will go well this time.

Posted by: Jorge | April 13, 2009 06:40 PM

I am so happy for you! Wonderful news!