A Prequel to a Birth Story

I guess you could say that this whole blog prior to October 26, 2013 could be classified as a prequel to Conor's birth story, but let's pinpoint February 18, 2013.

The whole weekend I had been happy. Not just happy with my life; I felt completely alive and present. Everything seemed to glow. I had only felt this way one time before, and eight months later, our firstborn entered the world.

So. Monday, February 18, was the first day I was allowing myself to start the search for those telling blue lines. It was a cold day, and Chris had taken the car to work. No problem! There is a 7-Eleven a few blocks away. I figured they would at least have some cheap test. I called to make sure, and nope, plenty of slurpees, no sticks for expecting pee. So then I figured the small pharmacy on campus would have some. Nope. Apparently we live in a pregnancy test desert. The closest CVS was a mile and a half away. I used to walk two miles each way in Chicago to get to work so this would be a cinch. I didn't want to wait for Chris to be finished with work and his class. Thanks to the happy feeling, I knew I  was in the family way, but I needed to know.

Ryan and I normally went to the evening Mass at the Basilica on Mondays, which would conveniently end at the same time as Chris' class. The goal was to make it to CVS, buy the test, then try to make it to Mass. Of course, I left later than I should have and then since I didn't want to walk along the main road and chose to walk through campus to get to the shopping area where CVS was, it took quite some time to get there.

Carrying two kids at once

Ryan was a trooper in the Ergo, and we sang Old MacDonald Had a Farm for a large part of the way.

We finally got to CVS and Martin's. I debated whether or not I should go into Martin's to purchase the telling test, but I thought that maybe, just maybe, CVS had Haribo candy, which Chris is quite a fan of. I thought back to the last time I had this debate ... Walgreens or CVS? CVS or Walgreens? I chose wrong with Ryan's test and incorrectly again this time. PSA: CVS does not sell Haribo candy.

But they do have a wide array of pregnancy tests!

I think I purchased the test around fifteen minutes prior to the start of Mass. This is where the pregnancy delusional decisions begin. I was determined to go to the Basilica. I probably (100%) wasn't going to make it to Mass, but wouldn't the Basilica bathroom be the best place to take a pregnancy test?! 

I know.

I'm crazy.

But, I did it.

And so there it was.

I was a mother to two.

The second candle from Ryan on the bottom row was for the baby.

My toddler was now an oldest and not an only. We made our way to the Grotto to pray for that sibling I had prayed and prayed for. It was rainy and dreary. 

But really?

All was bright and cheery. 

And glowing.