The Intro.

I'm Annette. A follower of Jesus Christ, a believer of the Bible, a wife for 23 years, and the mom of 5 kids, ages 20, 17, almost 14, almost 12, and 7. I'm 48 years old. And SURPRISE! pregnant with baby #6. I was gonna say, "How did this happen?" But that's a little silly. Hey! I took biology in college. Even managed to get an A. It's just that I wasn't exactly PLANNING for this to happen. I mean I will be 49 in November, and 49 year old women don't exactly go around shooting out babies. I just found out yesterday via home pregnancy test but because the line was SOOOOO light, I decided to go to the clinic today to get it confirmed. Guess it doesn't matter how light that second line is. If it's there, BINGO! So hubby and I are still in a somewhat surprised state. OK shocked out of our socks is more accurate. All 5 of our kids are happy about it, which surprised me, esp my 20 and 17 year old sons. Though we are a little caught off guard, Hubby, Jim, and I are happy. We LOVE kids, esp little ones. And I am a self proclaimed baby fanatic. Babies are my passion. Well, one of them anyway. I'm a little ADHD so I like lots of different things.

We've told a few people already, and I put a somewhat coded message on my fb status. Genesis 18:12. So not everyone will figure it out. Only those who are either very familiar with scripture &/or bother to look it up. And then they will have to put it together that my status is the same as Sarah's. She laughed to hear she could become pregnant at her age. And guess what! I laughed too. God must have a sense of humor. I know a lot of people keep their pregnancies secret until the first trimester passes in case of miscarriage. Well, that's never been us. I guess the thought is that you don't want people to know you're pregnant in case you miscarry, but honestly, if I were to go through that, I would want people to know, so I could experience their support, care, and prayers. I don't see any reason to have to hide my pregnancy. It's nothing shameful or wrong. I'm a married woman experiencing one of God's blessings. I   know it goes somewhat against our cultural norms to have a large family as well as to have a baby when you will be pushing 50. I know there are risks. But hey, life is full of risks. It's a risk to cross the street. You might get hit by a bus. It's a risk to go to a convenience store cuz there might be a robbery, and no, I'm NOT talking about what they charge for toilet paper and soap. And it's definitely a risk to drive or ride in a car with so many clueless inattentive drivers on the road. Yet, people do these things without a second thought.

Yet even among the few people we've told, there have been mixed reactions. It's interesting to note that not everyone has said congratulations, even though they are well aware that we are happy. I know they don't see it in the same light we do, esp cuz I haven't had exactly a calm obstetrical history. But history does NOT always repeat itself, and even though all my previous pregnancies have been high risk, everything turned out fine. I refuse to let fear, esp that which belongs to other people, stand in the way of God's calling and blessing in my life, which is to be a mom to many. I know there are some friends and family who will think Jim and I are foolish, but I would rather obey God than try to please others. We all have different callings. Some are called to be missionaries in dangerous places, and I'm sure they have loved ones who think they are idiots for going there, but if you ignore your calling, then how do you fulfill your purpose? But I guess I just have to develop a thick skin toward negative reactions from others. They aren't me. Their feelings belong to them. It's just a little hard right now cuz being pregnant also means i'm more emotionally sensitive than usual, so I feel their critical thoughts even though no one has been rude or ugly. I can pick up the undertones so easily now. But I can't let myself stay focused on those thoughts. They get to live their lives, and I get to live mine, and it's OK if those choices and journeys are radically different from one another. It's even Ok if they think Jim and I are crazy. And hey, in all fairness I never did claim to be normal exactly. Or follow the crowd. In the words of Thoreau, or maybe it was Emerson, they were buddies you know, but I digress. Sorry ADHD moment. Anyway, my pace does not always keep up with my companions, but I step to the music which I hear, however measured or far away. The music I hear is the direction of the Holy Spirit, checked with the Word of God and submission to my husband according to that same Word. That's another hot topic that sticks in the craw of those who don't believe the Bible to be God's authoritative Word, but I'm so not gonna go on a trip into debate world on this. Not cuz I'm chicken or anything. Just that it's not the focus here. Besides, I'm not into debating. Sharing, listening, being respectful to one another, and doing all this with a heart of kindness and humility, that's cool. Getting mean, arrogant, angry, and prideful, not cool.

Anyway, I know we are facing some high risks, and our journey has just begun. I am 4 weeks since my last period. Average pregnancy lasts 37-42 weeks. Mine have tended to be shorter since my last two were preemies. And since the last one was emergency csection, and I live in the sticks with a decent but small hospital that doesn't offer vbac, looks like it will be another c. So because I'm a fat chick and older and have high blood pressure (but it is well controlled with meds) and am borderline diabetic and have had 2 preemies, I'm pretty sure they will wanna schedule that csection sooner rather than later.  But haven't been to ob/gyn yet so I don't know exactly when they will wanna schedule the filleting process. So we will see. Anyway this is enough for an intro. Please feel free to comment, but I do ask that you be polite and respectful to me and in response to other commenters. And if you have any thoughts, questions, or ideas you would like me to write about in future posts, please let me know. Hey! I'm gonna be a mom for the sixth time at age 49! How crazy, adventurous, and cool is that? Personally, I think it's a lot more so than climbing Mount Everest. But to those climbers I would say, "Go for it!" I guess I'm just one of those people who prefers my adventures closer to home and ground level and Starbucks.

Enthusiastically Expecting in this Adventure we call Life,

Annette