It wasn’t shaping up to be a great day.
October 4, 2012, started with some promise. It was a Friday, kicking off the Columbus Day weekend, and my husband, Greg, had a half day off work. We planned to enjoy a nice lunch and run some errands. I had a CT scan scheduled for the following Tuesday morning, and the imaging center had called me just a few days prior to run through their usual pre-test questions:
- “How much do you weigh?”
- “Are you allergic to latex or contrast solution?”
- “Do you have any issues with IVs?”
- “When was your last period?”
As for that last question, I hadn’t had a period in months, but I was certain I couldn’t be pregnant. My partner and I had been trying for three years, consulting with fertility specialists, taking Clomid, undergoing six rounds of IUI, and even three rounds of in vitro, along with hormone injections, all to no avail. In early 2010, I received a diagnosis of a rare cancer, which led to invasive surgeries, radiation, and chemotherapy. To top it off, I had recently been informed that I was in perimenopause, so the thought of being pregnant felt unfathomable, especially at the age of 41.
Naturally, I hesitated on that last question. The imaging center then informed me I needed a blood test at my OB’s office to rule out pregnancy. Frustrated, I thought, “Really? I just want to enjoy lunch, not take a pregnancy test!” With my scan scheduled for the first thing Tuesday morning after the holiday, I had to rush to get my blood work processed that same day.
After the test, Greg and I went out to lunch and completed our errands, but I had my phone glued to my hand, constantly checking in with a nurse named Sarah, who was coordinating my blood work. What a hassle, I thought.
Later that afternoon, I found myself in the yarn aisle of Hobby Lobby, searching for yarn to crochet a scarf for my mother’s Christmas gift. I was completely oblivious to the store’s reputation regarding women’s health issues. Greg was off looking for decal paper for a model car project, giving me the chance to have my phone ring without distraction. It was Sarah, and I was relieved because she had promised to call with my results.
“Hey, Sarah,” I greeted, juggling a bundle of yarn.
“Hellooooo, Lila,” she sang cheerfully. I chuckled, happy we were nearing the end of this ordeal.
“I really appreciate your help today,” I replied.
“No problem at all,” she said, her voice still upbeat. “Are you sitting down?”
In that moment, I felt a rush of panic; my heart raced, and my stomach dropped.
“No, Sarah,” I managed to say. “I’m standing in Hobby Lobby.”
“Well… we got your results… and you’re more than five weeks pregnant!”
I didn’t think I’d ever hear those words. While I knew this was the case, my mind was screaming that it couldn’t be right.
“There must be some mistake! Are you sure?” I stammered.
“We’re sure!” she replied, laughing.
I bombarded Sarah with questions, each one more flabbergasted than the last. She patiently answered me until finally, she exclaimed, “Congratulations! Go tell Greg!”
“Okay…” I said, still clutching the yarn. I began searching for Greg, feeling as if I was traversing a maze. Thankfully, Sarah stayed on the line until I found him, still perusing the decal paper.
“GREG!” I called, my voice cutting through the store. He later told me that my tone and expression made him panic, fearing he’d done something wrong. Quite the opposite!
I placed my hand on his chest, both to connect and stabilize myself as I delivered the shocking news. His eyes widened, and tears welled up as he embraced me tightly.
The rest of the afternoon was a whirlwind of activity. I did manage to buy the yarn, the last time Hobby Lobby would see my money, and Sarah fit me in for an ultrasound at a nearby hospital. Before we knew it, we were gazing at our tiny unborn child, barely a speck on the screen, but it was enough to hear the heartbeat for the first time.
If you’d told me that morning how my day would unfold, I would have laughed incredulously. Yet, there I was, feeling a life pulsing within me, a stark contrast to the cancer that had invaded my body just two years prior. It was surreal.
“We’re having a baby,” Greg and I repeatedly told each other, moving through the rest of the day in a haze of disbelief and joy. “WE’RE having a BABY.”
For those navigating the world of conception or seeking more information, you may find helpful insights at Healthline’s guide to IUI or explore options like the at-home insemination kit. They also offer resources such as the baby maker kit to assist in your journey.
Summary
In a shocking twist of fate, Lila discovers her pregnancy while shopping for yarn at Hobby Lobby, a day that began with mundane errands but ended with the joyous revelation of new life. After years of struggle with infertility and battling cancer, the news of her pregnancy leaves her and her husband, Greg, in disbelief and elation.
Keyphrase: pregnancy discovery in Hobby Lobby
Tags: [“home insemination kit” “home insemination syringe” “self insemination”]