Fortune Cookies

Today I brought Dan Panda Express for lunch and we enjoyed the beautiful day while sitting on the grass in Kiwanis Park. After enjoying our tasty treat, I handed Dan the following fortune cookies:

These fortunes were no coincidence. That's right, people....

I'M PREGNANT!!! Ahhhh!!!! = ) 

FULL STORY:

For the last week and a half, I have been living each day feeling happy and peaceful. I've attributed it to addressing so many of my underlying emotions and issues over the last couple weeks! August was a really hard, painful month for me. But since meeting with Tami, the Bishop, and the therapist from LDS family services (all within five days!), I have felt lighter and have been able to enjoy the peace I once had with me when Ty first passed away. It has also helped that I had an appointment scheduled for September 10th (today) to meet with a fertility specialist to discuss artificial insemination -- as well as having stopped checking my temperature every morning!

Over the last couple days, I've been expecting my period, but with it being MIA, I took a couple pregnancy tests from the dollar-store (friends have sworn they work!). But with no period and negative results, I figured I ovulated late and would just go to the appointment to figure out my fertility options. However, yesterday, I had a feeling to go get one of the more expensive tests that are sensitive and detect the pregnancy hormone four days sooner than a missed period. This morning, I peed in a shaving cream cap (just thought I'd throw in that little detail), dipped the prego-stick...and then the light pink line slowly surfaced. I almost stopped breathing, even though I somehow expected it. Still in disbelief, I used my last dollar-store test... and it was negative. Dang it! So I drove to the nearest grocery store to pick up another pricier test. As I passed the cemetery, as I do every day, my thoughts turned to Ty and I knew in my heart I didn't need to get another test. My eyes teared up with joy and a tinge of sadness, but ended on joy. When I returned home, I was grateful Dan was still sleeping and I snuck into the bathroom again, using the same cap of pee. Positive test #2!

I called my sister, Jen, because I had been hoping to find out I was pregnant in North Carolina last month and wanted to follow my same plan. She had to keep convincing me that yes, of course two pink/purple lines mean I'm pregnant! I was almost too afraid to believe!

Since I've known for a couple months now how I wanted to tell Dan, it was no surprise that I had three fortune cookies sitting in my kitchen cupboard. Having researched this little trick, I wet a paper-towel, wrapped it around the cookies, and microwaved it for 30 seconds which makes the cookie malleable. I made my own fortunes and slipped them inside before the cookies hardened back into their original shape. Then it was off to meet Dan for lunch!

Dan only had 20 minutes so we sat on the grass in Kiwanis park, enjoying our chinese food and the gorgeous weather. As we sat together, Dan looked longingly at a father riding a bike with his son, and commented wistfully about the little brother that joined them.

"I want one of those," he said. I was about to jump out of my skin! I suggested we take a break from eating (since we both were getting full pretty fast) and handed him the first fortune cookie (that I pretended to unwrap in the bag). Dan read the words out loud: "A priceless gift will be delivered to your home in 9 months time." Dan made a hurt face and said, "oh man, that's mean!"

I almost laughed out loud! Instead, I handed him the second cookie, knowing surely he would figure it out this time. I said, "Here, try this one."

Dan read it out loud again: "Another "Second-Favorite" is on its way. Time of arrival: May 8, 2011." Dan made an incredulous noise, thinking for just a second how unbelievable it was that Panda Express could send us home with two slap-in-the-face fortune cookies! By this point, I couldn't help it -- I started laughing and crying simultaneously, which caught Dan's attention, at last! His face transformed as realization sunk in -- and then he was like, "Are you serious?? You're pregnant!" He barrel-hugged me, crying and smiling so big! I kept holding my stomach with laughter when I wasn't wiping the tears away. I hope I'll always remember the sound of our hysterical laughter and disbelief colliding into each other. It was the sound of pure joy and love... and hope.

"Read the next one!" I said. Dan tore it open and read, "In 9 months time, sleepless nights await you." I had meant to give him that one second. Somehow, though, I knew it might take two or three before he got it!

We are so incredibly happy. I have so many thoughts I want to share but I'm actually heading up to Park City for a girls night! More to come!

FYI: I'm not telling EVERYONE yet, just because it is so early and you never know what might happen in the next few weeks. But we're telling friends and family (including my wonderful blog-followers, who have been on this journey with me from day 1!) because these are people we'd tell if something unfortunate were to happen anyway. Just keep it to yourselves for now, though.

Thank you for your prayers on our behalf.

We love you!! and we are so happy.