joy.

i've been absent for a few months. A LOT has happened in these few months and i am so happy i finally get to share them with the world.

october 5. friends were coming over for chili. the weather was dreadful, and i felt pretty awful. once again, my body was telling me something. i took a test, negative. joe and i had a great evening with great friends.

october 6. still feeling pretty lousy, joe and i went out to find some fall clothing bargains. when we got home i felt that there was no way that test could be negative. sure enough, there was the faintest second line. we were in the process of rushing out the door to meet my family for dinner. dinner was delicious and afterwards, we went to target to pick up some more reliable tests. we came home, i took nearly all of the tests and there they all revealed...baby desalvo is on the way!

this was a busy day for us. after finding out the best news, we were off again, this time to joe's parents house. we hung out there for a bit, containing how thrilled we were about this news.

after everything that we went through last spring, joe and i decided that our families needed to know sooner rather than later. we ran home to grab the "grandparent" gift i had reserved for my parents for this occasion. i wrapped it up and we headed to their house. the artwork, that was once my own grandparents' said, "just when parents think their work is finished, they become grandparents."

joe's parents would find out the following wednesday.

when i got back to school on monday, i shared the news with h, j, and j. the moment becomes even more joyous once others are in our your sweet secret.

the first few weeks of my pregnancy were a bit tumultuous. we went to the doctor for the "confirmation" appointment. then, i went for routine blood work for my first OB appointment that would be happening in the next few days. a couple of days later, i got the call.

"after looking over your blood work, your progesterone levels are low. this is a bit concerning and we would like you to have an ultrasound today."

were we headed down the same path as we went down in april?

the ultra sound revealed that i was not 8.5 weeks, but only a mere 4.5. this is the exact pattern that we went through in april.

"the only thing we can do is wait."

two weeks later, we went in for ultra sound #2. baby was growing! saw the heart. saw the heart beat. relief. joy.

"come back in another two weeks for another to make sure things are still growing."

another two weeks of waiting, praying.

ultra sound #3 = sweetest thing i have ever seen. heard the heartbeat. peace. gummy bear. "limb buds"

God's timing is always right. that's what everyone always told me. this is the best, sweetest gift i've ever been given. i'm going to be a mom. joe is going to be a dad.

peace has taken over my heart and i am joyous.

thirteen weeks on monday = second trimester.

-caitlin