Clarrisa's Birth Story

My husband, Mark, and I were married on May 7, 1988. We had decided that after nearly eight years of dating we wanted to start our family immediately, especially since he was in the military at the time, and the insurance paid for everything!

I quit the pill, and we giddily began "working." In July, just according to plan, the doctor told me I was pregnant. We were so excited, we immediately announced the news to everyone we knew. I had several weeks of intermittent spotting, and an ultrasound showed that I had a placenta, an amniotic sac with fluid, but no embryo -- it's called a blighted ovum. I ended up in hospital for an emergency D&C.

My doctor assured us that we could try again right away, and that is what we did. Over the next five years, we tried everything: charting temperatures, using optimum "positions", only making love every three days to maximize sperm volume, and even taking Clomid. All attempts failed.

We finally decided that we would adopt through foster care. We adopted two special needs boys, Charles, and Jonny. We finally felt our family was complete! However, I started having problems.

During an annual pap smear, when my doctor learned that I had not had a period in over two years, she recommended that I take birth control pills to regulate my cycle. I was fine with the idea since I had long since given up any hope of us having a biological child. I got a prescription for a year’s worth of pills.

I took the last of the pills in December '96. I'd been busy and hadn't had the time to get my prescription renewed; as I was only taking them to be regular, I didn't think anything of it. About a month later I started to feel woozy in the mornings and was snapping at everyone. On the advice of a friend, I took a pregnancy test.

The test was POSITIVE! I was very excited, but also very apprehensive. My husband and I chose not to tell anyone until we knew that things were going OK. At 12 weeks they did an ultrasound and I saw the miracle for myself. There on the screen was a tiny being with arms, legs, a head, and a fluttering heart, moving all over the screen! My eyes filled with tears, and I cried with my husband over the joy of it.

A few months later, on September 22, 1997, after a very uneventful pregnancy, my daughter Clarrisa Elaine was born. A wonderful blessing that was eight years in coming.

Clarrisa is now a beautiful and brilliant four year old. She has a little sister, Trinity, who is 18 months old, and we just recently found out that our fifth child is on it's way! We couldn't feel any more blessed than we are!