It was shaping up to be an ordinary day—until it wasn’t. On October 4, 2012, a Friday marking the start of Columbus Day weekend, my husband, Alex, and I planned to enjoy lunch together and run some errands. I had a routine CT scan scheduled for the following Tuesday morning, and the imaging center had called earlier that week for their standard series of 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, well, I hadn’t had my period in a couple of months, but I was certain I couldn’t possibly be pregnant. My husband and I had tried for three years, consulted fertility specialists, and undergone various treatments including Clomid, six rounds of IUI, three rounds of in vitro, and numerous hormone shots—all without success. In early 2010, I was diagnosed with a rare cancer, which led to invasive surgeries, radiation, and chemotherapy. So, when I was informed that I was in perimenopause, it hardly came as a surprise. I was just 41.
Naturally, I hesitated when answering the last question. The imaging center then informed me that I would need to get a blood test at my OB’s office to confirm I wasn’t pregnant. Frustrated, I thought about how I wanted to enjoy a pleasant afternoon with Alex rather than deal with a pregnancy test. With the CT scan scheduled for the Tuesday morning following the holiday, I had to ensure the blood work results were rushed to the imaging center by the end of the day.
After the test, Alex and I grabbed lunch and made our way through errands as planned. However, I was glued to my phone, anxiously waiting for updates from a nurse named Lucy, who was managing my blood work. What a hassle, I thought—just a complete waste of my time.
Thus, I found myself wandering the aisles of Hobby Lobby, looking for yarn to crochet a scarf for my mom’s Christmas gift. My husband was off searching for decal paper for a model car he was building. When my phone finally rang, I felt a wave of relief, as Lucy had assured me she would call with the results.
“Hello, Lucy,” I said, trying to balance the phone while juggling an armful of yarn.
“Hey, Jenna!” Lucy replied, her tone cheerful. “Are you sitting down?”
Right then, I felt an unsettling sensation wash over me—my heart raced, and it felt like the ground had dropped out from under me.
“No, Lucy. I’m standing in Hobby Lobby, surrounded by yarn,” I managed to say.
“Well, we have your results, and you’re more than five weeks pregnant!” she exclaimed.
Her words left me speechless. I never expected to hear that news.
“There must be a mistake. Are you sure?” I stammered.
“We’re certain!” she replied, her laughter ringing in my ears.
I remember asking Lucy how this could be possible, and she patiently reassured me. “Congratulations! Now go tell Alex!”
“Alright…” I replied, still bewildered. With my arms full of yarn, I began navigating the maze of aisles, searching for Alex. Thankfully, Lucy stayed on the line until I found him, still contemplating the decal paper.
“Alex!” I called, grabbing his attention. He later said my tone and expression made him panic, thinking he’d done something wrong—quite the opposite!
Placing my hand on his chest for both stability and connection, I shared the surprise. He blinked rapidly, absorbing the news, and soon his eyes welled with tears as he enveloped me in a hug.
The rest of the day was a whirlwind of activity. I did manage to buy the yarn, marking my first and last purchase at Hobby Lobby. Lucy arranged for an ultrasound at a nearby hospital, where we soon laid eyes on our little one, barely a speck at that point. But instead of being just over five weeks pregnant, it turned out I was closer to six, allowing us to hear our baby’s heartbeat for the very first time.
If someone had told me that morning how my day would culminate, I would have laughed. Yet there I was, hearing that tiny heartbeat within me—the same body that had faced cancer just two years prior. It was a surreal moment that still astounds me.
“We’re having a baby!” Alex and I kept repeating, moving through the remainder of that day in a delightful haze of shock and joy. “WE’RE having a BABY.”
Resources for Your Journey
For anyone navigating similar journeys, there are resources available, such as CCRM IVF for insights on pregnancy and home insemination. You might also find useful information on this blog post about home insemination kits and techniques. If you’re looking for quality products, check out Make A Mom for their authority on home insemination kits.
Summary
On an unexpected day in October, Jenna discovered she was pregnant while shopping in Hobby Lobby, overcoming years of fertility struggles and a cancer diagnosis. The joyous news transformed her day, leading to a whirlwind of excitement and anticipation as she and her husband prepared for their new journey into parenthood.