Two Pink Lines

 

It finally happened. After almost two years of living in Japan and being married, Yasu and I are about to begin an adventure of a lifetime; parenthood! 

It started out like any other month when you’re trying to have a baby - the days lead up to your time of the month and you’re playing the “period or pregnant?!” game. The first month I played, my period was ten days late. Usually, I can set a watch to my body and I would faithfully get my “girl's day” every 26 days without question. So I was excited, nervous, eager and SURE I was pregnant. I wasn’t. Many negative tests later, my period finally came, along with crushing disappointment.

For the next 7 months, my period would come on time, give or take a day or two. Every month I would sit on the toilet, pregnancy test at the ready the moment it was even a day late. Every month, I’d see only one line indicating “not pregnant”; then my period would come and I’d feel that wave of disappointment again.

I‘d been using an app to track my period for the last six years or so and in the last year using it to track ovulation as well. My husband used the moon cycles which was cool in theory, but I thought it was a little far out. Even a friend in NYC was keeping track of my cycle and texting me encouragement each month. In April, I got hit with a pretty nasty fibromyalgia flare up, the first since moving to Japan and cut myself some slack for skipping sexy times during the primo days. My husband wasn’t phased, and used his moon magic on me. I was sure I wouldn’t get pregnant but could never pass up the opportunity for practice.

Baby Yasunari

Still - when my period was a day late I woke up to take my perch on the toilet, pregnancy test ready and willing. It was early morning, before I had to head to teach an English lesson and while my husband was still fast asleep. My eyes were bleary and I was thinking about the massive coffee I was about to make. The night before, I had emailed an English info line to ask about available subsidies in Osaka for IVF treatment, thinking that after almost a year it could be the only option at this point. I yawned, and glanced at the test I’d placed on the shelf beside the toilet.

Two bright pink lines. PREGNANT.

It took me everything in my power not to start screaming with happy surprise. I stopped myself because I didn’t want to wake my husband and since I had to leave for work very soon - it wasn’t exactly news I wanted to drop and then run. So I stayed quiet, did a little happy dance, and tried to finish getting ready as calmly as I could. It wasn’t easy, but I held it together and went to work.

My lesson that morning was teaching an adorable 2 year old who’s been my student since he was about 6 months old. He’s always really sweet but on that day, even more so. Instead of being a little bit shy when he first saw me, he threw his little arms around me and took my hand leading me to his playroom. When it was story time, he snuggled into my lap for the first time and stayed there for the rest of the lesson. Could he tell something was different? Was he sensing some new, maternal vibes radiating from me? I had to wonder.

 

Baby Misty

Heading back home after, I tried thinking of all the clever and creative ways I could spring the news on my husband. Should I make a hide and seek game to find the positive pregnancy test? Buy a cake with a congratulatory message? Tie a ribbon and a gift tag around my middle? The ideas passed through my mind but when I came home I found him wiping the floor and I immediately blurted out, “honey! I’m pregnant! We’re pregnant!” He dropped the rag, jumped up and smiled a huge smile. I ran to grab the pregnancy test I’d hidden and showed him.

And just like that, everything was about to change as we knew it. We were going to be parents. I knew I was about to undertake a massive mission - especially in a foreign country but I was ready and excited for the challenge. I’d already googled a lot about having a baby in Japan and had learned there were a lot of differences compared to having a baby back in Canada. I figured it was going to be an all new experience regardless of where this was happening so I resigned myself to go with the flow.

And that’s exactly what I did.

Keep following my blog to read about some of my experiences, doctors appointments, and eventually childbirth and being a parent in Japan. I know this is going to be a trip and a half - and I’m just getting started.