A Christmas Miracle

This Christmas, I struggled with my kids bad behavior, the excesses of Christmas, and the general lack of “Christ” in Christmas. So, when I was able to be a part of a true Christmas miracle, my heart was overjoyed, and lets just say- it made my Christmas!
It started about 10 years ago. My sister, after trying for years, was able to have a child. They were a happy little family for awhile, but soon they began wishing for more children. When the doctors determined she couldn’t get pregnant on her own (their first child was deemed “an impossibility of science”), they turned to medicine, shots, hormones, whatever it took. Truly, their family was put through the ringer, enduring thousands of injections (literally), 10 unsuccessful rounds of artificial insemination, 1 unsuccessful & very expensive round of invitro fertilization, and one horrible pregnancy that kept Janna in bed deathly ill for several months and ended tragically with stillborn twins after only 14 weeks. After all that, it had been 7 years since they had Lauren, and their hearts & home was feeling empty. Finally, they turned to adoption, and received the most amazing little girl, Lillianne. She fits amazingly into their family, and I know it was meant to be that she was there. Still, after all that, Janna hoped in the back of her heart she could somehow have more. People told her about babies that needed adoption that maybe were for her, she underwent two surgeries to try to repair her defunct uterus, only to be told that the abnormality had grown back, and finally, gave up. At 35, she had finally realized her family of 4 was a blessing in and of itself, and it would be ok.
Christmas day Janna & Andy announced to our family that she is, by the grace of God, pregnant. After 10 years with a barren womb (she jokes that cobwebs are growing in there), there will be life again in the once hostile environment which is her uterus. I could not have been more happy for her & her family. It is the best gift I received this Christmas.




By the way- I am also pregnant, but really, who is that surprising to? No one. I am the exact opposite of Janna. The very picture of fertility. So, there’s not really anything shocking about that announcement. Still, I am so happy we’ll be able to do this together.
FIVE kids. What was I thinking? It’s going to be a wild ride.

I hope you all enjoyed your Christmas, and if but for one brief moment, were able to feel the joy that is the true spirit of Christmas.
Love,
Mandy