"What Does a Plus Sign Mean?"

Driving up the rocky dirt road that is Weston Pass outside of Fairplay, Colorado, I knew that this day would mark the moment in my life, our life that would change us forever. Why else would we be on the "Road of Dreams".

Today is August 5, 2006 and I'm about to ask the woman of my dreams to marry me.

The months leading up to this stroll in the hills have been great. We've come to learn so much about each other, our family's, our dreams and our shortfalls and yet we continue on.

We are now at our second stop along the pass as my first attempt fails miserably due to nerves and a dead camera battery. We're now on the backside of the pass, standing on a large rock formation and the rain is headed in. Amber is off to inspect the area to ensure there aren't any creepy crawlies or large mammal eating predators around as I fumble out of the truck with the ring box in tow.

As I head over to a spot in the rocks over looking the valley to the North, rain is falling and I know I've got to get it out this time. I call Amber over, take her hand and start to tell her our story. How we first met at work, the wonderful trips and memories we've shared as a couple, and how a life together forever is the next step I'd like to take with her.

Dripping wet, I pull the ring out of my pocket and begin my downward descent to one knee. Before I can get another word in, she pulls me from my crouch with tears in her eyes and says, "YES I will marry you!". We stand there on that rock knowing that this moment, this one brief blink of an eye has changed us forever.

Today is Friday, January 23rd, 2009 and it's not a good day. Amber is eight weeks pregnant with our first baby and we're headed to the Emergency Room. Test after test and we're told to head home as it looks like we're going to miscarry and there is nothing more they can do. Not knowing what to expect, we do just that. At 6:30 AM on Saturday, January 24th, 2009 Baby Hernandez is gone.

It's tough and it sucks.

In March of 2008 Amber had surgery to remove a grapefruit sized tumor along with her left ovary from her abdomen. Our chances of becoming pregnant were instantly reduced by 50 percent, but were were reassured by the best OB/GYN in the business, Dr. Mark Saunders that we will be able to go on to have children without issue.

After the unfortunate loss of Baby Hernandez in January we didn't lose faith and stood firm knowing that God had a better plan for us. We prayed, our families prayed and those who don't even know prayed for us to do what God was putting on our hearts and to try again for another baby.

This leads me back to the title of this opening post, "What does a plus sign mean?".

Today is Friday, May 29th, 2009 and it's a great day! Amber has been getting that not so good feeling in her belly and thinks it's time we take a pregnancy test. She opens it, reads the instructions and follows them to perfection. We give the test the time it needs to do it's thing and then she sends me in to check out the results. So there I am...staring at this stick with markings and symbols, but have no idea what any of it means. (I didn't read the instructions.)

"What does a plus sign mean?"

Amber runs into the bathroom and with the grip of an NFL linebacker rips the stick from my hands to take a look for herself. "We did it!" she says with tears streaming down her face knowing that we're in for another roller-coaster of emotions in the coming weeks.

Since then, we've been to two appointments with the wonderful Dr. Saunders. The first appointment was at week nine on Tuesday, June 30th, 2009. Being an amateur photographer I loved it. The first photo of our "Peanut" as we've come to know this baby was taken and the little blinking fetus looked great! In the shots here, the head is the furthest point to the right and you can see the arms and hands pointing up as well as the legs curled at the far left.

The second appointment at week 11 on Thursday, July 16th, 2009 we were able to hear Peanut for the first time. The swish, swish, swish of the tiny heartbeat was amazing, but not before a quick glance of fear came across Amber as Dr. Saunders wasn't able to immediately find it. Sitting a bit lower in her uterus the sound of this little life was strong, fast and brought smiles and tears to the room. Everything to date has tested well and all parties are happy with where we're at.

So here we are...coming up on week 13 on Tuesday, July 28th, 2009. During this week Peanut is about three inches from crown to rump and weights approximately one ounce. The tiny fingerprints and all 20 teeth have formed. Peanut has also found it's tiny thumb and it's fingers and toes are separated and identifiable.

















Now into the second trimester, Amber has started to get her energy back and is hopeful the morning sickness will subside. We'll do our best to get a few progress shots of her belly as we move forward.

So we're off and running! As Amber and I continue on this next adventure of becoming parents for the first time, we invite you back to this blog often. We will use this as our tool to keep everyone updated on our progress and look forward to hearing from you as you follow along.

Get Busy Child!