The Most Surprising Gift I Ever Received

The most surprising gift I ever received was not a material gift.  It was not for Christmas, nor my birthday, or even my anniversary.  It was not only the most surprising gift I’ve ever received, but also my most treasured.

In mid-September of 2006, I was 39 years old and my husband was 40. We had been together for about 7 years.  We had unsuccessfully tried to have a child.   Due to some fertility issues and lack of insurance at the time we had pretty much accepted, that we were going to be “one of those childless couples”.  We tried to make the best of it.

Around that time we went to a party on a Saturday,  and I drank a little more than usual, but ended out with an atrocious hang-over.  Three days passes and I still felt awful. I had no energy and felt generally funky.  The smell of onions and meat, quickly became unbearable.  I realized this was far more than a couple beers doing this to me.

I had purchased pregnancy tests so many times, only to be disappointed.  I was hesitant to put myself through that again.  In the past, at the slightest suspicion, I’d pop into the local drug store and grab a test.  I guess I felt  that due to my age, this was my last chance, and part of me didn’t want to know… in case it was like all the other times.  On that Thursday, I went to Target to pick up a few things.  I still had that funky feeling.  As I walked past the health and beauty section,  the decision was made.  I had to find out.  At that moment, I allowed myself to hope.

That evening, both tests were used.  The results were very clear positives.  An ultra sound about a week later confirmed the tests, and our beautiful healthy daughter was born in the end of May.  The gift of her in my life, was the most surprising and wonderful present I have ever gotten.