On August 22, 2020, but twenty-two years ago, we delivered our beautiful daughter, Langley, into this crazy world. We were living in Greenville NC at the time, among the college students at East Carolina University.
How did we get here? My pregnancy story will tell you how.
A year earlier, my husband and I were living in a tiny backwoods town of Spring Hope, NC, living in a shack on some property my parents owned out in the woods. We had cows, a bull, a 4-wheeler, a garden, a tractor, 2 pit bulls, and 144 acres of land to just roam. Yes, there were tics and gunshots and hunting dogs in the distance, but we were so happy and still newlyweds, even after 3 years of marriage.
At the time, my husband was finishing up his Textile degree at NC State in Raleigh, while I worked in Rocky Mount, NC at a print shop. We’d go our separate ways in the morning and meet back up in the evenings at the local gym in Spring Hope, where we would work die-hard on our bodies. We were serious about being fit (I actually had a private trainer). But one day, even in the best shape of my life, we knew something was up with me. I was a vegetarian and one evening – out of nowhere – I started craving the chicken that my trainer was cooking on a grill! He looked at me and told me I might be pregnant.
During this same time, Drew had been interviewing with textile companies all over the East Coast. We were eagerly waiting to hear from his favorite companies and knew we
had big decisions to make. We wanted to stick somewhat close to Rocky Mount, NC, since my parents lived there. My Dad had had a stroke in 1995, so it was important that we chose a home not too far. Plus, if we did have children, grandchildren would be a top PRIORITY to my parents!
I’m not 100% sure on the exact date this happened (my husband could tell you, but he is overseas at the moment taking care of COVID patients – thank you, DOCTORS!!), but I DO remember placing the positive pregnancy test (that I secretly took) in a Winnie the Pooh stuffed animal boxed set to leave out as a gift for Drew when he arrived home from school. I remember coming home from work to find that our dogs had gotten in the house (our shack) and had gotten all over our newly covered mid century sofa – muddy paw prints everywhere!! I was too happy to really care. I loved those dogs so much. And by the way…pit bulls ARE great with children – they were so protective of them and loved them dearly!
Drew gets home and finds the box and finally sees the pregnancy test. But get this…he tells me that we HAVE A JOB with DuPont in Kinston NC!! We find out we are pregnant AND have a job on the same day! This is how we ended up in Greenville NC. I wanted to live in the Downtown area of Greenville, across from the art school, so we found a beautiful historic home, where our children grew up for their first 12 years. Our son, Grey was born four years after our Langley.
It was a blessing to live so close to my parents, because my dad ended up getting very sick soon after our daughter was born. He continued to decline and had basically been a different person the past 20+ years after a brain injury from encephalitis. My amazing mother has been taking care of him all these years, as well as being the most amazing grandmother (Roz Darling is what we call her) to our children. My dad just passed away May 17, 2020.
Our wonderful Langley is 22 years old today (the day I submitted this story)…and I just cannot believe how the time has gone by. The memory has not. I know I have shared much more than “How I told Him,” but today is a very special day. I was telling Bonnie that I feel her logo incorporates so much more than just how we tell our pregnancy stories.
When I created the LGBTQ version of the logo (I helped Bonnie bring her logo to life), it hit me that her special logo could also help this community share their story of how they told their loved ones and their journeys. I know what my daughter went through when she came out; I know what I went through and how I made her feel.
I’ve done a lot of growing. I’ve always said we learn from our children…I think we learn more than we teach them, actually. I think there needs to be an outlet for these ‘kids’ to tell their stories…let the healing begin.
Langley just married Caitlynn, her sweetheart of 4 years. It broke my heart that they had to postpone their wedding because of the virus, which was so hard on them…on everyone that loves them. I am so very proud of her…there is NO ONE like her. I’m attaching a video I made for Langley’s 18th birthday, which I hope shows the love for my family. Enjoy!
It’s wonderful that Bonnie has provided such a wonderful place to share our stories…especially during a time like this. Thank you for letting me share my story. What a blessing…! Thank you, Bonnie! xoxo
