It's A...

Our "gender reveal" was much different than before.  With Farrah, we paid a little extra money to have an earlier ultrasound to find out her gender.  We drove to the doctor's office unknowing and guessing, and left with thoughts of a baby girl joining our family.

This time, by the time we got in to see the doctor, we were already 12 weeks along, and the 8 weeks until our anatomy scan didn't seem that far away.  When I went home and told Keane we were offered the Progenity Verifi Test which tests for several chromosomal abnormalities, Keane wanted us to do it right away (not for the sake of finding out the gender, however, the gender chromosome is tested as well, so that is a perk of having this test done).

I went in as soon as possible to get my blood drawn and 9 days later, I received a call from my doctor.  She told me that everything on the test came back negative, and together we decided on a plan for the gender results.  I wanted Keane with me when we found out the news.  We decided that she would call me back and I wouldn't answer, and she would leave me a voicemail.  Keane was on the farm but I called him right away and he came home to listen to the anticipated message.  We both put in an earbud so Farrah wouldn't hear, and we listened: Hey!  It's Dr. Morse.  Just calling to let you know that you're having a girl.  Congratulations.  Bye.

That was that.  I quickly processed that I wouldn't ever have a son of my own, but happily accepted that I would have another girl whom we already had girl things for such as clothes and toys, and that Farrah would grow up with a sister nearly three years younger than her.

I wanted to come up with a creative way to tell the kids, so I went to Walmart, bought black balloons, different shades of pink paint, and a canvas.  I set it all up that evening and we woke the kids up early the next cold and frosty morning of Kylie's 12th birthday, and we all went outside so the kids could shoot their bow and arrows at the balloons.

After Kylie figured out she was holding her bow completely upside down, and that the release strap was not buckled, they finally shot at the canvas.  I think Kylie lost her arrow, but because the balloons weren't filled with quite enough paint, when Kaden knicked the first balloon, just a little paint was exposed.  They both looked closely and Kaden slightly disappointedly announced, "pink?"  

We are having another girl!  Our family now consists of 2 boys and 4 girls!  We are excited to meet you, new daughter.  You will fit in just perfectly.