2020 was a bizarre and difficult year for everyone. With COVID-19 wreaking havoc across the world, our friends and families were not exempt from the negative effects of the virus - we know people who have been furloughed, individuals who have lost large portions of their income, people who have tested positive for COVID-19 and recovered… as well as those who have not.
And while 2020 was a difficult year where Jin and I have had to make adaptations both big and small, we looked back at the beginning of 2021 and realized that the things we are thankful for FAR outweigh the sacrifices and changes we have had to make.
Isabelle Park
Earlier in the year, COVID-19 forced us to hit pause on our IVF procedure. It was difficult to accept that after so many years of undergoing one procedure after another, we were being told that we would have to wait some more. The anger and frustration was amplified by reports of people calling the pandemic a hoax and refusing to wear a mask to “protect their freedom and right to breathe oxygen”.
Thankfully, we were given the greenlight after only a few weeks, and we were able to move forward after a brief hiatus. We know people who underwent multiple rounds of IVF, and we were bracing ourselves for the possibility of having a difficult conversation about whether we would be able to afford a second round at all. Our little one was resilient and strong, and we were blessed with a positive pregnancy result. From that point on, 2020 rushed by in a blur with Jin and myself marveling at each milestone, ultrasound image or heartbeat. She passed every test thrown at her either as a normal part of the pregnancy screening or because my age put us both at risk.
As she was an answered promise from God, we named her Isabelle, and we have been affectionately calling her Belle at home. And while the kicks and stretches in the tummy isn’t anything new anymore, I still can’t help but giggle and wonder at the progress she is making.
A New Home
With Belle on the way, we knew we would have to move - we needed a place that wasn’t a sweat lodge in the summer and an igloo in the winter; we wanted a place where we didn’t have to worry about access to a machine whenever we needed to do laundry; and we needed a place where we had ample space for a baby. Since we got married, we saved as much as we could to put towards a down payment for a home. Of course, our savings took a hit with all the fertility treatments, so we didn’t have as much as we needed for a down payment. So instead, we decided that we would save less each month and find another place we can rent - even if L.A.’s rent costs are ridiculously high. We looked and looked, but anything within our price range wasn’t much better than where we were - and anything that was close to what we wanted would cost too much.
Our luck turned: we were able to secure enough funds for a down payment, and we happily started our search for a new home. There were times when we almost gave up - it seemed like our sour luck with apartment hunting was going to apply to our house hunt as well. Eventually, we found a place that checked off all the must-haves on our list, and towards the end of December, we were able to move in to our first home!
We are still in the process of finding a place for everything and putting Belle’s room together, but everyday, we’re so thankful that we can bring her home from the hospital to a place of our own - a place where we will start building many treasured memories as a family of three.
Security
COVID-19 took a huge toll on the economy. There were people losing large chunks of their income or their jobs altogether. Businesses were being shuttered; people were unable to pay rent; jobs, work places, and the very idea of work/life balance changed. Jin has been working from home since March/April, and I’ve been reluctantly and cautiously reporting to the office each day. We don’t get to go out for our weekend brunches, and we definitely miss our random date nights to the movies or our leisurely strolls through The Grove, Promenade or the Santa Monica Pier.
However, we are very aware that we are faring MUCH better than most of the people in the world. We haven’t missed a paycheck yet; we both have secure jobs; and we’ve been able to enjoy minimal interruptions to our lifestyle. We realize that this, too, is a gift from God - a provision of grace that we are beyond blessed to receive.
2020 was a difficult year, but it was one that Jin and I are immensely thankful for. It stretched us and forced us to grow in a lot of ways: resiliency, patience, love, thankfulness, and worship. And we look forward to all that 2021 will bring - especially the birth of Isabelle.