Bed Rest Update...

This coming Wednesday will be the 36 week mark, which means that on Thursday I am heading back to the office. Our church friends have been bringing us meals and words can't express how grateful we are! It seems like they have always come on those days when we have been the most tired and the most in need of a boost. I'm a little concerned about how well I'm going to handle being back at work when I am not feeling 100% however I'm comforted by the idea of spending most of the day in the same building with Will and only 10 minutes away from the hospital versus being in Kingwood by myself over 30 minutes away from the hospital.

I'm sorry if this post sounds kind of down, truly we are very happy and excited - I think I have just reached that point where mentally and physically I've about had enough with being pregnant. On a positive note, my Mom came this past weekend and with her help Will and I can finally say that we are ready for the new baby to arrive - the clothes are clean, the closets are organized, we have diapers, baby wash, house and floors are clean and the bags are packed.

So now we just have to hurry up and wait...

I need a hero....

I had my midwives appointment last Wednesday and our baby girl is doing great, her heartbeat was strong and she and I are both the size we should be. Now is the scariest time for me because if the cholestasis is going to come back, it would most likely be in the next few weeks. So far there has been no sign of itchiness (really the only symptom I would have) and my bloodwork has been fine so we are going to keep our faith and not worry over statistics and things over which we have no control.

Despite the title of this post, I don't need a hero, I have a hero - my husband Will! I was looking at the calendar and was amazed to realize that I have now been on bedrest for 20 days! He has been truly amazing, cooking, cleaning, shopping, caring for Jacob, doing the yard, laundry - everything. All without complaint. On Friday night he went off at midnight to get me a copy of Harry Potter & the Deathly Gallows, so you can guess how I've spent most of my weekend! On Saturday night Jacob woke us at 3 AM with a very upset stomach (there is some rule of vomitation that says that kids can never get sick in the daytime - it's always the middle of the night. ) so Will spent a few hours in the middle of the night giving Jacob a bath, changing bedding & clothes and cleaning the carpet. (In accordance with the other rule of vomitation that states that the child can't stay in one place or be on a tiled surface).

So Sunday night finds us all kind of frazzled and worn out.

Looking back on Jacob's birth...

On Saturday, Sharon Tilotta from First Birth Ministries came out to the house to give us our alumni refresher birthing class. It was so good to see her and following her visit I can honestly say I feel "refreshed" both spiritually and in our knowledge.

Sharon gave us both some much needed encouragement. Truthfully, it has been really difficult for me to rest and stay lying down all the time. I hadn't fully realized what a control freak I am! Even though it is for such a short period of time, I still have struggled with this greatly. I feel better heading into this new week with an improved attitude and a renewed commitment. Will reminded me that there was a very tiny baby person that needs me most of all right now.

We spoke for awhile about Jacob's birth as she asked us each to recall positives and negatives. In the course of the conversation I was able to work through some of the things that I was feeling scared about and to replace that fear with prayer and preparation. Following all this reminiscing on Jacob's birth I decided it would be good to go through some of our photographs from that time. Will, Shaun & Lady - Summer 2004 "...You've never been this way before" Joshua 3:4

September 12, 2004

"A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed" Proverbs 11:25

"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ" Galatians 6:2

"A gentle answers turns away wrath but a harsh word stirs up anger" Proverbs 15:1

"Shall I bring you to the point of birth and not give delivery?..." Isaiah 66:9

"Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach" Deuteronomy 30:11

"Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" Matthew 11:28

"For I the Lord thy God will hold they right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not: I will help thee." Isaiah 41:13

"...you did awesome things beyond our highest expectations..." Isaiah 64:3

Pretty in Pink & Home Alone

The baby's room is really coming along. We still need to accessorize but the room is painted, curtains are hung and the furniture is in. I like to go in there sometimes and open the drawers and look at the little pink clothes and hats. I can't wait to meet this baby! Here are some photos of the room.

On Monday I began working from home. I am so grateful to be able to do this, my boss is a very kind person. Plus, I honestly think he is petrified that I will go into labor at work! The best part is that I'm able to get so much more done because there are no distractions... the worst part is that there are no distractions! I just feel kind of isolated and lonely, I'm a TALKER (like you didn't know that) and I miss my co-workers. I have to stay laying down as much as I can, so Will has got me all set up in our study, here's my new "office".

Back to bed for me but before I go here's a quote I saw today that I really like:

"The only way to make sure people you agree with can speak is to support the rights of people you don't agree with." -Eleanor Holmes Norton

Waiting...

It has been a very eventful week. On Monday I went to the midwives and we have discovered that our baby girl has officially "dropped". This explains why my belly has gone from a basketball shape to more of a watermelon and why I have been feeling as though she might make a sudden appearance at any moment. Dropping is a totally normal thing to have happen - but typically it happens a few weeks or days before birth - not two months early. The midwife gave me a fetal fibronectin test and the results were thankfully negative which means that I am not likely to go into labor this week or next.

I am 32 weeks pregnant and we really want her to wait to arrive sometime after the 36 week mark... so this means that I am on semi-bed rest for the next four weeks. It is a very odd thing to suddenly have to be in bed all the time and not able to do all the things that you are used to doing. Will has been wonderful, quickly taking over my usual tasks like grocery shopping, cooking, bathing Jacob etc. Starting next week I will be working from home using a laptop. I am not on official medical leave from work, which is a blessing because I would rather use up my maternity leave after she is here than before. Besides, working will keep me busy and help the time to go by more quickly. I do have before and after pictures of the nursery to post but for now I'd better head back to bed before Will gets on to me. He's very strict!

Pix from Baby Shower

As promised, here are a few pictures from last weekend's baby shower. The middle photo is me with the hostesses from the left: Lisa, Amy, Kim, (me), Jessica and Theresa. Could you believe that every single one of these ladies has had a new baby in the last year? Everyone at church jokes about "drinking the water" served at our home bible study group!

A longer post to come soon...