I stayed up and couldn't sleep as a million things were running through my head. I worked on a blog post on my IPhone, but it just got deleted because the internet connection was sketchy. I took a deep breath and ate the entire spice cake at 2am. Went to sleep after for a couple of hours until I was woken up by the nurses to take my vitals.
Breakfast was on ticket around 8:30am: sausage, eggs, and waffle with oj and coffee. I don't drink coffee either so I called the cafeteria and said no tea or coffee.
Dr. Renneck rounded at 10am or so. She decided to let the magnesium sulfate run out and to start procardia pills. Contractions kept coming at 1-3 hours apart, but by afternoon they were gone. Hallelujah!
They wanted to make sure I had no reactions to the procardia and that contractions did not come back after the magnesium sulfate stopped. I took the procardia every 6 hours on the 10, 4, 10, 4 schedule.
A new day nurse was amazing. She brought me a bedside potty, you know, as a gift.
Lunch was on ticket with vanilla pudding (kinda obsessed with it since I arrived at the hospital) but they put on coke for the beverage. I had to laugh and called the cafeteria again and told them I didn't drink iced tea, coffee, or soda either and to substitute milk or juice.
Lisa Burningham visited me from 1-3pm and brought some awesome dipped pretzels that were quite addictive. It was nice talking with a friend who has been in a similar situation (she had premature twins).
After she left, from 3-5pm I caught up with Kimberly Whipple and Kim Hunt for how things went for Emma. Emma went to Megan's school for an awards ceremony and they told me the mascot was a panther so there were paw prints painted all over the school. Emma saw the paw prints all over the walls and yelled, "A clue! A clue!" with delight. Adorable, but I think she's probably watching too much Blues Clues.
At 6pm, dinner was on ticket: great roast beef W gravy, salad, carrots, roll, mashed potatoes, pudding, and chocolate milk. Yippee for the beverage of choice. Yes, the little things in life!
I talked with the day shift nurse a lot today, all throughout the day. She told me she has high functioning Aspergers. She was truly one of the best nurses I had ever come in contact with. She even remembered questions I had but forgot to bring up to Dr. Renneck. It was so wonderful to have a caretaker that had such attention to detail.
From 7-8pm they unhooked me from the IV, mag and antibiotics. It was the first time untethered so I sat by my room window. Joel said Emma fell asleep early, so no Facetime. I said my good nights to Joel.
At 8:30pm, I updated FB and caught up on emails and calls to friends/family.
On Facebook, my friend Gina Begin had a post about the sounds in a day in her life. I was inspired and started recording because of Gina's post. I will post that here later.
The new night shift nurse gave me a fetal stress test at 8:10-8:30pm and I passed! That means I am one step closer to out the door. We celebrate.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Monday, April 29, 2013
Leading up to David's Birth: Part II Monday
After settling in, Joel left me around 2 or 3am and went home to Emma. I didn't want Emma to wake up in the morning to someone different. She had already had enough changes with being watched by friends lately that I didn't want her to freak out and not have at least one of us there. After he left, they had to get the bloodworm they didn't get while in the triage room. They were supposed to pull it from the IV they started, but they didn't want to chance clogging it up, after all that
I cried shortly after his success. They left me and I was alone. It just all hit me, in that dark room with the harsh room's spotlights on my sweaty face. I was generally uncomfortable and in pain, but moreso, I was scared for the baby. I was thinking about the baby and hoping for the best possible outcome.
I chose to use a bedpan and forwent the catheter.
I slept from midnight to 2am the next day. After that, I couldn't sleep anymore.
On Monday at 8:30am, Dr. Acuna from ROC visited to round on me. Dr. Renneck from WPJ was on. The ROC ultrasound tech did an internal ultrasound and found my cervix had not changed from 2.8cm and was not funneling, so Dr. Acuna (who was the doctor who originally placed the cerclage) said we should keep the cerclage in place, and felt that this was our best option for prolonging the pregnancy. She also said that I could eat and use the bathroom toilet if I wanted to.
Despite my efforts to get a hot breakfast and reminding every nurse that came in that I did indeed want breakfast, my nurse made it to the cafeteria at 10:03am, three minutes too late. She told me of the argument she had with the cafeteria staff about wanting to get her patient a hot breakfast, bless her heart. Instead, she was forced to bring me back honey cheerios, banana bread, a banana, coffee, 1% milk and pudding. I wasn't disappointed, and later Emma shared it as a snack.
Joel and Emma came to visit from 8:30-10:30am. They went home for her nap, and Kim Hunt still took her at 2pm as usual. Joel did errands like a Walmart run and checked out the Medela breast pump I wanted at Target. I think he was able to sneak in a little nap too. He was really tired. I was fortunate to have that weird rush of adrenaline flowing through me and could function quite nicely on two hours a sleep a night, but Joel didn't have that luxury.
Lunch was pork chops and carrots amd salad and iced tea at around 2pm. I don't drink iced tea. Randomly, they gave me a really dry turkey sandwich with just turkey on wheat bread. No condiments and no cheese or anything. I asked a nurse to save it anyways and to put it in my room's mini fridge. I felt like a squirrel stocking up for the winter.
At 6pm, I was served dinner, this time I was on the ticket. It was chicken and rice, and mixed veggies and a roll with iced tea. Boo again.
I can't tell you how much I missed my Emma...and Joel, of course. We did Facetime at 7pm with Emma and Joel after her bath. I just wanted to give her the biggest hug. I shed a few tears after we got off the phone.
I received a blessing from Brad and Brother Dunn from church. Brad went to wrong hospital downtown so they weren't able to give me the blessing until 9:15pm (supposed to be 8:30pm). In the blessing, it was said that it wouldn't be the end of this baby at this time. I contemplated what that meant for a few hours. The solace was it seemed to mean that I wouldn't lose the baby to death and that the baby wasn't coming that night.
(I requested that Brad bring me cheese and mayo (for my weird sandwich) and spice cake and crystal light.)
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Leading up to David's Birth: Part I Sunday
For those who are interested, here is our birth story for our baby, David Nyland Christopher. For fair warning, it is detailed and wordy because this blog is our family journal, and we want to remember everything -- the sights, the sounds, our feelings.
I want to say that I would be prepared for the birth of David, but even under the close supervision of a high risk OB (Regional Obstetrics Consultants) and a regular OB (Women's Physicians of Jacksonville) for the last 24 weeks or so, I still wasn't. I didn't know what, when, or how it all would happen exactly, but the day I went into the hospital I just had a feeling.
I had already had this feeling before, but with Emma. The day before I started having contractions, I felt a little off. In fact, I remember asking my husband and brother-in-law, Brad, for a blessing. The same thing happened with David. I was feeling tired, unusually more tired. I missed church (it was Stake Conference Sunday) and slept. Joel went ahead without me. I told him to take good notes. Because church was held at a different time, we had just put Emma down for a nap, so Joel felt okay leaving me. We both had a really good nap. I think Heavenly Father blessed me with this opportunity to sleep because I never get to nap when Emma naps. It usually never works out.
Joel and I had plans to go to his sister's for dinner. I felt quite rested and we had to eat anyway, so I thought it would be okay to go. I just told myself I was going to take it easy and sit on the couch most of the time we were there. For dinner, we had tortellini soup and dessert was spice cake. It was super tasty.
I remember talking with Brad and Lindley about how I felt like this baby just wanted to "head out". There was a lot of pressure really low. I felt like the baby was sitting so low the last couple of days and I even asked Lindley if she wanted to touch down there to see if it felt normal to her. She never did...because she was nursing Jayda, but I'm sure she would have. We have a special bond. Lol.
They sent us home with leftovers, which looking back, was pretty inspired. I'll explain in a minute.
We both did the night time routine with Emmy -- struggling to get Emmy more food to eat after dinner, bathtime, story time in mommy and daddy's bed, toothbrushing "fight", kisses and hugs for mommy, and Joel placing her in her crib and saying goodnight with a prayer and songs, "Love One Another" and "Silent Night".
I laid there in bed, silently, still and finally fully aware of my body. Night brings quiet time and reflection for me. Things slow down after Emma goes to sleep. I began to notice that at around 9pm, that "pressure" that I was feeling was becoming more intense and was coming at regular intervals. The lights turned on for me -- I was having contractions every 8 minutes. I continued to time them for another hour and a half before calling the doc. I didn't want it to be a false alarm.
When we called the doctor, he told us to wait another hour to see if the contractions would go away, and to call back if they didn't. Meanwhile, I told Joel to start packing our bags. He packed for me and Emma, in case we had to drop her off with someone. Because we didn't know when this would all happen, we didn't have a concrete plan of childcare for Emma. We called our friend, Kimberly Whipple, and she agreed to come over and stay with Emma while she slept.
The contractions didn't go away. They were surprisingly not painful, but very deliberate and steadily coming. The doctor on call, Frank Trogolo, told us to go to Baptist South, even though previously, they said if I delivered very early, they would send us to Baptist Downtown. Joel and I actually wanted to deliver downtown because we were told it was the best. Ironically, just the day before I took the tour of Baptist South's Labor and Delivery/Maternity Ward. I even pre-registered. It must have been fate that I was able to get that tour in...and it actually did make me feel more at ease because I knew where everything was, all my paperwork was in order, and it was all fresh in my mind.
Kimberly arrived and in our haste, I still managed to know my priorities. I packed food for the 30 minute car ride, even though I was completely stuffed from dinner. I even managed to eat one more serving of spice cake before leaving the house, for good measure, of course. Little did I know, that would be the last thing I ate until they let me eat again in the hospital. With Emma, it all happened so fast that I didn't get to eat a meal before being flown to Utah, and then they starved me for 50 hours before letting me eat ice chips, and administered tortuous magnesium sulfate all the while. I wasn't going to let that happen this time, at least, not on an empty stomach.
On the way to the hospital, Joel avoided a 10 car collision off of Kernan. We were driving pretty quickly, but he was able to see far enough ahead to know that cars were stopped on the road, some off to the side and some smack dab in the middle. As a car smashed into another car, sounds of screeching metal hitting the guardrail, he was able to think quickly and say that we needed to get off the road altogether and head for the exit ramp. He did some snake thing with our CRV winding through the hurricane of cars, and was able to safely get us off onto the exit. I remember yelling, "I don't feel safe! I don't feel safe!!!" As we were a little down the road, I continued to hear the sound of screeching cars and emergency braking with more cars impacting. I was so grateful that Joel was able to make these quick decisions. If I was driving, I would have probably just pulled off to the side and been rear ended. I was a deer in the headlights. I couldn't think clearly. I was frozen and scared. Joel handled it like a pro. We were able to drive just past all of the wreckage and proceed back onto the on ramp and barely lost any time. Heavenly Father was definitely looking out for us. I was grateful for Joel.
When we arrived at the hospital, it was about 10:30pm. We got admitted pretty quickly because the registration had been done. We actually spent more time waiting on a wheelchair to bring me up to the third floor. I tried chatting with the older black man who was wheeling me up, making small talk to take my mind off of things. I asked him how long he had been working at Baptist and if he liked it. He said 3 years and "no". He said it was time for a career change...I kinda felt sorry for him.
We arrived on the floor and they quickly whisked me into the triage room. They got me hooked up to a fetal heart rate monitor and measured that my contractions were 4 minutes apart. The baby's heart rate was normal and he seemed to be doing well despite what mommy was feeling. They had a really hard time starting an IV for me. Two nurses stuck me several times before they got a nurse anesthetist to come in. He only had to stick me once. His name was Tom. They immediately started me on fluids for hydration and the antibiotic ampicillin for possible Strep B. They also did a swap test to see if I would deliver, but it came out negative. I really didn't see the point in that test. Dr. Trogolo then arrived and came in and checked me. He said the cerclage was in place holding well and the ultrasound showed that I was still at 2.8cm, which was what I measured at 3 weeks prior. He said he was pleasantly surprised at my cervical length and foretold that I wasn't having this baby that night. He told me that I would need magnesium sulfate to stop the contractions and wanted the baby to get steroids for the lungs and head, two betamethasone shots 24 hours apart. They administer the first of two shots right there in my right butt cheek...ow.
After that, they brought me into my real room that I was going to be staying in; how long, I wasn't sure. I thought about this for awhile.
I want to say that I would be prepared for the birth of David, but even under the close supervision of a high risk OB (Regional Obstetrics Consultants) and a regular OB (Women's Physicians of Jacksonville) for the last 24 weeks or so, I still wasn't. I didn't know what, when, or how it all would happen exactly, but the day I went into the hospital I just had a feeling.
I had already had this feeling before, but with Emma. The day before I started having contractions, I felt a little off. In fact, I remember asking my husband and brother-in-law, Brad, for a blessing. The same thing happened with David. I was feeling tired, unusually more tired. I missed church (it was Stake Conference Sunday) and slept. Joel went ahead without me. I told him to take good notes. Because church was held at a different time, we had just put Emma down for a nap, so Joel felt okay leaving me. We both had a really good nap. I think Heavenly Father blessed me with this opportunity to sleep because I never get to nap when Emma naps. It usually never works out.
Joel and I had plans to go to his sister's for dinner. I felt quite rested and we had to eat anyway, so I thought it would be okay to go. I just told myself I was going to take it easy and sit on the couch most of the time we were there. For dinner, we had tortellini soup and dessert was spice cake. It was super tasty.
I remember talking with Brad and Lindley about how I felt like this baby just wanted to "head out". There was a lot of pressure really low. I felt like the baby was sitting so low the last couple of days and I even asked Lindley if she wanted to touch down there to see if it felt normal to her. She never did...because she was nursing Jayda, but I'm sure she would have. We have a special bond. Lol.
They sent us home with leftovers, which looking back, was pretty inspired. I'll explain in a minute.
We both did the night time routine with Emmy -- struggling to get Emmy more food to eat after dinner, bathtime, story time in mommy and daddy's bed, toothbrushing "fight", kisses and hugs for mommy, and Joel placing her in her crib and saying goodnight with a prayer and songs, "Love One Another" and "Silent Night".
I laid there in bed, silently, still and finally fully aware of my body. Night brings quiet time and reflection for me. Things slow down after Emma goes to sleep. I began to notice that at around 9pm, that "pressure" that I was feeling was becoming more intense and was coming at regular intervals. The lights turned on for me -- I was having contractions every 8 minutes. I continued to time them for another hour and a half before calling the doc. I didn't want it to be a false alarm.
When we called the doctor, he told us to wait another hour to see if the contractions would go away, and to call back if they didn't. Meanwhile, I told Joel to start packing our bags. He packed for me and Emma, in case we had to drop her off with someone. Because we didn't know when this would all happen, we didn't have a concrete plan of childcare for Emma. We called our friend, Kimberly Whipple, and she agreed to come over and stay with Emma while she slept.
The contractions didn't go away. They were surprisingly not painful, but very deliberate and steadily coming. The doctor on call, Frank Trogolo, told us to go to Baptist South, even though previously, they said if I delivered very early, they would send us to Baptist Downtown. Joel and I actually wanted to deliver downtown because we were told it was the best. Ironically, just the day before I took the tour of Baptist South's Labor and Delivery/Maternity Ward. I even pre-registered. It must have been fate that I was able to get that tour in...and it actually did make me feel more at ease because I knew where everything was, all my paperwork was in order, and it was all fresh in my mind.
Kimberly arrived and in our haste, I still managed to know my priorities. I packed food for the 30 minute car ride, even though I was completely stuffed from dinner. I even managed to eat one more serving of spice cake before leaving the house, for good measure, of course. Little did I know, that would be the last thing I ate until they let me eat again in the hospital. With Emma, it all happened so fast that I didn't get to eat a meal before being flown to Utah, and then they starved me for 50 hours before letting me eat ice chips, and administered tortuous magnesium sulfate all the while. I wasn't going to let that happen this time, at least, not on an empty stomach.
On the way to the hospital, Joel avoided a 10 car collision off of Kernan. We were driving pretty quickly, but he was able to see far enough ahead to know that cars were stopped on the road, some off to the side and some smack dab in the middle. As a car smashed into another car, sounds of screeching metal hitting the guardrail, he was able to think quickly and say that we needed to get off the road altogether and head for the exit ramp. He did some snake thing with our CRV winding through the hurricane of cars, and was able to safely get us off onto the exit. I remember yelling, "I don't feel safe! I don't feel safe!!!" As we were a little down the road, I continued to hear the sound of screeching cars and emergency braking with more cars impacting. I was so grateful that Joel was able to make these quick decisions. If I was driving, I would have probably just pulled off to the side and been rear ended. I was a deer in the headlights. I couldn't think clearly. I was frozen and scared. Joel handled it like a pro. We were able to drive just past all of the wreckage and proceed back onto the on ramp and barely lost any time. Heavenly Father was definitely looking out for us. I was grateful for Joel.
When we arrived at the hospital, it was about 10:30pm. We got admitted pretty quickly because the registration had been done. We actually spent more time waiting on a wheelchair to bring me up to the third floor. I tried chatting with the older black man who was wheeling me up, making small talk to take my mind off of things. I asked him how long he had been working at Baptist and if he liked it. He said 3 years and "no". He said it was time for a career change...I kinda felt sorry for him.
We arrived on the floor and they quickly whisked me into the triage room. They got me hooked up to a fetal heart rate monitor and measured that my contractions were 4 minutes apart. The baby's heart rate was normal and he seemed to be doing well despite what mommy was feeling. They had a really hard time starting an IV for me. Two nurses stuck me several times before they got a nurse anesthetist to come in. He only had to stick me once. His name was Tom. They immediately started me on fluids for hydration and the antibiotic ampicillin for possible Strep B. They also did a swap test to see if I would deliver, but it came out negative. I really didn't see the point in that test. Dr. Trogolo then arrived and came in and checked me. He said the cerclage was in place holding well and the ultrasound showed that I was still at 2.8cm, which was what I measured at 3 weeks prior. He said he was pleasantly surprised at my cervical length and foretold that I wasn't having this baby that night. He told me that I would need magnesium sulfate to stop the contractions and wanted the baby to get steroids for the lungs and head, two betamethasone shots 24 hours apart. They administer the first of two shots right there in my right butt cheek...ow.
After that, they brought me into my real room that I was going to be staying in; how long, I wasn't sure. I thought about this for awhile.
Friday, April 12, 2013
Goodbye Reefs, Hello Salt Waters
I have a sad goodbye to make, and it is a doosy. After a decade and a half, I must say goodbye to my beloved Reefs. They are wearing through, and the fabric is fraying. I could cry; after all, they have been with me since 1998--eight years longer than I have been with Joel...
These Reefs have really been a part of who I am. I am the Florida girl who wore her sandals into December when she lived in Minnesota and Idaho. I like to be free and these sandals allowed that. They took me Canada, China, Hong Kong, Puerto Rico, the Caribbean, every U.S. state except for Maine, Hawaii and Alaska. They have been on the beach, on the grass, on the turf, in the ocean, on a mountain, in a stream/river, in the woods, in the snow, on a bike, in a plane, in a wagon, in a canoe, out rock climbing, on the courts, at Disney World, to college, at church activities, in the car, on a boat, on a yacht, on a cruise ship, on my honeymoon, in the hospital when I gave birth, and countless other experiences/places. I could never say goodbye to them without being truly grateful.
Here's to the last 15 years! You've been wonderful to me, Reefs. Love ya!
I'm replacing them with these new babies. They are Salt Water Sandals. I think I may have had a pair as a kid in the 80s... They oddly feel very familiar.
I know, red. I decided I need more color in my life. We'll see if they hold up as long.
P.S. I also got Emma a matching pair, in silver. Aren't they cute?
These Reefs have really been a part of who I am. I am the Florida girl who wore her sandals into December when she lived in Minnesota and Idaho. I like to be free and these sandals allowed that. They took me Canada, China, Hong Kong, Puerto Rico, the Caribbean, every U.S. state except for Maine, Hawaii and Alaska. They have been on the beach, on the grass, on the turf, in the ocean, on a mountain, in a stream/river, in the woods, in the snow, on a bike, in a plane, in a wagon, in a canoe, out rock climbing, on the courts, at Disney World, to college, at church activities, in the car, on a boat, on a yacht, on a cruise ship, on my honeymoon, in the hospital when I gave birth, and countless other experiences/places. I could never say goodbye to them without being truly grateful.
Here's to the last 15 years! You've been wonderful to me, Reefs. Love ya!
I'm replacing them with these new babies. They are Salt Water Sandals. I think I may have had a pair as a kid in the 80s... They oddly feel very familiar.
I know, red. I decided I need more color in my life. We'll see if they hold up as long.
P.S. I also got Emma a matching pair, in silver. Aren't they cute?
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
27 Weeks! So close, I can taste it...
I have been truly blessed. I can't believe I've made it to 27 weeks pregnant with Baby #2. We're so close to the third trimester, I can taste it. I had a check up with my high risk OB this morning, and they say I'm doing well. My cervix is measuring 2.8cm, and only shortened 0.2cm vs. the last visit, when I shortened 1cm. They are still sticking to the fact that if I get to 2.0cm, they want to hospitalize me. That's not going to happen, here, folks. Positive thinking, right? In reality, it's truly been a miracle brought about by much prayer, fasting, blessings, and help from family and friends.
April 1st, we started a new routine where a friend and her kids watch Emma for about 3-5 hours a day, 4 days out of the week, so I can rest more...in bed. I have been on bed rest for the whole pregnancy, but I have never actually stayed in bed. It has been too difficult because Emma and I had so many doctors appointments, probably averaging one a day, and we needed a full-time nanny. So, getting a friend to help is so good. The first week went well, but lately Emma has been having some attachment issues. She doesn't want me to leave her. I've noticed some behavioral changes, too, as she has started throwing more tantrums. She also doesn't want to eat her dinner very much. It's really sad, but I know it's for Baby #2's good. At the same time, I am going to start going over to my friends house with Emma more, so at least I'll be with her and she can see/talk/play with me, even if I am lounging on their couch. Overall, I think we've struck a happy medium here: I still have my Emma time alone, but I still can get some needed bed rest and help.
I also have another good friend, who has become a friend through service, really. Before being pregnant with Baby #2, I never knew her. She signed up at church to come over and help Emma to the park. She shared how she had a similar experience with her pregnancies. We had a couple of rainy days where we couldn't go to the park, but she still stayed...and talked and cleaned and listened and put Emma down for a nap and rocked Emma and...She is one of those people who just knows how to help another person. Over my life, I have come to realize that this is truly a talent. It is not as easy as one may think to walk into a situation and see what someone needs and proceed to do it. I know because I have been that person who has tried, but I am sure has failed on many an occasion because of lack of knowledge, wisdom, experience, guts and my personality. I think, often people want to help, but they just don't know how. Anyways, this friend has helped by bringing me food, cleaning (my bathroom, my kitchen, vacuuming, sweeping, doing mirrors, the list goes on), doing laundry, taking Emma and I to the doctor, helping me with my allergies and pregnancy-induced asthma, bringing Emma toys, and just talking with me. She even texts me daily to see how I slept and if I and Emma are doing fine. I don't know how she does it, but she does. She really cares. It's amazing. And I am thankful. Yes, you know who you are...
It is people like her who have brought me to this point that I have never been to in pregnancy. I didn't think it was possible. I had learned to not get my hopes up too high during pregnancy thinking that would take the sting away if things didn't work out. Now, I feel lucky, but I know it is more than luck. I know that God has given me this wonderful chance, and whatever the outcome, I am grateful to have made it this far and experience more of everything--more flutter kicks from the miracle in my belly, more time to ponder motherhood, more acts of service, more faith and trust in my Heavenly Father, more prayer, more love between husband and wife, and more precious moments with Emma. I just love it. I love being pregnant and the experience this has been.
April 1st, we started a new routine where a friend and her kids watch Emma for about 3-5 hours a day, 4 days out of the week, so I can rest more...in bed. I have been on bed rest for the whole pregnancy, but I have never actually stayed in bed. It has been too difficult because Emma and I had so many doctors appointments, probably averaging one a day, and we needed a full-time nanny. So, getting a friend to help is so good. The first week went well, but lately Emma has been having some attachment issues. She doesn't want me to leave her. I've noticed some behavioral changes, too, as she has started throwing more tantrums. She also doesn't want to eat her dinner very much. It's really sad, but I know it's for Baby #2's good. At the same time, I am going to start going over to my friends house with Emma more, so at least I'll be with her and she can see/talk/play with me, even if I am lounging on their couch. Overall, I think we've struck a happy medium here: I still have my Emma time alone, but I still can get some needed bed rest and help.
I also have another good friend, who has become a friend through service, really. Before being pregnant with Baby #2, I never knew her. She signed up at church to come over and help Emma to the park. She shared how she had a similar experience with her pregnancies. We had a couple of rainy days where we couldn't go to the park, but she still stayed...and talked and cleaned and listened and put Emma down for a nap and rocked Emma and...She is one of those people who just knows how to help another person. Over my life, I have come to realize that this is truly a talent. It is not as easy as one may think to walk into a situation and see what someone needs and proceed to do it. I know because I have been that person who has tried, but I am sure has failed on many an occasion because of lack of knowledge, wisdom, experience, guts and my personality. I think, often people want to help, but they just don't know how. Anyways, this friend has helped by bringing me food, cleaning (my bathroom, my kitchen, vacuuming, sweeping, doing mirrors, the list goes on), doing laundry, taking Emma and I to the doctor, helping me with my allergies and pregnancy-induced asthma, bringing Emma toys, and just talking with me. She even texts me daily to see how I slept and if I and Emma are doing fine. I don't know how she does it, but she does. She really cares. It's amazing. And I am thankful. Yes, you know who you are...
It is people like her who have brought me to this point that I have never been to in pregnancy. I didn't think it was possible. I had learned to not get my hopes up too high during pregnancy thinking that would take the sting away if things didn't work out. Now, I feel lucky, but I know it is more than luck. I know that God has given me this wonderful chance, and whatever the outcome, I am grateful to have made it this far and experience more of everything--more flutter kicks from the miracle in my belly, more time to ponder motherhood, more acts of service, more faith and trust in my Heavenly Father, more prayer, more love between husband and wife, and more precious moments with Emma. I just love it. I love being pregnant and the experience this has been.
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| 24 Weeks Over a large milestone: this is when we had Emma! |
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| 25 Weeks Uncharted territory ;) |
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| 26 Weeks (technically this was the end) Baby is 2 lbs, 11.5 inches long! |
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Church Easter Activity
It's taken me a little while to post this, but I've been in the middle of a bunch of projects (will post on those later). The day after Emma and I went to an Easter egg hunt at a friends house, our church hosted an Easter Activity. We wanted to go as a family and enjoy holiday time together. Plus, Joel's sister and our brother-in-law were there, along with Emma's two cousins. It was a really fun time. Even though Emma missed her nap, she did surprisingly well. It must have been all that energizing candy she ate. Funny...because before this Easter she has only consumed two pieces of candy in her life, both lollipops and one of which was all-natural with no sugar. So, this was definitely a new experience for Emma.
The pictures really tell the story, so here they are. All I can say is that I love my family (look how cute they are) and this Easter was awesome!
The pictures really tell the story, so here they are. All I can say is that I love my family (look how cute they are) and this Easter was awesome!
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