Bedrest Blogs Week 5

This is Hope playing in a laundry basket at a friend's house. Last night I was also trying to capture Hope's first little ponytail. Hope makes a funny face, then she tries to get on her car while shedding her overalls. She's getting so big, and she's lots of fun!!!

So, week 5...

Dr. Appt.: Not much to report here. Everything is steady, and we decided I should stay on bedrest until approx. the first week in May. My doctor is so pumped to meet my sister, Liz, and Liz's boys. So, Liz, you have to come to an appt. with me while you are here for all of April. This doctor of mine is pretty cool. She contacted us after Grace was born, and showed us a lot of care during that time. We had many talks about our story, Liz's story, and where to go from there. So glad to have her along on our journey.

Best:

• Steady days! So thankful for that! 31 weeks today.


• I've also had a visit from my neighbor who came to 'chew the fat'. We discussed baby's gender, news from the neighbors, and home improvement projects.


• I've also seen some friends from church this week...I'm convinced it is helping this time go faster.


• Liz and Andy, Judah and Asher are on their way to Sioux City as we speak!! They will park in Sioux City sometime today, and we will see them tomorrow night for dinner probably. Liz will start 'bedrest duty' next week on Tuesday. We're thankful for their safe travels, as pulling your home all those miles can be an anxious thing.


• Monster Cookie Ice Cream.

Worst: This week I've had a tired spell, and also a very hungry spell. Not really that bad. Maybe an adequate 'worst'' would be that it's not warm enough to open the windows yet. We'll get there very soon, I suspect.

I've had a few people comment on my good attitude with all of this. That makes me happy that what is shining through is an attitude of grace and acceptance. My earnest hope and prayer in life is that an attitude of grace and acceptance would shine through in my friendships, parenting, ministry, and marriage. A few of these days I've struggled with contentment, and with sharing Hope, and with not being able to just do things for myself. But for the most part, it's easy for me to just not think about the situation, and just enjoy the show I'm watching, or the game I'm playing, or the book I'm reading, or the conversation I'm having. I'll tell you the truth though, about when it's hardest. It's hardest when I can't do what I want to with Hope. *sigh* That will come. I'm patient because it is so worth it.

**Can't wait to meet you, sweet baby girl on the way!**

Bedrest Blogs Week 4

30 weeks today!
One month of bedrest down, 1.5 to go.

Best: Grammie and Papa Rick came to visit this week. Papa didn't stay very long, but for the short time that he was here, he got to hold Hope for the first time since she was born. She has been a little fearful of him, but this time we put raisins in his hands, and before she knew what she was doing, she was enjoying her 'drink and treat' with Papa. (Drink and Treat=nourishment just before bed. Usually it consists of only milk.)

While my mom was here, we caught up. She also cleaned, played with Hope, and made sure there was food on the table three times a day. Her favorite things to do while she was here: give Hope baths, go on walks with Hope, watch/talk to/play with Hope. I'm really glad Mom had such a great time with Hope, and me. Sad to see her go today!

More best: My sister Liz, and her family are coming next week for the whole month of April. Awesome! She will help us a few days a week. I'm so excited to spend more time with them all!

Dr. appt: Really great visit this week! Things are no worse. The doctor did say that from her observations, things seem a little bit better every week...the power of our God, and our prayers! We continue to pray for the babies kidneys, that the baby would no longer be breech, and at least 6 more weeks of pregnancy.

Worst: ....uhhh....

Bedrest Blogs Week 3

Celebrating today the little life that is growing and developing in week 29. I'm trying not to get so focused on the pregnancy and what is or isn't going on, so that I forget about the end result.

There's a baby on the way!

A new little girly who will bring us joy, and teach us so much.

What will her name be?

What will she look like?

Will she be a lot like Hope, or totally different?

What will her personality be like?

It's exciting, I'm excited, we're all excited.

Dr. appt.:

• Monday's Dr. appt. brought some great news. I passed the glucola test, so no gestational diabetes this time around. This is a blessing in many ways, especially because we have many meals coming in the house. When I saw the Dr. it went very quickly and she didn't say much more than, "Things look good!" Meaning, things are steady, and not much different than last week. So, bedrest is working, and there's still a need to be very careful.
• This week we also had an ultrasound at the hospital to check up on the baby's kidneys. Her kidneys are retaining some fluid still, which means they aren't draining properly, so we're going to check them again in six weeks. This next appt. will tell us if we need to focus on her kidneys after she is born. I suppose time will tell if she will require a kidney surgery after delivery to make sure all the plumbing issues are worked out. We're praying for God's special touch to remove this issue.

Best: This has been a really good week. I've had great company, very little contraction activity, and the weather has been great. Yesterday I was able to get out and enjoy it since I had the ultrasound appt. We needed to kill some time in the city after the appt. (waiting until 5 so we could receive a wonderful dinner from a church friend). So while we were killing time, we found a cute little park downtown with a bench for me and playground equipment for Hope and Luke. Hope walked around on the basketball court, but when she came to the drop-off into the grass, she would say 'whoa!' and would not go any further. Luke had to coax her, and she finally braved the green stuff (or brown-ish, green stuff). So, since we had that brief outdoor time, I got to witness Hope's first park experience with swings, slides, walking, reaching, hanging, laughing and dancing. *Sheesh, can't believe I forgot my camera.

Another best: all the wonderful meals, and miscellaneous generosity. We are incredibly thankful, and don't really know how to express our thanks.

Worst: Pregnancy rash. Yes, rash. It's not contagious, nor due to bedrest or hygiene practices. It's solely pregnancy hormones. Red, itchy, everywhere. The Dr. suggested hydrocortizone, but as far as I've read, it will be something that lasts until after delivery. Oh well.

We're hanging in there! And we're very thankful for every day.

Psalm 42:8

The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime; and His song will be with me in the night, a prayer to the God of my life.

Psalm 17:9

Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure

Psalm 28:7

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him and I am helped.

Psalm 62:5&8

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.

Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

"Our burdens are our wings; on them we soar to higher realms of grace; without them we must ever roam on plains of undeveloped faith, (For faith grows but by exercise in circumstance impossible).

--Streams in the Desert, March 9

Bedrest bafflement

This is what I see out my window all day long. Why, oh, why is my neighbor still parking on the lawn? The snow is gone, sir. (OK, most of the snow...there is still a random patch clearly visible in the picture.) There is no more need to worry about snow plows. Please, move it for me.

Bedrest Bright Spot

I PASSED!!!

Today I had to take a glucola test at my Dr. appt. It's when you drink a really sugary drink and an hour later they check your blood sugar levels. If the number they measure is above 129, you have to go do a three hour test at the hospital to see if you have gestational diabetes. When I was pregnant with Hope I failed every glucola test, so I had to manage my diabetes with my diet.

Well, not this time! I couldn't believe it when the nurse told me I passed. My number was 124, so very close, but not close enough!

This made me soooo happy. How great to not have to worry about this too. I thanked God, because I think this is a gift from Him.

Do you know what this means??? This means I can partake of the yummy ice cream that was delivered to our house this weekend. In moderation of course.

I want to take this opportunity to address the cause of gestational diabetes. I feel like there are a lot of misconceptions. I don't know everything exactly, which makes me really hesitant to bring it up, but I've heard it from the doctor's mouth, so I feel compelled.

A) Raise your hand if you think eating lots of sweets during pregnancy will give you gest. diab. ....anyone?

B) Now raise your hand if you think pregnancy hormones make it hard for insulin to interact with glucose, thereby making your blood sugar too high! ....anyone?

B is true. So the important thing here....when a mommy has gestational diabetes, it's not her fault, friends. Blame it on the hormones.

OK, bring on the objections, you fellow know-it-alls!

Bedrest Bright Spot

28 weeks!

This is a wonderful milestone! This is one of those points the doctors and hospitals are anxious for a mommy to get to. So thankful we've made it!

Looking forward to our next milestone: week 32!!

But, one day at a time, right? :)