I'm not sure if I have ever asked people to stop praying, but if you are still praying that baby stays inside longer, feel free to stop and reverse your prayer! :)
I have less than 2 weeks to go to hit my 40 weeks. I keep having to remind myself that I prayed for this! My hands are swollen and numb, making the simplest tasks a little harder like buttoning shirts, opening basically anything, and writing. It feels like I have dipped my hands in a thick wax. My feet and legs are swollen too. I noticed this morning that the swelling has moved up to my knees, but at least it isn't uncomfortable like with my hands. I try to stop myself from complaining too much, because the sleepless nights, swelling, and just plain awkwardness of the end of the 3rd trimester is a small price to pay for a healthy full term baby. Now if he would just hurry up...
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Saturday, September 10, 2011
The Best Prescription Ever!
Around 1:00am on Friday morning I woke up with a horrible headache. My head was pounding and I felt a bit nauseous. I took Tylenol, despite longingly looking at the bottle of Advil sitting next to it. Tylenol has never worked well for me on real pain. It felt like I had a bad hangover. A couple hours later I was able to finally fall asleep again, comforted by the thought that I had a doctor's appointment later that morning.
Later that same morning I woke up with a mild headache and still had some mild nausea. The nurse's first thought was preeclampsia, but my blood pressure was low as normal 85/60, and I didn't exhibit any other symptoms. My doctor said he didn't have an answer for me and agreed that Tylenol doesn't work very well. His prescription: caffeine. He recommended drinking 2-3 cups of coffee a day when I needed it. Apparently the caffeine dilates the blood vessels which relieves headaches and that is why Excedrin contains it. I always thought that when you had a headache, drank coffee, and it went away it meant you were addicted to it. Apparently not. Regardless, I can honestly say that this is the best prescription that I have ever been given. I wonder if I could put a Starbuck's latte on my flex-spending card? :)
Later that same morning I woke up with a mild headache and still had some mild nausea. The nurse's first thought was preeclampsia, but my blood pressure was low as normal 85/60, and I didn't exhibit any other symptoms. My doctor said he didn't have an answer for me and agreed that Tylenol doesn't work very well. His prescription: caffeine. He recommended drinking 2-3 cups of coffee a day when I needed it. Apparently the caffeine dilates the blood vessels which relieves headaches and that is why Excedrin contains it. I always thought that when you had a headache, drank coffee, and it went away it meant you were addicted to it. Apparently not. Regardless, I can honestly say that this is the best prescription that I have ever been given. I wonder if I could put a Starbuck's latte on my flex-spending card? :)
Friday, September 2, 2011
Hello September!
Our busy summer is coming to a close with many exciting things ahead. Our garage has good progress and hopefully by the end of next week will have siding and electricity. Doors come after that and once they are up we get to move Benjamin's roommate (the upright freezer) out to begin to make room for little brother. Brian is exhausted as he has been the primary builder of the garage, but also excited as this is something he as wanted since he moved in almost 6 years ago after we were married. We call it a garage, but in reality it will be Brian's shop.
Little brother is due in just over 4 weeks! As of yesterday they estimate his weight to be 5lbs and 13oz by ultrasound. That is right at 50% and where they want him to be. Everything looks great and the doctors are very pleased with how this pregnancy is going. Now if only the swelling in my feet would go down and my hands stop going numb...but I really don't have rights to complain as God has taken care of me and baby every step of the way.
We went to the ear specialist today for a followup on Benjamin's ears. Another blessing, Benjamin's ears have improved and therefore tubes are not necessary at this time. He still has some negative pressure and his right ear is not quite in the "normal" hearing range, therefore we are going to continue using his nasal spray until next spring to get him through the cold season to help prevent ear infections.
Benjamin has really started to say words or at least attempt them. He is still delayed for his age, but making notable progress every week. His understanding is very good (that doesn't mean he always obeys...typical 2 year old) and he has started repeating words often. One thing that I don't think he understands is that a baby is going to join the family. He can point at a baby he sees and say baby, but sometimes I ask him where the baby is and he pulls up his shirt. Apparently baby and belly are synonymous in his mind. :)
Little brother is due in just over 4 weeks! As of yesterday they estimate his weight to be 5lbs and 13oz by ultrasound. That is right at 50% and where they want him to be. Everything looks great and the doctors are very pleased with how this pregnancy is going. Now if only the swelling in my feet would go down and my hands stop going numb...but I really don't have rights to complain as God has taken care of me and baby every step of the way.
We went to the ear specialist today for a followup on Benjamin's ears. Another blessing, Benjamin's ears have improved and therefore tubes are not necessary at this time. He still has some negative pressure and his right ear is not quite in the "normal" hearing range, therefore we are going to continue using his nasal spray until next spring to get him through the cold season to help prevent ear infections.
Benjamin has really started to say words or at least attempt them. He is still delayed for his age, but making notable progress every week. His understanding is very good (that doesn't mean he always obeys...typical 2 year old) and he has started repeating words often. One thing that I don't think he understands is that a baby is going to join the family. He can point at a baby he sees and say baby, but sometimes I ask him where the baby is and he pulls up his shirt. Apparently baby and belly are synonymous in his mind. :)
Dish Help
Picking Beans
Serious Reader
Friday, August 5, 2011
Canning Season
It's August, which means it's canning time. I have found that this is an almost-lost art that I think is coming back around. I grew up in a home where mom canned everything from peaches to cherries to beans to relish to pickles. We always had a big garden and when my parents built their house 28 years ago, they even planned a special room in the basement to store all of mom's canned goods. We called it the fruit room. I remember being sent down and told to "pick a fruit" for that evening's meal. How amazing to have a whole grocery aisle in your home!
Now that I have my own home and garden I have enjoyed harvesting from it and preserving food for the winter. There is something wonderful about planting seeds, caring for them as they grow, and harvesting with your own hands. This year is the first year I have been blessed to stay home and it makes canning and preserving that much more fun. It is also something that I know how to do to help provide for my family, which feels good.
Earlier this month I picked raspberries and froze pulp for freezer jam (sooo much better than store bought!) and last week I picked blueberries to freeze since our family loves them with oatmeal. Earlier this week I made pesto out of our basil to freeze (there is nothing better in the middle of winter than a good pesto pasta). Today I picked my third crop of green beans and canned them. My hope is to can carrots, beets, peaches, and applesauce before the season is over.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
31 weeks!
...and the countdown begins. Am I really 6 weeks beyond were Benjamin was born? Today I had another appointment and everything looks great again. What a blessing...seriously. I remember saying early on in my pregnancy how cool it would be to make it to 32 weeks and it looks like I am going to do it. Who knows, maybe I will go past due! Bring it on! The ultrasound tech got a great shot of my sweet little guy. I think he looks like his brother, but we will have to wait to really find out. He weighs 3lbs 11oz, well over double the size Benjamin was at birth. Thank you, Jesus...
Monday, July 25, 2011
Blankets for My Boys
Over the past several months I have been working on making blankets for my boys. For Benjamin, I wanted to make a quilt for his toddler bed. My budget was pretty limited since we have lots of other money-guzzling projects and medical bills, so I tried to be creative with what I had. I went to my quilting stash of pieces from various projects and was able to find enough for the squares and even the backing, so my only expenses were the sashing and batting. After hours of piecing it together and even more hours of doing the hand-quilting, I finally finished this project about a week ago. I was pretty pleased with how it turned out, especially since it was made with scraps.
Last week I finally pulled out the material I bought back in May to make our baby boy a blanket. About 3 years ago I started making blankets as my signature gift for baby showers for the ladies at church. They consist of 5-6 different fabrics of a mixture of satin, flannel, and cotton with a fuzzy fleece backing. I have fun trying to tailor the blanket to the baby/mom as best as I can. This blanket is my 9th one (yes, we have had quite the baby boom at church in recent years), so I was able to finish it in just a few evenings.
Last week I finally pulled out the material I bought back in May to make our baby boy a blanket. About 3 years ago I started making blankets as my signature gift for baby showers for the ladies at church. They consist of 5-6 different fabrics of a mixture of satin, flannel, and cotton with a fuzzy fleece backing. I have fun trying to tailor the blanket to the baby/mom as best as I can. This blanket is my 9th one (yes, we have had quite the baby boom at church in recent years), so I was able to finish it in just a few evenings.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Reflections
I have officially been bit by the nesting bug. Collecting items for baby, buying things like diapers, pacifiers, a special coming home outfit and blanket, a baby book, making a blanket, preparing Benjamin, and working on a bag to take to the hospital. Yesterday, as I drove home from yet another appointment, I had a strange realization. I am so excited to hold my baby boy. Sounds strange, huh?
When Benjamin was born it took me a while before I realized that though he survived and was well, which I still praise God for on a regular basis, I went through a grieving process. I had my little boy, but I mourned the loss of the "normal" experience I expected...a tough labor/c-section resulting in a baby being placed in my arms, staring down at a chubby, wrinkly, 9 lb boy (there is a history of high birth weights in my family), and taking him home a few days later. I recall sitting in the cafeteria of the hospital during his NICU stay when a birthing class came in for a lunch break. I ached with envy as I realized those women would likely deliver full-term babies. They would get to take them home soon after they were born. Their children would not be followed by half a dozen specialists, nor would not need multiple surgeries. They would just get to be moms of typical babies.
A natural instinct against pain is self-defense. If someone breaks your heart, you learn and guard it more carefully next time. If you don't allow yourself to feel something completely, then it doesn't hurt as bad if things go wrong, right? I think the same thing has happened in this situation. I have loved this baby since I knew he was on the way, but a part of me has held back. I didn't want to grieve the experience again. By doing this, however, I now realize I have robbed myself of so much. How much joy have I exchanged for the hope of protection against more hurt? When Benjamin was at one of his worst points after his first surgery, when we were not sure if he would make it or not, our good friend and pastor Zach, gave us words that I will never forget. He told us to basically savor every moment with Benjamin - really enjoy him, because we don't ever know when it will be the last. This was not coming out of fear, but out of purely loving and enjoying the time that God has given us with him, whether it be 3 days or 75 years. Maybe this is what Jesus meant when He said not to worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries.
As for me, I still get concerned about this little guy, but I am allowing myself to fully love him, enjoy each kick, and daydream about a chubby little boy being placed directly in my arms, being slightly nervous about taking him home a few days after he is born. Also, knowing that if anything else should happen, I can once again lean on the shoulders of a very big God who heals hurts and mends broken hearts.
When Benjamin was born it took me a while before I realized that though he survived and was well, which I still praise God for on a regular basis, I went through a grieving process. I had my little boy, but I mourned the loss of the "normal" experience I expected...a tough labor/c-section resulting in a baby being placed in my arms, staring down at a chubby, wrinkly, 9 lb boy (there is a history of high birth weights in my family), and taking him home a few days later. I recall sitting in the cafeteria of the hospital during his NICU stay when a birthing class came in for a lunch break. I ached with envy as I realized those women would likely deliver full-term babies. They would get to take them home soon after they were born. Their children would not be followed by half a dozen specialists, nor would not need multiple surgeries. They would just get to be moms of typical babies.
A natural instinct against pain is self-defense. If someone breaks your heart, you learn and guard it more carefully next time. If you don't allow yourself to feel something completely, then it doesn't hurt as bad if things go wrong, right? I think the same thing has happened in this situation. I have loved this baby since I knew he was on the way, but a part of me has held back. I didn't want to grieve the experience again. By doing this, however, I now realize I have robbed myself of so much. How much joy have I exchanged for the hope of protection against more hurt? When Benjamin was at one of his worst points after his first surgery, when we were not sure if he would make it or not, our good friend and pastor Zach, gave us words that I will never forget. He told us to basically savor every moment with Benjamin - really enjoy him, because we don't ever know when it will be the last. This was not coming out of fear, but out of purely loving and enjoying the time that God has given us with him, whether it be 3 days or 75 years. Maybe this is what Jesus meant when He said not to worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries.
As for me, I still get concerned about this little guy, but I am allowing myself to fully love him, enjoy each kick, and daydream about a chubby little boy being placed directly in my arms, being slightly nervous about taking him home a few days after he is born. Also, knowing that if anything else should happen, I can once again lean on the shoulders of a very big God who heals hurts and mends broken hearts.
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