blogging from the couch

Oh what a week it has been.

I have hesitated when sharing too much of my current pregnancy woes because there have been several surprises along the way. I have discovered a few things about myself as well. Like that I don't do well with the day by day "we'll see what happens" thing. I need a plan that includes an overall picture. I can be very flexible with that plan but I need something in place to start with. I also need lots of communication. That might not surprise many of you. Too much quiet time or space between check ins and my mind wanders and creates anxiety.

So what has been happening you ask?

Well, I have been put on bed rest. While baby is looking great and I'm feeling good, my cervix isn't staying completely closed so there is risk of preterm labor. I will avoid sharing all the details. I'm at 25 weeks right now and not due until May 13 so this little one needs to stay put and keep cooking for a while longer. I got the news about bed rest last Thursday afternoon. I've been getting ultrasounds every 2 weeks for almost 2 months now to keep an eye on things. While I've been on some minor physical limitations, we reached a point where the doctor felt like I needed to take greater caution.

SO...I am now getting weekly ultrasounds and twice monthly appointments with the doctor. I am supposed to be lying down for 3 hours every morning and afternoon with a break in the middle. I was just told today that I can get up and move around the house now. I was on more restricted bed rest over the weekend so this is good news. I can't do housework outside of sweeping really but I can prepare meals now, keep the house picked up, play with Lucy on the floor, sit in a chair, etc. I can't lift her or really anything else. I can't leave the house or play in my garden.

Rodney has been amazing and we are figuring out a new routine and role division. We had a system that was working before this but we've had to switch some things up. He has just added a bunch of tasks to his list but I'm hoping I can do a few more small things to help support him. Lucy is a trooper and is so full of compassion. She checks in with me and asks, "need anything mama?" She's getting used to the adjustment in what I can and cannot help her with. She's asking Daddy for more things and even preferring him over me at times. This is huge and probably one of the best gifts of the situation. She is starting to see him in a different way so that is pretty cool for both of them. She's so much more self sufficient these days too so that helps.

But we can't do this alone and we have such an amazing community of people around us who are taking care of us in ways that I could not have imagined. Firstly we have the group of women who have been our support since Lucy was born. All the kids are Lucy's age and we have stayed connected. These 5 women and their families are providing support through play dates, dinners, rides to the doctor, check in phone calls, running errands, getting me craft supplies and generally keeping our spirits up. Secondly, Lucy's caregiver, Lucretia, has agreed to take Lucy every morning from 8-12:30 and she just lives 4 houses away. She is walking Lucy home each day and is providing consistency and a chance for Lucy to get out of the house. Our co-op class have offered so many play dates that I have a calendar that is booking up. It's important because I am alone with Lucy every afternoon before Rodney gets home so this it is helpful to have someone here to keep her busy and connected. We had to back out of co-op until the Fall. Then add our neighbors and other friends who are filling in with breaks for Rodney on the weekend, check-ins, maternity massages, food, and lots of love. Then there is family. While they live far away, we are getting lots of check ins and a few are able to travel to visit us. So, with one visit a month, we'll have the help we need to give our local angels a break for a few days while our family takes over stocking the freezer, taking Lucy on outings and me to doctor appointments.

Seriously, in a time when there is a lot of anxiety and stress in the air both because of our situation and the world's situation, I am feeling blessed, supported, cared for and hopeful. We have what we need. All of this support to make sure this baby is safe and healthy and that our family is strong. I am just so grateful and deeply aware of how connected we are and must be.

As for me, I had to leave one of my two contract jobs but am able to keep working with one of them. This is another gift as I can cover most of our expenses for childcare from this income. I recently discovered a true passion for sewing and was able to finish my beginning class one week before the bed rest started. I'll be channeling my grandmother and trying my hand at quilting soon. Since I have to lay down most of the time, I will be getting better at hand stitches. So if you have any scrap fabric or stuff you're about to throw out, send it my way. I'll figure out what to do with it. Besides, I have a lot of thank you gifts to create.

So you'll be hearing a bit more about this experience over the weeks. Photos may be mostly from indoors too. But with a 2 1/2 year old, nothing is boring.