MommyCoddle

I think today will be better…
All seem to be in better spirits. I have had a rough two days with the girls. Everyone seemed a little out of whack, especially Emma. I was getting to the point with her to threaten the "Daddy will deal with you when he comes home" type of punishment. But this morning, she woke up, made her bed, put her pajamas away, and just now brought me a cup of ice for my bottle of water. (odd-sounding I’m sure, but a gesture of peace, since the favor brought a complete meltdown when asked just yesterday)…

We’re headed out for a long list of short errands starting with a walk around the track at the community college and some time in the library.
I’m excited at the prospect of making dinner for my family tonight. My grandmother has graciously been inviting us for dinner several times this week. It was a wonderful blessing when the thought of walking across the room felt like a marathon. But today, it will feel good to "get back in there"….

This guy has been loved very hard, and I think I’ll give his little eye some attention today. Maybe even make him a friend.

Oh, and I told you these were entertaining, but here’s a little proof. They just don’t stop giving, I tell ya.

And The Shots are still going in strong and stingy. My husband is getting very good at the pinch and stick part. If they didn’t burn, it wouldn’t be bad at all. And my stomach looks like I was in a bad karate fight. As if the old stretchmarks weren’t ugly enough.
If you’re brave enough to see….

And thanks again for all your wonderfully encouraging and thoughtful comments about all this. It really helped–you have no idea how much. It was especially encouraging to hear I’m not the only one to have a ‘complicated’ pregnancy. I was starting to foolishly feel like everyone in the world had happy, healthy normal pregnancies but me. But I’m reminded by another blogging friend that I need to be absolutely thankful for my pregnancy no matter what the little costs along the way.

I just wrote out a long version of my trials and tribulations this weekend, but rereading it, I was already tired of the story. Tired of living it out one more time. So, instead I’ll give you the short version.

I had a few small complications with my pregnancy.
My midwife asked me to get an ultrasound for peace of mind.
The baby is healthy and fine.
The ultrasound found a bloodclot in my groin.
I was admitted to the hospital for three days to treat the bloodclot.
Now, I have to give myself(actually Dan is giving me)  two shots twice a day in my abdomen for the remainder of my pregnancy.

It has been a whirlwind. It all started so innocently, with just a prenatal checkup. I have driven back and forth to Baltimore more times than I remember.
I’m feeling completely overwhelmed by the whole experience. I’m having a hard time grasping what I just went through, because it happened so quickly. I’m struggling with feeling "normal" again. The shots really burn and sting and my stomach is a little bruised and sore from them. But this whole experience could potentially have been life-saving and a little pain should be worth it all in the end. I’m just having a hard time finding the relief and joy in all this….at least for the moment.

But, I do know that God is faithful and wise and caring.

I’m thankful that I was able to walk out of the hospital– leaving behind me rooms and rooms of people who may never have the privilege and joy of walking out of there into the fresh open air, and into the arms of family who loves them.
I am so unbelievable thankful for a wonderfully strong and gentle husband who takes good care of me and my children.
I am thankful for a sister and mother who dropped everything to meet me in the emergency room and always found a little humor in the midst of the yuck.
And I’m thankful that those little purple latex gloves I swiped from my hospital room are providing my children with so much entertainment that I’m able to get this quick post in.

If you’ve made it this far, thanks for listening to my personal stuff. Bear with me as I emerge from my little cloud back into the sun.

things i love…secrets. mary’s standby secret? "candy." whenever I ask her to tell me a secret, that’s the one I always get. Today she added, "please" in the next breath.

what does Mary love? ravioli for lunch, spilling down the shirt her mommy made for her last week.

what else do I love? a jaw line. which appears to be missing from this angle….hmph.