Counting My Blessings

My friend Jess shared an HG blog with me in which the author said something to the effect of "I'm prone to counting my vomiting sessions, not my blessings." Those of you who have hung in there with me through my endless posts about bathroom functions would probably say, "We know someone like that!" You all have been so patient while HG/NVP has been such a constant topic here. Thank you!

So tonight, I want to focus on counting my blessings. I talked to someone else tonight, who asked me essentially, "what else is going on in your life?" I told her that when you live your life in 2 hour increments, there's not much time for much else. And to a large degree that's true. But even still, God's faithfulness abounds. When I'm in the midst of heaving, it's really hard to remember that. So I guess think of this post as my Ebenezer stone--a reminder to myself of God's goodness.

My God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. His Son died on the cross for me, has forgiven me of all my sins, and His Spirit is my constant companion and wisdom. The Lord be ever praised!

I have the most wonderful, faithful, loving, patient, generous, servant-hearted, tender, compassionate, sweet, funny, long-suffering, wise, humble husband on the planet. We just celebrated 10 years since our first date--what an amazing gift this man is to me. I thought I knew it then, but God shows me more each day.

My sweet Matthew continues to grow inside me. He's been kicking up a STORM today. Through all my worrying, his carefree movements are such a sweet blessing of reassurance to me. It's as if he's saying, "It's ok, Momma! I'm just hangin out!"

DH got to feel Matthew for the first time today. His kicks were really strong. DH thought he felt him yesterday, but today it was really definite and DH felt him multiple times. I've been waiting so much for this!

I have so many wonderful friends and family who reach out to me, even when I'm in my funk and don't want to be reached out, and when I'm too sick to keep up my end of the relationship.

God continues to bless us so generously through our friends and family and even strangers with tangible resources and provisions for Baby Matthew.

I had one 30 hour period this weekend of no sickness. It was wonderful! My muscles got a chance to relax a little bit and the pain subsided some, I was able to eat some substantial food, I stopped feeling hungry, I was able to sleep long and hard, and I even got some quality time in with my parents and with DH. When the sickness came back, it was not as forceful or frequent, and I felt better prepared physically and mentally to handle it.

As I shared already, I have a wonderful, wise pastor who challenges and encourages me.

I am now 25 weeks along! Baby Matthew has graduated from a papaya to an eggplant! Funny how fruits and vegetables suddenly become cute!

So to close, here's what's going on with Matthew this week. He's been lying transversely and lowly, which I must say, while it puts a cramp in my digestive style, I haven't had the trouble breathing and the rib poking that a lot of my friends whose babies have been sitting higher have had. I guess he might start rotating soon. I certainly don't want him to start the birth process breach, but so far, it's been nice to have him hang out low. Guess he's going to start migrating any day though now...

Your little grower’s physical proportions are evening out at this point and most of their remaining development will largely be weight gain and lots and lots of nervous system development. The good news is: if your child is born premature now they’ll be more likely to survive without too much trauma as their lungs began to produce “surfactant” last week, which means their tiny respiratory system is getting stronger with each passing day. Yes, now’s a good time for a minor sigh of relief and a quick pat on the back. All that hard work and conscientious living is really getting your child prepared for a healthy delivery. Keep up the fabulous work mama! This week they’ll be scootching slowly out of the old breech position and start rotating (already!) into a better position for exit during their birth. Their head and feet are slowly rotating so that the head is pointed down towards the birth canal. Time is short (or really long, depending on who you ask)—just (still!) 14 weeks left before you can go back to being a single-resident human.