Portions of my blog entry, Shame on You Arizona Right to Life were recently printed in the most recent edition of "The Caleb Report," a newsletter by Life Decisions International, a major player in the pro-life world.
However, it leaves off my last name with the caption "last name withheld by request." There must be some confusion or breakdown in communication on their part, because no one ever contacted me regarding reprinting my text, or to inquire about what my last name is. While I do give permission (in the footer of this blog) for portions of my blog to be reprinted, and I have no issues with the fact that they did reprint it (the more people who can get the information, the better), it gives the impression that I am unwilling to stand by my words, which is simply untrue. I was never contacted, and I never declined revealing my name. It's just silly anyway, because as I was with the organization for 5 years, most of their active members know my last name anyway.
For the record, my name is Jennifer Wright.
Edited to Add, correction 2: In my first draft, I mistakenly linked to Life Dynamics, Incorporated, rather than Life Decisions International. There are two pro-life LDIs, and I mixed up their links. I have since corrected my error.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Morning Sickness and Meditations
Morning all!
First, I want to go on record and say that "Morning Sickness" is a big fat lie. It should be titled, "morning-noon-and-night sickness!" I think I was truly unprepared for how challenging pregnancy would be. I'm not even a week farther along than we made it the first time and I feel so incredibly different than I did that time.
It's weird actually being pregnant after so many years of wanting to be pregnant. The last few days, I've felt really pretty awful. I went from Tuesday night through last night in constant sickness, with no reprieve. I made it to work for a coupkl
First, I want to go on record and say that "Morning Sickness" is a big fat lie. It should be titled, "morning-noon-and-night sickness!" I think I was truly unprepared for how challenging pregnancy would be. I'm not even a week farther along than we made it the first time and I feel so incredibly different than I did that time.
It's weird actually being pregnant after so many years of wanting to be pregnant. The last few days, I've felt really pretty awful. I went from Tuesday night through last night in constant sickness, with no reprieve. I made it to work for a coupkl
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Update on our Friends
Our friends lost their sweet little one today. It's not the outcome we were all praying for but they are believers too and know their baby is with Jesus. Please pray for them as they celebrate this little life and mourn their loss. Thank you for your prayers for them.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Afternoon Update
I called my OB this morning to talk to my nurse because when I called on Monday, she had specifically asked, several times about spotting. Since she'd specifically wanted to know about it, I thought I'd call and chat with her about it. She was with a patient, so the receptionist took a message. About half an hour later, the receptionist called back and said that the doctor wanted me to come in this afternoon. I was a little alarmed by the urgency, but my friends told me that it's pretty standard procedure for an OB to want to check things out with spotting. That was one thing that was so refreshingly different. The reason we chose this doctor (aside from his medical skill) is because he's as pro-life as we are. This was a baby to him, not a "product of conception" or a "fetus." I loved that. I didn't feel like he thought I was crazy or overreacting. An RE's office is just different. Don't get me wrong--my RE is a WONDERFUL practitioner and I can't say enough good things about him. But in their field, the way early life is viewed is just much more clinical. And statistics brace them and their patients for the worst, not the best (case in point, my first phone call with the nurse down there). My OB is the exact opposite, which was wonderful for my heart.
So, I went in. It took him a really long time to find anything. After a long time of looking, he said "I'm not seeing anything in your sac." I just closed my eyes and lay there praying that God would give me strength to hear the news I thought was coming.
He looked some more than then he said, "Wait, there's a little flicker." And we saw it briefly, but then it was gone again. So he moved the wand some more and all the sudden, it was dead center, flickering away, plain as day.
We saw one heartbeat. Then he said the baby measured 5 weeks, 5 days, and I should technically be 6 weeks 1 day, but he said he didn't think that was cause for concern. The heart looked like it was beating really slow and I told him that and he said it was ok because it's early. But then when I asked for the rate, he said it was 116-which isn't slow and is right where it should be!
He also said that the fact that we only saw one is not conclusive about whether both implanted or not since it's so early.
So, he's doing another ultrasound next week. (Oh darn, we get to see baby again). He said he just thinks it will tell us more. He said he could see some spotting still up in there preparing to come down but he didn't think it was cause for worry.
He told me to cool it at the gym (again, oh darn) and just rest and come back next week.
I'm exhausted after all the emotional ups and downs of the appointment. But, so far, it's good news! Not the "all clear" we were hoping for, but definitely good! Please keep praying though that baby's just small and that this really isn't anything to worry about! 2 days is not really a huge difference but it seems so significant when their size and everything is so dramatically different from day to day. But, I refuse to go looking for worry, so, we're focusing on the good news.
I feel absolutely awful today, (in a good way), so that's hampering my ability to feel much of anything except barfy, but we really are excited!
The dot between the two + signs is the baby! Baby is SOO tiny! It's crazy!
So, I went in. It took him a really long time to find anything. After a long time of looking, he said "I'm not seeing anything in your sac." I just closed my eyes and lay there praying that God would give me strength to hear the news I thought was coming.
He looked some more than then he said, "Wait, there's a little flicker." And we saw it briefly, but then it was gone again. So he moved the wand some more and all the sudden, it was dead center, flickering away, plain as day.
We saw one heartbeat. Then he said the baby measured 5 weeks, 5 days, and I should technically be 6 weeks 1 day, but he said he didn't think that was cause for concern. The heart looked like it was beating really slow and I told him that and he said it was ok because it's early. But then when I asked for the rate, he said it was 116-which isn't slow and is right where it should be!
He also said that the fact that we only saw one is not conclusive about whether both implanted or not since it's so early.
So, he's doing another ultrasound next week. (Oh darn, we get to see baby again). He said he just thinks it will tell us more. He said he could see some spotting still up in there preparing to come down but he didn't think it was cause for worry.
He told me to cool it at the gym (again, oh darn) and just rest and come back next week.
I'm exhausted after all the emotional ups and downs of the appointment. But, so far, it's good news! Not the "all clear" we were hoping for, but definitely good! Please keep praying though that baby's just small and that this really isn't anything to worry about! 2 days is not really a huge difference but it seems so significant when their size and everything is so dramatically different from day to day. But, I refuse to go looking for worry, so, we're focusing on the good news.
I feel absolutely awful today, (in a good way), so that's hampering my ability to feel much of anything except barfy, but we really are excited!
The dot between the two + signs is the baby! Baby is SOO tiny! It's crazy!
Morning Update
Thank you all for your prayers. It blesses us so much to know our babies have so many prayer warriors on their sides! We really felt God's presence and I was able to focus my prayers on asking for His will, His strength, His peace, and trust and faith in Him, rather than on sparing their lives. Because ultimately, we want His will, not ours. And I know that desire comes from Him, too. So thanks for your intercession. I truly believed God used the strength and peace you prayed for to direct my thoughts and prayers.
By the time I fell asleep last night, the cramping had stopped. I was still spotting, but a few hours later when I woke up to use the bathroom, it had stopped and it has remained gone this morning.
This morning, my morning sickness nausea turned into full-blown morning sickness barfing, which I took as a good sign that hormones are still increasing. So I'm actually grateful to be feeling so yucky. I'm pretty sleepy from being up a lot last night so I'm just going to try to take it easy today-just working and then resting, no gym tonight. I will call my doctor in when he opens in a few minutes to see if he wants me to do anything, but we're believing in faith that everything is still ok.
By the time I fell asleep last night, the cramping had stopped. I was still spotting, but a few hours later when I woke up to use the bathroom, it had stopped and it has remained gone this morning.
This morning, my morning sickness nausea turned into full-blown morning sickness barfing, which I took as a good sign that hormones are still increasing. So I'm actually grateful to be feeling so yucky. I'm pretty sleepy from being up a lot last night so I'm just going to try to take it easy today-just working and then resting, no gym tonight. I will call my doctor in when he opens in a few minutes to see if he wants me to do anything, but we're believing in faith that everything is still ok.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Prayer Request
After working out tonight I had a little bit of spotting and cramping. It was very mild and the spotting only happened once and not since so I am trying not to worry. My workout was really easy (swimming, easy bike and treadmill, and body-weight only exercises and stretches) and I'm going to take it easy the rest of the night.
We of course want to pray that this is nothing, but more than that, we pray for the Lord's will to be done in our lives, and in theirs. We'd love it if you would join us in intercession.
Thank you!
We of course want to pray that this is nothing, but more than that, we pray for the Lord's will to be done in our lives, and in theirs. We'd love it if you would join us in intercession.
Thank you!
Cute story
I used to see an OB for my annual exams and for treatment/maintenance of my PCOS. Once we got our IF diagnosis and decided to pursue EA, I transferred my care to an RE. I haven't been back to my OB since, as my RE just did my annual exams, too.
So, it's been years since I was there. I called yesterday to make an appointment and I (happily) spoke to a nurse who was my favorite from before. I said "Hi Maria, this is Jennifer _________. How are you?" Like my first name, my last name is pretty generic, and it's been years since we spoke so I didn't expect her to remember me. And at first, she didn't. There was no recognition in her voice.
But, my OB's office takes your picture for your file. It took her a minute to pull up my file and suddenly she exclaimed, "Oh my God, Jennifer!!!!" She literally squealed with delight when I told her we were pregnant. She asked me over and over and over again if I was feeling alright and if I was bleeding at all and I kept assuring her that I feel great. She was so excited! I was so grateful for her little celebration.
We'd also been vacillating on whether or not to return to this OB--he's a wonderful practitioner, but we have ideological differences, especially on the morality of EA. But I know he gives wonderful care, I like that I know him, I like the hospital he delivers at, so we decided to stick with him. The conversation with Maria eased my concerns and confirmed that staying with him is the best thing for us.
So, I was just tickled pink and so honored that she would be so happy for us.
I think I'm finally starting to feel really pregnant. When you undergo an FET, you know you're pregnant MUCH earlier than a woman who gets pregnant the good old fashioned way does, simply because you don't have to wait until a missed period to start testing, and you have a doctor-ordered blood test confirmation right away. So, I'd tell people (strangers-not my friends, they're very supportive) I am pregnant and they'd ask me how far along I am and I'd say "4 weeks" or something like that and people would just look at me cross-eyed. I think a lot of people adopt the attitude that you shouldn't celebrate that early, and a lot of people just flat out don't know that early, so I was an oddball.
But 6 weeks feels like a "legitimately pregnant" number (so far as the world is concerned)--normal women know they're pregnant by now. First trimester effects are in full swing. Other people know they're due in early February by now, too. Now when I tell people, I get a loving or a knowing "oh, that's nice" look instead of a "wow, you're weird" look. I don't know--not that the babies' lives weren't legitimate before, because they were and are. It just feels like I'm entering an exclusive club that I've previously been left out of. The club of normal! It's actually kind of nice!
Today's my day off so I'd better boogie and get some work done this morning while my energy is high. TTFN!
Continuing to celebrate today, and praise the Creator of this day.
So, it's been years since I was there. I called yesterday to make an appointment and I (happily) spoke to a nurse who was my favorite from before. I said "Hi Maria, this is Jennifer _________. How are you?" Like my first name, my last name is pretty generic, and it's been years since we spoke so I didn't expect her to remember me. And at first, she didn't. There was no recognition in her voice.
But, my OB's office takes your picture for your file. It took her a minute to pull up my file and suddenly she exclaimed, "Oh my God, Jennifer!!!!" She literally squealed with delight when I told her we were pregnant. She asked me over and over and over again if I was feeling alright and if I was bleeding at all and I kept assuring her that I feel great. She was so excited! I was so grateful for her little celebration.
We'd also been vacillating on whether or not to return to this OB--he's a wonderful practitioner, but we have ideological differences, especially on the morality of EA. But I know he gives wonderful care, I like that I know him, I like the hospital he delivers at, so we decided to stick with him. The conversation with Maria eased my concerns and confirmed that staying with him is the best thing for us.
So, I was just tickled pink and so honored that she would be so happy for us.
I think I'm finally starting to feel really pregnant. When you undergo an FET, you know you're pregnant MUCH earlier than a woman who gets pregnant the good old fashioned way does, simply because you don't have to wait until a missed period to start testing, and you have a doctor-ordered blood test confirmation right away. So, I'd tell people (strangers-not my friends, they're very supportive) I am pregnant and they'd ask me how far along I am and I'd say "4 weeks" or something like that and people would just look at me cross-eyed. I think a lot of people adopt the attitude that you shouldn't celebrate that early, and a lot of people just flat out don't know that early, so I was an oddball.
But 6 weeks feels like a "legitimately pregnant" number (so far as the world is concerned)--normal women know they're pregnant by now. First trimester effects are in full swing. Other people know they're due in early February by now, too. Now when I tell people, I get a loving or a knowing "oh, that's nice" look instead of a "wow, you're weird" look. I don't know--not that the babies' lives weren't legitimate before, because they were and are. It just feels like I'm entering an exclusive club that I've previously been left out of. The club of normal! It's actually kind of nice!
Today's my day off so I'd better boogie and get some work done this morning while my energy is high. TTFN!
Continuing to celebrate today, and praise the Creator of this day.
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