More Sugar Than Spice

Don’t Make Me Pull This Car Over

Monkey has been asking to go to the circus for a while now, in part because of the constant advertisement on TV, and in part because I told her months ago we could go when it came.  (When did she start to have a memory like mine?)  Daddy found a coupon code online for 50% off so we went for fairly cheap and had great seats.

The morning started out crazy, with Daddy and I fighting simply because I am eight months pregnant, huge and cranky, and he is two months into my bed rest and exhausted. Money is tight thanks to our medical expenses, and the only stable thing right now is our marriage.  So, it made sense to attack that too.  Misery loves company, right?

Once Upon a Time, A Sparkly Prinpress…

Monkey declared on Tuesday night that she wanted to be a “sparkly ballerina prinpress”.  I was pretty surprised because she isn’t really a super girlie-girl.  She doesn’t know the Disney princesses by name, and her feather boas get more attention from our cats than the little girl in our house.  But she not only told me, but also demonstrated that she wants to leap around and twirl on one leg just like a sparkly ballerina prinpress.

Daddy and I talked a little about it when Monkey went to bed, and since swim hasn’t been going well, we decided it might be a good time to look into it.  I looked a little online, and found the prices more reasonable than what we were looking at for her next set of swim lessons, so I decided to keep it in mind as an option.

Is That Genius I Smell?

Since I have come off of complete bed rest, I have been on the go.  While trying not to do too much, there’s just too much to do.

Monkey started swim lessons last week, and I have to say I think this class is a repeater.  She likes it, and has fun, but won’t do a few key things they would like her to do - like put her face in the water.  I don’t really understand that, because in the bathtub she will go completely under, but I suppose she’s just being a crazy kid.  Then, last night, she would not jump in the water.  She’d done it before in class - even in that class, but for some reason she refused.

Freedom

I went to see Dr. Bowtie today and my bed rest has been changed from full bed rest, to modified.  Which means I can now have Monkey back in the house part time and I can do some activities.  After a long restless night filled with mixed emotion, I couldn’t have gotten better news.

While I came home excited about my new found freedom, I started thinking about a 9/11 video Daddy and I were watching on the History Channel last night.  It was a series of home videos, which showed in detail the attacks on the twin towers and the reaction of the general public to those attacks.  Even seven years later, I remember that day as though it happened yesterday.

Hand Crafted

As you all know by now, my bed rest has required me to rely on other people.  I have been so blessed and so thankful for each and every act of kindness that has been demonstrated, so I decided to make hand crafted thank you cards.

Keep in mind, I am not a super-crafty person.  I can picture how I want them to look in my head, but my hands just don’t have the talent.  The perfectionist in me goes crazy when the projects aren’t just ’so’.

Yesterday, since I have nothing but time on my hands, I really spent a lot of time folding the paper perfectly, measuring everything out, and attaching each item in the exact way I imagined.  Most of them turned out pretty good.  Some of them leave some talent to be desired, but that’s what gives them the ‘hand crafted’ look, right?

Modern Day Miracle

We had a pretty heartbreaking appointment with Dr. Newbie on Wednesday.  She just started at our doctors office this week, so although she was frazzled, she was very nice.  She had a hard time getting the ultrasound machine to work, but once she did, she took the baby’s measurements and told us Caterpillar was measuring about a month too small.  She explained this happens when the placenta is failing, and food is not being received by the baby.  She scheduled us for a full work up on Friday, told us when this happens, the only option is delivery, and we went home heavy hearted.

Melted

Yesterday was a bit hectic because the night before was spent in the ER due to continuous contractions.  Thankfully, they finally went away, but we were pretty scared nonetheless.  Daddy went to work as soon as we came home from the ER (why do these things always have to happen in the middle of the night, and why does it take four hours to do anything there??) and Monkey and I laid down for some much needed sleep.

Apparently, I needed a little more than Monkey.  I had canceled Monkey’s play date for the day, so she was stuck with boring ol’ mom.  I have to say, she did really well.  She was very loving all day, and vegged out with me and watched movies and even joined me in the bath after a little while.

Let Go, and Let God

After speaking to Papa a couple of days ago I realized that I have gotten off track.  Instead of trusting in God and His plan, I turned to the internet and the medical professionals to provide the guidance we need for this journey with Caterpillar.  Don’t get me wrong, I am not one who believes that God wants me to stand around and do nothing under the premise that ‘God will provide’.  I believe God has already provided me the tools I need.  I just have to be open enough to receive His message.

Not only have I been trying to find medical answers, but I have also been trying to figure out a way to do it all - from bed.  I had not come up with a solution yet, but I felt like this was a problem I could solve.

I Stubbed My Toe and My Life Is Over

I have to say, the time spent on bed rest has really reminded me of how blessed we have previously been, and it has provided some new blessings along the way.

One of my favorite people is my sister-in-law Sarah.  She just recently moved out on her own, and started school.  She has been adjusting to life with a roommate and dating, and all of the things an 18 year old should be doing.

She and I had a chance to sit down and talk a few days ago, and we were talking about some of the relationships she’s in, and how it is hard for her to understand the drama that often comes with having friends.  She joked that one person in particular could stub her toe, and she’d think her life was over.  We had a good laugh and didn’t think much more about it.

Lightning

Last night, we went to bed late and as I started to settle in and closed my eyes I saw a flash of light and part of my face went numb.  At first I thought it was lightning outside, so I opened my eyes and sat in the dark for a while wondering if my face was really numb or if I have just become crazy-paranoid because of the recent health news.

I decided to wait and see (my favorite health care method) and I fell asleep.  This morning everything was fine.  So, turns out I made the right call by not freaking out, but I will make sure when I go for my appointment next week.

Since I first thought it was lightning when it happened, it made me think of all of the storms we’ve been having in our area.  It’s been total turmoil outside, including tornadoes that touched down within 20 miles of here, monsoon rains and dry lightning storms.  As I look out the window, wondering what the weather will bring today, I realized that the weather is stormy on the outside, but the house is peaceful.  Much like our journey right now.