Ducky is looking very, very good, according to our perinatologist. I continue with weekly non-stress tests (NSTs) and had another ultrasound (u/s) yesterday. This week’s u/s showed that the fluid remains in the normal range. This is such a praise! Having dropped so dramatically on 12/27 we did have real concerns it might continue to drop from high, THROUGH good, and into a dangerously low zone…
But it didn’t.
It’s been a crazy month, really. I feel SO MUCH BETTER these days. SO MUCH. I continue to follow the doctor’s instructions for activity restriction and I must say being mostly housebound is not a lot of fun. But it seems to have worked very well and I am grateful for the improvements we’ve seen.
A month ago I felt downright toxic. The most I can liken it to is when I had the flu in March 2008, or H1N1 in November 2009. I felt like I had a fever. I had all tremendous malaise and generalized achiness. The incessant contractions depleted me of so much energy. I seriously felt poor enough to accept meals from friends (thanks Emily, Tara, Deb & master-chef Jenn) and let Emily clean my bathrooms! (You have to know I felt sick to allow THAT kind of humility.) I constantly felt like I needed to nap. It was just unpleasant. As a matter-of-fact on 12/21 I sat on the floor in my bedroom with John for about 70 minutes to help him organize and wrap the small amount of gifts we had. That little expenditure of energy coupled with my sheer size pressing on my bones was enough to render me wasted and sore for 12/22. It was a bad way to feel.
And today? I feel so much better. I can breathe. I can move around more easily. I don’t feel like I need to sleep all day long. I still pretty much sit around all day. I’m not going to mess with what is working. But I feel downright well.
I shared with a friend via email this week, though, that I am just so blessed to be on the receiving end of what our family believes is a miracle. For 16 weeks we watched and waited and prepared for a preemie. As my belly stretched 7 weeks ahead of schedule we just continued to PRAY and we know so many who were praying for us, as well. And then good things started to take shape. We are now just a few days away from being considered full-term. Both doctors now suggest I could easily make it to my due date.
It has been a VERY hard 16 months with praying for people who were go through so many losses and hurting. And the kids have just prayed so faithfully. I have been so blessed by how much they committed to praying steadfastly. AND – we LOVED when people were able to share how they saw God in their trials, etc. Well, to be on THIS side of it – I have to say if it is a witness to one of my kids that they hold onto then I say it is all worth it.
The pictures aren’t as cute this late on as they were 10 weeks ago. Tabitha, in fact, thinks Ducky looks grumpy.
We’ll find out soon enough.
Thank you for praying!!!!
Dayspring Disciples 