Journal - Pelvic Rest

"A time to embrace and a time to refrain . . ." Ecc. 3

Apparently it is time for Jeffrey and I to "refrain from embracing". Or as my OB put it "pelvic rest". She just through that phrase out there, like she was prescribing prenatal vitamins or an iron supplement. No sex.

I have placenta previa. Tatu's placenta is over my cervix. So I could bleed. She said that, "things might not turn out badly." I still can't believe she phrased it that way. Back at home, I did some research and 90% of the time the placenta moves and causes no trouble at all. And even for the 10% who still have placenta previa at the end of pregnancy, the biggest trouble is that a c-section is required. Since I've already had 2 c-sections I was already planning on a repeat c-section. So it really isn't that bad at all.

Except for the pelvic rest. The past three months of morning sickness have already stolen away my normal life and normal relationship with my husband. He is so understanding, but I feel awful that he has to bear the weight of this pregnancy too. I have been eager to put these sick months behind us and move on with normal life.

But it is not to be. On top of packing, moving, and settling in a new city we are going to add a strain in our marriage. A time to refrain from embracing . . .

Zion's Snuggles

Zion loves to snuggle. His favorite snuggle position is his chest to my chest, head on my left shoulder, legs tucked under him and against my stomach, with his arms straight down at his side so my arms encircle all of him. He curls up his whole body so he can best mimic how he used to fit flat against me when he was a baby. But now his feet reach almost to my knees. I wonder how long he will pretend he is still a little baby curled up on my chest. I hope it lasts for a very long time.

Other nights I get high-impact snuggles. The lights are low and my songs are gentle - the scene is set for a relaxing snuggle time before bed. But Zion's snuggles are sometimes far from relaxing. He stands up as tall as he can on my knees before flinging himself down with a great thud into his favorite snuggle pose. His head whacks my shoulder and he laughs with delight. It's snuggling, boy style.

Resistance

In a house of two toddlers, we hear a simple refusal of "no!" surprisingly rarely. The resistance is usually a bit more complex . . .

Me: "Elise, would you pick up some toys while I load up the car?"

Elise: "Um, I'm not available to do that right now."


Another day . . .

Me: "Elise, let's pick up the toys before we play the game."

Elise: "I'm getting ready for the game. You can clean up by yourself."

Me: "No, I'm not cleaning up by myself. We are going to clean up together."

Elise: "I'll consider doing this first and then cleaning up."

Working Time

Elise has an incredible imagination. If she had her way, we would be telling "turn stories" from morning till night. My role in these stories is to listen and ask questions that help her expand on her ideas. Occasionally it is my turn to add a twist to the plot. I've learned that inevitably she will either reject my idea, or add cars and trains to the thought. For example, it I suggest that the bears went swimming, she will come back with, "and their cars and trains and helicopters went swimming too."

Vehicles work their way into very unexpected places. If the characters in her stories have ice cream, it is usually van or race car flavored. The other day it was horsey flavored. She went into details about how you would have to chop the horsey into little tiny pieces to flavor the ice cream. I'm not sure which is less appetizing - a frozen treat that tasted like the inside of a van, or a chopped up horse.

One of her favorite story themes revolves around her future home. It is a pink house with pink walls and three rooms - one for her, one for Zion, and one for Tatu. Jeffrey and I rarely appear in these fantasies. And if we do, it is only to visit. When Jeffrey complained that he would miss her, she reassured him that her house would be in our backyard. When he was still unsatisfied, she offered to leaved Lambie at our house so we wouldn't be lonely. According to her, Lambie won't baaa or call out. She won't be sad or do any worrying things. She will be brave. So, when our three year old, one year old, and unborn child all move out together, at least we will have a brave Lambie to comfort us.

Elise is planning to build this home with Zion in between her working times. You may wonder, as I did what her "working times" are. Here is Elise's explanation:

"My working times are snuggling, reading books, sleeping, and eating too. And I hold Lambie, and read books to Lambie. I am a shepherd. I take care of lots of Lambies."

So if know of any sheep in need of a shepherd, we have one for hire who is already saving up for a home of her own.

Text and Gratitude

My text message to Jeffrey:

"There is purple marker on your desk, purple marker on the carpet, pee on the floor, and an agent wants to show our house tomorrow. And I'm still sick. Just thought you might enjoy your dull lecture more if you knew what you were missing out on here at home. - Brooke"

I could have also added that I changed 6 poopy diapers that day - all of them while sick to my stomach. And that pee on the floor was the second accident of the day.

On the bright side, this occurred on Friday and my mother-in-law Sharon flew into Nashville to rescue me on Monday. I am happy to turn in my Super Mom cape and enjoy her help. Since her arrival my kids have rediscovered home-cooked food. I am free from all food and stinky diaper duties. What a relief!

Sharon has also flown in to help me out after each of my baby's births. She even gave Elise her 2 am feedings so I could get a little more sleep. She also is planning on helping my out when Tatu arrives this October.

So here is my official nomination of Sharon for "Best Mother-in-law" award. I am so very very grateful.

And Sharon, I'm so glad you're here!

To Sum It All Up

Where do I begin? My energy is low and responsibilities high these days so I'd better get as much info down as quickly as I can.

Summary:

Me: 9 weeks pregnant. Feeling very tired and intermittently nauseated. I am amazed at the power of amnesia that made me forget just how long 13 weeks of 1rst trimester ickiness feels.

Elise: Reading everything she can get her hands on. Story time is twice as long now because she is constantly interrupting to point out the words that she knows and read things herself. She is also brimming with, "why" questions these days. Some are interesting, some are bizarre, and some are impossible to answer. Telling stories is also an obsession at the moment. We take turns coming up with the next action in a story. She is much more creative than I am. Someday I will video tape one of her stories just for the record. But it could very well be a story that lasts over an hour long.

Zion: Sweet, easy-going little guy . . . until his friend Benson came for a visit. Our friends Ryan and Sharlene Hayton visited us for a few days with their 1.5 year old son Benson. I think that Zion spent the entire visit with his hands full of toys and saying, "mine!" He knows that in our house, you aren't allowed to take things out of other peoples hands. He took full advantage of this rule and loaded himself up with all of the toys he could hold. On the positive side, he is putting two words together now, "my train!", "my chair!", "my ball!" =)

Jeffrey: Working hard as always. On the weekend of April 25/26, he has a paper due, has to make a presentation at a conference, and has his big yearly ophthalmology exam. Oh, and that weekend I'll turn 13 weeks pregnant and finally be feeling better again. While I can hardly wait for the weeks to pass to get us past there, he has way too much to do between now and then.

Our house: Listed on March 14. We've had 4 showings so far. I am very tired of having to leave the house show ready whenever we go on an outing. It is hard enough to find the energy to go anywhere with 2 toddlers, then add pregnancy to that, and then top it off with a thorough house cleaning before getting out the door. I haven't left the house very much.

Oh, and did I mention that a car crashed into our house? While we were gone because someone wanted to see our house? Yep. True story.


The driver lost control coming down the hill next to our home. She lost traction due to the rain, veered off of the road and plowed into our pine tree. The car then spun around the tree and rolled back into our house. The driver and the passenger are both fine, thanks to airbags. And we think the damage is limited to the siding and not the structure of our home. All I can say is thank God for the airbags that protected them, and the pine tree that protected our home.

A Heartbeat

Dear Tatu,

My little number three. You are currently a conglomerate of essential parts - a heart and the beginnings of all of the organs that will carry you through your life. But you won't stay looking like a peanut for long. I've been down this road before. You will grow big enough to kick my insides and turn a somersault or two. And then just when you are running out of room to move, you will leave my womb and greet the world. I can already almost feel the smallness of your head curled up under my chin and the soft lump of your swaddled body in my arms. I can almost see the funny faces you will make as you try to nurse on a blanket or anything that touches your cheek when you get hungry. And I can almost hear the sound of your sighs. I wonder what noises you will choose as your mantra as you discover your voice. The very beginnings of your body are only just starting to form, but my mind and heart are full of anticipation.

My littlest one, I just wanted you to know someday how deeply loved, wanted, and cherished you are - even at only eights weeks in the womb.

Much love,

- Mommy