37 Weeks

Wow.  37 weeks.  I'm now considered full term.  How did we possibly get to this point? I can hardly believe that after 15 weeks of bedrest, we've made it to 37 weeks with sweet little baby girl still  growing happily in my belly.  Wow.

What a miracle this whole thing has been...what a testament to the power of prayer and God's provision.  As inconvenient, uncomfortable, and frustrating the last several months have been, we've never lacked a thing.  Everything we've needed while I've been on bedrest has been provided through amazing family and friends...people placed so strategically in our lives by God that we got what we needed before we even had a chance to ask. What an awesome God we serve.

Now that I'm off bedrest, I've had the opportunity to rejoin society and regular life again for a bit before little one makes her appearance. I have to admit, I'm a bit shocked that I didn't immediately go into labor once out of bed and off my medication, but it has been so wonderful to be able to be a mommy again to Abby and Jake. So wonderful to be able to take care of my house and my husband again. So wonderful to regain a sense of normalcy before our world is rocked by the new addition to our family. When all the complications began at 22 weeks, I really mourned the loss of my "normal" pregnancy...something I really wanted after the difficult pregnancy I had with Jake. Especially since we plan on this being our last pregnancy, this was SUCH a disappointment to me. How awesome to suddenly have a normal pregnancy again to be able to enjoy, no matter how much longer it may last. I feel great, I've have had lots of extra time to prepare, and the excitement over our baby's pending birth is back now that we're not worried about her prematurity. What a gift this extra time has been.

So here we are, waiting again. This time, however, it's the GOOD kind of waiting. The kind that gives us the opportunity to count our blessings and realize just how far we've come - how far God has brought us.

37 week Belly Pic