I can't believe we are already half way through this pregnancy (20 weeks/5 months)!!
Things seem to be going both extremely slow and yet somehow amazingly fast all at the same time.
My most recent checkup was at 18 weeks, baby measured right on for our guess-date, and was/is do surprisingly very well despite all that is going on. Baby is growing at the proper rate, which means that the ridiculous amount of protein I'm eating must be working :), to feed and grow this baby properly.
I'm still struggling a lot with my health, but learning day by day that God's Grace is sufficient for me, no matter the circumstances, whether my digestion has weakened me to a ill state (happens a time or two per week still), or whether my joint pain is almost disabling, HIS Grace is still sufficient to get me through it. Often times it seems easier to just give up and say it's to hard, but yet somehow when I remember to rely on Jesus.. it becomes much easier to bear whatever the current trial is.
So far I'd say that this pregnancy has gone much better then I'd expected, and yet has also been far more difficult then I'd hoped. I had expected much more pain, and limitations, and far less digestion issues. Instead I am still daily struggling with poor digestion, and though I do have increasing levels of joint pain they aren't as bad as last time. And hopefully with diligent care we can improve my digestion, and keep my joint discomfort down as much as possible.
I'm thrilled that my body is still able to carry and care for the new baby, and really loving this stage of pregnancy as I can enjoy the baby wiggling around, and get frequent reminders of the wonderful being God is creating inside of me. Some days when I'm feeling discouraged or the pain is getting me down, a little kick or wiggle from inside is just such a blessed way of reminding me to look up and smile :)!
On a side note for my own health, I'm approaching the 1 year mark (mid-January) of when I found out I have Ehler-Danlos Syndrome. And as I look back over this past year (that also marks the beginning of exercise/therapy specific to my condition), I'm amazed how my life has changed, not only my health, but my perspective even. My pain levels over all (despite being half-way through a pregnancy) are lower this year, and my knowledge of what I can and cannot do is much higher. My outlook on life is more laid back, and I'm definitely far closer to my Lord Jesus.
Trials are never easy, but they sure can teach you a lot.. if you let them. That's probably a trial in itself.. to remember not to fight against the trial but to look and see what can be learned in and through it instead.
I do appreciate my friends and family's prayer/support, as our family is both blessed (with the new baby) and going through trials with my health.
It's often hard for me to admit my pain/discomfort, but if you see me sitting more then other people around me or not as active as others it's probably just that I can't handle those things due to my health. I sometimes wonder if people think I'm backwards/shy or otherwise refusing to take part in things out of rudeness, I know that it's hard to tell someone has a chronic health problem just by looking at them.
Well I will try to end this update on a happy note,
we finally remembered to take a belly picture for this pregnancy.. so here I am on Christmas Eve (18.5 weeks along):
For those who don't know me very well keep in mind this is pregnancy #4 for me, and I'm about 5' 10" tall... I know it's 'fun' to think about belly size so I thought I'd give detail to explain my size (whether you think I'm small/large lol.. everyone has a different opinion, so far personally I think I'm about average FOR ME that is :)!). Also you may click on the image if you'd like to see it larger.
Thanks for taking the time to read our little update,
and I hope you all are doing well ((((hugs))))),
~Mama Rae~
0 comments:
Post a Comment