I'm going where I've never gone before!

Hi everyone! Yes, I'm still pregnant. Gestationally, Maggie was born TODAY at 27 3/7 weeks! I'm very excited to be passing this milestone and moving into the third trimester. It's all unknown from here! Bedrest is tough, and the easiest part about it is the physical limitation of laying/reclining all day long. You would never imagine it without having been there yourself. The hardest parts about complete bedrest (I get up only to use the bathroom) are giving up the control and the routines of my household to someone else (in this case my mother) and giving up the complete care of Maggie to my family and friends. All at once everything that I lived for (taking care of Maggie, playing with Maggie, rocking her to sleep, keeping my house clean and inviting, serving my husband, trying to cook, serving in my calling, getting together with family and friends, etc.) either stopped or was given up to the responsibility of someone else. Not to mention how difficult it is to face every day emotionally. I can't cuddle and find satisfaction in being Maggie's mommy and protector all day, I worry about the extra stresses put upon my husband, I get frustrated because I can't clean my house, and most of all I worry and concentrate every day on everything my body feels - pain, aching, soreness, contractions, the baby moving - and I worry that at any moment I could change my position or stand up for a bathroom trip and I will have a big contraction that will mark the onset of labor. I'm nervous about the changes and weakening of my body due to inactivity. All in all, the satisfaction I find in finally reading books I've wanted to for years, completing a few crocheted baby blankets, knitting some hats and scarves, writing letters, watching lots of movies, watching most of the Olympics, and keeping a detailed journal doesn't quite make this experience one I'd like to repeat :). However, being in such a great situation of need I believe has blessed our little family with added gratitude and submissiveness to the Lord's will and I think it has brought us closer together in some ways. We are not without appreciation that this could give us a stronger and healthier baby than we have yet had and we are more excited than ever that we have passed the mark of viability (abt 24 weeks) and no matter when this baby comes now Maggie should be able to look forward to having a little sister join our family. I have been on bedrest for 6 1/2 weeks - only 12 more weeks to go! :) Phew.

I was going to include pictures but blogger isn't letting me upload right now and I can't sit at the computer any longer, so you'll have to wait 'til next time. I'm getting way big, though, and Maggie is so adorable! See ya!