Doctor's Appointment Update

We had a pretty good doctor’s appointment today. I stayed home yesterday because I was having pretty annoying cramps in my abdomen and lower back. I made sure and walked, squatted, and bounced/rocked on my fitness ball & as the day progressed…it wasn’t getting any better. So, at my appointment today, I made sure and told my doctor about it. He decided to measure me today instead of next Wednesday. He said that I am 50% effaced (my cervix is 50% thinned out) and I am about 1 cm dilated. It was good news to hear that things are progressing. The baby hasn’t dropped anymore, but that could happen at any time and pretty quickly. He said that I wasn’t going to have the baby today, but maybe tomorrow…or maybe a week from now. It was pretty exciting to hear. I’m glad Ryan went with me to the appointment and he got to hear everything that is happening.

My blood pressure was high (2nd appointment in a row) but it went down some when I laid down, and the doctor didn’t seem too concerned. He wants to make sure I steer clear of pre-eclampsia. I go back to the doctor next Monday…so only a 5 day break this time. He asked if I was still working and I said I was (when I feel able) but he told me to stop working. He’s pretty sure I’ll go into spontaneous labor…and work isn’t the best place to be. Plus he wants me taking it easy and focusing on baby and me. So, today is my last day at work. It’s crazy how fast time has gone by—even these last few weeks when everyone had told me they’d go by so slow. They haven’t. Ryan and I are just so excited to meet our little blessing!

On a side note, it is Missions week at ABC and there are missionaries from Indonesia in town. Ron called me this week and wanted to know if it would be okay if they came over and prayed for the delivery and me. I of course said “yes!” They came over last night. First of all…they don’t speak English (at least not very well) and they had an interpreter. So even though while they were praying and I didn’t know what they were saying…I just felt this complete peace about everything. They made a good point. Because the fall of man, God allowed there to be pain in childbirth, but that doesn’t mean that God can’t take it away. Their undoubted faith inspired me. It made me realize how my faith lacks so much. All they know me as is Ron & Dorie’s daughter in law…but more importantly than that, they know me as a sister in Christ. They were praying and talking like they knew God was going to do something great. I feel like we as American’s put God in this little box, shove it in our backpacks/purses and wait to use Him when we need Him or when it’s convenient for us. I want to have that faith that God is powerful and mighty. The faith that makes me tremble at His Word and stand in awe at His grace. I was almost brought to tears during the prayer-despite not knowing what they were saying. It’s like I didn’t need to know what they were saying. They know God is great that that He will take care of me. I find myself praying that “if it’s in God’s will…” they pray knowing it is in God’s will. How humbling it was for me.

After women’s bible study last night I was talking to Ryan about the whole situation and what I had experienced with the Indonesians. I wish he could have been there to experience it with me. But I feel like it meant a lot to him for me to explain it to him. Even though I feel like I didn’t do it a justice. At any rate, it was amazing. I am so excited to bring this baby into God’s creation and have Ryan and I raise it to fear God and love others as Christ has loved us. I can’t wait to see it grow in its faith and one day accept God’s free gift of salvation into their heart. I get emotional just thinking of it!

Well, to end this novel of a blog…God is good and Pounds is on its way!

toodles,
☺ jen & pounds