This pregnancy has been easier in some ways and more difficult in several others. Easier because I knew what to expect...the growing pains, the movement, the poking and prodding. Easier because I didn't have to go through the gestational diabetes processes, yet knew what to eat to maintain my health and was able to gain minimal weight. I feel like I have a fairly good idea about what childbirth and after will be like, despite "every birth being different," as I am regularly told by others. I feel good about all of that.
What some know and some don't is that last fall we had a miscarriage that resulted in two surgical procedures. I felt great when pregnant with David...never sick. I knew something was wrong when I felt sick all of the time, and then the bleeding started. I was diagnosed with a "blighted ovum" and told there was never a baby there. It was hard. We had just told family and then had to turn around and share the bad news. Women don't talk about this stuff, but as soon as I did start telling people, friends, family members, and strangers came out of the wood work to tell me that they shared in my experience. That is all a story for a different time, but my point in writing it here is to say that because of that experience, it made this pregnancy harder.
Every twinge, every time I didn't feel good - was scary and stressful. I have been so much more uncomfortable this time around, and haven't slept in what feels like weeks. I bled for the first 10 weeks. We only told our parents and my principal so I could go to all of my necessary appointments without too many questions. The first time we saw the heartbeat and saw our little baby on an ultrasound we both felt so relieved. At 12 weeks, we finally shared with the world the good news.
At 18 weeks, we found out that this little baby is a girl. David was so excited! As long as he has been aware of "brother" or "sister" he has been telling us that he is going to have a sister. Thank goodness that worked out because I cannot imagine the 3 year old levels of disappointment if we would have announced baby was a boy!
Picking names is really hard for us as teachers. More often than not there has been a student with "that" name that we would prefer not to share names with our own children, we want something Biblical, something strong as an adult, but something cute as a kid. And something that teachers can pronounce at first glance (Lord knows our last name isn't easy!). David is Sam's middle name, King David in the Bible, and James of course has Biblical roots and is Sam's dad's name. David James Schlaich. And so far, we have avoided nicknames! For our baby girl, we have chosen Abigail Christine. Abigail was actually King David's wife in the Bible and a very well-respected and honored individual, and Sam and I both have a love for US History and feel like Abigail Adams was a very smart, strong woman. Christine is my middle name and just seemed to fit. But don't ask David if you can call her Abby! He will tell you that is NOT her name! :) We plan on calling her Abby for the record...
In the last two weeks, my blood pressure has slowly crept up and so yesterday my doctor made the decision to induce early. We check into the hospital Monday going into Tuesday at midnight, and should have a Halloween baby! At my ultrasound yesterday, she gave us the perfect "Thriller" pose...Halloween was meant to be! Monday I will just be Mom - I get to take David to preschool, make sure my house is in order, tuck him in that night at my parents' house, and then Sam and I will go to a late dinner just the two of us. We did the same the night David was induced and it was a special time for us. And during my 6 weeks of leave after she is born, I get to be Mom to both of my kids. I get to volunteer in David's classroom and take him to school. I get to be a more attentive wife. I get to cook better dinners for my family. I am so excited!
I know there is a lot of change coming our way, but I couldn't be happier. "For this child we have prayed." After everything last fall, I feel like Abigail is truly an answer to ALL of our prayers, and the three of us cannot wait to become four! Abigail Christine...you are already so loved and your village is ready for you!
No comments:
Post a Comment