Pregnancy Update

This last trimester has been hard. I have had pain and issues (mostly due to this being my 7th full pregnancy) which put me on bed rest for a while, not for the baby's safety, but because without it, the pain and pressure were too extreme and I couldn't walk or do much if I didn't lay on my side. I have also been nauseous and vomiting this last trimester - something I have never experienced this late with my other pregnancies. I have also had 2 long nights of contractions ending at 1:30 Am and 4:00 Am :(.

I pretty much gave up on the bed rest a few weeks ago when kids started getting sick. Joanna had terrible hives and stomach pain for a week, then one by one, all the kids started getting sore throats, fevers, lost voice, coughing and congestion. Now Jameson and I have it and Joanna is sick again. The baby is due in 1 week and we are praying that we can bring it home to a healthy family and I am getting nervous about being sick and hacking while trying to deliver - especially since I need to be at full strength to deliver naturally.

Just yesterday morning, I was sitting discouraged in my closet and I thought of Julia's Bible verse, "In me, you shall have peace" and then I immediately thought of the song that says, "Come undone, surrender is stronger" - Until then, I kept trying to figure out the whole birth in my head. I want control. I want to induce so I can be done with the pain, but pitocin w/out an epidural is brutal, so then I was thinking to have the doc strip my membranes, but now that plan is off because I am sick. I get obsessed thinking about it because Jameson was born about 20 minutes after my water broke, so I wonder how I would make it to the hospital and have the kids taken care of if my water broke at home. So you can see how I can spiral into being obsessed with trying to take control. I need to just come before my Father, knowing His plans are far better and higher than mine and surrender this to Him daily. I need to rest in Him and abide in Him and His word and I will have peace.

On a lighter note, I have been 2 cm dilated for almost 3 weeks and the head is super low. I have gained 24 pounds so far. We (mostly Janae) have been cooking some 12 dozen meatballs and dozens of muffins ahead for when the baby comes (I must confess, I have already eaten most of the muffins :0). We are really nesting and getting things off our "to-do" list, which always feels good.