Bedrest Week #3

It's hard for me to believe that I'm already 3 weeks into to my bedrest journey.  I'm definitely still dealing with the ups and downs of it all, but I feel like now that I'm getting into a routine, it is getting easier. Last week was a tough week after hearing my cervix had continued to shorten and then finding out I failed my 1 hour glucose test.  I just felt like all the bad news came at once.  Before last week, I feel like I was overally optimistic about only being on bedrest temporarily, but now I've come to the realization that I'm probably in this for the long haul.  Thankfully, I've gotten some good news this week and I'm trying to hang on to that.  I've learned I just have to take things 1 day at a time.

I've come to realize that the absolute hardest thing about being on bedrest is just being alone with your own thoughts most of the day.  I try to keep myself busy, but it's hard to not let your mind wander.  I find myself thinking a lot more about Evan as this whole process goes on. . . When is he going to come, is he going to come too early, will he be ok, will he have to spend time in the NICU.  And of course as much as I try to push the thoughts away, it's hard not to let those other thoughts sneak in about all the things I feel like I'm missing out on now and why does it feel like my body is failing me. 

Human interaction has become my most favorite thing now that I'm on bedrest.  I get up each morning when Shawn wakes Em up and I go down to visit with them for about 15 minutes or so before they leave for the day.  Besides that, I'm up in bed laying down by myself all day until they get home around 5:00 each night.  I notice I tend to start getting antsy around 4:00 each day anticipating them coming home.  Sometimes I beat them downstairs before they get home, but other times I don't and Em always comes upstairs to greet me.  I am still working and that has been a huge blessing.  It helps take my mind off things from 8-5 each day.  I look forward to days that I'm busy because it tends to make me forget about the fact that I'm on bedrest.

Shawn and I both have a hard time accepting help from others.  But this is one time, we've realized that we need it.  Friends and family continue to an awesome support system for all of us.  There is absolutely no way we would be getting through this without them.  My mom stops by for lunch some days during the week, cooks meals for us, goes shopping for stuff that Em and Evan need, and the list goes on.  Shawn's dad and mom have both taken Em anywhere from several hours to several days just to allow Shawn time to get other stuff done or to allow him to have a much needed break from it all.  My friend, Courtney, has come over to bring me lunch and keep me company and also to help occupy Em.  And my best friend, Steph, who lives all the way in CA, has been sending me the sweetest cards each week with a suprise in each of them.  While these are just a few of the people that we've taken them up on their offers, we have countless other friends and family that have offered to help in anyway possible. 

As the weeks go on, I realize how much of a physical toll bedrest takes on you too.   Since I'm laying down the majoirty of the day, days where I do have to get up and get ready (ie. for dr. appts), just taking a shower and getting ready wear me out!!  I'm just used to not having to exert any energy on most days, that when I do, it's a total shock to my body.  I worry about this a little as I know once Evan arrives, I will be going from 0 to 100 practically overnight.  Hopefully my body will adjust back to normal quickly.

So for now, it's been another week down of bedrest, but more importantly another week of Evan growing safely in my tummy.  Here's to many more weeks of this.  :)