35 Weeks

I just got home from the doctor about an hour ago, and I had a much better report this time. Today my blood pressure was 120/80, which means I can continue working. I'm very happy about that. I'd done everything the doctor told me to - watched my salt intake, did yoga more regularly, and made more time to rest. I've still been busy at work, but I've been finding ways to modify my activities so I have more periods of rest. My students have been a great help too; they've been very eager to stamp warm-ups and hand out papers for me. And of course this goes without saying, but ultimately I'd put it in God's hands. I prayed about it, asked others to pray about it, and felt a peace about the situation. I knew that whatever happened, it wouldn't be the end of the world and things would work out just the way they should.

That is one lesson I've been learning since becoming pregnant - flexibility. I'm learning more and more how little control I have over things (like when I'm going to go into labor), and I'm not stressing about it. I tend to be pretty "type a" at work, because truly that is the only way I'm able to manage all of my responsibilities. But even there, I'm just learning to go with the flow and not worry about it when things don't go exactly the way I'd hoped. Priorities is another big lesson I've been learning, and I'm getting better at managing my time in the process.

Anyway, back to the doctor's appointment. Dr. Morgan said that Isaac is growing, because now my uterus is measuring 37 cm (3 cm larger than last week). His heartbeat is still strong - 135 beats per minute. She also commented on the ultrasound from last week, that he is in the 80th percentile as far as his weight is concerned. I asked if that's a bad thing, and she said no. However, she did say we'd have to see how things go with labor and delivery. Basically, what I took away from that conversation is that it's good that Isaac is so healthy, but it might be harder for me to deliver him. At this rate, he could be eight pounds or more when I deliver him - if he continues to gain half a pound a week and doesn't come early. We'll see though.

I also finished my birth plan last night, so I gave it to the doctor to put in my chart. I've started packing my suitcase, but I didn't quite finish by the end of last week. We had a busy weekend, because there were two baby showers.

On Saturday, I went to Aunt Pam's house. That shower was mainly family and a few friends. Eighteen people came to that one, and they were all very generous. One of Wes's aunts took one look at the gift table and asked if Wes was planning to come over later to help me take everything home. To be honest, I hadn't thought to ask. Thankfully, though, I'd already invited my mom and sister to come over after the shower so they could see the nursery. So between them, Colie's friend Tiffany, and Wes's mom, we got it all to the house.

On Sunday, Wes and I both went to our church shower. (The women's group wanted it to be for men and women.) I didn't ask anyone to help me get everything home this time, since Wes was with me. We both thought it would be a small shower, since we are by no means a megachurch. So imagine our surprise when 60+ people showed up. We were overwhelmed! Everyone from our church had been invited, as well as from Old Fellowship. (Old Fellowship is the church where we were both baptized and married.) It took us an hour just to open all of the gifts, and that was with both of us opening presents. Thankfully, my mom, Wes's mom, and Wes's dad helped us get the presents home afterwards. After they left, Wes and I looked at the gifts, looked at each other, and were speechless:



God has really blessed us, beyond what we could have ever imagined. He's blessed us with material things, but more importantly, also with good friends and loving family members. Somehow, a thank you note doesn't seem to do justice for the gratitude that we have in our hearts for everything everyone has done for us.