lifes little Sacrifices

My worst nightmare has come true!! I was put on bed rest and medication yesterday after discovering that I am having contractions and dilating at 30 weeks. I have had 2 of my three kids around 35/36 weeks, but it was always "everything looked great" until I had the baby. This will be a very challenging for me, since I have a hard time not being productive. Even when I am involved in a good book, my mind is feeling guilty for all of the stuff that I need and should be doing. Reading without guilt may not be as fun!

I feel very blessed to have a wonderful family that has responded by emails and phone calls sending their prayers, love, and support. I am also very blessed to be surrounded by wonderful friends and neighbors! Yesterday alone I had 4 people offer to bring us dinner, but for once I was prepared and had dinner in the crock pot. I have had multiple people offer to take Joe for the morning, which is huge. Thanks for being wonderful and so responsive and helpful. It makes me feel loved!

My sweet hubby is really stepping up. He wants to buy me bon-bon's to make the picture complete. He is going to be making the dinners from the menus that I plan, as well as waking up to take the kids to school. I am lucky in the fact that he has always been very helpful with everything else but those two are major and will take lifestyle changes. Thanks Babe, your the best! I am blessed that for the most part Alan is home doing most of his studying, so he won't have to alter his schedule too much. The unfortunate part is that I have tried to get him to go to school to do his studying so that he can network and focus more at the projects at hand. He finally decided this semester that he was going to do that. Now I am saying, well when are you going to be home? Or can you take the kids to this or that? Oh well, it could be worse!

And how could I not mention those that have to sacrifice the most. Hannah, Peter, and Joseph. They were actually thrilled when I told them that Mommy's body was getting ready to have the baby come, until I explained that if the baby came now it wouldn't be able to come home for a long time. The only request that I have asked of them is to obey when mom asks them to do something. We will see how that goes over. (I am secretly enjoying saying "You need to go ask Dad to help you!") Fortunately, my kids can be very helpful and enjoy helping. Hannah did the dishes for me last night, only a glass got broken, but they got done. Joseph is very good at putting things away for you, as long as you are specific in your request.

I was awakened this morning about 6:15 by Joe saying "Mommy, please can I just snuggle with you, because I love you berry much!" How can I not give in to that!? Joseph is an early riser, it's usually about 5:30 / 5:45 when he comes to wake me up, I usually just invite him into bed with me so that I can go back to sleep, but since I have been pregnant, neither of us sleep comfortably together. I told him last night that needed him to stay in his bed so that mommy can get sleep to help the baby. So much for being firm in my convictions!