Thursday, January 29, 2009

January 29th

It’s interesting to think I was pregnant exactly one year ago and am pregnant now. Last January 29th started off normally. I remember the day so vividly. I was wearing a cream and brown skirt with a cream sweater and brown boots. Early in the day I talked with Angela’s sister Suzanne about Angela’s baby shower. We picked the date and started making plans.

I was thinking about class that night (Financial Management) and decided with my friend Margaret to meet up at Chipotle for dinner before our class.

At 3PM I had a meeting on a topic called “10+2 Safe Port Act”. I remember where I was sitting in the room. I was on the far right side of the table. I remember who was sitting next to me.

During the meeting I started having lower back cramps. They felt like the kind of cramps you get with your period. For some reason, I wasn’t that worried about it even though I knew those kinds of cramps were not a good sign.

After the meeting ended I went straight to the bathroom and found that I was bleeding. I immediately started pleading with God by saying, “Please God no, no, no, Please no!!!”. Somehow I pulled myself together and went back to my desk. I immediately emailed some prayer warriors, Cindy and Jessica Marty, and asked them to start praying for us and baby Docken. I then jumped into an enclave and called my doctor. They said someone would return my call in 15 minutes. It was about 4:15PM and I had to meet Margaret in the lobby to walk to Chipotle. Once down there I told her with tears in my eyes that I think I am having a miscarriage and I won’t be going to dinner or class. After that the nurse called me back and gave me instructions for the rest of the night. I was to go home and lie down and go into the office in the morning for testing. At this point I called Josh and told him that he had to come downstairs right now. I remember so clearly the look on his face when he walked up to me and I told him I thought I was miscarrying. I feel fortunate to have had my car at work because I was supposed to be driving to class. Normally we would have to take the bus home and I can’t imagine riding the bus at that point.

As soon as we got into the car, I called my mom and told her the news. She had bible study that evening and said she would tell her bible study girls to pray for us and she would meet us at the house as soon as we got home. I laid in bed for a couple hours crying. Josh tried to hook up a TV in the bedroom so I could watch American Idol. It didn’t work. After awhile I went downstairs and laid on the couch for the rest of the night, still crying.

The next morning I woke up and thought for a moment that it was a bad dream. My mom came over and drove me to the doctor. It was pure torture to sit in the waiting room (while still crying) next to several noticeably pregnant women. Even now when I go in for my doctors appointments I look around the room and wonder if anyone is in there with bad news. I am so much more compassionate to the strangers in the office because of my experience that morning. They took my blood and said they would put a rush on it and call me back with the results by noon.

I went home and Annie came over. Josh went to work for the morning but came home at noon. I remember “watching” 3 movies that day. I got the results around noon and they were what I expected.

That evening I called Sarah. She was very compassionate and told me she would take the next day off and spend it with me. That was so nice of her. She gets very few days off each year and I felt so grateful that she stayed home with me on Thursday (Jan 31st).

It’s so hard to believe that this happened one year ago today. January 29th. That date is etched in my mind along with the details from the day. Now here I am 27 weeks and 3 days pregnant with our precious baby girl. So much has happened during the past year. It’s almost like I can segment the year into the first half and second half. The first half was consumed by infertility treatments and recovery from the miscarriage. We also went to Dominican Republic and Savannah the first half. The second half was consumed by my new pregnancy. The first half dark yet hopeful and the second half so bright and hopeful. I know that the events of last January 29th helped to form me and Josh into who we are today. We grew as a couple and as individuals. The lowest of lows make you appreciate the highs so much more. It’s kind of like how the treacherous Minnesota winters make you cherish the beautiful Minnesota summers.

I remember the events of last January 29th because they are important to me. We miss our baby and we are grateful for him or her. And we trust that God was and will forever remain sovereign.

“You give and take away; you give and take away; my heart will choose to say, Lord blessed be Your name”.

Sunday, January 18, 2009

We're in the double digits, baby!!
Just 99 days until Claire's due date!

Reason 1,891,426,354 why I love my husband

I check our Wells Fargo checking account online every day. Josh and I have this funny joke-thingy where he will use the checkcard for something and almost instantly I call or email him and ask him what he bought. He can't get away with anything, that guy.

This morning he was TV shopping (because he sold our TV, which was a complete surprise to me, just minutes before 24 came on last Monday!! Ahh, the angst!!). I was on the phone with him when he was shopping and as we talked I logged onto Wells Fargo to pay some bills. I noticed two new checkcard payments at McDonalds. One for $2.98 and the second for $9.35. I asked him, "Did you go to McDonalds TWICE today and what did you buy?!?!" He laughs because he was just there minutes ago and I already found out about it!

He bought a mocha at McDonalds and then asked the guy how much the bill was for the car behind him. The McDonalds drive-through guy was totally confused and couldn't understand why Josh would possibly want to know that. Josh told him that he wants to pay for their meal. It was a family and they got a few egg mcmuffins, a juice, couple coffees, and an ice cream cone (which is funny, considering it's a cold, snowy, Sunday morning).

What an awesome random act of kindness. I am so proud of him. How awesome it would be if everyone paid it forward.

Friday, January 16, 2009

Stuff

TGIF! I'm so glad it's the weekend. It's going to be another busy one!

Baby Docken continues to do well. I can tell she's getting bigger because the kicks are getting stronger! She's so active and I love it. I have been having more frequent and intense dizzy episodes. I had two this week that started while I was sitting down. Before that, it had only happened after walking or standing for a long time. At a business lunch on Tuesday and then during a meeting on Thursday after eating my lunch and while sitting down, I became very lightheaded and hot, my skin became clammy, my vision blurred and I had shortness of breath. It's a terrible feeling. Both times I left and went to the bathroom where I put my head between my legs (although I can't get very far with this big belly in the way). After a few minutes, it went away. I have brought this up to my doctor twice and she has said it's normal. After a lot of research, I think it's not normal for them to be this frequent and intense so I called the nurse at my obgyn today. She said my blood pressure is great (100/60) so all she could suggest is going to my regular family physician (thanks, that helps a lot). She said I might have low blood sugar, which they will determine at my glucose testing in two weeks. So in the time being, I carry on!

I found a chandelier for the nursery that I LOVE. It's at Pottery Barn Kids. Might have to pick it up soon.

Josh and I registered last weekend at Babies r Us. I thought he would be overwhelmed but he was such a champ! He was great at looking at all of the options for each item and helping determine what was best. Who know you needed so many things for a baby? We are trying to take a minimalist approach and not over consume. I have heard so many moms say they got too much with the first baby.

I go to Indianapolis again on Sunday (and have to fly through Atlanta once again!). I return late Tuesday night. School resumes this week. I have class on Wednesday (Financial Risk Management) and Thursday (Management of Groups). I'm glad the classes are only 7 weeks long.

Have a great weekend!

Friday, January 9, 2009

Request

I kept an actual real journal during the few short weeks I was pregnant with baby #1. After my miscarriage I couldn't bear to use the same journal so I decided to begin journaling on the world wide web, hence, the commencement of this blog. I share a lot of intimate and personal feelings, thoughts and experiences on this blog. For that reason, I am very particular about who has access to the blog. I know that it's not read by many but it has reached further than I intended. Josh and I have discussed this on many occasions because I have seriously considered shutting it down. I could just make it private but I have reasons for not wanting to do that right now. Instead, I kindly ask you to please not share this blog address with anyone before asking me and to not place a link to my blog on your blog. I am sorry if this sounds petty. And I do know that my blog can be found through Google. I'm just trying to take little measures to keep it semi-private. Thank you so much for your understanding.

I arrived home late last night from Indy. It felt ridiculous once again to go from Indianapolis to Atlanta to Minneapolis! Tonight Josh and I are going to just lay low and enjoy spending time with one another. I am going to my dear friend Sarah's bridal showers on Saturday and Sunday. Josh and I are also going to Babies r Us tomorrow to work on our baby registry! Fun and overwhelming! Soon I am traveling again and school begins so I am going to savor having some "free" time.

God's blessings to you!!

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Eyebrow waxing

Wha?! Posts two days in a row?! Impossible. It's true, friends. I am sitting in my Executive King Suite (can you say excessive??) in Indianapolis. I flew here today from Minneapolis, by way of Atlanta (which is also peculiar). After a scrumptious dinner at Chipotle (Target pays for about $35 a day in meals and I spend $6.10 at Chipotle...doing everything I can to help out my 401k!), I am here safe and sound in my hotel. Claire did well on the trip. She kicked nearly the entire time. This is my 4th or 5th time in Indianapolis since she came into being. She's a jet setter already.

I have received many "strange", or maybe not so strange, comments throughout this pregnancy. Some of my favorites include:
  • Is it just one?
  • Is it twins? (this is particulary strange coming from people that do not know we had an elevated chance of multiples because of fertility treatments. Twins are so much less common than people who ask this question seem to think!)
  • Were you trying?
  • Are you happy/excited about it?
  • Wow, April is such a great time of year! Nice planning!

Sometimes the comments irritate me but I mostly try to shrug them off. The last one though can get to me. I know some teachers are lucky enough to plan their pregnancy so perfectly that they give birth in May and have the entire summer off to enjoy with their newborn. Us..not so much. Going off birth control in October 2006 means that we did not deliberately pick April 2009 as the month for our child to be born.

Yesterday I was getting a much needed brow wax at Juut. It was my first time seeing this particular esthetician. My regular girl wasn't working and I just needed to get in that day. Here's how our conversation went:

Her: "You have the cutest baby bump!"
Me: "Thanks!"
Her: "Is this your first?"
Me: "Yes" (I hate this question. I want to say, "No! We had another precious baby before this that is waiting for us in Heaven" but I shamefully almost always respond with "Yes".)
Her: "When are you due?"
Me: "April 27th"
Her: "That is PERFECT! Nice planning!"
Me: "Well...it wasn't planned that way. This was two years in the making".
Her: "It took my husband and I two years with our first too. Were you on fertility treatments?"

Here ensued our refreshingly candid conversation about clomid and IUIs and the crazy side effects that come from the drugs. 1 in 6 couples suffer with infertility. You never know where you are going to meet them. But when you do, it's almost like finding an old friend that you can instantly relate to.

Well, I am here until Thursday night. I will spend the next couple days in a cold warehouse on my feet! Such a trooper, am I.

God bless!

Monday, January 5, 2009

2008

What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Became pregnant with two different babies
Miscarried
Held my own garage sale
Threw a baby shower
Took a missions trip with Josh
Traveled to Savannah

Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Didn't make any.

Did anyone close to you give birth?
Angela
Jessica

Did anyone close to you die?
No

What countries did you spend time in this year?
Dominican Republic

What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
More peace, less worry, more faith

What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
January 15th- learned I was pregnant
January 29th- miscarried
July 3- celebrated my 4th wedding anniversary
August 11th- learned I was pregnant
December 5th- learned that Baby Docken is a healthy girl

What was your biggest achievement(s) of the year?
Becoming pregnant
Getting promoted

What was your biggest failure?
Not being as good of a friend, wife, or daughter that I could be.

Did you suffer any serious injury or illness?
Nope.

What was the best thing you bought?
Hmm..I don't know... baby furniture! Never thought that would happen!

Whose behaviour merited celebration?
First off, who spells behavior that way?! I would say Josh's. He is the best husband in the world. He is so generous and compassionate. He treats me like a princess. He has a heart of gold. He makes me laugh like no one else.

Whose behaviour made you appalled and/or depressed?
Sydney. She needs to be nicer to doggies when she first meets them and not eat poisonous ant bait.

Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage and car payments.

Compared to this time last year, are you,

a) happier or sadder? happier

b) thinner or fatter? fatter! yay!

c) richer or poorer? richer, in wealth and life

What did you get really, really excited about?
Having a baby!
Chris and Becky getting engaged.

What do you wish you'd done more of?
Exercised.

What do you wish you'd done less of?
Eat unhealthy food
Spend money on stupid things like coffee and Chipotle.

Did you fall in love in 2008?
Yes, fell even more in love with Josh and fell in love with our first baby and with our second.

Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Gosh no.

What did you want and not get?
Improved health.

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Church and breakfast with Chris, Becky, and Dad; visit with Docken family, bought a dog kennel for Sydney; visited with Mom, ate takeout Chinese and watched Dark Knight with Josh. Turned 27.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I don't know. World peace.

What political issue stirred you the most?
Obama/McCain election

Who did you miss?
Grandma Nordlund.
Marty family.

Who was the best new person you met?
The people in the Dominican Republic that are changing lives and having their lives changed.

Tell us a valuable life lesson(s) you learned in 2008.
God continues to make good out of bad situations.
Josh and I can make it through anything together.

What sums up this year? (a word, a quote... ?)
God is good...all the time.