A New Home Away From Home

It's been a few days now...but we were released from the hospital Friday evening!  Thankfully Samuel is still safely growing and developing, and we pray that he will continue to do so over the next 8 weeks, but our lives are going to look a little different while we wait for him to make his appearance.  While we no longer have to sleep on hospital beds/chairs, we also will not be sleeping in our own bed for quite some time.

Because of how much extra fluid is currently surrounding Samuel (severe Polyhydramnios), my uterus is already measuring well past-term.  This is causing my body to think that it's already time for Samuel to arrive, so it's likely that these frequent contractions I've been experiencing since last Sunday will continue until the time that Samuel is born.  We are praying that God will miraculously drop the fluid levels to a normal range, but as of now we are on high-alert for any signs that labor may be progressing.  This means that I will not be able to make the 3-hour trip home for the remainder of the pregnancy.  In fact, I am confined to the bed and couch, as the doctors have given me strict bed rest orders in hopes of keeping the contractions from increasing.  So Seth and I will be staying in Little Rock until Samuel makes his appearance, which hopefully won't be for another 8 weeks!  While that is a lot of time to be away from home, we are so thankful for each day that Samuel is given to continue safely growing in the womb.

It is difficult being so far away from home during this time.  We so greatly miss being close to friends and family.  But we have been so blessed already during our first week in Little Rock and we are so grateful for the caring, generous community that God has surrounded us with!

• A generous family is allowing us to stay in an apartment that they have built on their land!  It is such a blessing to have a place of our own as we wait, and a place to welcome visitors to keep us company.
• Seth's job is allowing him to work remotely for as long as we need to be down here!  So he will be able to stay in Little Rock with me the whole time.
• We have already had a few people bring/send us food, even before we left the hospital! This has been such a blessing, and takes a burden off of Seth as I am not allowed to cook or leave the house right now.
• So many people have contacted us to encourage us, and to let us know they are praying for us!
• We have had family making trips back and forth to support us during our hospital stay, and as we transition into our home away from home!

Even though we are 3 hours away from our main support system, God has been faithful to provide, and we are so grateful to each of you!

Here are some specific things we would love prayer for:

• Peace as we wait.  Being out of our normal routine and in a completely new environment leaves us with a lot of extra time to worry!  Pray that we will focus our minds on God, resting in His peace, and that He will draw us closer to Himself during this time.
• Patience and joy as we settle into a new normal.  A lot is being required of Seth right now, and it is hard for me to just lay down and watch as he cooks, cleans, and serves me in every way possible.  But I know that is what I need to do.
• Healing for Samuel David.  We don't know much more than what we knew from our last appointment on the 19th.  We will have another growth ultrasound on the 15th of this month to see how his chest and long bones are developing.  We did have one quick ultrasound during our hospital stay and were told that his chest is just above the 50th percentile, which is hopeful!  We do know that Samuel's heart rate and activity level during the 5 days in the hospital looked great!  He never showed any signs of distress!
• A decrease in the amniotic fluid surrounding Samuel.  The doctors seem to say it would take a miracle for it to decrease on its own, but we are praying to the One who can perform miracles!  A decrease in amniotic fluid would hopefully cause the contractions to stop, and lower my risk of going into labor too early.
• Physical comfort while on bed rest.  I am on day 8 of bed rest, and am very sore!  It is difficult to get into a comfortable position.  Pray that God will ease my discomfort and allow my body to rest as we wait for Samuel.
• Quality time with God and with each other.  Pray that Seth and I will be able to use this time away from our busy lives to strengthen our relationship with God and with each other.  Pray that I can be intentional in my activities as I am resting.

 

And now I have to give a shout out to my husband, who has jumped in to serve me without even hesitating.  He literally does everything for me, including refilling my water over and over again so that I won't stand up.  He helps lift me off the couch when my back and belly ache too much to move.  He is cooking and cleaning and shopping, all while I lay here completely dependent on him.  Not to mention he still has a job to do.  I always knew he was a servant, but he has done all of this without complaining, and I couldn't get through this without him!  I am so blessed that God gave this man to me, and I am so thankful that this is the man Samuel has to look up to!

On another note, if you have any verses or songs of encouragement, book recommendations, or any other good ideas to pass the time while keeping my mind focused on God, please send them my way!

This is His story, and it is all for His glory!