Happy Things

Remember my Swaff post? This is how I feel today - my discontent and restlessness from yesterday has been replaced with peace and gratitude.

Yes, I might be stuck in this house in my bed or on the couch, but I am still pregnant! After 18 months of difficulty and heartache, we were blessed with this little miracle. After a rocky first few weeks and a few scares that he might arrive way too early, our baby boy is still happily inside of me doing well. Even when I was in preterm labor last week and getting drugs to stop the contractions, Henry tolerated everything very well. He's an active little guy, which is so reassuring. We've passed the 32-week milestone and are hopefully looking toward 34 weeks!

I have a husband who has willingly and very ably taken over all the duties around the house - laundry, bathing the children, grocery shopping, everything. When we discovered earlier this week that the infant car seat didn't actually fit in my truck with the two monster car seats we already have, and I had a little meltdown at the thought of joining the mini van cult or the hassle of car shopping (not to mention that I couldn't leave the house!), he went out that very same day and bought me a bigger SUV with captain's seats that comfortable seats all three of our children (plus a couple of stray ones we might pick up from time to time). When he comes home after keeping the children out of my hair all day, he's never quite sure what he'll come home to - some days I'm just so happy to see him and the kids, other days I'm hurting and crabby, other days I've been bored and become obsessed with moving to Wisconsin or buying a new couch, or something. He's been incredibly patient.

I have amazing friends, who have just swooped in and cared for us in every way. Within an hour of me finding out I was being put on bed rest, I had more phone calls from friends than I can count - all offering to help. When I was stuck at home without my family for six days, not a day went by that someone didn't stop by to bring me movies, magazines, books, decaf peppermint mochas, and food. Every day last week, we ate healthy and delicious meals, thanks to my friends. And I've been so blessed by their phone calls, emails, and visits too! Last weekend, when I was alone, my friend Ashley shuttled me to L&D and back, emptied my dishwasher and trash, and went to Walmart to pick up the car seat I had ordered - and then sat with me while I talked her ear off (I was a little starved for human attention by that point!) My friend Elizabeth brought me a giant pile of magazines, which have kept me entertained when I haven't had the attention span for anything else, and a cozy pair of flannel pajamas. Thursday evening, my friend Gretchan came with her three little boys - her oldest is in Sophia's class and her middle son is in Amelia's class (she talks about him almost every day!) with the most amazing (huge!) dinner. Those boys are so sweet and make me totally excited about having a boy. It was SO fun to have them here and totally banished my cabin fever! Other friends have dropped off books, DVDs, dinners. My friend Karla, who lives in Southern California, even mailed me a box of oranges because she knew I craved them like crazy! I have two lunch dates with friends this week - in my bed of course - that I'm looking forward to.

My church has been bringing communion to me on Sundays. My friend Joanna from church has called or emailed me almost every day to check on me. They have prayed for me daily, and along with everyone else's prayers, I feel SO uplifted! Yesterday when I really thought I might go crazy if I couldn't GO SOMEWHERE, I prayed before I feel asleep last night for the patience to stay on bed rest. I woke up completely calm today, content to lay here and overcome with all the happy things I have to be thankful for!