Still Smiling

So the last week has been hard. I'm actually in the hospital for the second overnight stay in the last few days right now. I should be able to leave this morning though. I've had an accelerated heart rate, low oxygen and pain in my chest that has definitely caused the doctors to worry. If I were not pregnant I probably wouldn't be staying here so much but of course everyone, including me, is worried about little Anna so here is where I've been. She seems to be fine through everything though so I'm now off the monitors and IV and really believe I'll be moving on in the next few hours.

I've had about every test in the book ran on me and tons of blood taken, and they had the darndest time coming up with what was wrong. The doctor on call this weekend was convinced it was psychological, even asking me, "Well, can you just start thinking positively? Maybe then the problems will go away." Ummm...ok then, that's really working for me. Ugh! He even went so far as to put me on an anti-anxiety/anti-depression drug. Fortunately the doctor yesterday believed me more and had an internist come and examine me. He's pretty convinced I have the starting stages of pneumonia and a kidney infection...which hurts like none other I tell you! Ahhhhhh!!! So, I'm all drugged up and hopefully will be better soon.

In the midst of it all though, I still do have some random smiles to share...

1. I got to spend a good 1/2 hour looking at Anna on Saturday night due to the ultrasound. She is beautiful let me tell you! And, she is a mover and a shaker! She just goes and goes and goes. She was pulling on her umbilical cord at one point, oh my gosh, was that cute! That was definitely a smile in the midst of the pains.

2. Visitors. Saturday night was my brother's wedding...I missed the whole thing as I had to spend the night in the hospital. Being that Michael was the groomsman and Lilla was the flower girl, I insisted that they go. Michael was highly resistant, but once his family stepped in he felt better about it. My sister-in-law, Stephanie, was so gracious as to sit with me for like 6 or 7 hours watching Hannah Montana reruns while they ran all the tests and such. Then my other sister-in-law, Terri, came for a visit. As did Michael's parents. My other sister-in-law, Tammy, came and spent time with me then on Sunday. As my family was tied up with the wedding stuff, I really appreciated the company and compassion of my husband's family to me!

3. Days off. Our MOPS group was doing a clothing drive this week so Michael took Thursday and Friday off to help out. Unfortunately, due to my health issues, we only helped Thursday, but it was nice for Michael to have time to spend with us on those days.

4. The park. On Wednesday, the weather was in the 70's, so we got to take Lilla to the park to enjoy the fall colors and play on the big kid equipment with dad. Oh, and she got to feed the ducks, which they tell you specifically not to do, but daddy had some crackers...and, well, he's a rebel that way. LOL

5. Help. Since I've been so sick people have really been very kind to me about helping out with the peanut. She has spent 3 of the last four nights at my mother's house or Michael's parents and I really appreciate it since I've just been out of comission. I think she's ready to go home though, she said to my mother-in-law, "I need to go to sleep at my house now." Awww....

6. Family. On Friday night, although I had not been feeling good all day, I decided to go to the rehearsal and dinner and it was really nice to see some family that I had not for awhile. Unfortunately I didn't get to spend the time I wanted to, but it was still nice to see them for even a short bit.

7. 35 days. I am now scheduled to have a c-section on Dec. 16th. 12 days before my due date as that just works out for some things for the doctor, and in all honesty, it can't come soon enough. I am really starting to get ready! So, five weeks from today I will be the mother of two little girls, crazy times!!

8. Clothing and Coats. We had many, many donations for the clothing drive and we wound up helping over 500 people! Crazy! I wish I could have been there for the drive, I guess they helped over 240 people within the first 45 minutes!! So amazing!

9. My husband. He really has been concerned and caring through this whole ordeal. Last night he brought me my favorite Thai pasta from the Cheesecake Factory with pumpkin cheesecake for dessert...can we say yum? Oh, and the nice people at the Cheesecake Factory threw in an extra piece of cheesecake that said, "Get Well Soon." on it after he told them I was in the hospital...how sweet...literally!! :)

10. Amazing grace. I was listening to this song by Chris Thomlin today on youtube and I just couldn't help but think of how truely grateful I am for God's amazing grace. It's beautiful.

What are you smiling about today?