Ethan and Lisa: Bed Rest

It was Wednesday, November 3 - a typical school day. I was walking out to pick up my class at 8:15 a.m. However, as I was walking, I tripped on my own foot. Being pregnant, I awkwardly sprawled with full force and landed on my hands and knees. I am so thankful to the Lord that although I was walking on cement, I fell sideways into the grass! I was a bit shaken but got up and brushed myself off. Of course, all those who saw it happen rushed to me to make sure I was okay. I assured them that I was, but they made me promise I would call my doctor to see if I needed to go in to make sure the baby was okay.

I called the doctor's office and they gave me permission to finish my school day but said I must come in as soon as possible to make sure everything was okay.

So, right when school was over, I left my classroom a mess thinking that I would be able to come back either that afternoon or the next morning to set up for the next school day.

After arriving at the hospital, they set up a monitor on me to check up on the baby. Right away the nurse asked me, "Did you know that you are having contractions?" I had no idea... I had felt my stomach tighten for quite some time but thought it was just the baby moving... Also, the nurse told me that I was dehydrated so they would need to hook me up on an IV. The nurse also did an exam and discovered that I was l.5 cm dilated! After spending a few hours in the hospital, they were able to hydrate me and get the contractions to settle down so that I could go home.

However, what I hadn't expected going in to the doctor that day was that I wouldn't be allowed to return to work! The doctor ordered me to stay on bed rest because I was only 34 weeks and I needed to atleast get to 36 weeks or more for the baby's safety. I felt such a mixture of emotions! I was so thankful that the baby was healthy but very sad that I hadn't been able to really have "closure" at work. If I had known it was my last day of work, I would have said "bye" to my students. In fact, I had just told the students that very day who would be my long-term substitute and that she would be their teacher for the rest of the year. I assured my students that I would still have about 1 1/2 more weeks with them (my last day of school was supposed to be November 10) and that I would bring the baby back to meet them...

I know that God was in control, though. If I had known in was my last day, I would have been stressed out trying to get ready to turn my class over. As it was, I was already working long hours trying to get ready to turn my classroom over to my long-term sub. So, I know that God knew what was best.

So, the first few days were a little tough for me emotionally. But, I had to learn to just "let go." I knew God was in control and knew what was best.

My parents, upon hearing of my bed rest, asked if they could drive down from Northern California to take me to my doctor appointment on Friday and to be here while I was on bed rest. They were so sweet - they left their house at around 2:00 a.m. so that they could be here before 10:00 a.m. to take me to my doctor appointment!

It was so great to have them here. It was a crazy time for Ethan at work (Budget time and month-end-close) so he was working long hours. It was a blessing to have their company and help during the day. After a few days, my dad needed to head back home but my mom decided to stay longer so that she could help me really stay on bed rest to make it to 36 weeks. It was so fun to have my mom here! I will always look back on my "bed-rest" time as a special time that my mom and I got to share together.

Well, the story doesn't end here, but I will save the rest of the story for another blog. Here are a few pictures of my bed rest and pregnancy.

This is the last pregnancy photo I took of myself. I'm not sure how many weeks I was... Maybe 33 or 34 weeks?

While I was on bed rest, so many of my friends would stop by to visit, bring meals, call me, or run errands for us. Our good friends, Michael and Caroline, came over one evening. Caroline had organized a group of ladies from our church to buy our car seat! She brought that over along with other baby items. Thank you Caroline for your thoughtfulness (and all our other friends who brought meals, baby items, called me, and encouraged me. I love the body of Christ!)