Day #10...June is here

 This morning I woke up feeling like I was trapped in the movie "Groundhogs Day".... Little changes each day....but there are a few I look forward to; a new nurse every 12 hours, clean sheets, Dr. updates, meals, and my family and friends coming to visit.  Today I am 31.4 weeks and happy he is still cozy and growing. The doctors tell me that for every day he stays in me, it would be two days he would have to stay in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit). 

The doctors have been monitoring baby P and my contractions for an hour, 2x a day, which is significantly less than the 24 hour monitoring we began with. The top line is his heartbeat and activity levels. Yesterday it took the nurse 7 adjustments in an hour to track this crazy baby's movements. He is proving to be wild, just like his dad :)

My life lately has been very different. My mom described it best when she said, " You have never been a controlling person, in fact, you're just the opposite. However, you have always been extremely controlling of your environment. Your life, your decisions, your path, your faith, and your privacy. More so now that you are becoming a mother". I think this puts things in perspective for me and explains the tight grip I am trying to maintain, when it is obvious I no longer have control.
Today, the doctors told me my job right now is to "wait".... I hate this..but then it got me thinking


In my life there have been more difficult times..there will be more difficult times...and every woman has a different story when it comes to bringing their child into the world.....and this is ours :)
I am reminded to "embrace this beauty and make something of it, even if its not what I expected".





My beautiful friend Courtney from high school sent me a link to a blog that moved me beyond words. It is a blog about the "small things" in life and it touches on this unbelievable woman's birth story of her daughter who was born with special needs. A plan that she as well, was not expecting.  The link is below if you want to check it out. She wrote something that resonated deep in my heart when she said, " To be loved....is the greatest feeling one can have". This is exactly how my friends and family have made me feel.  They have been on this journey with Chris and I from the beginning and continue to amaze me with their loyalty as we persist on. This alone means more to Chris and I than we will ever be able to express. In turn, I hope I am able to support each of you in your lives as we move through this beautiful life together :) xoxoxoxo
-Jana
www.kellehampton.com

Bed Rest Day #8

As most of you know, Baby P was originally due July 31st. This was a beautiful due date that allotted Chris and I ample time to prepare for the arrival of our first child. However, I have always credited God for his amazing sense of humor throughout my life. This time, like so many before, reminds me of a plan He had that was much greater than my own. Everything in the past 7 days have been reflective of God's control in the birth of our baby, and truly had nothing to do with Chris, myself, and our "beautiful birth plan" hahah. To update you, I am currently on indefinite hospital best rest for the remainder of my pregnancy. My short term goal is to at least carry the baby till 32 weeks (which is 5 days away) if not longer. I am 3 cm dilated which means he can come at anytime...today...tomorrow...10 weeks from now! I am starting to think God really wanted to teach me patience! On an up note, the baby is doing fantastic! He has such a strong heartbeat, he is EXTREMELY active, has received steroids to aide in his lung development, and is currently 3.3lbs and 15 inches long!!! I thought this blog would act as a good way to communicate with friends and family during this time,  and be a theraputic release for myself as I work through a worldwind of emotions that are very new, exciting, uncomfortable and scary. The time so far has been passed with ease because of our unbelievably supportive families and friends who have done everything from bringing me sweets and flowers to helping Chris move ( did i mention we are moving this week...hahahh) and organizing my things at our new house. To them I will forever be grateful! Last but not least, I have to touch on the servanthood of my husband. In the past 8 days he has done more for our little family than I could do in my lifetime. This includes bringing me dinner from Ciao Pasta so that we could have a dinner date. My love for him is beyond measure. I'll wrap this first entry up with an encouraging verse a friend gave me the other day. Truly puts things in perspective. xoxoxo
-Jana
"" Consider it all joy, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result so that you may be perfect and complete- James 1:2-4"