Friday, November 9

Pregnant forever.

Maybe some days are better to not blog.

This may be one of those days.

And yet here I sit.

Because I appreciate reading other writer's real feelings, I thought it all the more appropriate it share mine with you.

Today, it's something like this:
Being pregnant can be hard.

In fact, I fear I've reached the point where I'm convinced that the next few weeks are going to feel like another nine months. 

I'm going to be pregnant forever.

Yep. I said it. 

For-ev-ah. For the rest of eternity. For the rest of my life. 



I spent yesterday afternoon at the hospital, filling out my maternity pre-admission paperwork and signing a billion consent forms. I then, in a daze, rode the elevator down three floors and spent the next half an hour filling out the hospital's business pre-admission paperwork. By the time I'd reached the OB's office for my appointment, I felt exhausted. Mentally. Physically. Emotionally.

Physically, I've been battling a nasty cold for the past few days that's left me with low-energy, a stuffy and runny nose, sore throat, achy head, and plugged ears. I haven't been able to sleep well with the whole *breathing* requirement poising such a challenge.

And physically, ya know, I'm also nine months pregnant. The baby is low. My 'female parts' are extremely sore. Sleeping has become a real challenge, amidst the moving baby and rotund mid-section.

I can tell my body is preparing for labor. And that'll change a woman.

Mentally, I'd been battling our danged furnace all morning. For some reason, the danged 'ol thing decided to quit blowing out hot air. And at the same time, our water heater decided to not put out more than four or five inches of hot water. Which made for some chilly showers and baths. Hello? Landlord? I'm angry and I'm pregnant and I'm chilled and I'm tired and I'm sick and I need you to fix this NOW!

Did I mention that I've got an overload of hormones at the moment?

Emotionally, after seeing the delivery rooms, I realized how close we are to this life changing experience. I realized that when we leave the hospital, we will have TWO car seats strapped into the back seat of the X-Terra.

Even the idea of two car seats was enough to send me over the edge.

Can I really do this?

Can I be a mother to TWO babies at the same time?

Then, in my hormonal, emotional, and physically exhausted state, I began to question my mothering abilities. Georgia has been battling this cold as well and it's taken it's toll on her. We've both been short tempered. Achy. Grouchy. Tired. And that's not a good combination for Mama and toddler.

And as she splashed her bubbles out of the bathtub after being repeatedly asked not to, I felt I'd hit a wall.

I came back out to the kitchen table and told Stuart I'm the worst mother that has ever lived and that I shouldn't be allowed to raise another child.

He said I was being dramatic.

Then, I proceeded to tell him that I wasn't going to survive the night.

Why? He asked.

At which point I went into a long and elaborate explanation of my pitiful mental, physical, and emotional state.

He assured me that at some point very soon, I will have this baby and will no longer have to waddle around like a whale. I will, at some point, be recovered from this cold. Our furnace and hot water tank, very soon, will be fixed. And that Georgia, at some point, will tell me I'm a good Mother (despite my failings at moments).

There is no doubt incredible blessings that go along with being pregnant. Growing that child inside you is such a miracle. But y'all - let's be real here. Some days, it can be hard.

And whoever says it's not is lying.

I remember getting to this point with Georgia. Where without warning I'd collapsed on the floor in a fit of hormones bawling and just knew I would never survive past that particular moment. It wasn't even that I was sad, per say. I was just on overload.

Today was an overload day.

Today was the kind of day where I would have loved to show up at my parent's house for dinner so that I wouldn't have to make one more decision or exert any more mental energy. Even on something as stupid as a sweet potato.

Yes, my friends. Today it was the sweet potatoes that did me in.

Just seeing them sitting on the counter, knowing I'd have to some how create something out of them for dinner, left me in angry and resentful tears.

(Mind you, at this point, I threw Georgia's boots on her, loaded her into the stroller, grabbed my flannel overcoat and headed out the door. Stuart asked where we were going. I simply replied 'Out of here.')

Damn sweet potatoes, anyway.

I know tomorrow will be better. I know His mercies renew every morning and for that I am so grateful. I used up all of today's mercies. I am in need of some more.

Shaye, you shan't be anxious. You shan't be angry. You shan't be so dang hormonal. You gotta keep it together, girlfriend.

In an effort to do so, I am going to sit in the bathtub (yes, the one with four inches of hot water) because that's where my nose can drain and my belly can relax. It is my happy place. I shall make myself a cup of green tea and I shall begin to pray for strength and grace to get through this moment.

If you need any hormones, you're more than welcome to come and have some. I've got enough to share.

I'll even make you a cup of tea to go with 'em.

And that's all.

12 comments:

  1. Hang in there, Shaye! :) I'll let you love on my little one for a few days/weeks to remind you why you're doing it all!!

    PS - I died when it came to the sweet potatoes. There are just some days...

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  2. Consider yourself blessed. I (as would many other women battling infertility) would give anything to be in your position, pains and hormones and all. We've been TTC for nearly two years with male factor infertility, and in my opinion the wait and wondering if I'll ever be a mother is more excrutiating than anything pregnancy could bring. Hope you feel better though- just give all your anxieties over to God.

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  3. I remember the stage you are in all too well! After all, it was only 6 months ago and somehow (by the grace of God) I am a productive mother of two wonderful children who don't always listen but do give great hugs, kisses and smiles to me just when I really need them. I have a cabbage in my refrigerator that is making me want to scream as I don't know what to do with it and it is going to start going bad really soon. Hang in there. It will all be worth it when you see that little face!

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  4. Oh how I remember those feelings, except the part about sweet potatoes because I wouldn't eat them back then. When my second was born, my oldest was four years old and that didn't overwhelm me. HOWEVER.....when a little surprise arrived 14 months after the birth of our second this girl was OVERWHELMED! The night before I was to be induced with surprise baby-girl, I sat in the nursery holding my 14 month-old son bawling my eyes out because I felt like I was robbing him of his babyhood. I cried all night and looked like someone had punched me in the eyes when we got to the hospital early the next morning. If you think you are emotional now, just wait until G walks into that room to see her new little....I blubbered like an idiot! Just be ready!

    Anyway, my surprise baby-girl will be 12 years old in a few weeks and I can say that I survived and all is well. Your heart will grow two sizes bigger the moment that little is placed in your arms. You may not feel like you have enough sleep, energy, or time to handle another child at times, but you will always have enough love!

    Praying blessings of peace, courage, and confidence as you get nearer the magical moment!

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  5. Hahaha Shaye, you are out of mercies for today. I love it. And I remember the feeling. When you're feeling better lets do a walk by the bay shall we?

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  6. I so remember that feeling!! Praying that today feels like a brand new start and that your last few weeks of pregnancy are good ones!:)

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  7. I felt like I could've written this Shaye - except I can't write like you! I'm 40 weeks tomorrow...and I'm sooo done. The mental challenge of waiting and keeping going when you have other babies is tough. May God give you a better day, and pray that both of our babies come soon!

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  8. I hope you have a blessed weekend. I hear ya i only have 8 weeks left and i am so tiref out and cried out and saddened by my lack of mothering skills at the moment. All is grave and His grace is sufficient. Praying for you

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  9. Oh girl, I've SO BEEN THERE. I'm glad you are able to vent here... I know how therapeutic just writing out your feelings can be. Hopefully today has been much, much better for you! I wish I lived close enough to bring you a meal, or help you peel sweet potatoes, or something! ;) I had a day just like this during my last couple of weeks of pregnancy with Elias (#4), and I emailed a friend of mine who has six children and I totally vented. She was so sweet. She came over and helped me get some freezer meals put up for after the baby was born, and it was such a blessing to me to have her.

    Keep plugging along girlfriend... you know you're in the home stretch :) You are an awesome mother, and an amazing wife. Georgia, Steward, and baby #2 are so blessed to have you. I can't wait to "meet" this new little one!!! Praying for your comfort, peace, reassurance, strength, patience, and overwhelming joy in all that you are blessed with today :)

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  10. I literally teared up when I read this! We are just about in the same boat except I am only 3 1/2 months pregnant, my toddler will be 2yrs3mos when #2 is born. Daily I wonder how I am going to do it when #2 is born. My toddler has turned into "monster toddler" and has become so mean and defiant, Im hoping its just a phase! All 3 of us have been fighting a head cold all week despite the amount of satsumas, apples, honey and elderberry syrup I have been dosing us with. I am irritable between hormones and head cold, so is my toddler so I feel like I have been lashing out at him so I feel like the worst mother in the world and dont even deserve a second child! Cloth diapering is out of the question right now so I have been spending money on disposables which makes me unhappy! When I get like this, I try to sit down and read a book with my toddler, or lay down and rest as my body is saying to do, or just calm down and realize its all going to be ok, but its not always that easy! You arent the only one :)

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  11. Hang in there darling. You are so normal!! Praying for you as your day draws near.

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