Fetal Behavior

Thank You Mom

~ lovingbrielle ~ Leave a comment

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I have to brag on my Mom. She came out last Wednesday and helped so much. She stayed Wednesday night with me so David could go home and get a good night’s rest. When we came back from the hospital she and Dad went out and bought groceries for the weekend. She made beef stew for dinner (and cookies!). We finished watching Princess and the Frog with Brielle, we had started watching it Wednesday night with Mom, Dad, and David. And then we watched Aladdin. Brielle didn’t go for Princess and the Frog, but she loved Aladdin. I guess Jazz isn’t her thing.

Friday, Mom began cleaning the house for us. I’ve been too tired and David has had way too much on his plate and hasn’t had time to clean. He already has his hands full. So she took care of us all weekend. She did laundry, dusted, vacuumed, cleaned bathrooms, deep cleaned the kitchen. It was so nice. It was uncomfortable at first, because it just doesn’t feel right to have your Mom clean your house. But David and I appreciated it so much.

I’d been craving pulled pork sandwiches, so Friday she made pulled pork sandwiches, fried potatoes, and green beans. We ate good this weekend! Friday was also Brielle’s 34th week day, so Friday night we had popcorn and watched Flywheel (the first Kendrick’s brothers film). Brielle danced through the whole thing.

Saturday we had a popcorn lunch and saw War Room, another Kendrick’s brothers film in theaters. We loved it, so did Brielle! She did lots of wiggles during the movie. It really was a very moving movie. We had a great weekend with Mom, and Dad when he was here. Dad went back Friday morning, he left at like 5 AM.

David and I are so thankful for everything Mom did to help us out. We really needed the help and appreciate it so much. Especially David, he has way too much going on. He’s being pulled in just about every direction and when I told him Mom wanted to help him by taking care of the house, he let out a huge sigh of relief and it was as if a weight was lifted off his shoulders.

Prayers

~ lovingbrielle ~ Leave a comment

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Please keep me in your prayers. It’s getting very hard to breathe. Draining the excess fluid can cause preterm labor and she could be poked by the needle, especially since she’s a wiggle worm. So please pray that we’ll know what to do when the time comes (which could be very soon) and that she’ll be okay if we have to drain.

Mexico Independence Day

~ lovingbrielle ~ 1 Comment

Wednesday Dennis G. had a layover in Atlanta and came out to see me and Brielle. We had lunch at The Marietta Diner (very tasty!) and caught up on things going on back home in Texas. It was so great to see him. The last few times I’ve been in Texas I either haven’t seen him or I’ve only seen him for a couple of minutes, so it was very good to see him again. For those that don’t know, Dennis and Rene have been a part of my life for the past twenty years. I grew up with them and their boys and they feel more like family than family friends. Scott and I grew up playing in the New Mexico Rockies and beating each other up back home. Him and Robert were the brothers I never had and I love their family dearly. David is also extremely fond of Robert as well, Robert is a computer nerd just like David. David always says, “Oh, I like Robert, he’s a cool dude.” I guess that’s guy talk for he likes him?

Wednesday was also Mexico Independence Day. Again, for those that don’t know, I am a born and raised Texan and I took my fair share of Texas history. It grieves me that my children will not be Texans, really, it pains me. So, I’ve decided if they can’t be born Texan they can at least be raised Texan. Since Mexico’s independence from Spain is a big part of Texas’s own history I decided that I should educate David and Brielle about this day.

We went to Pappasito’s, which is about the only place in Atlanta with homemade tortillas, so of course we went there for dinner. Brielle loved her fajitas and onions! And she really liked the mariachi band too! She had a lot of fun and wiggled around quite a bit. When we came home, I read them the story of Father Hidalgo and we discussed Mexico’s independence from Spain. David was sad that Father Hidalgo’s life didn’t end well, he was surprised by that. Such is war and revolution. Overall, I think Brielle had a great day today! Even if it ended with the story of a man dying.

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It Will Be Okay

~ lovingbrielle ~ Leave a comment

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One of Brielle’s favorite books is “It Will be Okay” by Lysa TerKeurst. I bought this for Brielle not long after we were given her diagnosis. At the time I was still learning to talk to Brielle and be comfortable having conversations with my belly. It had not occurred to me yet that maybe David and I needed to prepare Brielle for what was coming. Her reaction to this book when we first read it to her was immediate. She was happy and it surprisingly brought comfort to David and I as we read it to her. At times, this was the only book she would respond to and so we would read it, over and over again.

Within a few weeks, I began telling Brielle what was going to happen when she was born and I continue to do this. I tell her how it will be scary. That it will be cold and she might be in pain. I tell her that she is very sick and that she will need to fight hard to stay with Mommy and Daddy, but that if it’s too hard that it is okay for her to go. But I always ask her to hold on just long enough to let me hold her. I want her to be with David or I as she passes. I’ll tell her about the doctors and nurses and how she may not be able to be with Mommy right away, but Daddy will be there, he will be close to her. I tell her to be brave and not to be afraid, that it will all be okay. And no matter what, Mommy and Daddy love her.

I feel like this sweet children’s book helps not only her, but also David and I. The book follows a little seed, who lives in a cozy packet in a cozy shed, and who makes a sweet friend called Little Fox. But then the Farmer (God) takes him out of his cozy packet and puts him deep in the ground. Little Fox and Little Seed are scared and afraid of what will happen. There are two parts that I always love and that even now Brielle just perked up for as I read aloud again.

“Little Fox thought hard for something to say or something to do that would help his friend not be scared. But he was afraid too. ‘It’s different and scary to be someplace new…but it will be okay, Little Seed.’ Little Seed was not so sure. And neither was Little Fox. But the Farmer was good, and the Farmer was kind, and the Farmer was always watching over them. Even when they didn’t know it.”

I often let Brielle know that I’m scared too. And that I don’t want to lose her and I’d do anything to keep her with me. I’ll hold my belly tight and tell her, “But it will be okay, you will be okay, Mommy is just going to miss you.” And I think that’s why I like the ending of this book so much. Brielle and I may be apart for a long time, but one day we’ll be back together again and we’ll have made it through the dark and scary time.

“Together they made it through the dark and scary time, and together they each learned that the Farmer was good, and the Farmer was kind, and the Farmer was always watching over them. Even in dark, messy places.”