Signs of Trouble

I was about 8 pound lighter when the awful nausea and vomiting I had been experiencing finally began to subside.  They were18 weeks along then, and those hungry little babies decided they wanted food-- lots of food!  I steadily gained 2 pounds a week for the next rest of the pregnancy.  Because the babies were so early, that was only about 18 pounds, but I bet I would have been a house if it had continued.  I wish I had the opportunity to know.

My Dad and me (abouth 23 weeks)

I don't know what to say about that smile, and Dad wasn't ready for it, but there it is!

Somewhere around my 19th week, I began having contractions.  I also had minor cervical change, so I was placed on light duty at work, and bed rest while at home.  My doctor started me on nifedipine; it's actually a blood pressure medication that helped to control contractions by increasing blood flow.  It helped some, but I had contractions almost daily until the babies came.  Being the optimist that I am, I wasn't particularly concerned.  I was sure nothing could go wrong--I had waited my whole life for this.

I had routine ultrasounds and the big one that checked the babies' organs and development.  They appeared to be doing well.  Baby B had a 2 vessel umbilical cord (normal cords have 2 arteries and a vein), there was only one artery and a vein present.  That condition is sometimes be associated with kidney problems.  We wouldn't know for sure if anything was wrong until the baby was born.  We found out that day that Baby A was a  little girl.  Baby B was turned, so we couldn't see.  I didn't think they were identical twins at the time, so I was still hoping I'd get my baby boy.

We started shopping for baby things.  I LOVED this plastic Little Tykes alligator see-saw at the toy store.  I couldn't wait until the babies were old enough for me to buy it.  It became my mind-picture for having twins.  I could see us sitting the babies on it and rocking them gently, then when they were older, them rocking themselves.  Having an only child for 5 years, it was ridiculously exciting to have 2 at one time.  Looking back, it was silly being so excited about a toy, but it just seemed perfect for twins.

I also had those crazy "pregnant dreams" that women have.  I dreamed often of waking up with something wrong and I step by step went through the process of what I would do.  I also dreamed I had the babies and forgot where I put them.  I dreamed of having them and leaving the hospital without them.  A lot of those dreams were just nutty hormonal dreams.  Some of them prepared me for what was to come.  It was surprising how familiar some of those situations were when I walked through them in real life.

As the Lord was preparing me in dreams, I hadn't realized it yet, but I needed to be getting prepared in life.    I couldn't have known that I was walking through the last few weeks of life uninterrupted.

Learning to anticipate and prepare were lessons that I would learn well as time went on.  It is what God wants us all to know spiritually.  As he prepared me, I began to prepare myself.  Being prepared is not natural for me.  I do well under pressure and generally waited until the last minute to do things.  God had to change that in me quickly.  It isn't how he works.  He says to always be prepared to give a reason for our faith.  To be prepared, because none of us know how long we have here.  I still struggle with organization, I do however, prepare as much as I can for all possibilities; physically and spiritually. 

I prepare my spirit by reading my bible, attending church, bible study, and praying regularly.  I prepare physically by trying to stay on top of things.  I heard someone say once "the key to organization is RIGHT NOW".   I tell myself this often. When I begin to let any of those areas of my life slip, I feel lost and out of sorts.  Unfortunately, I am guilty of that more often than I'd like to admit.  Knowing that I have control over so little in life, preparing for what I can gives me a sense of peace and calm.  That sense of peace is the shelter in the storm that I was just about to discover then, and I cling to now. 

Matthew 3:3
This is he who was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:  "A voice was calling in the desert, 'Prepare a way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'

1 Peter 3:15
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks the reason for the hope that you have.  But do this with gentleness and respect.

Do you have any tips have for being organized or staying prepared?  Physically or Spiritually -even the little things.  People who aren't wired like that don't even think of the things you organizers see as normal.  I heard someone say once to set the table for breakfast the next day the night before.  Small step, but I never would have thought of it.

So, watcha got?