To God Be the Glory

As I think about the events of the last three weeks, I am overwhelmed with gratitude both to God and to the Body of Christ.

Three weeks ago yesterday I was sent to Labor & Delivery for a non-stress test due to the fact that I was experiencing some of the warning signs of preterm labor (i.e. menstrual-like cramps and a low dull backache).  I was given a shot of terbutaline to stop the contractions and sent home only to return the following night with more contractions.  Two betamethasone shots and two days later, I returned home on Procardia and modified bedrest.

I spent the following week strictly following the doctor's orders (getting out of bed or up off the couch only to go to the bathroom, shower, and eat), faithfully taking the Procardia every six hours, having few to no contractions a day, and yet feeling increasingly worse with each additional pill and hour of laying around.  The unfavorable side effects of the Procardia (namely the lightheadedness, pounding heart, congestion, and headache) as well as of the bedrest (extreme fatigue, decreasing appetite, and increasing muscle weakness) caused me to question the necessity of such extreme measures, especially considering the fact that we knew the contractions I was having were not causing any cervical change and were therefore not true labor.

At the end of that week, I questioned the doctor about the possibility of increasing my activity and decreasing my Procardia dosage and was given permission to do both (even to go off the Procardia all together, which is what I promptly did!).  Over the past two weeks, then, I have gradually increased my activity back to a more normal level (pretty much doing everything but the more strenuous cleaning tasks) while still being very restful for certain portions of each day.  And in doing so, I have found not only that contractions--real or not--have not recurred but also that I actually feel better than I did three weeks ago (far less leg and back pain, largely due to my "taking it easier," I'm sure)!

So again I say that when I think about the events of the last three weeks I am overwhelmed with gratitude; and I want to give credit where credit is due.

The day after my husband and I returned home from our two-night stay in the hospital, we started learning of all the people who were (and are) praying for us and our babies.  My dear friend and Sister Melissa set up a prayer schedule and thereby facilitated the commitment of several other Sisters in Christ--some of whom we don't even know--to pray for us at a certain time every day until the babies are born and home from the hospital.  And many others in reading my blog and learning of our circumstances began praying as well, despite the fact that many of them, too, do not know us outside of the blogosphere.

We serve a God who is near and who hears and who cares; and I sincerely believe that He is hearing the prayers of not only Travis and me but also of our Christian family and friends and of Believers throughout the blogosphere.  Not only am I still pregnant with two growing, healthy babies, I am feeling better than any 31 1/2-weeks pregnant-with-twins mother should!  I am truly humbled and blessed in knowing that so many of you are praying for us; and I am eternally grateful to the God who is on the receiving end of your prayers.

Thank you, my dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ; and praise You, my awesome God!