Three

Here we are, it's 3 days away from Christmas.  I'm amazed at what the last 3 weeks has brought upon us and yet how we've been cared for and God's provision has been evident throughout the rocky road.

Pregnancy.

Typical background with the 3 kiddos

Hudson visiting mommy at hospital

I am 33 weeks pregnant today!  Hudson was born at 33 weeks exactly so this is kind of a special day for me.  As far as we know, I am 3 cm dilated.  (There is a lot of three's in the post....hmmmm...I hadn't thought of a title for the post but I know what it will be now!)  At 30 weeks and 5 days I had a doc appointment where I shared that I felt like things were different and had a few concerns that things were changing (ie...baby was starting to come).  The doc checked me, found I was 3 cm dilated.  Then the contractions came - every 2-4 min.  Long story short I enjoyed an all included weekend stay at the Nebraska Medical Center.  With Magnesium and everything!  For those who don't know - Magnesium makes you feel like you have the flu but it can help stop labor for some people.  I got to go home after 3 nights stay, so 10 pounds later (and much swelling) I was on my way home with bedrest/no work orders.  Not a strict bedrest mind you - basically no work and try to not do anything around the house or pick up my 25 pound 15 month old.  Fast forward to now, baby is still in, I've lost 15 pounds of fluid weight, and we've seen God provide in crazy ways!



Family and Friends
To those who have helped us during this turbulent time - THANK YOU!  I don't know how we would have done it.  Since I've come home, we've had many family and friends come and take a shift at the Reynolds house with Hudson.  Sometimes its a morning or afternoon, sometimes it's all day.  We've been so grateful to have help.  Yet it's much harder letting people actually in your life at such a vulnerable time I've found.  Especially when you have control freak tendencies like me.  :)

This kid can always make me smile.

It's been so humbling.  Even to just say "do you mind carrying Hudson up to his bedroom?" or "can you put him in the booster seat?"  I know it may not seem like a big deal, but when you are in that situation, it is.  I may or may not have started to go a little stir crazy as I sat around and watch people do things for me and Hudson.  And I may not have always done the best job of sitting around but I am doing SO much less than I was.  So far it seems to be working.  But we really don't know, I haven't let them check me as it stirs up contractions.  But on the other hand I haven't had nearly as many contractions.

Waiting for swallow study

Learning
Whelp, there is always learning in times like these.  The last 3 weeks alone we've had to deal with preterm labor, an aunt so sick she almost didn't make it, a swallow study at Children's for Hudson, flooding in our basement after we just laid new carpet (the day I came home on "bedrest" - what a welcome!), a dog that somehow punctured/impaled himself on something to where you could see muscle in his chest and a hole the size of a dime that went at least 1.5-2 inches deep.  Not to mention your usual holiday stress.  But, here is what God has shown me:

1) He is bigger than any problem I'm facing
    - Hudson's swallow study was fine.  So hoping he will outgrow the reflux soon!
2) I don't need to live in fear but instead have hope and joy
    - great example of Mary during this sermon http://citylightomaha.org/downloads/sermons/Joy.%2012.15.13.mp3
3) He will provide
     - We've been SO blessed by many dropping by meals and helping with Hudson.  It's so nice not to worry about making a meal.
    -The Chamber and people there have blessed us with letting Dusty be flexible with his schedule, working different hours or working from home at times as well as taking care of our meals for a whole week!
4) I'm not the only one who is experiencing or has experienced hard times
  - Just reminded that there are many trials I could be experiencing that are more difficult than ours
5) We all need grace

Anxious to open presents!

   -Extra grace seems to be needed for everyone during this time of year.  I need to extend grace and hopefully receive grace as sometimes my hormones/stircraziness can make me a little...irritable.  :)

Excited and nervous to see what the future brings.  I'm more nervous about this labor than I was with Hudson...I think that's normal for the second time around as the ignorance is gone.  Excited to spend time with family (hopefully) and enjoy celebrating our Saviors birth!   Hope you all have a Merry Christmas!