An (exhaustive) update

I spend lots of time these days on the couch or in bed.  I sit on our white couch by the window and look out at the birds on the phone line. They seem peaceful.  I like these birds.  I like them so much that I broke bedrest and took a picture.  I'm still on bedrest.  Officially I am on modified bedrest.  This means about 5 hours off my feet a day, no errands (for the most part), and minimal cleaning.  My blood pressure is actually doing quite well.  It wasn't totally normal, but pretty close.  However, these next few weeks are so critical to the development of these little babies that the doctors want to be very cautious that my blood pressure doesn't peek again like it did.  As of a few days ago the babies were 2.5 pounds (girl) and 3 lbs. pounds (boy).  I was very pleased with the fact that they were already so big and seem to be thriving.  I am getting really excited to meet them and to expand our family.  

It has been good to take a bit of a break, it seems as though I almost needed to be ordered to do it.  I mean, it was recommended, but with all that needs to be done on a day-to-day basis, a "recommendation" didn't quite cut it.  My body is thanking me for taking it easy.  The end of the day doesn't come with so many aches and pains which is a welcomed change.  Don't get me wrong, my body is tired and has aches, but it is less.

This has been a growing time.  The Lord has given us much and is never ceasing to surprise us and show us how he will provide for us.  A major means of this provision has been through friends and family. Since this bedrest thing has happened we have had people drop meals by, drop by to clean, offer to carpool, and to watch the kids.  I have been amazed at how quick people are to jump in and help.  My parents have come up and Nate's folks have come to help out as well.  My parents brought us the most fantastic meal- mmmm, it was good.  And below Edie and Will are working on a little sewing project I hadn't been able to do.  My sisters are both coming up for a couple weekends to work on random projects.  To be in a community like this is amazing.  And though it's also hard to just receive sometimes, the Lord is teaching us a lot through it.  Thank you everyone, you don't know how thankful we are for you- this would be so daunting without you.

Sooo, back to bedrest.  What have I been doing to occupy myself?  I have been doing more reading which has been good.  Currently I'm reading, Until We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis and would highly recommend it.  I've also been reading up on twin stuff and looking up pictures of mom's pregnant with twins (full term with twins = huge!).   I read books with the kids and do legos.  We don't have cable, but I've discovered some shows online to watch (project runway), and we started getting netflix.  Finally, I've been organizing my pictures and doing some editing.  Below is a picture that got left behind and I really like it.  All that said, for now, it's kind of been nice to have a break.  I haven't been board and have felt so blessed by the people around me.  We'll see if with time I can continue to entertain myself- I have a feeling I will be able to.

I'll conclude with a 29 week picture 

By the way, I'm measuring like I am 9 months pregnant with a single baby!  I feel like I've been pregnant forever, but am reminded of what a short time it really is, and in the end we get real, live, kids.  Totally worth it.