Day 8: Christmas Eve (28 Weeks)

Today marks day 8 of bed rest and 24 hours of being on strict bed rest, without getting out of bed.  I know bed rest sounds like a vacation to some people, but it's not so much fun, especially when you're not allowed to even sit up and it lasts for more than a day.  I'm a person who always wants to be on the move and it's hard to not be able to help little B or sit at the computer (thankfully my father-in-law loaned me his tablet computer for the time being, but laying down I can only type one-handed so it takes awhile).  J made me a bed in the front room that I can be in during the day to be with him and B as much as possible and then move to the bedroom at night.  That way I have a little structure to my day and  a change of scenery and can hopefully still sleep at night even after resting all day.  I figured strict bed rest would be an emotional journey, but didn't realize how physically draining it is.  After only 29 hours on strict bed rest, my back hurts, my arms ache from holding books and supporting myself, and I feel cramped up, but that shouldn't last forever.  B was very sweet upon realizing that I was having a hard time with bed rest and said, "Mom, It's OK, I'll come lay with you sometimes."  That made me cry and realize I got him here with bed rest, albeit modified rather than strict bed rest, so I can do it for Baby Number Two.

Even with Sudoku puzzles, movies, books, visitors, and Christmas Eve activities, the hours passed slowly, and I couldn't help but feel a few times today like I'm in prison and J is my warden.  He kept saying things like, "You're practically sitting up again with the way those pillows are propped up; lay down." "You're laying crooked, that's not good for your back," etc.   I want to be up putting presents under the tree and playing with B, but I can't, and that's disheartening.  Funny enough though, I have no guilt about not being able to do dishes or push a vacuum.  As difficult as it is, I know staying down is the best thing for Baby Boy, so rather than wallow in the misery that brought occasional tears and feeling sorry for myself, I'm going to make the most of it.  I'm going to take J's advice and be optimistic and take it one day at a time and focus on the positives.

The highlights of this day of bed rest were hearing B sing Christmas carols, seeing his excitement about putting out cookies for Santa and food for the reindeer, and being with B, J, and my in-laws for the evening.  Another blessing was that the lady from Whole Foods gave us the turkey dinner we ordered for tonight completely free after hearing our pathetic story from my mother-in-law (All it took was mentioning me on bed rest, J with numerous broken bones, and us trying our best to take care of our five year old).  That's the Christmas spirit for you!  Plus, as J reminded me frequently, I'm home with my family celebrating Christmas and our Savior's birth, and I am not in the hospital.  And there's the fact that baby is still in utero and I'm now 28 weeks and 1 day pregnant!  So there are many things to be grateful for even if bed rest is difficult.  Merry Christmas from our family (including Baby Boy) to yours!