Tuesday, November 19, 2013

The 9 Month Maternity Marathon ~ Yep, I'm Running It!


Yesterday, I shared this little tid-bit on Facebook:
"Steve and I are excited to announce that I'll be running my FAVORITE marathon for the next few months.....It's the toughest race, but has the BEST view at the finish line, and the post-race party with the boys is always awesome!!"

I'm sure you guys aren't too surprised, as I am always writing about how yummy babies are and what gifts and graces flow when we are open to life, and how I've become a professional at handling the misguided, thoughtless comments of others when it comes to fertility and family size, etc., etc.

What you probably didn't know is that after I had our 4th little wonder, Mr. Henry, my body's endocrine system said, "Hasta la vista, baby!" (It did, I heard it). It completely left town, abandoning it's duty of helping me function like a normal human being.  My adrenals, thyroid and hormones made a swift disappearing act. So, that was fun. (I won't go into the boredom inducing symptomatic details - Google can fill you in.) Luckily, I have a great doctor who didn't think I was a hypochondriac and was willing to get to the root of the issues.  Slowly, the trio was revived and I started feeling better, which, to our great joy, made it possible for me to receive the gift of our 5th son, Charlie.

After Charlie's birth, the same dang thing happened again.  Only, this time, I never really felt like myself again.  All of my cooperation with the Dr.'s orders, still didn't result in a strong and sustained system.  Deep down, I knew that the possibility of having another baby was slim, but I kept hoping and praying that if God had plans to trust us with another life, He would give me the grace to trust in Him. I've already been asked if this little one is a surprise, to which I must answer, "yes!" followed by, "BUT, you didn't mean oopsy did you?? Because our baby isn't an oopsy, it's a miracle."  Everyone also wants to know if we were trying for a girl.  Really? Really?????
The boys are giddy with excitement, and so are we!  I'll be even more excited when my hyperactive gag reflex settles down a bit, and the waves of exhaustion pass.  I don't want to scare anyone off, but funny things happen when you experience your sixth pregnancy.  For instance:

 :: 6 minutes after you tinkle on the stick, you start to show. (Bye-Bye blue jeans, hello yoga pants.)

:: 6 questions are asked 60 different ways by your children how this really happened.
(Our precious sons always look at me for answers, but I divert them with cupcakes.)

:: 6,000 kegels are what it would take to re-gain control over peeing your pants after sneezing and giggling. Raise your hand if you despise kegels.  What's a kegel?

::6 pregnancies x 9 months = 54 eternities without wine (that's nearly 5 years people!)  The next time you uncork a bottle, think of me!

:: 600 mental attempts at rearranging the entire house are what my mind goes through at night while laying in bed trying to convince myself that another baby and all the baby stuff won't shrink our square footage.

:: 16 times a day I have to explain to the boys why  our ninja wars on the trampoline will hereby be suspended until mid-summer. We are currently looking for a less violent form of quality time.

I hope you guys are ready to run through the next 6.5 months and all of the baby bananas with me! We can do this, right?? Raise your glass of OJ with me: 
Here's to the constant carb cravings, feet swollen to the next shoe size, 
support bands and bigger boobs (hey, for some of us, that's a major benefit!).

Have a great day, my friends!! 


27 comments:

  1. Yea Susan!!!! Congratulations!!! What wonderful news! And I feel you on the kegels... I know they are important but I'm not a fan.

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  2. Congratulations! Isn't it such a wonderful feeling of joy as a family? My thyroid and other hormonal problems have created much difficulty in the area of fertility too. I have two precious boys but would love another one.

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    1. Lucy - I hope you can find a good doctor who can help you with your thyroid/hormone issues. An understanding doc makes all the difference in the world!

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  3. Oh, wow! Congratulations!! Now I'm getting baby fever too! :)

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  4. CONGRATS!!!!! We are pregnant with #6 too (due in March) and I love hearing Baby Announcements. This was an especially clever one!!

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  5. WooHoo!!! I'm so very excited and happy for you, Susan!!! I hope that you feel great during (and after) this pregnancy!!!

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  6. Congratulations!!! Love the baby announcement! So cute!

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  7. Ahhh!!! Yay :) We have the same due date!!! So, so happy for you.

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    1. Woo- Hoo!! How are you feeling?? How fun to go through this together!!

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  8. Aaaaahhhhh!!! Yaaaaaayyyyy!!! Congratulations!!! I am partial to the number 6 when it comes to babies. :)
    I am looking forward to reading all about your pregnancy throughout. And June 15 is a great day to give birth. It's our 3rd's big day.

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  9. AWWW YAYYYYY!!!! That is SO exciting! Congratulations, fam! :)

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  10. Yaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy. I am so happy for you, lady!

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  11. Congratulations to all of you ! I'm always in awe of your stamina and positivity, but I'm mostly in awe that you will go through all that again ! However along with missing wine, rough and tumble with your lovely boys and other little ailments it's such a precious time this carrying a treasure and a miraculous one at that. God bless you and your family :)

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  12. Congratulations! This is the best news and I love reading what you have to say about pregnancy! So funny/beautiful. What a combo. Have fun this sixth time around!

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  13. Wooooohoooo! You do not know how happy this makes me. I remember often that you mentioned your health might not allow you to have another baby and I've so prayed for you! I am beyond ecstatic, and maybe a teensy but jealous, but only a weee bit. :) Yippee!!!!!

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    1. Oh, boy, thank you for your prayers! This baby truly is a miracle. I can only attribute that to prayer, so thank you!

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  14. Congrats! That is wonderful! I am very happy to hear that this is possible ... My adrenal glands have been really bad since our three miscarriages, I am glad to hear that it is possible to have another baby!! Congrats!

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    1. Kathleen - One of the supplements I took for my adrenals is Phyto ADR from Pure Encapsulations (you can actually buy it on Amazon). I hope your feeling well soon - Adrenal burn-out is such a terrible cross!

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  15. Congratulations!!! That is my favorite baby announcement EVER!

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  16. Congratulations Husband Family! Our prayer are with you!

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  17. HOORAY!! many many many congratulations!

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  18. I'm so very happy for you. (Brought tears to my eyes!) Congratulations!

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  19. Oh my goodness, this news makes me so happy - you have no idea. I love, love that God has chosen to bless you in this way. Please know you are in my prayers. AND, show off the belly, woman! I can't wait to see bump pics ;) Congrats to you, sweet lady.

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  20. I love how you write!!! And your positive spirit is beautifully infectious! Congratulations on your sweet blessing, and praise God for new life and your generous heart which welcomes it!

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  21. Darling announcement, Susan. :) And I am so tickled for you! It also makes me very happy that you will be blogging the journey! God bless all of you!

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  22. Congrats! We're due a couple of days before you with our 2nd....I hope its God's will that we can have 6 one day =)
    I look up to you in the fact that you love being a mother (it seems you are a good one at that) and homeschool! We're considering homeschooling too....but we have years till that time, but it does make me nervous when I think about it.
    Anyway Congrats again and God Bless

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  23. Susan, I can't believe I missed this! I'm so happy for you!!

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