Dayenu

Dayenu. A Jewish word meaning "it would have been enough." This word and it's meaning to people has cropped up in several blog posts that I read on a regular basis. This combined with the season of Thanksgiving has led me to reflect on my "haves" in a world that so often focuses on "have nots."

If God had only given me life, and none of the other blessings... Dayenu.

If God had only given me a job and not the amazing friendships that have sprung from that place... Dayenu.

If God had only given me Christopher, and none of the children we have been/will be blessed with... Dayenu.

If God had brought me into the Vanderbilt community, and I had only made one friend there... Dayenu.

There's so much to be thankful for. I have above and beyond what I need or deserve. What are your Dayenus???

All the time in the world... to go totally insane.

I am about to say something that I NEVER thought would come out of my mouth. I think I might want to keep working even after Christopher is done with his fellowship. At least part-time. I know things will be different when I have a child/children to feed, clean up after, bathe, shuttle around town, etc. But right now, one week into bed rest, I can say authoritatively that staying home sucks. There's only so much TV you can watch, only so many naps you can take.

I have made a list of things I can do that still qualify as "at rest" and I plan to start on those items tomorrow. We will see what happens.

Until then let me just say thank you to Mom, Nanny & Pop, Mama & Papa Wells, Dad & Nancy, Dana, Jane, Tracy and everyone who has gone out of their way to make our life easier over the last week. I really appreciate all the phone calls, food, offers of food, errand running, help organizing, etc. I know the next few weeks will be bearable because of our friends and family.

No avoiding it... bed rest is here.

My lunch plans of picking up a prescription and swinging by the bank were derailed with a single phone call from the OB's office. Long story short... protein levels were elevated in my urine and this combined with some high BP readings over the last few days got me put on complete bed rest. Preeclampsia is apparently NOT a laughing matter.

I have an appointment tomorrow morning at which time I will ask a long list of questions including... what is the master plan? Are we going for 35 weeks? 37? 40? Can I work from home? Can I take the dogs out to pee during the day? Can I attend my baby shower on the 15th?

When I know more... you'll know more.

Fun, Family and Friends

This weekend turned out almost exactly as I had planned.

Friday night was pretty low-key and included a yummy baked ziti and handing out candy to trick-or-treaters that came dressed as everything from Ironman to Raspberry Girl (?) to disgruntled Teenager with pillow case.

Saturday was my first baby shower and was so much fun! The weather was beautiful, the food was delicious, and the gifts were just too much! The icing on the cake was a surprise guest... Mama Wells! My sweet in-laws drove 12 hours one way just to attend my baby shower and spend a little time with Christopher and I B.B. (before baby). It was a perfect day. I can't thank BFFs Dana and Jane enough... everyone was blown away by how amazing everything was.

Sunday was the day I realized there is going to be a new person living in our house... SOON. After Christopher repainted the nursery Jane and Zan came over to help assemble furniture. Jane also helped me get things organized that had been shoved into the dining room. By 7pm we had a nursery... bed complete with bedding, rocking chair, dresser and changing table. Wow... this is really happening. There are some final touches to be added... hamper, prints, curtains, etc. but this is a real nursery. For a real baby. Holy smokes.