Update on Kate, aka Stressed vs. Rest :)

Today, I’d like to start by sharing a little bit about how I’m doing right now – a wee bit stressed. I’m not sure it would be that bad, but let’s look at what I’ve done since I moved to Houston. I spent about 2 months unpacking and figuring out that I couldn’t get a job without going back to school for my counselor certificate. I found out that I’d be out-of-state tuition for a year, and so I only took one class, did a little volunteering and then a few months into this, we decided to do IVF. A few days after this process started, I was on bedrest with ovarian hyperstimulation. I got off bed rest long enough to gingerly do a few things, and then I started bleeding and was on the couch for the rest of the pregnancy. Then I spent four months going to the hospital twice a day, and then I spent another four months grieving and figuring out what to do next. Point being, taking four graduate classes, volunteering twice a week, doing Bible studies and getting involved with the ladies in my church (who are AWESOME!!), and keeping up the blog (which is wonderful for my love of writing and to keep people praying for us) is all a pretty big shift in my responsibilities. My brain loves it, but it is definitely taking a bit to adjust and not stress about things.

All of that is the backdrop for my true heart’s desire, which is to have more children. Everything I do is hard to fully embrace because what I want more than just about anything is to get a call from our adoption agency that God has a baby for us. That has not happened yet…obviously, this would be a very different post if it did! I am very encouraged about the possibility of trying to use our frozen embryos in the future, and so far, all of our questions are coming back with answers that suggest we should use them. Two things will influence that decision in the coming months – in two weeks, I go meet with the genetic counselor to find out what concerns they have (hopefully none too serious or any different than any other couple). Secondly would be my ability to take care of myself in a manner that suggests my body would be supportive of a singleton pregnancy. In May, I’ll probably meet with a different OB/GYN (see below on how much I loved Dr. Plummer, but I have decided I will probably start out with one of the high risk specialists where John and Hallie were born). In the meantime, I am trying to get my nutrition and weight stable, and I am also trying to improve my sleeping and resting habits…you know, work through those things that stress me out and get to a nice ‘chill’ place of trusting God completely in ALL areas. My devotional today had a pretty good mantra for all this – “Let Go, Let God” - I’ll keep you posted on how that works out for me in all areas. (I’m really good at giving 95% of my life over to God, and it all works out fine – not sure why I think I can do any better with that last 5%!)

Today, I’d also like to reflect a little bit on two very important women that came into my life last year at this time – Dr. Amy Plummer and her nurse, Brandy. When I started bleeding with the pregnancy, I was actually seeing a different doctor and was rather uncomfortable with the care I received in my 1st two visits; I felt like a number, not a high-risk pregnancy candidate which I was because of the twins and having done IVF. My amazing IVF doctor, Dr. Roach, had recommended Dr. Plummer, and one of my dear friends down here went to the other doctor in her practice, and so I decided to give her a try. The first thing I noticed about her was that she wore a cross around her neck; that can mean nothing or it can mean that she has a strong belief in the God I believe in. Thankfully, the latter was the case, and she became a reassuring presence throughout a difficult pregnancy. Brandy proved to be a Christian and a Godsend to me as well. I think I called her almost every single day with some question or worry, and she always answered them and didn’t make me feel stupid for some of the things I asked…and some of them were stupid! Plummer was the same way whenever I came in, and the thing I liked most about her was that she always took a minute with the ultrasound to just watch John and Hallie play and tell me how pretty they were. I know that after they were born, everyone in Dr. Plummer’s office (and her family) were praying for our babies, and I just thought that was awesome. When I went for my check-ups, her office was packed, and she took the time to talk, look at pictures, and give me the best hugs that were so needed in all that stress. Just as Dr. Roach and her nurses, Janna and Angela, had been through the IVF process, Dr. Plummer and Brandy were huge blessings and I truly believe one of the reasons God brought us to Houston was to have these doctors for this pregnancy.

Finally, I want to ask for continued prayer for the family of baby Sam. I mentioned him last Friday in my blog; he passed away that day and his parents are still going through a lot of grieving that I understand better than I wish that I did. They have other children, and the whole family is hurting a lot right now.