Sunday, June 15, 2008

Politeness Revisited & Catching Up

Just when I thought I was doing fine with not feeling obligated to blog, I learned a reason why I should - at least every once in a while - check in with some manner of post. My Mom and Sisters-In-Law have convinced me that it just is not proper that I leave them hanging to wonder if I have either died or moved to Israel without saying goodbye. Alas, a post as proof that at least the first of their worst case scenarios is unfounded.

I will catch you up in random order:

~Currently at 29 weeks and counting, I have been put on modified bed rest for the rest of the pregnancy. For every two hours of my being up and about, I have to be horizontal for two hours. My being old and experienced at this whole birthing thing has led to some factors that can make carrying twins to term a bit more challenging. Add in a houseful of lively offspring, 100 degree days with 70% humidity, and farm animals with minds of their own, and the words change from challenging to We-could-use-a-miracle-here. My midwife and her OB have given me two goals. The first is to make it to 32 weeks, which, among other things, would eliminate my need to go to the university hospital over an hour away to birth. The second goal is to make it to 37 weeks, at which point the babies would be considered 'term'. Per the midwife, "Between 32 and 37 weeks, we will be grateful for every week we get."

~Mr. Visionary and I have been wrestling. Our first listing on our house has expired, and as much as we feel led to sell this home to remove the last hindrance to our being out of debt, it seems insane to think of trying to show our house - much less pack and move - with circumstances such as they are. We are contemplating pushing pause on this ride.

~I have gotten all the herbal medicine I could reasonably assume we might need for the next year completely made. (Cough drops, tinctures, tea mixtures, and a supply of bulk herbs for poultices and miscellaneous things that come up.) Now all of my main ingredient herbs are tinctured in large enough quantities to last for a while. I keep all my tinctures made as single-herb tinctures so that whenever I need a special formula for a certain strain of illness, I can custom mix it in smaller quantities. The most important to me is the afterpains tincture, since I can't take any pain meds after the birth, and Motrin only goes so far. I also got a ton of herbal salves that we use often made up. (If you haven't yet bought TN Farmgirl's Medicinal Herb Course, you may want to. That is where I learned to make all this groovy stuff!)

~ I got 99% of the fall/winter clothes purchased for the children, because I don't expect to be doing much shopping when the twins are small. The Spring stuff may need to be prayed in, depending on how well I adjust to having the twins here.

~ I have just about given up on making any more freezer meals. I just can't manage any more bulk cooking. I am still trying to double up here and there to put away at least one meal at a time. I am using my "up time" on the weekends to get meals made for the week while Mr. Visionary is here to run interference (read: keep the boys out of the kitchen).

~ Except for midwife appointments, I have canceled any trips to town for say, the next six months. Even before the bed rest issue came up I had announced to Mr. Visionary that I was done with trips to town. When you shop as infrequently as we do, the shopping days are looong, so as to make the trip more efficient, but it makes for a long day for the pregnant lady. Even if I got through a shopping day intact, I felt like I had been hit by a truck for the next two days and needed long naps just to get through. It just isn't worth it. Mr. Visionary and the children do an awesome job with the grocery list all by themselves. Yes, he does take all seven children shopping for a month's worth of groceries at a time - and they even remember stuff I forgot to add to the list.

~ I have a confession. Rather than being frustrated by having to rest so much, I am finding myself ever-so-glad when it is time to go down again. I had no idea I would be so tired. Every once in a while I feel compelled to stay up longer to finish "this last little thing", but the children are too well trained. They know all they have to do is call Dad and he will fuss at me to go lay down. Really, when I think of how vulnerable these tiny ones are, it makes it easy to do the right thing. My spirit is being quieted and humbled in ways I could not have imagined. It is all good.

I'll try to be more diligent about getting the laptop out during my "down time" and keeping you updated proving that I am still alive. Thanks for the lecture encouragement, Mom! I love you!

20 comments:

  1. You are just so cute.

    I will go add you to my prayer list right now.

    Julie needs 37 weeks. Got it!

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  2. I know our Father has different plans for all of us, and some of us have much more courage and fortitude than others :) But Julie, I vote that you wait to move into your RV until you've got life with twins on a manageable keel. Of course you and Mr. Visionary need to follow Yah's will for your life and be willing to make sacrifices, but I kind of wonder if the twins are a way of His telling you that this year might not be the exact time to launch out on your adventures?

    I'm glad your children are helping you take care of yourself and babies. Keep up the good work.

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  3. I really enjoyed reading this post. You sound so positive and what a miracle you are living out right now!
    May God bless you and your family!!!

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  4. oldpathsfamilyfarmJune 16, 2008 at 6:01 AM

    Amy~
    Thank you so much. It means a lot to me.

    Beth~
    I was trying to make it sound like I am still open to discussion, but really, I ain't going nowhere anytime soon. I am becoming less and less of a hero and finding myself more and more trying to help Mr. Visionary see even without his colored glasses. (Gasp! Don't tell the submission police.) I still will (and do) submit to his decisions, I just give a lot more input than I once did. Right now, my input looks like,

    I. Can't. Do. That. Now.

    Renee~
    Don't let my tone deceive you. (Hee Hee) I hyperventilate when Israel is mentioned, and I close my eyes tightly when I go outside so I don't have to look at the bus. All of that is way too much for me right now.
    But I totally agree. This whole thing really is a miracle. Two babies. Wow.

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  5. Julie,

    Thank you for taking time to give all of us an update. Most of us don't "know you" but we all feel quite connected with you and are looking forward to that Day when we'll all be worshiping the Father and the Son together. Oh what a day that will be!! Come, let's go up to the Mountain!!!

    But for now, we pray for you and rest in knowing that your family (babies included) are all in the palm of His very capable hand. If all of us lived closer, you're house would be over-run and you'd get no rest at all, I'm sure. So we pray.

    You have no idea just how much of an inspiration you are to the rest of us! You may not feel like a hero, but you are a wonderful encouragement to the rest of us - that's why we keep coming back to read your blog!! :)

    Remember what year this is in Israel, it's not just the land that needs to rest - His children need rest too. You included. One task at a time, one day at a time, one week at a time. We'll get there. We know the goal, it's the Father who orders the steps. You just had to slow down so the rest of us could catch up with you. ;)

    May you be blessed and at peace and may He grant you strength and health, may the babies grow to be strong and healthy and be a blessing on the face of the earth.

    Lisa

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  6. Hello,
    Been looking at your blog waiting for an update- and there is one! Yay!
    You've been on my prayer list , since it seems that's the only way I can help right now. My dad said he'd drop me off on a Wed. night, but the trick is to get home. So- we'll see. heard from Mrs. W that you may be hiring Esther. I know her, and can't imagine you not loving her.
    Israel?! Wow! Can I come?!
    Just kidding.
    Keep resting-and drinking (not that you have a choice- ha-ha. A gold star to your children for being your guardian angels.)
    Love in Christ to you and yours, I'll see the girls tonight I suppose..
    ~K
    hmm long comment. Oh well.

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  7. I've been looking at your little "baby widget" thingy on the sidebar... You are nearing the finish line! About two and a half months to go if you make it to full FULL term. That's great!

    So do you really go to sleep on your two hour rests? Wow. -It sounds like your family is really pulling together for you and the babies. You must feel really blessed :) .

    It is good to hear from you. I will pray for you and the twins, and also for peace and harmony in the family as you work out your directions and get your bearings between your plans for Israel and the new additions to your family and all of everything else that is surely going on, too (!)

    Krista

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  8. oldpathsfamilyfarmJune 16, 2008 at 7:02 PM

    Lisa~
    Thank you for a timely word, My Dear.


    ***What she means about what year it is in Israel, is that this is a shmittah year, the year of sabbath rest for the land that YHWH outlined in His Word. It started on the Feast of Trumpets last year (the day after Mr. Visionary left Israel) and will go until the Feast of Trumpets this year... the 1st of Tishri, which corresponds roughly to September 30 this year.****

    Thank you for praying, Katie-kins!

    Krista~
    ACK!!!! What do you mean sleep? No, I am definitely not sleeping.... I have a family to raise, Girlfriend! I just happen to be doing it from a stationary, horizontal position a few times a day. (snicker)

    Thank you for praying, Krista! You really encourage me.

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  9. It's so nice to know that you are doing okay-I know that bedrest is hard-I was on bedrest with our third. We ended up losing her after 4 weeks of bedrest (at 20 weeks gestation) -as hard as the bedrest was, I would have gladly endured the extra 16-20 weeks of it to have kept our girl. I also had bedrest for 6 weeks with our fourth and she was delivered at 36 weeks-beautiful and healthy-worth every minute of that 6 weeks!
    So, I totally understand when you say that all you have to think of is the twins vulnerability and it persuades you to rest-smart woman!
    I pray that you and Mr. Visionary will have peace about your house dilemma-and that the twins will indeed wait until 37 weeks to be born.
    Michelle

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  10. LOL!

    I knew it sounded too good to be true. I guess I was dreaming! We have five children, and taking a nap during the day??? No way. But I was enjoying imagining you snoozing away while your little helpers all work as a team to manage the house :)

    I hope you are having a good day today. It's just one day at a time. Are you anxious to see them born? I know our kids started asking about now if I was starting to feel contractions. They wanted our last baby to be born about two months early. And from then on I was asked every day, "Are you feeling anything yet?" ;)

    Krista

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  11. Julie, I keep checking in, hoping and praying all is well, and I am so relieved to hear how you are! Everything you are saying is bringing back vivid (recent) memories! It is such an adventure, one that you may never have again! You are doing a wonderful job, mama!!!

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  12. oldpathsfamilyfarmJune 18, 2008 at 1:34 AM

    Michelle~
    Thank you for sharing your experience... it is so encouraging!

    Krista~
    Yes, I am getting to the point where I always start getting anxious to *meet* the baby. Who are you? What are you like? Who are you going to grow up to be? I am always torn between, Hurry, I want to meet you, and Take your time... you only have one chance to *cook* in there!

    Susanna~
    I am finding it almost creepy how I am experiencing everything you said I would... your words were almost prophetic. Now that I have cut out all the physical stuff, it is so nice to know that I don't have to fret about what I didn't get done since I took your advice and did the hardest stuff first. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

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  13. I just happened by and wanted to say I'll be praying for a healthy remainder of your pregnancy. My twins were #3 and 4 in our family( the others were 5 and 3) so I don't have any advice other than to take up any offers of food. Also, the thing that helped me most was color coding them. We weren't totally sure if they were fraternal or identical until they were born(definitely fraternal) so the olderst was the "blue" baby and the younger was the "green" baby. I purposefully bought a two different car seats(blue and green)and set aside the green and blue clothes for visits for their first 6-12 months. This helped everyone figure out who was who. I saw that someone had recommended the book by Babrara Luke. It was the most useful of all the twin books I read. My boys were 8 lbs and 6 lbs 6 oz and delivered at 37 weeks. One in the regular way and the 2nd was a breach extraction. As much work as they were and are, I feel so privileged to be trusted with them, they are truly delightful and worth every night of sleeplessness. They will be 2 in August, and I can't believe how fast the time has gone.

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  14. Yes, you need to take your Mother's advice and keep us posted more often!

    We were selling/showing our home until shortly before our 9th baby was born, and I can tell you, we didn't sell a moment too soon. I just couldn't handle the stress any longer! The last time we showed it I was in tears and despaired of getting through that stage of our lives. I was so thankful it sold when it did. It gave us two months to move and get settled before the baby was born. I can't imagine doing all that with twins on the way.
    Glad to hear your family is taking such good care of you and that you can take a break from shopping days.
    Thinking of you often!
    ~Annette

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  15. Thinking of you today! Another week has gone by, and I hope all is well for you and your littlest family members :)

    God bless your family.

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  16. Wow. I've been off-line for over a week...and I MISSED your post!

    So good to hear from you, Julie girl.

    I think of you so often, and pray, pray, pray for you and your little ones.

    Much love to you!

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  17. Julie,
    I have read and been blessed by your blog for many months after finding it through a mutual friend of TN Farmgirl. I just want you to know that there is a Christian sister here in Nashville with a tender place in her heart and words of prayer on her lips for you. May today bring you a real, hearfelt assurance that His grace is sufficient for you, His power made perfect in your weakness.
    Spring

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  18. I remember the bedrest times with my twins.
    It seems so long ago now but they are only 2 1/2 years old. They were born full term ON their DUEDATE! :-) I had them at home with a special team of midwives and nurses (previous twin birth experience). The first was 7 lb 4 oz the second was footling breach and weighed 6 lb 11 oz.
    I know this time is tough. I pray you will be blessed with peace.
    After those sweet ones are born if you need another twin mom to talk to please feel free to email me anytime. I'm sure the other mom's of twins would extend the same invitation. It's a different experience than mothering a singleton and sometimes you just need to talk to someone who has been on the same path. I have a twin mom friend whom I call every week! :-D We lovingly and jokingly call it 'our therapy session'!
    Peace to you!

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  19. Hoping you're all doing well!

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