Laid Up While Knocked Up

In anticipation of these two little bundles, every once in a while I still feel the need to vent about the small hurdles that will make it all worth while. My joy is overwhelming when I imagine what it will be like to meet our babies, but the frustration that comes with housing them for these months still gets the best of me. We’re in week 31 right now. The babies are doing wonderful, praise God, and I’m healthy as well. However, the body transformations are far from over.

Have you ever seen, or even owned those small plastic capsules that you put into water as a kid and all of the sudden it turns into an animal shaped sponge? Or how about those packs of underwear that are given at showers and birthday parties as a gag gift? They are packaged up into a 2” by 2” square and after 12-24 hours in the water they’re a flaming pair of boxers with hearts on them? Well, that’s what I am experiencing with my feet and hands on a daily basis.

I’m slightly swollen all over, but if I spend more than 10-20 minutes on my feet…poof…I’m a sponge. So, I’ve taken to sitting even more, WHICH, if you know me at all, is NOT my favorite thing to do. Don’t get me wrong, I love to relax a little at the end of each day to get ready for the next, but typically efficiency and mobility are my two go-to drugs. For all of you who have ever been instructed to take it easy or sit down more, or (bless your souls) be on bed rest, you know the amount of discipline it takes to just sit around.

Fortunately I am still able to work and do small tasks around the house. Being in public is a sight to see. If I need to get anything at the store, I go to the stores that have those little scooters with the baskets on the front. That’s right…I ride around the store gathering my items with my stomach in the passenger seat. I get a variety of stares, ranging from “ what is her deal” to “ oh, poor thing”. My best friends just told me the other day that she loves going out in public with me. She chuckled this out loud after watching someone give me the twice over as we were walking to her car in the parking lot.

It has become comical at this point. I’m too happy about the babies coming soon to be mad about it anymore. The best is when I’m sitting on the couch and one foot is tilted on its side I find it has taken on a whole new shape when I lift it up again. It really is like the plastic capsules, part of the thrill is waiting to see which shape is going to come out next. The babies get a “kick” out of it too, ha ha…they are moving around like little champs in there.