An Unexpected Blessing...
There is no one on this planet, in this universe that can tell me that God doesn't exist. Why? Well let me explain a little bit of what has been happening in just the last four weeks... see if you can see where God is in this...
Week 1:
No car. Again the car decides to become more of a burden to us than a help. Frustrated and without any other option, Lessie begins walking to and from work on Jan 2nd. But because we are only 6 min drive from his work (if we had a car) the walk was only 37 min long! Which meant, he could still get to work on time if he left the apt at a decent time. Throughout the week, we also had to pay bills... his hours were bad over the holidays, which meant we had to put some bills on the back burner or even pay them later than they're due. We called the cable company, hoping they would be willing after just 2 months of service time, to work with us. Not only did they allow us to pay 2 wks later, but they waived the late fee! Now, all that was left was the car payment, rent zone, and electric bills... Rent Zone was during this week too... but we had no transportation! We worried that we'd not be able to make it that day so we called them. We told them we didn't have the money (because we had used it on the car to get a jack for the car so Lessie could work on it - so we could get it up and running.) but when we called, they said that because we were a certain amount ahead, that they could let us by but we had to pay at least $16 that day... from a $90 bill... yeah. They even offered to pick up the money! Not only was Rent Zone due that week, but so was our car payment. But because we had no transportation, we weren't sure how that was going to work either... See we pay everything in cash to keep out of trouble. Well, Lessie reached out and called a few people to see he could get a ride. But no one could do it that day - so we called the car place, and asked if they would let us pay it another day (the next day is the latest they would allow). Sure enough, that next day, Lessie made it to the place just before they closed, and paid the bill with the aide of a coworker...
Week 2:
Lessie's hours began picking back up by the second week. But still no car. Not only that, but that Monday I had taken a tumble (8 mo pregnant) in the bedroom because i tripped over a cord - but with speed that I didn't know i had, I was able to land on my arm and knee towards the side of my body instead of the way I was falling (forward). My body hurting and aching, I still did not complain when Lessie and I - on that next day (his day off - Tuesday) - went to the store to pick up groceries. Lessie carried 99% of them, while i carried just 2 light little bags and the whole time he worried about me... Anyway, we walked to brookshires, the store is directly behind our apt building... a simple walk really! We got back home - this is after Lessie had been at the Ochoa's Mexican restraurant trying to fix the car - to no avail - all morning. We still didn't have money for ANYTHING for the baby, and I was coming up on my 9th month and still no baby shower either - of which I had just about given up hope on ever having as every person who said they'd do it, fell through. During the week, it was difficult too - I missed 3 doctors appointments due to no transportation and my side was really hurting, but Gabriel (our unborn son) was doing just fine and moved around constantly at normal intervals. Finally I was able to set up an appointment for the third week of the month...
Week 3:
Bills. Paid. I got a ride via Medicaid transportation to my appointment and told that doctor I would be switching to a new doctor the next week and I needed her to send my information to the other doctor as soon as possible. Again, Lessie tried to figure out what to do about the car... it was sitting in the parking lot of Ochoa's Mexican Restaurant for nearly a month now and not being fixed. Now, it being my 36th week of pregnancy, i was getting anxious. We had spent so much trying to fix that car and pay bills - we still had NOTHING for the baby. No stroller, no crib, no carseat, no real anything... except a few diapers, a couple of outfits, a bag of clothes given to us by a coworker of Lessie's, and a diaper bag set. Nothing that would really help us out in the long run. As time is closing in for Gabriel to arrive, my worry and anxiety became very apparent. But Then something happened. Lessie began planning a baby shower for me. He'd never done so before, and he wasn't sure how it all worked, but even though it was short notice to everyone (including me!) he set up a baby shower date and time and prepared to make it happen no matter what. We still didn't have a car, but he was determined we'd have a baby shower none the less. He had asked his boss to use the restaurant for this purpose and his boss didn't even bat an eyelash as he agreed. It was set to happen in week four...
Week 4:
This week...
On monday, my baby shower happened and it was a total success and surprise! I didn't find out about it truly till the friday beforehand in Week 3. I was nervous and uncertain how anyone could even pull more than a simple card of congrats on such a short notice... but Lessie was determined to give me and Gabriel a good baby shower - and he did just that! He and I both did not expect the abundance of gifts that happened to appear that day - even Lessie admitted it was a shock. People i didn't know from Eve/Adam were giving us gifts for our son to welcome him into the world! I was humbled completely by the generosity of every person who gave. Lessie had gotten some gifts for the shower too, just to make sure i got SOMETHING... but in the end, we got swamped with gifts! Lessie's thoughtfulness and gift of love was more than i could take. After I got home I wept. Not from sadness, but from sheer shock and joy that was unexplainable. I still get teary just thinking of the amazing blessings we've received...That night, Lessie and I
decided to step out and have some special dinner at the BBQ joint nearby. it was hard for me to walk so much, but it's good for me - but when we were crossing the street, Lessie tried to pull me along faster than I could go without pain and I had to keep from crying out - so he relaxed his stride and apologized, but honestly he didn't know it would hurt me so I wasn't upset and we ate a good meal and had a nice outing.
decided to step out and have some special dinner at the BBQ joint nearby. it was hard for me to walk so much, but it's good for me - but when we were crossing the street, Lessie tried to pull me along faster than I could go without pain and I had to keep from crying out - so he relaxed his stride and apologized, but honestly he didn't know it would hurt me so I wasn't upset and we ate a good meal and had a nice outing.
That Wednesday (yesterday) I got another slight shocker, from Lessie's boss' girlfriend, as she came over and brought us an infant carrying carseat! We didn't have one, and she brought it to me along with two bags full of things too! I was completely shocked and humbled beyond anything because I did not expect such generosity from people we had never met before - because it was a friend of her daughters that gave this to us! Not only that, but then she told me that MORE was still coming?! After she left that night, i was in tears once again at how greatly we were getting blessed... by random people, and from people we've barely begun to know or get to know. I am still in shock because when Lessie came home he brought home a LARGE wad of tips from working on the Bar last night... we had spent a little more than we wanted to on dinner on Monday night, but it was worth it - however, it did mean we needed to make it up somehow to make rent.... Well, when he handed me that wad of tips, I was shocked, as i counted it out and found we only need $17 for rent now?! OMGosh! Not only that, but i was still wondering about the Car issue - everything else seemed to be taking care of itself - but I know the truth - God was blessing us... I found out the car is going to take $530 to fix (including labor costs) it was towed to a auto place at the end of Week 3.
Thursday (today) - now you are caught up...
Today's events have been much the same as the other days - filled with shock and blessings that were hidden in disguise. Lessie pulled a loan from somewhere to pay for the car, which will be fixed apparently by no later than Monday of next week. Only 4 days away. Plus, he realized something about himself - when he holds a baby - he becomes instant mush! Just wait till he holds his OWN son... hehe... that will be a picture worth taking!
Anyway, the other blessings for today are these - more things are coming for our son, when I do not know, but I have recently gotten a call from Lessie's boss' girlfriend who told me there is more to come! The car will be fixed... for the most part. still needs some things done on it other than the fuel pump replacement (which the people working on the vehicle are doing an almost COMPLETE replacement of the fuel system!) i got a picture of my sonogram when i went on Tuesday (Jan 28) and I am still waiting for news of when my ACTUAL due day is...
UPDATE on PREGNANCY:
Gabriel is doing well. He's about 7 - 7.5 lbs, he is nearly 2 feet long already, and is in perfect form and position for birth. He is considered full term right now, if he were to born at this moment in time. He's got healthy vitals and heartbeat of 134 bpm and going steady and strong. He's gaining weight each week he's inside me and my next visit with my doctor is Feb 4th if Gabriel isn't born before then. I am 2 cm dilated. I am dilating quickly - which means some of the Braxton-Hicks Contractions I've been feeling may really be real ones at times. But either way, they do not linger or last long if I move positions. Which brings me to believe I am only feeling the fake BHC's and not the real deal. I also have not had any bleeding or spotting, nor have I had any gush of fluids recently (I do kegels excersizes when I use the bathroom to see if my water is breaking or if I am just peeing a bunch). So currently it is a waiting game now. With my dilation happening without pain, or major contractions, I am a bit worried I may not realize when I am needing to call the hospital or doctor - simply because I do not feel any pain that they describe.
I have also noticed that my chest is engorged a bit, as a little pain pinches me now and again in my breasts as they are filling with colostrum (baby's first milk - the immune booster). I am a bit worried that I will be too engorged when Gabriel is born, but I am hoping to be able to take care of that soon too - so i keep a vigil on any lactation that I am having to keep from having too much pain I "hand express" my breasts to relieve SOME of the milk build up which helps with the pain.
Gabriel moves around at intervals now. Usually early in the morning when it's time for Lessie to go to work, and then again in the afternoon when it's time for my nap, then again he'll move around when I am waiting for Lessie to come home from work or before bed. (like he's doing right now...) Gabriel is healthy by all appearances and is full term. Now - for the waiting game.
I am a bit impatient, but patience is a virtue God granted me as a child and even now as an adult. I am still anxious about how things will turn out, but i am hoping to have a NATURAL birth - no epidural (I can't due to my slight scoliosis). But I may have antibiotics during labor only because i was positive for GBS when my doctor tested me. I also will be EXCLUSIVELY breastfeeding my son, to give him the best chance possible in this world to fight off bacteria and bad things he could easily catch with his tiny immune system barely opporational. I recently (don't know what came over me) asked if I could get a shot for the illness whooping cough that is fatal to babies. (the illness is fatal not the shot). I hate needles, but for the sake of my son i am willing to undergo such things - sigh. Anyway, yesterday I noticed my arm where the woman gave me the shot was warm to the touch and swelling - even turning a slight pink color. I am highly sensitive to mercury in shots (which is why I don't take the flu shot - it has 20,000 whatever they use to measure it - of mercury - that's more than the LETHAL dose of mercury by the FDAC!) Anyway... I believe i am having a small reaction to the shot because my entire upper arm hurts, but the swelling has lessened and the pain has too. I hope that because i took this shot my son will have the antibodies to prevent getting Peritusis (whooping cough) at least until he gets his first shots after he's born.
Well, I will wish you all a wonderful and blessed night - again I say:
There is NO ONE on this planet who can PROVE that there is no god, or that he doesn't exist. I am living proof he DOES exist and that he DOES bless his children! I am blessed... beyond all i could ever hope to have, I have everything. I am blessed by the hand of God.
What are your blessings?
