July 25, 2006
Chocolate and Needles
Man, is that just not the cutest face?
So this is just a quick post to say that things have been hard lately, up and down but I have this wonderful baby that makes me happy. I'm so grateful for him. My husband has also been so kind and giving while I struggle with the difficulties. Briefly, I have been feeling worse with this pregnancy physically and mentally as I near my due date. Germany is also experiencing unusually bad heat for what is normal here and it just exacerbates my misery. Things are not coming together or going smoothly with us getting ready for this baby to come and it fills me with constant uneasiness. Things are also going wrong with our house and our landlords haven't been good about it so far.
At the end of a long day of having a very despairing, bad attitude I pray for the willingness in me to accept God's grace no matter what is happening.
On a lighter note when I went to my German OB today I was having a hard time holding it together. I would stare at the ceiling and try not to cry. With all that was on my mind they had also just told me my iron was very low still and they were worried. As I waited in one of the rooms I started crying. One of the nurse assistants walked in and asked with great concern if I was sick. I told her no that I was just having a bad day. She left the room and told everyone in the office. Normally, being the emotional person that I am, I don't care about crying in public but today I was embarrassed. Pretty soon another girl came in the room with a little tray full of chocolates and a drink. "We all have bad days sometimes, have some chocolate." Then my doctor came in, put her arm around me, looked at the tray of chocolates and said, "Sweets for my sweet?" It all sounded so funny in their thick German accents that I started laughing. She told me to go ahead and cry that it was good to but I was finished. Then she asked if I'd like some acupuncture and I thought, Sure, why not? So I took a little nap with needles in my head for the first time in my life. Apparently I need them. Yeah, when you cry at my doctor's office there is a good chance you'll get some good chocolate and needles. Just in case you wanted to know.
Goodnight for me now, I'll be saying Good morning when you are in bed and it will be a good morning because we all have our health and each other. Thanks be to God.
Mama can only play "Hit myself with the cereal box" so long
Jack could play it for hours
adorable pics~ we are praying for you four:) we love you guys! hey and Mason will be excited to see more pictures of Jack:) The first time he sees me on the computer everyday he says "jack, jack" and wants to see pictures on your blog--he thinks Jack is hilarious!~love you, katie
Posted by: katie o. at July 25, 2006 09:21 PMIf only you looked awful as you tell us how hard it is, but dagnabbit, you keep looking like a beautiful queen with her small jester. Not that that helps, I know. Bad days suck!!! Foreign countries are hard!!!! Haagen Daz is good.
love and prayers winging their way across the ocean.
-currie
I hope things start to get better for you and everything starts to fall into place. I'll be praying for you. Don't forget to send me your number! Call if you need to talk to someone while the rest of your family is sleeping in the US :)) Take care
Posted by: Courtney E at July 26, 2006 09:21 AM((hugs))
i may be in your part of the world over Christmas..if I am I'll stop by with a real hug and more chocolate
Posted by: gwen at July 26, 2006 12:26 PMOh Michelle, I hope that you get rest and continue to meet wonderful people. I hope that your dr's office becomes a safe place that can connect you to other moms and good health ta boot! What a great little story, it made me cry a little too. We all remember how hard those last weeks are. Crying becomes a daily release. God bless you all and keep writing.
Posted by: katiek at July 27, 2006 03:43 PM" "Sweets for my sweet?"
When we first moved to Ukraine, I joked derisively about the ukrainian method of child-discipline-through-giving-candy.
By the time we left, I'd discovered that there really is a time and place where offering a sweet to a child is a wise course of action, and it has its place in loving discipline.
After all, as you were reminded, we all have bad days and sometimes a good first step in dealing with it is chocolate.
Posted by: TulipGirl at July 27, 2006 10:10 PMBtw, while my second was born in Cali, I had a German midwife with a thick accent. She was great. And, if you can get it, liquid chlorophyll is great for anemia.
Posted by: TulipGirl at July 27, 2006 10:12 PMyou are both so incredibly gorgeous!
Posted by: kelly at July 28, 2006 12:58 PM