Bed rest

So.....I'm on bed rest. For five months. The rest of my pregnancy.

I have a pretty active imagination when it comes to health issues, but I never imagined I would be here.

Apparently, my body is trying to push this baby out several months early. My condition is known as cervical incompetence, which according to my friend Nancy, is one of the worst names ever for a medical condition (followed closely by irritable uterus).

So here I am, in bed. All day every day. Whee.

One of the strangest aspects of this situation is that being on bed rest for 5 months is just about the best possible outcome, because that means the baby will be full term. So, erm, I'm hoping to do this for 5 months?

I vacillate between gratitude and frustration right now.

I'm frustrated at the way my relationships with Ian and Paul are changing. I want to hang out and play with them again. I'm frustrated that my plans for fall are gone  -- the zoo trips, playgroups, hockey games, and concerts I pictured in my mind are all gone. I'm frustrated that I'll spend my favorite month, October, indoors in a bed. I'm frustrated that I can't control my household OR my own body (and I'm a control freak).

At the same time, I have a lot of gratitude. I am so thankful that this baby has decided to stay put for now. I am thankful that I did not find out about this condition the way so many women have, by losing their babies at 20 weeks. I am thankful that I have a team of doctors willing to fight for my baby's life. I'm thankful to have friends and family who have shown an incredible willingness to help.

And.... this is hard. I keep hearing things lately about adversity bringing me closer to God or helping get to know myself or refining my character, but I'm still waiting for that to happen.

My Favorite Vienna Moment

Vienna's First
District

My favorite moment in Vienna came about through happenstance -- a side note as we went about our day. We had decided to go to the zoo at Schönbrunn for the day, but we wanted to grab brunch before our journey. Amy suggested that we stop for lunch near the Graben. Paul and I, having no idea what that meant, shrugged and gave our assent.


As we emerged from the U-Bahn station into Vienna's First District, my breath was absolutely stolen from me. The beautiful plaza filled with people and pigeons, surrounded by high end stores and gorgeous, old buildings....and the wonder-filled sight of 12th-century cathedral Stephansdom. Now THIS was Europe.

Stephansdom

We grabbed a sidewalk table at Cafe Aida amid tourists and gypsies and Wieners (Vienna natives), still in the looming presence of the Stephandsom. Heavenly. (Literally, I suppose.) At the cafe, the three of us ordered enough food for six people. The waitress gave us a funny look as we kept ordering more and more food, but we couldn't pass up the opportunity to sample as many Viennese pastries as possible. I ordered a sachertorte based on orders from my friend Emily, who listed eating a sachertorte at a sidewalk cafe in the First District as her top Vienna recommendation.

After brunch we took a close look at Stephansdom. As I approached the cathedral, the bell started tolling the hour, and a flock of pigeons took flight just feet in front of me. Right at that moment, I was Audrey Hepburn in a classic movie. Bliss.