Books from Bed Rest

One of the beautiful parts of bed rest is the extra time it allows me to read.

Now, granted, as the mother of a toddler I have less time to read on bed rest this time around than I did when I was expecting my first. Even though I'm not getting up or taking care of her, from my perch on the couch I read many board books, color with crayons, shout commands, and observe her rambunctiousness from afar. I'm also chatting with my mom all day, who is taking care of S.

Still, I'm making the effort and finding it easier to squeeze extra reading into the cracks and crevices of my days. It is delightful! Here's what I've been enjoying lately:

For the Children's Sake: Foundations of Education for Home and School by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay. The grown daughter of Francis Schaeffer explores Charlotte Mason's incredibly sensible and lovely approach to education. I am really loving the read, feeling very inspired as a mother and future home educator.

My one criticism {so far} is that both the author and Charlotte Mason seem to place a little too much trust in the natural goodness of children. While she discusses sin and the fall, I wish that a stronger sense of the total depravity of man governed her work. As long as its taken with a grain of salt, however, there is much benefit to be gleaned from this book!

Keep a Quiet Heart by Elisabeth Elliot. I'm continuing to make my way through this soundly Biblical and challenging devotional. A collection of short pieces {1-3 pages each} from her newsletters, I read three or four sections a day. I am always astounded by this godly woman's insights into the Christian life!

Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe. One of my goals as a lover of literature is to always be reading through classic novels. From the author of Robinson Crusoe, this work is a little gloomy and dark, following the exploits of a fallen woman and her eventual road to redemption. Maybe a third of the way through, I'm still not sure what I think of it. Have you read it? What were your impressions? I'd love to know!

Give Them Grace: Dazzling Your Kids with the Love of Jesus by Elyse Fitzpatrick and Jessica Thompson. This is one of those books that I believe every Christian parent ought to read! Over the last several years, I've been realizing the important role the gospel plays in my daily understanding, sanctification, and life as a believer. I still need to grow immensely in this area, for sure. Give Them Grace has shown me how vital it is for me to be a woman of grace as I seek to share the gospel of grace with my children.

The Birth Book: Everything You Need to Know to Have a Safe and Satisfying Birth by Dr. William and Martha Sears. A very natural friendly, yet balanced look at all of a woman's birth options. In our area there are unfortunately few options for expectant mamas- we have one hospital with a neonatal ward, and the two practices of doctors that deliver there are far from being natural childbirth proponents. My high risk status makes me ineligible for a home birth, so my best bet as a natural loving mama is to read up as much as possible, be a gracious yet firm advocate for myself as a patient, and trust the rest to the Lord!

This book has been helpful as I seek to understand the pros and cons of various interventions, different philosophies of birthing,  and how to navigate the medical system. Highly recommend for its informative and balanced perspective!

So that's how I've been filling my days lately. What have you been reading? Any good recommendations to share?

A Monumental Day

Pre-Wedding Festivities

On June 25th four years ago, I was only three days away from getting married. My parents were in town, and we were hustling and bustling with wedding stress and joy. 

On June 25th three years ago, our first baby was due. We had found out the following December that they wouldn't be coming after all. It was a day of mourning and remembering our first major loss as a couple.

On June 25th two years ago, I cried in the car for the baby I never got to meet, who would have been almost one. My Niall gently reminded me that June is also a month of joy, and that I didn't need to cry every year on June 25th out of some bizarre mother guilt. I wondered if and when we would ever be parents.

Goofy Anniversary Fun

On June 25th one year ago, it was a typical Saturday morning. I exercised and cleaned and grocery shopped, looking forward to celebrating our anniversary later that evening with Niall. Instead I ended up checking into our hospital's labor and delivery ward when my mucus plug fell out at only 24 weeks.

We almost delivered S that night, we stared the possibility of losing baby #2 right in the face. The Lord chose life over death this time, and we are thankful, oh so very thankful, for the precious gift of S.

Hanging out on Bed Rest

Today I am thankful and rejoicing (despite the rain and thunderstorms) as I remember the June 25th's of years gone by.

I am thankful for (almost!) four years of joyful marriage, and love that gets sweeter and deeper as time unfolds.

I am thankful for the hard and painful times He has brought us through as a couple. I'm thankful that they didn't break us, but only drew us closer to each other and Him.

I am thankful that I am not in the hospital, suffocated by dry air, riddled with needle holes and hooked up to multitudes of monitors and I.V. drips. That I am free to enjoy summer this year- with walks in the sunshine, glasses of homemade iced tea, and flip flop tan lines on my feet.

I'm thankful that S is here to enjoy it with me- healthy, happy, a bundle of blessing and joy. Her NICU days a distant and blurry memory.

At Church (One of S's First Sundays!) with Niall's Folks

June 25th hasn't been an easy day in years past. But today it is sweet, and I am counting a multitude of blessings bestowed on us by the Giver of all good things.

Make the Best of Bedrest

Photo Via

Bed rest can be a real bummer for the busy woman. I only spent two and a half weeks on hospitalized bed rest myself, so I have serious respect for you mamas who have had to do it for extended periods of time! I'm so thankful, and encouraged to share this with you- God gives grace even for bed rest! He knows what we need, and His mercies are new every morning, even when you wake up to spend yet another long day in bed.

Here are some things that helped to keep me sane during bed rest:

1. Don't become a total couch potato. As soon as you realize you are stuck and might be for awhile, the temptation is to begin a movie and t.v marathon. Although there is time for these things, don't completely veg out. The time God has given you is precious and can be redeemed, even when He has put you on bed rest. I don't know about you, but I can only spend so much screen time before I feel disgusting and depressed... not where you want to be in an already frustrating situation.

2. Make a daily schedule or routine. Want to get through a season of a show you've been meaning to catch up on? Fine. My suggestion is to make a daily schedule, which includes things like watching t.v and relaxing. Order your day by priorities; I always tried to start my day in the hospital with Bible reading and prayer, memorizing scripture, and then trying to make myself as clean and presentable as my restrictions allowed. Then I gave myself plenty of time for reading, visiting with friends in person or by phone, checking stuff online, or whatever else I was able for. Having some sort of order in a topsy-turvy life circumstance can bring much needed stability and peace of mind.

3. Think of this time as a gift from the Lord. I know, hard to do. Yet we've been commanded as believers to rejoice always. A friend of mine recently checked into the hospital for bed rest, they are hoping to keep her there and pregnant for at least ten weeks. She has two little girls at home, and the hospital is an hour and a half away. Now that's a challenge! I was encouraged by her attitude as I spoke with her the other day. "I'm trying to think of this as a ten week vacation," she shared. Hey, no dishes or diapers or house cleaning! It is a break and time of rest you might never get again, especially with a newborn on the way. This is a precious opportunity to do the things you've always meant to but haven't had time for- reading your back logged book list, or taking up a hobby for example.

4. Find ways to encourage and serve others. Sometimes the best thing you can do when your current situation is a source of discouragement is to focus on the needs of others. Be sweet and friendly to your nurses and other hospital staff, they are working long hard days and receive little appreciation. Look for opportunities to encourage them and point them to Christ. Be an easy patient! Write encouraging notes to friends and loved ones. Find a way you can help your church- my church hands out gospel newsletters to homes in the community, and something I could do from bed was to stuff them in their envelopes. The biggest way you can serve others is to PRAY for them! I am so encouraged by the example of one man in my church. When a devastating accident left him paralyzed from the neck down and stuck in bed permanently, he did not grow bitter. He made a specific point of using his time to pray for all of the members of our congregation. Look on the bright side, your bed rest is temporary. Pray, sister!

5. Start a project or take up a craft. What a perfect time to start an album for your baby! Or to learn to knit or crochet or cross stitch. Have you been wanting to start a blog? A scrapbook? Make something for your baby? Get to it! :)

6. Learn, learn, learn! With the extra time on your hands, why don't you read up and become an expert on a topic of interest? Prepare for labor by reading some great birth books. Or better yet, if you are facing a preemie, familiarize yourself with what that might mean for your baby. There is such a wealth of material online, research all that you can. Knowledge can make labor and a premature baby a little less scary.

7. Rest up! Believe it or not, I didn't get much sleep on bed rest. Part of it was that it's hard to sleep in a hospital, the other part was that I had a lot of company and activities lined up for myself. Seriously, just sleep! Don't feel guilty about napping during the day. At home with a new baby and any other kids you might have, you won't be able to sleep this much again for a LONG time. So enjoy, and get some rest.

Hope this helps. I know that bed rest is less than ideal, but as you seek to redeem the time you might be surprised at how fast it goes. Blessings!

Linked Up With: The Better Mom