God Has Shown Favor: Part 2

If you missed part one, click here.

Disclaimer: This post is Jackson's birth story. While I promise not to get graphic, I know reading birth stories isn't everyone's thing. I won't be offended if you choose to stop reading. You've been warned!

God Has Shown Favor: Part 2

My pregnancy was fairly uneventful - which is definitely a good thing! I only had mild morning sickness until about week 11, and then honestly it was smooth sailing from that point on. Of course, I was getting pretty uncomfortable toward the end, but that's to be expected.

We actually thought Jackson was going to come early for a little while because he was already in position and ready to go starting around week 36. I had even started dilating, but around week 38 all progress stopped - and seemingly didn't want to start again.

Once we reached my due date (June 24th), my doctor gave us the option to schedule an induction which we took. We scheduled for Friday, June 28th, but would go in on Thursday evening to be given a medication called Cervidil to help prepare my body for labor. This medication needed to be given 12 hours in advance. So the plan was to start that Thursday night, then be induced Friday morning.

Unfortunately I did not go into labor naturally before Thursday evening, so we moved forward with the scheduled induction.

We arrived at the hospital around 7pm and started the medication around 8pm. So, the plan was to start me on pitocin to induce labor at 8am Friday morning. But Jackson had other plans. ;)

God Has Shown Favor: Part 1

I'm baaaackkk!!!

And oh so much has changed since we last talked, Internet Friends. I promise in time you'll be all caught up, but I want to start with my favorite story from the last 3 years.

It's kind of long, so I'm breaking it into two parts. Welcome to part 1!

God Has Shown Favor: Part 1

This is a story of infertility. This is a story of brokenness. This is a story of God's overwhelming grace. This is my story.

This story actually starts years ago, back when I was a teenager. I'll spare you all the details, but the main thing you need to know is that for various reasons, I always suspected I might have issues getting pregnant. I truly hoped that my suspicion was 100% rooted in the fact that I am an eternal pessimist, but as you'll soon find out, it wasn't.

So, when my husband and I decided we wanted to start our family in August 2017, we decided not to tell anyone. My reason was simple: I didn't want people to wonder what was taking so long if it didn't happen right away. I thought that would be embarrassing and shameful.

Normally, I am an incredibly open person. I hate secrets. I think there are very few good reasons for having them. I don't necessarily volunteer all of my dirty laundry for everyone to know, but I at least always willing to talk about it.

Except with this. This was the exception. I did not, under any circumstances, want people to know we were trying for a baby. I convinced myself my reasons were legitimate, but the reality is, it was pride.

I'm going to pause there and tell the medical side of this story first. Remember this, though, because it plays a very important part in this story.

2016: My Favorite Year Yet.

It's my 3rd favorite holiday!

First is Christmas, then Thanksgiving, and then New Year's is third! (If you're wondering, Valentine's day is fourth and July 4th is fifth.)

I love New Year's for several reasons: 1) it's just a fun time to stay up late and celebrate with friends, 2) my first date with my now-husband was on NYE, and 3) as I've mentioned before, I love new beginnings! The beginning of a new year is a great way to have a fresh start with new goals, plans and adventures. 2016 was a really big year that will be hard to top, but that certainly isn't going to stop me from trying!

I know I was MIA from the blog for most of 2016, but that's just because I was busy living in the moments instead of writing about them. And as much as I love blogging, it was really a nice break and definitely much needed. There was so much that happened this year, but now that I'm back, I think it's time for a recap of my year, going (somewhat) chronologically.

He Put A Ring On It.

A lot has happened since my last post! And now that school's out, I intend to post a lot more. :) I had some other posts I was working on BUT I'm putting those on the back burner for now because I have a much more important story to tell first. (Head's up, it's LONG...but good).

3 weeks ago, on Sunday, May 15, 2016, the most handsome man got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife. And I said...well, let me start from the beginning. 

Welcome 2015.

One year ago, just after the clock struck 12 and we welcomed the new year, I made the bold prediction that 2014 was going to be a great year. I just knew it.

Ringing in 2014.

I was right.

2014 was wonderful for many reasons. This year was full of new opportunities, new relationships, chances to trust in God, and answered prayers. It was also full of challenges, hardships, disappointments, and even some tears. It wasn't a perfect year, but in my opinion, it was the best.

Every year has trials. But if you can come out stronger on the other end of them, it's a win. I had some very low points this year, but I'm a much better person because of them. I learned not to take anything for granted. I learned that God has my back no matter what. And I'm starting to learn (though I'm not quite there yet) that I shouldn't let what other people think of me dictate what I think of myself. 

Hey, Look! I'm Blogging!

So it's been waaayyyy more than 7 weeks. Oops.

Since it has been practically an eternity since my last post, I'm going to attempt to do a giant catch-up post recapping the last...what, 50 weeks or something? (12. It's been 12.)

A lot has happened since my last post, and before I dive back into posting regularly, I really want to fill in all the gaps. You know, for context. And because some awesome things have been happening lately and I want y'all to think I'm cool.

Yes, you heard right! I am going to [attempt] to start posting regularly again starting...now! And by regularly I mean once a week. And I also mean that there may be a week (or two, or six) where I don't get around to it. But I'm reallllyyyy going to try because I miss it.

Speaking of missing things, here's all the fabulous (just go with it) details of my life that you may have missed in the last 12 weeks:

The Return of Tumultuous Tuesday.

Okay. FIRSTLY, I sincerely apologize for my absence the last week and a half. It's been really crazy, but I'll explain that another time.

SECONDLY, this post has nothing to do with my typical Wednesday theme. It really should go on Tuesday, but I don't want to wait a week to post it. It happened on a Tuesday (yesterday), so that counts.

If you read my old blog, Uncharted, then you know that Tuesday is by far my least favorite day because nothing good ever happens. There are endless stories about Tuesdays over there.

Strangely enough, since I began Wonderfully Made, Tuesdays have been really normal. Actually, in general nothing really out of the ordinary has happened to me lately which, again, is really strange. And also the reason I've been lacking in blog content.

But yesterday. Oh yesterday. Yesterday was definitely a Tuesday as I know Tuesdays to be.

If it keeps up, Tumultuous Tuesday may have to replace Enchilada Tuesday...

Anyway, here's what happened.

The Adventures of NyQuil.

Welcome to my first Enchilada Tuesday post! Or whatever we're calling Tuesdays.

Sunday was a long day for me. I was gone all day, and the entire day I was surrounded by people.

I love people. But I find them exhausting.

I got home around 9:30pm Sunday night and crashed.

Considering how tired I was, it was surprising how long it took me to fall asleep. Like, maybe an hour. And when I finally did fall asleep, all I dreamed about was people. No storyline. Just people.

And then around 1:30am, I woke up. And every time I closed my eyes, I saw people. People everywhere.