Concern versus Worry

I thoroughly enjoy attending Crosspointe Church in Cary. The sermons are user friendly. The nugget I pulled from Sunday's sermon was about concern versus worry.  Jonathon, our head pastor, spoke of the difference between the two and moved on to the rest of the message. I wanted to know more.

I'm not going to act like these are my words or thoughts. Google is your friend. I found the text below from Ascent Advising.

Have you ever found yourself repeatedly going over a problem in your head? Have you ever found that in so doing you have done little to actually address the problem? This, I would suggest, is worry. Worry is ruminating about an issue that is plaguing us without actually making substantive progress in addressing the issue.

This is in contrast to concern. Concern, I would offer, is solution oriented. Concern focuses on solving the problem, addressing the issue. It isn’t going over the same points over and over without adding value to the thought. It is coming up with options, setting priorities, drawing conclusions.

If we find ourselves spending more than just a few moments worrying about something, hashing over a problem, then rehashing it, we are wasting our valuable time to no avail.

When considering the differences between worry and concern, consider these distinctions:

• Worry distracts us; Concern focuses us.
• Worry disables planning; Concern helps us plan.
• Worry blurs our vision; Concern clarifies our purpose.
• Worry tends to give up; Concern perseveres.
• Worry exaggerates; Concern pinpoints problems.
• Worry focuses on self; Concern cares for others.

One of the most difficult things to do is to control what we think or how we think. Yet it is one of the most important tools we can possess. Control your thoughts by ridding yourself of worry, and focusing yourself on concern.

With six weeks to go in this pregnancy, I feel like Daren and I are securely in the concern category. I know those first weeks after the 18 week anatomy scan I was consumed by worry. The worry nearly destroyed me. I think our worry shifted to concern because of some big factors - all of the chromosome testing came back negative, finding supportive forums and blogs of others struggles and successes with omphaloceles, sharing the news with friends and family, lots of appointments with the great doctors of UNC.

Last Friday I had my first non-stress test for the baby. I was told to drink something cold and eat something sugary before the test. I went for a big ol' glass of pink lemonade. This might be my new favorite kind of test. I get to sit in a recliner for twenty minutes with belts strapped to my stomach. One belt measures fetal heart rate while the other measures contractions. Bean and I passed with flying colors. My next appointment is this Friday and I get another 20 minutes of relaxation.






 

32 Weeks

Time for another awesome picture of me standing in front of some random wall of our house. I think Daren is getting tired of these impromptu picture sessions. I told him we had to do a retake b/c he did a full body shot and included my slippers. Also, I'm not sure I like how this shirt photographs. I think it adds around 15 pounds. Approximate size of the baby is a squash. I've entered into the large fruit and vegetable time frame of the pregnancy.

The painting of the nursery will be completed tonight. Daren is currently finishing up the trim. I'm not sure I can convince him we should try and tackle putting together the crib since it is already 7pm. We have yet to eat our gourmet supper of chicken patties. Maybe we can squeeze in the crib on Saturday morning before heading to the UNC v. ECU football game.

We just booked my mom's flight to NC to come and meet the baby. Harriet will be here November 30th until December 8th. While visiting us she will take in her first UNC men's basketball game. I hope she is okay with heights because staff seats are in the nosebleed section of the Dean Dome.

This Friday I have my first nonstress test for Bean. I hope he/she cooperates and is moving and a grooving so this is a quick appointment.

30 Weeks and Odds & Ends

Friday was another ultrasound and visit with Dr Vora. No new organs have slipped outside and become a part of the omphalocele. That is very good news. Bean is measuring 2 pounds 11 ounces. Again, the tech had issues trying to get us pictures of Bean's face b/c the hands are always near the face. This kid just doesn't like to have pictures taken.

The visit with Dr Vora was short and sweet. Nothing new in the u/s meant we didn't have a whole lot to talk about. I did ask about my gestational diabetes test. I asked if no news was good news. Dr Vora said my level was 1.01 and anything under 1.4 is a pass. Good to know I can continue to have Lucky Charms and a big glass of OJ for breakfast.  We also asked about if we should be getting the flu shot. Dr Vora said we both need to get the shot (prior to the birth) and the pertussis vaccine after Bean is born.

We did ask Dr Vora about scheduling the date for the c-section. As long as Bean doesn't decide to come early, we will meet he/she on November 6th.

My next visit will be in two weeks for a non-stress test for Bean.

On to the odds and ends -

Last weekend we made a quick trip to PA for the wedding of Daren's high school and college classmate. We had a bit of a housing shuffle as Daren's mom came down with bronchitis. The wedding was a great time and Daren was able to visit with high school friends. Even rain from Isaac couldn't stop this party.

Sun Yi, named by my best friend Joell, will soon be leaving the family. I bought my 'onda Civic more nine years ago. Sun Yi has been good to me. I've put almost 155,000 miles on my car. My new ride is being built and won't be here for about eight weeks. It will be a race to see which gets here first - my car or Bean.

The nursery has a first coat of paint. The room will be daffodil yellow...and it is really yellow. Daren said this is the last room in the house he is painting. I'll give him a break for about a year before I inform him we need to paint the second bathroom upstairs.

Tomorrow is Daren and my second wedding anniversary. Today is a perfect fall day. September can be a mixed bag in NC. It can either be the start of fall or a continuation of the 90 degree heat of summer. I'm trying to remember if our wedding weekend was hot...all I remember is that rain/mist started to fall during our pictures. The ceremony was delayed about 15 minutes b/c everyone was trying to decide if the ceremony was happening inside or out. I didn't care. All I wanted to do was get married. Two years have passed and we are going strong. Thank you Dottie Davis for introducing me to my future husband.

The growing Streett family will be spending the 2012 holiday season in Cary, NC.  We were supposed to be in PA for Thanksgiving and IA for Christmas. I will finally get to see our neighborhood lit up on Christmas Eve with luminaries. I'm hoping for a white Christmas.

Nursery Update

Just checked with PBK about the status of the nursery bedding I ordered in May. It has been delayed until November.  I cancelled the order.  Bye bye yellow Harper Elephant bedding. Now we are going to go with the Taylor nursery bedding. Still elephants...but in gray. This means Daren can start painting the nursery this weekend.

Taylor Nursery Bedding - "borrowed" picture from PBK