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

28 Weeks

Welcome to the third trimester. For pretty much all of the first and second trimesters I was symptom free. Well, about two weeks ago my body decided it hates when I drink water or my body is really craving tums. I can no longer drink two nalgene bottles of water while working. I struggle to drink even 16 ounces.

Oh, it is apparently obvious I am pregnant. Even the UNC Men's Soccer team can tell. Darn, I guess my secret is out. It is funny when I attend meetings at work with folks from different sections of the athletic department b/c there is always someone who must have missed the pregnancy memo. I am happy to say a lot of people think I am due in late December versus the first part of November. I think I owe this all to be 5'10" and still working out. I told my ladies from the coaches workouts if I am still pumping iron at 30 weeks that I expect them to do the workout wearing a 20 pound weight vest so they know how difficult it is to do push-ups.

Friends are asking to see pictures of the nursery. I don't think anyone would "oh and ah" over pictures of furniture in boxes.  We have yet to paint because we are still waiting on the bedding. I have gotten three emails letting me know my order is delayed later and later. Delivery is supposed to be September 3rd. I've yet to harness the power of pregnancy hormones, but if the bedding doesn't show up by next week...PBK will be feeling my wrath.

Bean's future best friend was born on Thursday morning.  We can't wait to see little RJ. I'm sure it will be sooner than later since I'm holding his daddy's UNC football tickets as ransom.

RJ Langley

I went to the Spike for a Cure Cause volleyball tournament on Saturday. The last tournament I played in was back during the first part of the summer. Since I moved to NC almost ten years ago, my weekends have been consumed with playing volleyball. It was great to see everyone playing volleyball and raising money to support others. Again, people must have missed the facebook posts about Daren and I expecting a baby in November. I do miss playing volleyball. I'm hoping to play some indoor ball this winter after I recover from the c-section. Maybe I can find a bronze team who will want me.

Daren and I are off to Pennsylvania this weekend. Daren has a high school classmate getting married. Sending good vibes her way that Tropical Storm Issac doesn't interrupt her outdoor wedding. This will also be the first time we have seen Daren's family since announcing the pregnancy. I'm sure to have lots of pictures to share when we return.

Our next doctor's appointment is September 7th.  I think it is only an ultrasound and a visit with the high risk OB.

Lots of Doctors

On Friday we had a long appointment at UNC hospital. We were there from 11am until almost 430pm. Thank goodness we had our case worker Maya with us every step of the way to bring us to where we needed to be.

First up was a meeting with one of the pediatric surgeons. Dr Erickson us told about their side of the practice and what their role with be with Bean's omphalocele (om.). She explained a lot of possible options for surgery if certain factors are present. Again, it was a lot of hypotheticals because we won't have a true picture until Bean is born. UNC employs the "paint and wait" procedure. The organs contained within the om. will have a membrane covering. The "paint and wait" is a method of encouraging skin to grow over the om. and also is a way to bind everything.

Our second appointment was with Dr Bose, one of the heads of the NICU. I liked this man a lot. He reminded me of my late Uncle Charlie. Dr Bose said the  NICU staff will be focused on Bean at the time of birth. He also assured me there would be doctors taking care of me and not to be worried by the number of people in the delivery room. Daren has a very important job as well. He needs to make sure I start pumping as soon as possible. If there are any breathing problems, Bean will be put on a ventilator. If there are digestive issues, there will be an IV placed for nutrition. I was fine as we discussed all of the medical details. It was when Dr Bose started bringing up the emotional side it got tough for me. The estimated minimum amount of time for Bean's stay in the NICU will be two weeks. Dr Bose said it would be hard for us to leave the hospital knowing Bean can't go with us. Also, Dr Bose wanted to stress it was nothing I did, ate, drank, or was exposed to which caused the om.

Our third stop was a tour of the NICU which was led by Maya. We will have 24 hour visitation capabilities. Friends and family have the same ability, but they need to be signed in by either Daren or myself. We are limited to only two visitors at a time. The hospital supplies everything while Bean will be in the NICU. We don't need to bring clothes, diapers, bouncy chairs...they have it all available to us. I inquired about needing a larger sized car seat due to the supporting of the om. Maya gave us two suggestions - wait or purchase a car seat and leave it boxed up for potential return. If we need a bed to transport Bean home, it will be provided by the hospital.

By this time it was after 230pm and so we headed for our third anatomy scan. I think this tech was my favorite. She had some spunk and was not happy with Bean's decision to hide from pictures. Everything looked good during the scan. Bean weighs an estimated 1 pound 10 ounces.

Our final stop was meeting with Dr Vora, our high risk OB. Nothing much new. She did ask a lot of questions about my heart condition and how it was initially detected. The estimated date for the c-section will be 39 weeks. That is around the end of the first week of November. I'm heading back to the hospital on Wednesday for the gestational diabetes test and we have another ultrasound scheduled for September 7th.

We snapped a quick 26 week picture before heading out the door for church. So far, I've gained around 16 pounds. I'm still participating in the coaches workouts at UNC and the doctors have said I'm fine to continue.

26 weeks

Home From Vacation

Daren and I returned from All Inclusive Vacation II on Sunday evening. The trip home to NC was much less eventful than the trip to IA. Driving a rental car from Minneapolis to Sioux Falls was not in our original plans. Oh well, we made it safe and sound.

It was great to see my family and an assortment of friends. We had lots of visitors stop  by.  I'm not sure I can even remember them all. Thanks to...
- Bill and Bailey Goebel for the taking kids tubing and boat ride.
- Margie Leusink for the paddle boat and large float.
- John and Peggy Olson for the life vests.
- Bob & Rhonda Netten and Sue Reimers for taking the kids tubing, dumping Sue & Avery out of the tube, and the sunset boat ride.
- Amber, Andy, and Lincoln Wolf for saving the day on stromboli night by bringing us a rolling pin. Gabe loved playing with Lincoln.
- Joell Walgenbach for bringing Halle and Merrick to the lakes for my nieces to play with.
- Jack Daniels for the use of your corn hole boards so I could display my sheer dominance.
- Gary Green and grandkids for allowing Stella and Avery to ride their first horse. As Avery said, my biggest dream in life has come true.
- Mom and GABS for footing the majority of the house rental.

Stella's first time on a horse

Sheila and Regan in the boat

Daren and Avery tubing

Log ride at Arnold's Park - Brad, Stella, Avery & Gabe

Bean was too short for any fun

Amber Wolf and family came for a visit.

My goddaughter Halle with Avery and Stella

I had a much less eventful vacation than everyone else. Being 25 weeks pregnant limited my activities. I was the picture taker from the boat while everyone else went tubing. I went on the beer runs when supplies ran low. I got to hold the water bottles and take pictures in Arnold's Park while everyone else rode the rides. My mom said I had to ask my husband if I could ride the horses...I knew not to ask. My trip may have sounded a bit less exciting than everyone else, but I still had a great time. I think it is time to start planning All Inclusive Vacation III.