(my apologies if this is a bit jumpy)
I purposely went to bed late last night, but was up at 630 this morning anyway, my body thinking it was 730. Damn body clock.
I don’t sleep the same that I used to. That has changed. I used to be one who could fall asleep practically once I hit the pillow, and even though I’d tend to wake up a few times in the middle of the night, could always go right back to sleep. Now, it takes me 30-45 minutes to fall asleep and I’m finding it harder to fall back to sleep once I’ve had my 1st, 2nd or even 3rd bathroom break. Strangely so far it has not made me useless during the day, but is super frustrating at the time.
Last night I was restless, tossing and turning, unable to get comfortable. And not because of my stomach or any physical reason (that I could tell – it’s still a bit early for that I think), I simply could not get my body to calm down and rest. My mind jumping from one thing to another and my body responding in turn.
There are lots of big changes coming.
I am excited, but admittedly also scared. Sometimes, caught up in my anxieties -my mind wonders how these changes will affect me, our relationship, us as people. We are getting closer to the end of the first trimester, but not out of the woods yet. I wonder and worry about sleep, money, and whether we will be good parents. Whether we will have to deal with health problems having twins. How we will fare as a couple. I think that this is all normal, and deep down in my heart of hearts I know we will be fine.
I am happy and grateful to be here – we waited a long time and went through much heartache to get here. It is just that even the best things come with their own changes and anxieties. Sometimes I forget to take this one day at a time, to enjoy one day at at time, to worry about one day at a time. I get caught up in my own head. It makes me restless. People talk about the emotional ups and downs during pregnancy and I think mine manifests more as anxiety.
It is useless worry. Worry will not change anything, except perhaps for my mood. I seem to write about worry often, and it is worse with my Type A “want to be able to control everything” personality. Bryan and I had a conversation on Friday about essentially this same thing. The kicker is I know so many that would kill to worry about this rather than their own infertility. The irony is not lost on me.
I finally gave up going back to sleep (it is really 730 after all :)) and came downstairs for some breakfast (there is no waiting to eat for me nowadays!). I sat at my computer with my cereal still a little restless. And probably not coincidentally, I thought of the serenity prayer – a little piece of wisdom that makes a lot of sense.
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
November 4, 2012 at 8:49 am
You’re doing better than me… I can’t seem to drag myself out of bed. I worry too… I wish there was an off switch. That would help! 🙂
November 4, 2012 at 8:53 am
Agreed I could totally use an off switch!!!!
November 4, 2012 at 10:43 am
Worry is going to be a constant part of you life now…sorry to break the news. Because once those babies get here, you will worry about every little thing with each stage of their lives. I remember after each kid I’d worry about SIDS, then once we passed “the danger zone” for that the doctor would tell us a new list to worry about (putting small objects in their mouths, falling when learning to walk, etc). Once that was over (especially with Joshua) I became obsessively worried about them getting into our clearning supplies, despite the fact that I keep them up high and locked up. That went to worrying about them running out into traffic (Joshua was a runner), gedtting lost in the store, being kidnapped (lol-yes). With Bridget at the age of 7 I worry about her getting hurt learning how to do gymnastics and tumble. I’m sure once they are teenagers more worry will creep up. So, my point wasn’t to give you a laundry list of things to worry about but to let you know that as parents that’s sort of what we do, worry. My mom (who is 50 now) still worries about all of us and for different reasons. So it is with great “pleasure” that I say….WELCOME TO PARENTHOOD! LOL. It’s WORTH THE WORRY!!!!!!!!
November 4, 2012 at 11:47 am
Hope you are feeling a little better today. Thanks for sharing the serenity prayer – I sometimes forget all about it and often really need it.
November 4, 2012 at 3:50 pm
you and me both! I went for a walk and felt better, thanks:)
November 4, 2012 at 11:48 am
Love the serenity prayer! A great reminder to all of us, no matter where we are at in our journeys.
November 4, 2012 at 3:50 pm
yes you are right about that
November 4, 2012 at 12:02 pm
I’m a worrier too. I have resigned myself to never getting a good night of sleep ever again that way I can be pleasantly surprised when I do!
November 4, 2012 at 3:51 pm
that’s not a bad idea.
November 4, 2012 at 12:20 pm
Thank you for the prayer. Helped me calm a bit.
November 4, 2012 at 3:51 pm
glad to help!
November 4, 2012 at 5:02 pm
I hear ya. I am an anxious mess. I find something new to worry about every single day. I’ve researched just about every genetic and congenital problem a baby can have. I’m paranoid over possible environmental toxins I’ve been exposed to during my pregnancy. I know it’s not good for me to dwell on, but I can’t help myself.
And like others have said, I suspect even once our healthy babies arrive, the worry will never end.
November 5, 2012 at 8:19 am
The worrying never ends…I just let it go because there is nothing you can do at this point so why bother stressing
November 5, 2012 at 5:18 pm
Good point