To Vaccinate or Not To Vaccinate?

So the latest scare in the U.S. is undeniably h1n1, or the "swine flu." I have to admit that I have been so stressed about this strand of the flu, and it especially hit me this week when the vaccinations for pregnant women only became available. I talked with some friends and just kept going back and forth - at first, I was VERY against it. I thought if I could just make it 5 more weeks then I wouldn't have to worry about it, and I had read that it takes a few weeks to get into your system anyway. So, I had pretty much made up my mind that I wasn't going to get the vaccine. After all, all the people I had heard of that had the swine flu were better within days, so what is the big deal?

Then I started hearing reports of the pregnant women that were getting the swine flu. Many are in the hospital, very very sick on ventilators. Some have died along with their unborn babies. Apparently, pregnant women have been getting VERY sick. While some others are getting very sick also, I had only heard of a few bad cases and the rest were fine...until I started hearing about the pregnant women. I was pretty scared about it, especially just thinking that the health department was only giving it out to pregnant women...that made me think in itself.

Today I visited my dr. for my 34 week (although I'm 2 days away from 35 weeks) checkup. Everything is looking great!! I am even able to go down to only checking my blood sugars 2 times a day instead of 4 since they are so good. However, he did not hesitate to tell me to go get vaccinated immediately. I didn't ask a lot of questions because I didn't feel the need to. If my VERY conservative (I'm taking - very conservative - won't even approve 4D ultrasounds because they aren't FDA approved!) doctor is telling me to get the vaccine, then I know it's important.

So, needless to say, Andy and I made a lovely trip to the Pulaski County Health Department and I am praying I didn't pick up hepatitis while I was there... :P We were there about an hour and a half and left feeling like we needed to shower and me with an incredibly sore arm.

But, it's done. I just have to trust God that everything will be fine...but I don't have any regrets. I'd rather get the vaccine then get the h1n1 flu and risk both of our lives. It doesn't make it any scarier, but there are many things in life that are scary...we just have to trust that God will help us through it. So, for all of my friends that were asking - yes, after some of my own research, talking to my doctor, family, and husband, and prayer - if you are pregnant, I think you should totally get the vaccine. That is just my opinion, and I'm not posting that on Facebook unless I'm asked because I don't want to deal with the controversy, but I just can't risk losing my baby or becoming very sick myself.

Proverbs 3:5
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight."


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Time Keeps Ticking Away

It has gotten so hard to blog these days! Sometimes I feel like there isn't enough time in the day...or energy...to get everything done that needs to be done. Andy and I have been really busy these past two weeks. He has been working on remodeling my grandparent's kitchen floors, my mom had back surgery to try to work on her stenosis and remove two ruptured disks, we've both had school and work and, of course, we are trying to get a few things done at a time around the house to get ready for our little one!

I am 34 weeks tomorrow and I can hardly believe it! I have had more energy this past week and have actually felt good enough to do some cleaning although there is still so much left to do! I can't believe that Emory could come anytime...although I really would like for her to make it to 38 weeks, she could technically make her appearance whenever she would like!

Last Friday Andy and I went to our good friend Ashley's house and did our maternity pictures. Ashley has been a long-time friend and also a family member (by marriage) for years. She has her own photography business (ashleysphotography.ifp3.com) and is such a great and creative photographer! We got some awesome shots that I love...now, to choose a few to get printed will definitely be difficult! She is also going to do our birth and newborn pictures, which we will be thankful for as well.

Here are a couple of our maternity pictures that we love!
















We are very blessed to have such a wonderful friend/family member who we feel comfortable with to take such great pictures! Thank you Ashley!

Psalms 127:3-5
Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.