Twenty-Five Weeks

A fetus at twenty-five weeks

At this point, Michaela is approximately nine inches in length (crown to rump) and she weighs more than a pound and a half. She's an active baby and I feel her movements the most when I'm in a resting position.

I had an OB appointment on Monday, and everything is looking good. My OB gave me orders for the glucose test. I need to get myself over to the lab sometime soon and get that done. If I hadn't come down with a cold this week, I would say it was the best week I've had physically in a really long time. The indigestion that has been plaguing me really let up this week, and I've hardly had to take TUMS or Mylanta. I've been better able to enjoy eating without fearing the indigestion that follows. In the last couple of days, I also feel like my crazy hunger pains have let up a bit and that's a relief. Just a few headaches this week, too. The more I do, the more likely it is I'll have a headache. I guess it's my body's way of making sure I rest enough.

Work continues to be an uncomfortable situation. However, I decided last weekend that I was going to let the Lord fight this battle for me. I have gone in and done my job the best I can, and I have been pleasant to those I come in contact with. Aside from seeking counsel from my superiors (and they have been SO supportive), I have kept my mouth shut. I have started each morning at home in the Word. Great verses have come to mind or been shared with me by others, and I have been encouraged and strengthened by them.

Here are some that have gotten me through this week:

Ephesians 6:10-18

¹⁰ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,^a]">[a] against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
¹⁴ Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶ above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; ¹⁸ praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

Psalm 121

¹ I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help?
² My help comes from the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth.

³ He will not allow your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
⁴ Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵ The LORD is your keeper;
The LORD is your shade at your right hand.
⁶ The sun shall not strike you by day,
Nor the moon by night.

⁷ The LORD shall preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul.
⁸ The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore.

James 3

The Untamable Tongue

¹ My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. ² For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. ³ Indeed,^a]">[a] we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. ⁴ Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. ⁵ Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.
See how great a forest a little fire kindles! ⁶ And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. ⁷ For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. ⁸ But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹ With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. ¹¹ Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? ¹² Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.^b]">[b]

Heavenly Versus Demonic Wisdom

¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. ¹⁵ This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. ¹⁶ For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. ¹⁷ But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. ¹⁸ Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Exodus 14:14

¹⁴ The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”

A Facebook friend had just posted that last one this morning, and I think it just sums it all up. The battle is the Lord's. I have done nothing wrong. Nothing to deserve such hostility. I do not need to spend my precious energy defending myself.

Lastly, I had my first dream about Michaela last night. All of a sudden, she was born and I don't think I even had to push! Then it was time to try breastfeeding her, and out came small diced carrots and zucchini. I don't think she really liked that, and I wasn't sure what I was doing wrong. So funny!