A normal third trimester?

What's that look like?

It was this very time (today, to be precise), at the 28 week mark, in my first pregnancy that a visit with my OB resulted in bed rest. I believe it was called "Level 2" bed rest at that time, which meant I could be on my feet for short intervals and could still do steps, but otherwise needed to take it easy (I later was escalated to Level 3 bed rest, which literally meant BUMP ON LOG - no walking accept to the bathroom! As you can imagine, I broke the rules a bit from time to time!). I stopped teaching at 28 weeks. I stopped cooking at 28 weeks. I stopped cleaning at 28 weeks. It was heaven and hell all at the same time!

Not to mention, as I look back, this was when Mom was failing quickly. I made the last trip to Louisville before she died during the 28th week of pregnancy (my OB raised her eyebrow pretty high at my insistance to make this trip, but compromised by making me promise not to drive - instead Lynette drove me to a half-way point, where Dad picked me up and finished the drive... then Theresa did the same for the way home).

What a weird third trimester I had with the twins... not only was it cut in half, due to premature delivery, but those 6 weeks were spent feeling pretty darn helpless. And yet I knew in my helplessness to do ANYTHING else (be with my mom, prepare the nursery for the babies, cook for my husband, NEST, or do anything productive) that I was helping my babies ( be letting them cook a little longer). And I that's all it took to keep me grounded and sane.

So here I am in pregnancy #2 experiencing from this point forward a new side of being pregnant... I plan on teaching up till this baby pops out, and it's strange to think I'll be doing all the other normal tasks till then too (I have to clean my own house? I have to cook my own food? I have to run to Target and buy the newborn diapers myself? I have to pack my own hospital-prep bag?). And I also get to experience another first: getting so uncomfortable and sick n tired of being pregnant that I'll WANT to deliver. I've heard women gripe in their 38th - 40th, 41st, 42nd weeks... but I do not know what that's like (cuz all I ever wanted to do was KEEP THOSE BABIES IN!). Yeehaa. Bring it on, third trimester!! I'm ready!