I painted my toes!!!

slightly swollen feet WITH pretty toes!

Okay, so that's really not much to blog about BUT at 9 months pregnant...feeling like 12 months pregnant (doesn't really exist), I've got to celebrate the small stuff.

At first I was just excited to myself...but then as I thought more about the feat that is bending over and reaching ones toes with about a 6.5lb baby in your belly and said belly hindering every.single.movement....I had to share. :)

You see, just yesterday, while at church we were celebrating. Nothing in particular...just the goodness of God. We declared and reminded ourself that God is GOOD. We danced and jumped and had ourselves a good ole time. Well, "we" is a bit deceptive. I sat and watched and wished....I found myself even getting a bit sad in such a happy, celebratory atmosphere. So, I redirected my disappointment to thank God that I have full use of my feet even though the pressure from the pregnancy made using these feet a bit more cumbersome. I thanked God that I'm having a healthy pregnancy and despite the discomforts and limitations, that I am carrying a life...a miracle indeed. I thanked God that my voice and arms still worked and so with my voice I was able to sing and shout. With my arms, I was able to clap and wave. I continued this until I forgot that I wasn't able to physically "dance" but I was still praising...it turned out to be a half dance. You know the ones you do when you can't actually get up out your seat to bust a move but you are wiggling in your seat? yea - that!

In my reflections, I realized that its human nature to not miss something until its gone...or taken away from us. In this fast paced life, we tend to take most things for granted. Seriously, when was the last time you noticed that your fingers are agile and moving and respond at will for your to hold a pencil/pen, send a text or wave goodbye?

Its my challenge today..and particularly for the rest of this pregnancy (as I experience tons of discomfort) to remember all that I am blessed with...even as I may be slightly limited due to a rapidly growing human alien and uterus to accommodate this little alien! ;)


Grace peace and love (and pretty toes),
Gia

spot check

According to the Free dictionary, a spot check is "an inspection or investigation that is carried out at random or limited to a few instances."

Its officially the second half of 2013. Seems unbelievable right? This year has flew by. More amazing, I've been pregnant since like last November. Am I the only person to whom this seems crazy? ;)) I should insert that I've got mad respect for womanhood now. This pregnancy thing is not for the weak or lame. I can't imagine being pregnant 50 years ago and having multiple pregnancies without pregnancy pillows, elevators, orthopedic shoes, back support thingies...you get the point.

Anyhoo, I digressed. This post literally began a week ago on the 1st/July as it dawned on me "wowsers, only another 6 months left of 2013". I couldn't help but think about what I had accomplished that was planned and even some other achievements that were unplanned. I also began to think about my goals for the next 6 months...in light of the lessons I've learned this year.

What have I achieved (major):

• successful dissertation proposal
• received clearance to begin collecting data (a secondary process AFTER successfully pitching the idea via a proposal meeting)
• moved into a new house
• maintained my sanity while juggling internship and a part-time job and life 
• remaining healthy throughout pregnancy
• launch the counselling and development ministry at my local church 
• applied for extension on study permit in Canada
• cleaned up the vision for Mercy House/Homes of Hope

What I did NOT do (that was planned):

• collect data for dissertation
• get Homes of Hope established as a legal organization

What I'm looking forward to in next 6 months:

• safe and uneventful labor and delivery
• adjustment to parenthood
• collect data for dissertation (November & December)
• secure an internship for January 2014
• maybe return to work? yea..the jury is still out on whether I will take the benefit of study leave from full time work and maternity leave from school and just enjoy my daughter for the full semester (August-December) or whether I'll return to the part time job about November. However, this will be the ONLY job I'll commit to during this time. No more two-job scenarios moving forward. It really is just too much...at least until I get dissertation fully in swing and that is progressing.

So while I conquered a lot in 6 months, there is still a lot to conquer.... point #2 on the goals for the next 6 months is definitely more than a 6 month goal. :) Although, I am looking forward to some big dreams as it relates to settling into a routine with a newborn. I'm scouring books and praying now...

So what are your goals/plans for the next 6 months? Are you continuing to work on those from earlier in the year? Are you starting over? Reassessing? Its never too late until you are dead. lets get planning...actually lets get working!!!!

Grace peace and love,
Gia

life lessons

I'm a firm believer in walking away with something from every season. As I mentioned last week, it has been an interesting couple weeks. As I sat, congested and feeling empty to blog, I reflected on what I am learning...or have learned:

1. "Later" is a reasonable time expectation

I'm a now girl....With that said, a week is what I was hoping it took to get the house where I want it to be.  And in all honestly, I'm guessing that I *could* have moved and had the house set up perfectly in a week but there would have had to been a bit more conditions first ( not pregnant, not working 2 jobs, both hubby and I taking time off, etc etc). However, what I've come to accept is that I can't change those conditions, but I could change my expectations. This meant, recognizing and accepting that it may be the end of June before the house is where I want it to be...and probably mid-July before baby girl's room is where it *needs* to be for her arrival. Slow and steady...


2. No matter how well you multi-task, there is a limit and once you have arrived at the amount of things you are juggling, you. just. can't.

 ...You just can't do anymore. At least not do all and be effective. With that said, I had high hopes for data collection during these summer months BEFORE baby arrives. But with the internship, the part time job, the move, the pregnancy...and just life. Something had to give. I've been able to make feeble contact attempts but the key word is feeble. I've given up on chastising myself about it. It is what it is. It will get done. Maybe just not before baby comes...

3. Life doesn't ever stop for me (or you).

....I must factor in stop points. Points of rest. Breaks. These should be done regularly. It should also be more than just sleeping at night because truly, for the true multi-taskers, overworker, crazed personality...sleep isn't always resting. This past week, I have found myself sitting on a chair and just staring into space. One part of me is going over the list of things left to do but physically and emotionally, the bigger part of me knows it wil be okay. And so I am slowly learning to actually sit and do nothing (fascinating concept indeed).

4. Being pregnant, I can't move as fast as I think I should.

....this must be a "duh" for most but its a lesson that I am fighting to get. Yes my belly is growing but it doesn't stop my legs, hands and brain...right? partially. I keep comparing myself to every other pregnant person out there, thinking...I can do this. The trick is: yes I can...but it all boils down to #1...I can do it "later" or in smaller increments. le sigh

5. Say "no"!!!!

...this final one is most interesting. A couple years ago, I began the journey toward saying no to others in an effort to protect myself. Healthy boundaries and the like. What I am learning is that I now have to say "no" to myself. I must learn to choose what is more important, more beneficial, more ________ and go with that.

Perfect example was my plan for today: wake up, do some laundry, blog, go to doctor, go to work (put in 4 hours), go to lamaze class (leave early) to make it to church's anniversary service for 8pm.  After a closer reflection of the insanity of this, primarily because I'm still kinda tired and congested, I decided that: laundry could wait (to be done by hubby) but I could possibly still blog, definitely go to doctor, and then stop in to work to collect something I could do from home (IF I felt good enough). And that is what happened with the addition of the fulfillment of the antibiotic prescription. I then came home and ate, took antibiotics and then napped. This also meant me making a very difficult decision: either lamaze class or church or neither. But not both. Thus far, I've ditched lamaze class in hopes of making the once per year special service but we'll see if I even make that. I should note, that I haven't looked at work brought home (and making myself be okay with this) and am now just finishing blogging since I began at about 9 am. ;)

Did I mention that saying no to myself hurts even more than learning to say no to others. sucks actually.

Grace peace and love,
Gia

update

That's about me...except I'm not that cute. lol.

I missed last week, not because I was sick but because I was too busy...which I'm almost 99.5% certain is the reason I'm sick. My body has finally said.."ENOUGH!". I don't have much of a runny noise, but I've got an annoying cough and most times I talk, I can't get two sentences out without a mini coughing fit or without the raspy-not-so-sexy hoarse voice. :)

I think we all can relate to the saying "when it rains, it pours". Well, that's been me the past month or so (not the month of June, but the past 4 weeks or more). Its the end of the semester, which means data collection is in full drive. One set of demands.

Its also marks the beginning of the summer period for students, and a part of my internship is assisting with the training for summer youth camp instructors. Those trainings begun about 3 weeks ago and although very fun...its a lot. Did I mention that we have 4 days of training back to back this week? not sure how I'm going to present (while coughing with a raspy voice) but we'll figure something out.

Then to top it all off, we are STILL moving. like seriously? I NEVER imagined this would take this long or be this tedious. I've moved before...a couple times but what I underestimated was moving to a place that was not "move-in" ready. Our new abode is my childhood home, and outside of the flooding that occured almost island wide 3 weeks ago, we also learnt of a leak in the roof and then had an entire week of non-stop rain. Our landlords were gracious to give us an extra week, which is why I'm probably still sane, because if we had to leave as planned for May 31st...well, it would not have been cute.

I know what you are thinking or screaming: SLOW DOWN WOMAN! BUT No need for alarm. Outside of the cold/cough that I've developed, I've been keeping hydrated, resting each night (well when heartburn or acid reflux doesn't keep me up) and overall, I feel good...I'm keeping it balanced. This is just a season. If all goes well, by next Monday's blog post, I should be passed the "moving" and having some fun with getting the nursery set up. I'll also be done with data collection and will be just sorting, organizing, "processing" all the data (which is done at my own pace)and all of the trainings should be done. I say *should* because we may have to add another round..but without the other demands, the workshops/trainings become almost kind of fun. ;)

Before I close, I do want to add, that despite that crazy I feel juggling physical demands- emotionally/psychologically and spiritually, I feel fine. In fact, I feel great.  For the past almost 2 weeks, most mornings I would wake up singing:

I want the joy of the Lord to come now

I want the joy of the Lord to fall now

I want the joy of the Lord in my life

I want the joy of the Lord lift me

I want the joy of the Lord change me

I want the joy of the Lord in my life

Its time I started dancing over all these graves

Its time I gave you all my God the highest place

Its time I lift my voice

and beg for His blessing to fall (Lyrics from eLyrics.net)

What's kept/keeping me....JOY. Wouldn't trade it for the world. I hear joy and I automatically think of that Pageant scene from Coming To America...say it with me...JOY!!!!!

Just in case you don't know what I am talking about....check this out (the JOY comes right before the first minute mark).

Grace peace love and JOY,

Gia

that word again....?

This past weekend, I had the honour of facilitating an all-day workshop.  When I first received the invitation, I will admit, I was overwhelmed. I kept thinking I NEEDED another speaker/professional to split the day or assist because it was unfathomable that I could keep a group of individuals interested for an entire 8 hours. And then, not only interested but facilitate learning too! :gasp:

Anyhoo, I eventually got over myself, prepared and executed the workshop.  However, after the successful workshop, my body just crashed. I felt like some big machine rolled over me. I was confused and honestly a bit freaked out. Yes, I am 4 months pregnant (snuck that in there), but how many pregnant women are on their feet all day for at least 5 days a week without this intensity of almost nubbing pain. Its not like we were running about. There was no activity outside of me walking the room as I engaged the 15 or so attendees throughout the day.

So why did I feel like I ran a marathon or at the very least walked a marathon?

I talked to Doc about it on Monday and she confirmed that some of that is expected, but also due to some pre-existing conditions that this pain may be exacerbated with certain activities. This meant one thing- my body dictates the rules of how/when and how much of an activity I can take. To minimize the chance I create a problem, hydration and breaks are now not just suggested but required. :insert deep sigh here:  Yes, I know these things but my goodness, is it really that serious? a resounding yes it is!

As I shared my struggle with these new found limitations with a friend, I realized that this is a part of life. We change positions. We change conditions. With these changes come adaptations. And as much as I'd like to think- I am not superwoman. Yes, I can continue to push but with the awareness that I am still human and subject to some limitations...As I was talking and reflecting, it then hit me again...that word - REST.

my response: But I've had this lesson before Lord! For those of you who regularly follow this blog, you would have shared my journey in being called to REST in a number of different situations. I don't recall any being related to my physical health, but then again, I didn't have a growing human being inside of me either (not that this is the only time we should have healthy times of rest and rejuvenation).

Well, all is well that ends well.  With that said, my goal is to ensure that I do everything I should to ensure that this story ends with a bouncing, chubby and healthy baby. Even if it means I (gasp) slow down a teensy bit!

side note: This post is delayed because its been super crazy and since something needed to give, this ended up being the one to delay...