Covid-19 and Pregnancy

We found out we were pregnant at the beginning of the year and this one was a surprise for us. We had talked about having one more but I said I wanted it to happen on its own time, that it would happen when it was supposed to. It came at a time in our life that had been so crazy for us the previous months before. My family had been going through some medical news that we were trying to adjust to and figuring out what life was going to look like for us. Although it seemed like life had been such a struggle for a few months, it was like it came at just the right time. We needed something to shine some light for us and something more positive to focus on. I truly feel like our baby girl was placed in our life at just the right time and for all the right reasons. 

And then here comes the coronavirus... the dreaded coronavirus. It's like that one person who comes in and sucks all the joy out of something for you. I feel like it's taken so much away from our pregnancy and it's hard not to be so mad about it. Our boys are old enough to understand that we have another baby joining our family and they have been so excited! I was so happy that they were going to get to experience the appointments with my husband and I. One of the reasons I chose the OB that I did was because I had read how great he was with kids and how he would let them help find the heartbeat. My husband and kids got to go to one appointment with me, ONE. It was our first appointment we had with the OB, the ultrasound one. They got to see the baby and hear the heartbeat. They were finding out for the first time that they had a baby brother or sister coming, boy were they shocked. 

These appointments with them went away just as fast as they started. The next appointment I had I was informed I wasn't allowed to bring visitors with me anymore. Since the coronavirus broke out, I've gone to these appointments alone, which makes me so sad. It's our last baby and it's always been so important to my husband that he be there for these kinds of things. I record the heartbeat for him but it's just not the same as being there. 

For the last couple of months the only time I would leave the house is to go to my appointments and come home because I am so afraid of what would happen if I caught the coronavirus while I'm pregnant. I just recently started doing grocery pickup so I could get out of the house for just a little bit. Last week was the first time I had gone to my best friends house in literally 3 months. We had a family vacation planned for July. We were going to stay at my in-laws and my dad, brother (& niece & nephew), and my sisters were coming with us. Big 'ole family reunion. I couldn't wait to see my family. We hardly get to see each other and this would have been the first pregnancy I got to share with them in person. Unfortunately, we had to cancel that trip and my heart is broken. I miss my family so much. Being in the military and living so far away from our families, we already miss a lot of each other's lives. I just wanted so badly to share this with them. I haven't bought any maternity clothes for myself because the two times that I tried to get things online, none of the clothes worked and I had to send them back. I wish that I could just go into a store and pick out some cute clothes, show my bump off. Do all the things. 

I'm worried about what my delivery will look like. Will my husband be there with me? Will my kids be able to come meet their baby sister in the hospital? We have family that's supposed to come in and help around the time she's born, is that going to be allowed to happen? All this unknown is so scary. I know there are people out there who have it far worse than I do, but this virus has affected everyone in some way or another. If you're pregnant right now, you understand my emotions, my fears. Just know you are not alone. It's just another chapter in our book of life.

Aside from all the heartbreak that has come with this virus, there has been light in the dark days. My husband has been able to be home with me and the kids for the last couple of months. We've been able to have so much family time and for that I am so thankful! Family/family time has ALWAYS been so important to me so we've definitely been soaking up all of the time we have had together. My husband has also been such a huge help as this pregnancy has been hard on me. Totally different from the other two but we're pushing through. Everyday I pray for the strength to get through all of this and be the person my family needs me to be right now. There is light at the end of the tunnel. A sweet baby girl to add to our family and we are all so over the moon excited to meet her. We are so extremely blessed. 

Thanks for reading, y'all 💜