This is the stuff

The following are the lyrics to Francessca Batistelli's new song, This Is The Stuff. Even before Monday night I would find this song stuck in my head. However, God also planted these words in my mind early Tuesday morning when I couldn't sleep, despite being exhausted, while lying in a hospital bed feeling out of control, not knowing what was going to happen to me or this little baby in my tummy. "Why now God? Ben is in the middle of the 2 most important weeks of basketball. Rhett's birthday is coming up. I don't have the time to take off work. This is going to be expensive!"

So many of you have sent messages or left comments that have been an encouragement to me already. I know there are lessons being learned already about the blessings and provisions of my heavenly Father. I also know that I am a stubborn, control freak who will need to learn these lessons again and again.

I lost my keys

In the great unknown
And call me please
'Cause I can't find my phone

This is the stuff that drives me crazy.
This is the stuff that's getting to me lately.
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I'm blessed

This is the stuff that gets under my skin
But I've got to trust You know exactly what You're doing
Might not be what I might choose
But this is the stuff you use

45 in a 35
Sirens and fines
While I'm running behind

This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff that's getting to me lately
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I'm blessed

This is the stuff that gets under my skin
But I've gotta trust You know exactly what You're doing
Might not be what I might choose but this is the stuff You use

So break me of impatience
Conquer my frustrations
I've got a new appreciation
It's not the end of the world

This is the stuff that drives me crazy.
This is the stuff
Someone save me
In the middle of little my mess
I forget how big I'm blessed

This is the stuff that gets under my skin
And I've gotta trust you know exactly what You're doing
Might not be what I would choose but this is the stuff You use

This is the stuff You use

Right now I am missing one of Ben's basketball games and it is killing me. My mom has come and gone with my babies and I am lonely. Thank you, Lyn, for sharing this verse with me yesterday. I am praying it right now!

Zephaniah 3:17

"The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."

2 weeks and 3 days to go!

Praises for today:

Another day pregnant and no change in baby's status or progression of labor

Lots of visitors bringing goodies and things to keep me and my mind busy

Special notes and emails from friends far and near with encouraging words and Scripture

The great care I am receiving here at Wesley

Requests for today:

Continued pregnancy

Stamina for my parents as they care for the kids at home

Ben's ball game tonight. Win, win, win!

Ben as he juggles work, visiting me, and spending time with the kids

Momma missing her kids

Just Hanging out!

Well, a lot has changed the Wertenberger Family in the last few days...

Ben won his first sub-state game Monday night at home! Then my water broke as we were leaving the school. Thankfully not a gush that anyone noticed (how embarrassing!). When I got home with the kids, I was rushing to get in the house and Rhett got his arm caught in his seatbelt and fell out of the car and scrapped his face and landed on his head. Really?! Leah was so patient and waited in her car seat while I got Rhett in and an ice pack on his head, changed my clothes and went back for her. I called Ben and he hurried home with his assistant coach hot on his heels to help out. Another friend came to spend the night with the kids until my mom could arrive in the morning. We headed to Newton to the hospital but after it was confirmed that I had ruptured membranes, an ambulance took me to Wesley in Wichita as Newton is not set to provide care for moms or babies at this early stage (31 weeks).

I have received steriod shots to help the baby's lungs develop and will be on antibiotics for 7 days to prevent infection for me and baby. I am not in labor right now. They want to keep me pregnant until 34 weeks so I am on bedrest here at the hospital until then or unless I get an infection or the placenta starts to pull away. A sonogram showed there was still fluid around the baby and the Dr said the baby will continue to make fluid too. The sono also showed the baby weighed 4.5 lbs which is big for 31 weeks, but if any of you had seen me lately, this was not a surprise!

Baby has not shown any signs of distress and is still moving around and has a steady heart rate. Two of my 3 doctors have been in this morning and are encouraged that we have made it another day closer to 34 weeks. I had a good nights sleep and a shower this morning so I'm feeling pretty good. My mom is here with the kids for now and she and Ben brought them up to see me last night. It was so good to see and hug and kiss them, but really heartbreaking to see them go. I am tearing up just thinking about it!

Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers. Specific prayer requests are: for this baby to stay inside until around March 19, for the kids and I as we are apart, for stamina for my mom and Ben as they care for Rhett & Leah, for Ben's basketball team to keep winning, for me to keep busy lying around. No news is good news, so I will update here if there is any change or excitement.

It's show time!

Bragging...

Just want to brag a little on my 2 favorite guys today...

Had parent-teacher conferences with Rhett's preschool today. They are impressed with how smart he is (of course!). Only a few "developing skills" marked on his card and most had to do with being shy. Ben made the comment that Rhett probably gets along better with 16-18 year-old girls than other 4 year-old boys. We are so pleased with Rhett's preschool and so proud of Rhett for being a great student!

Ben coached the Lady Broncos to their first League title since 2001. It was a tight game tonight but the girls fought through and beat Moundridge to become Heart of America League Champs with a 17-2 record. Ben's girls are tough and play with a lot of heart and are nice girls on top of that. So proud to see Ben and the Lady Broncos rewarded for all their hard work!

Stickers

Rhett loves stickers and Curious George. The other day he had covered his shirt with Curious George stickers. As we were getting ready for baths, I asked him to take his stickers off and put them on some paper. I knew throwing them away would not be acceptable to him. Well, as I came into the bathroom to start the water, here's what I found...

Pretty resourceful, don't you think?

Sinking in

Rhett: Mommy, it makes God happy when I am kind. I am going to be nice to Leah today. Is that a good idea?

And he really is being nice to her! Using kind words and sharing and giving her love pats... Good to know some things are sinking in!