My health and fitness has been a part of my life the past 4 years and I have truly enjoyed pouring myself into my business and helping others reach their goals. Meanwhile my husband and I prayed for and so desperately dreamed of being parents.
After one miscarriage we were greatly surprised to see that positive sign light up the pregnancy test! With fear of the future we kept our little miracle to ourself....until we couldn’t anymore.
At 6 weeks I was diagnosed with Hyperemesis Gravidarum, a pregnancy complication that includes severe vomiting, dehydration, weight loss, organ failure, and other complications. After 3 ER visits and my husband getting called away for work I moved back to Michigan to have my parents help take care of me.
I continued to get worse, puking anywhere from 30-40 times a day. I lost 30 pounds in two weeks and ended up in the hospital due to kidney and liver failure. While in the hospital we tried every medication but I continued to wither away. Finally, I had a feeding tube placed down my nose to bypass my stomach and get nutrients to my intestines.
Would I have ever guessed that having a baby would literally attempt to kill me? That I would be given an ultimatum that if this didn’t work I would have to choose my life or my babies? That I would be so sick I couldn’t funtion? That I would be pregnant and living away from my husband?
No. This wasn’t part of the plan. The plan was to workout every day. The plan was to show you all how healthy I remained during my pregnancy. The plan was to post cute baby bump selfies in between sweat sessions:
The plan looks vastly different than the reality. Here I am, 24 weeks later with baby girl thriving (thank God!) and my body continues to stuggle. Here I am couch bound, 2 IV hydration’s a day, a plethora of oral medications, a PICC line (that has already bled out once), and a daily at home nurse helping me fight to make it to 40 weeks.
Some days suck more than others. Some days I think “this isn’t fair” or “why can’t I be like the majority of pregnant woman with their cute maternity clothes and baby bump pics?” Some days the greatest blessing of growing this little life inside me is darkened by the fact I can’t put any weight on or I am headed to the ER yet again.
But when my Joy gets stolen I remember there is an ending to this all. There will come a time
In April where I get to hold this beautiful little girl in my arms, I get to join my husband back in our home, and I get to get back to inspiring and pouring into other peoples lives and remind them that there is hard and then there is HARD.
This my friends is HARD. Waking up to workout at 6am no longer is. Eating healthy isn’t as hard as trying to eat when your body can keep anything down, lifting my head out of the toilet is hard e than lifting weights. I promise this, I will never take my health for granted!
Until then sweat for me and baby girl! Eat your veggies on our behalf! Run that extra mile! If I could
I would and I will once this is all over :)
