Wrong Order

I sit here, still at work, at 40 weeks (by my 12-week measurement), while I have two friends on hospital bedrest.  One is waiting for a c-section later today at barely 36 weeks, and the other was admitted to the hospital last night at 29 weeks to be given magnesium and steroids in the hope of keeping the baby in a little longer.

All I can think is "this is the wrong order!".

I really don't want this to sound selfish--instead, I write this out of true concern and amazement.  I am amazed at the strength of these women who hold so carefully for so long, who give up the comforts of home and put every ounce of energy into keeping their babies safe.  I am amazed at the advancements in modern medicine, and the knowledge and patience of the doctors and nurses who care for these women and babies.  And I am amazed that God's plans for us are sometimes so delicate.

I wish I could trade places with them--in the sense that I could be the one who is mere moments away from going into labor, and they could just relax with a "shallow" and yet otherwise apparently fully intact cervix.  Life is so "unfair" sometimes--that I can be so active and yet only 1 cm dilated at 40 weeks while another mom is so careful and already 2.5 cm dilated at barely 29 weeks.  Again, I don't mean to make this about me and my own excitement about my own eventual labor; rather, I'm just stuck thinking "wrong order!".  I know I can't, but I wish that I could somehow give them one of my "extra" weeks. 

I know that God's plans are never wrong.  I know that He is a God of wonders and miracles.  I know that His plans are not always what we envision for our lives, but I know that He loves us even through these challenging times.  So even though I feel like screaming "wrong order!" up to Him, I know that's not the case.

Please be praying for these two women and their babies. 

Today's blessing was another running accomplishment.  A little over a year ago, my very-dear friend ran a mile in under 10 minutes at 40 weeks pregnant.  At the time, I thought she was crazy (I still think she's crazy).  I was, am, and will always continued to be inspired by her.  Today, I ran a 9:41 mile at 40 weeks pregnant.  (I do feel a little weird switching gears so quickly from concern about my friends to "bragging" about my own run; but I do have to keep it in perspective that God created us each differently and has a different plan for all of us.  Yes, I am deeply concerned about their situations, but I also recognize that I am extremely blessed to be so active at this stage in my own pregnancy.  I hope that makes sense...)