23 weeks!

This week was huge for me. It was very significant, holding a lot of memories from my past pregnancy and a lot of hopes for this pregnancy. This past Monday I turned 23 weeks pregnant.
Since I was hospitalized out of the blue on level 5  bed rest at 23 weeks 4 days with the twins (and remained in the hospital on strict bed rest for the next 2 months until they were born), I do not know nor could I imagine what going past 23w4d in a pregnancy and being OK was like. Since I spent the 2 months from 23w4d-32w in the hospital, in a bed, on very strict bed rest and the lives of the twins being at risk, I simply do not know what it will be like to go through these next 2 months and still be healthy and and having a complication free pregnancy,
After the twins were born, we always knew that we would love ONE more baby (way down the road) and I spent years imagining and dreaming about what most women get to experience as the norm...a healthy, complication free pregnancy, and going full term. I wanted that so bad the next time, of there ever was a next time. I used to talk about it with such excitement over the years and say to my husband, what if we only have one next time? And what if I get to experience an entire pregnancy and be ok? What if I get to be pregnant and not have to go on bed rest? What if I go full term? Soooo many hopes that were really exciting to me, that are really just the norm for most women. I dreamed about actually getting to BE pregnant at my shower like you're supposed to (mine was postponed 3 months due to to my situation and the twins were in the NICU when I was finally able to have it). I dreamed about having just ONE so that I wouldn't be high risk like I was with the twins, and having just one would most likely mean I would have a full term pregnancy. Well, our prayers and dreams came true and I am literally living out one of my dreams which I still pinch myself about. We talked about this for years...we didn't try for years or WANT a baby for years, we just talked about the what if's for years bc I knew I wanted to try for another when the twins were between 4 and 5. The fact that it's a reality is just incredible to me.
Back to the 23rd week. I remember the day I got hospitalized as if it were last week. I don't think those feelings or emotions will ever go away and honestly I hope they don't bc they keep me so grateful. Those were the scariest, most traumatic but most faith building 2 months of our lives.
I have now entered into a new chapter, basically a whole new world for me and a dream literally coming true. So far both pregnancies have been exactly the same, I didn't get sick or nauseous even once, I did have some food aversions, I LOVE being pregnant, the only differences is that this time around I didn't get tired whereas with the twins I was EXHAUSTED the first trimester and this one has just been easier overall on my body. So up until 23w4d, they were the same. From 23w5d with this pregnancy, I am getting to experience a whole new world. I can't imagine what the next few months will be like! I don't know what it's like to not be in the hospital for the remainder of my pregnancy! These next few months hold some of my deepest desires, dreams and hopes of many years. Ones that weren't guaranteed but we trusted God enough to take the leap of faith and try again in hopes of having just one in hopes of everything being ok. So these next few months will be extra special to me! I can't wait!