Bed Rest

Ironically, while working on this novel, I have now been placed on bed rest while awaiting (and trying to hold back) the arrival of my third child. I find this especially interesting as I have been re-reading the novel keeping in my mind to not avoid the story of Bitsy, the sister who is put on bed rest quite frequently following any emotional "episodes".

Lying here on my couch in the middle of the family room, the hub of my house and family life, I am surrounded by stimulation. I have the laptop on my legs as I type away, several windows open to let in the spring's cool air and sounds, I have the Bible and a novel to my side, along with phones in reach, even a remote for a television if I should be so inclined. I get to eat, well, anything that does not send me into contractions and that I do not fix myself (I do miss cooking and baking!) and my husband nearby in case I need anything. My three-year-old is a constant frenzy of motion during the day and we read, play board games, and practice numbers, sounds to letters, etc. Containing her would be nearly impossible, but directing is fun. Visitors come and go, mostly wonderful church family making sure we have help meals or help caring for me and my little one when my husband has duties outside the home. In the afternoons, my nearly-six-year-old brings home stories from kindergarten, homework, and runs off to help her sister enjoy the last part of the day, keeping me entertained with their imaginary play, or busy helping them "make better choices" in how they play with one another. :)

Bitsy lives in quite a different "bed resting world". She is confined to her room with limited visitors, her twin seven-year-olds only visiting briefly each day, afraid of her mood swings. She is kept sedate by the lack of taste, color, and intellectual stimulation, not even allowed to read during prescribed bed rest. What thinking woman would not go crazy? She looks out her windows only when getting better, and then gets to venture out of her room until she has another episode. With the anxious fear of having another episode, how can she stop the cycle? Without the freedom to think and reach for something better, how can she break out? And what of her sweet children or husband? How can they do without her? She can give them nothing consistent as long as she keeps getting shut away.

I knew it would be difficult to tell her part of the story, but I am learning, and the more I think through her circumstances, the more I belive her family is at loss until she can get well.