Home...

Yesterday afternoon around 1pm I got the ok to go home! My contractions had started up again after the magnesium was shut off, not too bad but more than they wanted to see. So my doc put me back on Procardia...and so far so good. For now it seems to be doing the trick, so he said it was worth at least giving it a try at home. He said he knows I can feel my contractions and I'm good about calling if I get too many, so he's ok with that.

The boys didn't know I was coming home, so when they got home from school, they were really surprised...I will never forget the look on their faces. I even got a hug from Jordan (who gives them very sparingly at his age!) Kaden snuggled up by me for a long time, and so did Jordan. Jordan got me all caught up on what he's been working on in school, and Kaden and I did his homework together! Even though I'm still stuck on the couch, it's great to be home and back to "normal"...whatever that is:)

Hopefully things will stay settled down for at least a few more weeks, because at this point, Brett would have to drag me back to the hospital!

Thanks to everyone who visited me in the hospital, you really helped out more than you even know to make my stay a little bit easier. And thank you also for all of your prayers! We have made it through the most critical part of this pregnancy, and I know we didn't do it alone!

A Chance to go Home??!!

I did well last night, very few contractions, so today around noon, the doc said it was ok to shut off the magnesium sulfate completely! They capped off the IV and left it in just in case. Around 4:30 this afternoon, I was having a few more contractions than he wanted to see, although nothing too bad, so he started me on Procardia (my last chance to stay off the mag and go home!) Since then things have been pretty quiet, thankfully! I'm hoping this will continue through the night. If it does, tomorrow MAY be the day I go home...but we shall see. The Procardia worked for me before, but not for too long.

I have started getting use to the gestational diabetes and all things that go along with it. I had great blood glucose levels after my meals all day, so I think I have a good start on the whole thing!

Home sounds so good right now! Even though I would still be on bedrest, I can't wait to be there to see the boys like I use to! They are doing well, but only seeing them for a few hours a week sucks...that is the worst part of all of this. I just want to be their mom again.

Magnesium Decrease and Test Results...

Yesterday, the mag was decreased to 1.5 grams and I did well except for one stretch in the night. The nurse woke me up at 2am because I had slept through 8 contractions in one hour. But once I emptied my bladder and rolled over, they went away...whew! So this morning, my doc decreased the level to 1 gram. So far so good. When he stopped in tonight he said tomorrow he will be shutting it off! Then he will watch me for a day or two and if I do well I'll get to go home. If I start having contractions, we will try the Procardia again since I did well on it before for quite some time. If that doesn't work, then it's back on the magnesium. Terbutaline is no longer an option because it raises your blood sugar and...

Today I failed my 3 hour glucose test, which means I have gestational diabetes. I met with the nutritionist and will have to check my blood 4 times a day to keep it under control. They are very strict with gestational diabetes because of the effects too much sugar can have. There can be respiratory issues at birth, a higher chance of obesity in adolescence, jaundice, low blood sugar at birth, a large baby...and so on. Enough to give me lots of incentives to follow my diet, which will hopefully be enough to keep things under control. If not, meds will be prescribed. The good news is, gestational diabetes usually goes away as soon as you deliver.

I also got results back from my urine culture and I have a bladder infection...I had already started meds for that when the screen came back positive 2 nights ago.

Along with the bad results today, we did have some great news. We had an ultrasound, and my cervix is still the same! YEAH! Also, the baby is looking great and weighs approximately 2 lbs. 9 oz...so right where she should be! She had been head down for the last 3 weeks, but today she was breech. Later, when finding her heartbeat on the monitor, we found it way down low again indicating that she was head down again. Apparently she isn't ready to settle in yet:)

I think that's it for now, but please pray with us that tonight will be a quiet night and tomorrow we will be able to try things without the magnesium.

28 Week Milestone and NICU Tour

Today marks another milestone, 28 weeks! We are able to breath just a little bit easier now than we could 2 weeks, or even one week ago. I've been trying to think of something we can do to celebrate, but haven't come up with much...it can't involve alcohol, walking, or leaving this room for that matter. I think I might have to settle for a popsicle or something:) Oh well, we will have plenty of time for celebrating later...and celebrate we will!

Last night we had our tour of the NICU, and it sure has changed since Kaden spent his 2 nights in there almost 7 years ago! They have 4 big rooms that fit 6 babies each. They are very quiet and dimly lit so the babies can sleep soundly, that's when they grow the best. They also have very beautiful artwork in all of the rooms each based on a different theme. A mom who had a baby in there painted everything free hand and she is obviously very talented!

The nurse was holding and feeding a little 4 pound boy that was doing really well, and it was strange how big he looked to me, especially in comparison to another little girl in there. They have a baby born 4 days ago at 26 weeks who weighs 1 pound 4 ounces. She was, of course, on a ventilator and all hooked up to her IVs and monitors, but she was doing really well. It was just amazing to see how small she was, her legs were literally as big around as my thumb! And she was moving all around in her isolet, wiggling her little hands up by her face and squirming from side to side just like any baby would. She just looked too tiny to be able to do any of that...very surreal. It sure made me greatful that our baby is already twice that size or so!

As much as I don't want our baby to spend any time in the NICU, I'm sure it will be a little less scary now that I know a little bit more about what to expect if that is the case.

Monday morning update...

This morning my doc stopped in and lowered my mag dose to 1.5 grams since my uterus was behaving so well at 2 grams. So tonight the real test will come. If I make it through the night, I will be a little bit more optomistic that we will be able to keep the dose lower for a while. However, my experience from last week makes me a little nervous...we'll just have to see how it goes.

My doc also ordered an ultrasound for tomorrow to check on the growth of the baby, and I'll also have my 3 hour glucose test in the morning. I was borderline on the 1 hour so we have to make sure I don't have gestational diabetes. I suspect it will come back fine since it is very common to fail the first test and pass the second with flying colors.

I also got my progesterone shot today...you know that one that is suppose to prevent preterm labor?? Guess they figure we'll take all the help we can get:)

At one point over the weekend, the baby wasn't wiggly at all for about a 12 hour period. They put the monitor on early after I expressed my concern. She was doing fine, and moving quite a bit actually...but with the placenta being in the front of my uterus, it's hard to feel all of her movements. The meds do make her a little sleepy also, but this morning she is hopping all over the place...YEAH!

What are my goals for the day?

• to balance our checkbook and make sure our bills are paid
• possibly start crocheting a blanket for my baby
• to shave my legs...no matter what it takes!

That's it for now...we will just be praying for a quiet night. I'll let you know how it goes.

Same old same old...

Things up here at the hospital have been pretty stable for the last couple of days. The mag is still at 2 grams and the contractions have been few and far between. I'm enjoying a visit from Sarah who came to town last night with her family. She spent the night with me, we played some Scrabble at ate way to many Cheetos and cookies (thanks Jeff) and now we're just chillin'.

The other day, when I explained to Jordan that it may be a while before I can go home, he said, "that really sucks, Mom. Why can't we bring all of this stuff home with you, the bed, the IV, the monitors..." I said that would be great but we would have to bring a nurse, too. He said, "that's ok, she can be our butler!"

Also, I had explained to Kaden that if I need anything at all, a popsicle, some juice, or whatever, all I have to do is push my red nurse button. He thought that was pretty cool...and after cuddling up by me on my bed for a while he looked at me and asked, "Mom, do you need anything? Because I can push the button for you."

I miss the boys very much but am greatful for the several visits I have with them each week. And they understand that their little sister just needs to stay where she is for a little bit and that this won't last forever. It will all be so worth it.

Life at the Hospital...

10 nights ago, on Sunday evening, my contractions wouldn't stop once again. After calling the doc and maxing out my Procardia (oral meds to stop contractions), they kept coming every 2-3 minutes. We headed to Labor and Delivery and I haven't been home since. Terbutaline shots helped for the first 2 nights, but after 2 phone calls during the night, my OB showed up at 5 am to check my cervix. It had shortened a little to 3.5 cm in length and dilated to 1 cm at my previous appointment and was holding steady at that. But at only 26 weeks with contractions every 2 minutes that terb wasn't touching, and with my history, he started me on magnesium sulfate.

Magnesium sulfate is an IV medication that effects the central nervous system and can be used to stop contractions. It weakens your muscles and makes it hard to get up all the time to use the bathroom, so I had to have a catheter put in. It also has other side effects for the mother so they have to keep an eye on me, but so far so good.

It worked and the contractions got under control, they did have to go up to 3 grams at one point as I was contracting right through 2, and at that dose I felt like I was going to melt into the bed. Thankfully, we've been holding steady at 2 now. I am able to handle these side effects much better...I'm sleepy, my eyes burn, I'm flushed and hot and have a general feeling of being out of it, but I can see straight as opposed to at the higher dose. It's hard to concentrate on things. It has weakened my muscles, but I have proven that I can get up to use the bathroom and take a 3 minute shower in a chair, so he let me get the catheter out yesterday! Yeah, that was driving me nuts.

Most importantly of all, the baby is doing well and I'm still pregnant! After consulting with my high risk OB, they have decided that the plan is to leave the meds right where they are for at least a few days, and then try to wean me off (which so far hadn't been successful). If I can't get off of it, I might be stuck here until 34 weeks. But whatever it takes.

The hardest part is I miss my boys. We have decided that they will just stay with their dad, who has been pretty accommodating through all of this...he even brings them up to visit me. That makes things a lot easier on Brett, who cannot possibly do it all right now...life goes on and he still has to work as well. This way the boys' life will be a little more structured without as much running around...and I will still get to see them several times a week.

This is not easy, but it sure beats the alternative. At 26 weeks, we were given a survival rate of 60-70% by one of the NICU doctors up here. Of those that survive, 60-70% will not have any long term complications. Now that we are past 27 weeks, we are at the 80% mark! We have several things in our favor as well...I got the steroid shots to mature the lungs, girls do better than boys when born early, and we are already in a hospital!

That about sums it up for now...keep checking back for updates. And thank you to everyone who has been praying for us. We strongly believe in the power of prayer and each and every one you send up there is much appreciated!

Sisters...

What is a sister?

she grew up with you...she shares more of your memories than anyone else in the world

she just "gets" you, and she knows what that means

she's someone who hugs your children...and they feel familiar

she has unspoken permission to boss your husband around...not to mention your kids

she knows her way around your kitchen, and when she can't find something, she isn't afraid to dig for it

she cleans just like you do, without any silly questions like "where's your mop?" or "what else needs to be done?"

she folds laundry just like you do

she knows when something's wrong by the way you answer the phone

she's always on your side

she's makes you feel better just by being there

And I'm lucky enough to have two of them!

My sister, Sonia, just left our house this morning:( She was here since Thursday at noon, so we got to have a nice long visit! She did so many things for us around here that it is unbelievable! Laundry, cooking, shopping, dishes, cleaning, and I could go on...all while looking after her two little ones. She even made us rice krispie treats and packed my "just in case" hospital bag. Of course, we got in a game of Scrabble while munching on our favorite snack, Cheetos. (She beat me.)

Charlotte joined in Mason's fascination with our pet gerbils and they snuck downstairs with Uncle Brett every chance they got to play with them. I got lots of hugs and kisses from the kids and I can't believe how much they've grown since the last time I saw them:) It was a great weekend and I can't wait to see them again!

Thanks so much, Sonia...you don't even realize how nice it was for me to have you here!

Trip to Labor and Delivery

Two nights ago, the night after my appointment with the high risk ob, we took a trip into labor and delivery. I was having contractions 3 to 5 minutes apart that wouldn't stop even after increasing my meds like I had been told to do. I had gotten them to slow down 2 other times during the day, but this time it wasn't working.

So we headed in at 9pm without even waiting for the doctor to call back. When I got there the contractions were about 4 minutes apart and my heart was racing from all the meds I had to take. They called the doctor on call and he said that if I didn't have any contractions that showed up on the monitor after an hour to send me home. I was not comfortable with that AT ALL! It was difficult for the nurse to find my contractions since I'm so early, and the button she gave me to mark when I was having a contraction wasn't working. Just because they didn't show up didn't mean I wasn't having them! And the nurse could feel my tummy tightening up with them. Obviously, these contractions had been enough to shorten and dilate my cervix over the previous 2 days...so I wasn't leaving until they stopped and we knew I wasn't progressing more. The doctor on call then told my nurse to call my doc at home and wake him up. WHEW! He adjusted my meds and said to try to sleep and he would be in in the morning to check me out. He said that sometimes sleep can be very helpful in calming contractions even when medication can't. He also ordered the steroid shot to help mature the baby's lungs mature just in case, but I said I didn't want it until I talked to him personally about it.

He was right. By morning, they had slowed to 2 an hour, and my cervix was still the same as it had been the day before...1 cm dilated. He consulted with my high risk ob before letting me go home and they decided that I should remain on the higher dose of my meds until I go in again on Monday at least. They also agreed to wait on the steroid shots for now. They are most effective if given as close to birth as possible, so apparently they are confident that we have some time. I was released at about noon.

I hadn't had a trip to labor and delivery for over 3 weeks before this one. If I get 3 more weeks before the next one, I'll be very greatful!

Changes...

I just got back from my appointment with my high risk ob and, unfortunately, there have been some changes. I have had quite a few contractions this week and they have started to affect my cervix. After a very complete exam, I was told that my cervix is showing funneling and has shortened from 5 to 3.5cm and has dilated to 1cm. If it goes below 2cm in length, I will have to be admitted to the hospital. I have been told to pay even closer attention to my contractions and to increase my meds according to a specific schedule as soon as they start. The thing the OB said that bothered me the most was, "Let's just try to get a couple more weeks out of this." I was thinking more in terms of a couple more MONTHS!

On the positive side, our little girl looks perfect, just kicking away in there without a care in the world:) And at this point, each day in the womb increases chances of survival by 2 to 3 percent. Stay in there, sweetie!

25 Weeks and Going Strong!

Today I'm 25 weeks pregnant! I had my weekly doctor appointment yesterday, and everything is stable for now, despite quite a few contractions over the weekend...so great news! I had my glucose test and it came back borderline, so I'll have to do the 3 hour test to rule out gestational diabetes. But I'm not too worried about it because quite commonly a woman will fail the first one only to pass the second without any problems.

Tomorrow is my appointment with my high risk ob who will do an ultrasound to check cervical length and of course take a peak at the baby. I'll let you know how it goes.

This weekend, Sonia (one of my sisters) is coming for a visit with her two kids! I can't believe I haven't seen any of them since my wedding way back in September. I can't wait!

ER Trip!

So today we had yet another trip to the hospital, but not for me this time...for Kaden. He was laying in front of the tv watching Bambi 2, and all of a sudden he jumped up and looked terrified, then started crying. He told me he swallowed a ball from his Magnetix...apparently after choking on it for a second or two! He said it was hurting in his throat. So I told Brett to throw some clothes on, and I threw some on Kaden (they were still in their jammies)...and off they went. They did an x-ray to make sure it went down the "right" pipe and to see exactly where it was. It was already on it's way into the intestine and is expected to come out the other end without any trouble. WHEW!

So, needless to say, the Magnetix went on the very very top shelf that none of the kids can reach, and we had a very long talk about what NOT to put in your mouth. All these years of telling the Kaden "get that out of your mouth" and now he finally gets it...he won't be doing that again anytime soon. Just when you think you don't have to worry about choking anymore...think again. With kids, you NEVER know what you are gonna get.

24 Weeks!

On Tuesday I passed up my first goal of 24 weeks! My doctor's appointment on Monday went well...I got my usual progesterone shot, got weighed, had blood pressure checked, and all that stuff. I asked the doc if I could spend some time sitting up since the contractions have been under control for the most part, and he said nope. Until 32 weeks we have to be very careful. So that's a bummer but what can you do. I'm just thrilled to be past the 24 week mark, from here on out I feel like I at least have my head above water!

This week has gone by much faster than last week, so that's good. I think I'm settling into my routine with the bed rest and am accepting the fact that my days consist of watching TV, reading, playing on the internet, talking on the phone, and if I'm lucky getting a shower and putting on clean clothes. Oh yeah, I've also done a little baby shopping online:) The boys are getting use to the routine, too. Kaden crawls right up by me on the couch for snuggles before bed, and Jordan sits in bed by me and lets me borrow his gameboy...isn't that sweet!

Jordan felt the baby move for the first time the other night. He has been a little leary of touching my tummy (it is very weird afterall), but this time I just said "give me your hand" and put it where she was moving, and he felt a kick right away. His face lit up and a surprised "HA" came out of his mouth. As much as he has been trying to keep his excitement a secret, he couldn't contain it at that moment. I asked, "do you want to feel it again?" He replied with a simple, "no". I guess that was enough excitement for him for one day.

Good Old Dr. Seuss!

Sighed Mayzie, a lazy bird hatching an egg:
"I'm tired and I'm bored
And I've kinks in my leg
From sitting, just sitting here day after day.
It's work! How I hate it!
I'd much rather play!
I'd take a vacation, fly off for a rest
If I could find someone to stay on my nest!
If I could find someone, I'd fly away--free. . . ."

3 Days Down!

So today ends my third day of bedrest! I'm still waiting to settle into this routine...it is quite the adjustment. You would think that since I have been through this before (7 weeks with Kaden) that it would be easier. Especially since I have spent much of this pregnancy resting already. I guess I just had the hope that it would get better at some point and the contractions would just stop and I would be allowed to go about life as usual. Instead I have been sentenced to a minimum of 9 weeks of bedrest.

One of the hardest parts is that I cannot be the mother I want to be to the kids right now. I have to sit back and watch as they do all the things I want to be helping them with. I can't go to Kaden's performance at school, and I can't pick up Jordan from basketball. The medication I'm on to control the contractions gives me a headache, and my butt is sore from the weekly progesterone shots I get also to prevent contractions. I have been wanting to go on a mini vacation with Brett before the baby was born, but it looks like that is out of the question. I can no longer go to work or even church. It's very difficult to feel so out of control! I could go on and on...but I would rather try to focus on the positives, so here goes...

• The shot and the medication that gives me a headache is working to control the contractions. I haven't made a trip to labor and delivery in 10 whole days now! And my cervix hasn't even started to change yet.
• I have a wonderful husband who can pick up Jordan from basketball, videotape Kaden's performance, and take all 4 kids to church!
• The kids are old enough to understand what is going on, and capable enough to do lots of things without any help!
• After the baby is born, I know people who know how to care for a baby so we can take that mini vacation!
• I might get better at letting go and letting God through all of this!
• I'm pretty sure the world isn't going to fall down around me while I am laying on my couch.
• Dust doesn't hurt anything, neither do hairy legs!
• I have a very supportive friends and family.
• I don't have to go to work.
• I don't have to cook.
• I don't have to clean.
• I'm going to have a daughter! Something I had given up on.

So what was my problem again?? Please pray for me to find the patience and the strength to continue to find the positives in life as the weeks progress!

Happy 11th Birthday, Jordan!

Today was Jordan's 11th birthday! Each year I am amazed at how fast time goes and how fast our little babies grow up. I look at him and still see that little 6 pounder I brought home from the hospital...and I have no idea what I ever did with myself before he arrived! But looking at him today, I am excited and proud to see the young man he is becoming. It makes me certain that I must be doing something right!

Birthdays always make me think about all the memories over the years. Here are some of the funny things that come to mind when I think about Jordan as a little boy...

"Garbage" was "bowders"

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"Another one" was "sow zown"

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"Slippers" was "fi fips"

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He would never stand under the fan at Grandma's house because he was afraid it would fall on him.

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One day he said to me..."Mom, you're getting old, we're gonna have to get a new mom."

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As he watched the neighbors dog do his duty in their back yard, he asked, "Do monsters poop on the grass, too?"

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When he noticed that part of a tampon didn't quite make it down the toilet, he said, "Mom, there's a whistle in the toilet!"

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We celebrated his birthday with family and friends this past Saturday, I've included some pictures from the festivities, including one with his Godmother, Auntie Sarah. (which, by the way he could say at 10 months!) Two of his buddies slept over, and they didn't even keep us awake all night!

Happy Birthday, Jordan!!

Packer Room!

Over the last week, we transformed Brendyn's bedroom into a Packer room...this room has now become Brendyn AND Kaden's room! We used the official "Packer Colors" from Home Depot. The top portion of the room is gold, the bottom is green, and there is a white stripe going around the room in the green. I will try to post pictures if I can get Brett to take a couple. We couldn't have done it without lots of help from Dad and Sarah, and it turned out great! They both put in many hours helping with the painting and even made a team effort out of hanging the curtains that Sarah so carefully sewed for me:) It was very difficult not being able to pitch in myself, but I'll have to get use to watching things get done for now.

The boys love their new room and can't wait until we add things to the walls. Believe it or not, they have even been going to bed without any trouble or goofing around! Of course with the threat that if they do, one of them will have to sleep on the floor in our room and not in their Packer Room! What fun would that be??

23 Weeks!

Hi Everyone...so I finally broke down and decided to create a blog in order to share with everyone what is going on in our household.

As you know baby number 3 (or 5 depending on how you look at it:) is on the way. I've had some complications, mostly lots of contractions. I had been on "restricted activity" and meds to control them. I was still allowed to go into work for a few hours a week. After a week with 3 trips to Labor and Delivery, and a visit to a high risk OB, I think we have found a regimen of medication that seems to control the contractions, at least it has done pretty well for the past week. I have only gotten them when up to much, or when my next dose is almost due. So I was hoping I might be able to be a little bit more acitve, but at my appointment today, my doc had something else in mind. Apparently he thinks that the restricted activity is working so well, that he put me on good old regular bed rest...no more working or going out for anything:( He said I'm in a very crucial stage of the pregnancy and he doesn't want to take any chances so it's sofa city for me until at least 32 weeks...(at least 9 to go)...then he will reevaluate.

The good news is that the baby is doing excellent and the contractions have been under control for the last week! Yeah! We have a long road ahead, and I know we will get through with the help of God...one hour at a time.

Keep checking back...and send all the emails you want...please! I have all kinds of time on my hands! And, as always, come and visit anytime you want!

Baby Girl 20 weeks!