Sunday, July 29, 2007
Friday, July 27, 2007
the parasites are behaving......
not trying to be mean to the babies...but sometimes you just feel like a host to a couple of parasites. It's a good thing, though. I'm happy to be the vessel supplying nutrients and other essential goodies to the babies. It's the least I can do as a sacrifice of having two babies soon!
My OB appointment was great. My weight is up less than a pound from earlier this week. My blood pressure was 132/78 (yeah!). Both babies looked great during the non-stress test. Baby boy was again difficult to track at first, but finally behaved and settled down. Baby girl is getting easier to monitor and find! She did have the hiccups during most of the monitoring, though. It's such a funny sound on the speaker!
I found a new yummy drink to enjoy at Starbucks. I've cut out a majority of my caffeine intake since becoming pregnant, short of a rare frappaccino and chocolate...well, today I ordered a raspberry mocha creme frappaccino. It was heavenly! OK...yes, I'm on bed rest, with privileges to go to doctor appointments....and officially, Starbucks is on the road I take to get to the doctor. And I'm not getting out of my car and standing in line.....is that good enough justification?
I took 32 week belly pictures, too. I know I just took 31 week pictures a few days ago...but I'd like to stay on track! And, I tried to smile.....are you convinced?????
Any guesses on my waist measurement? An online scrapbook community that I frequent is having a cyber shower for me and the coordinator asked for my waist measurement for a game....any guesses???
My OB's office is going to schedule the echo for me sometime next week or the following week. Just to make sure there is no noted damage and my heart pressures have returned to normal. Hopefully if it's normal, I will be free and clear of any further cardiology issues. I'll keep you posted on when it will be.
I think I need to pack a hospital bag and have it ready to go at any moment. While my OB and I discussed that I could make it to 36 weeks, she also reminded me to take it day-by-day, which is exactly what we've been doing. Now, just to figure out what to take.......fun, fun.
Ok. that's it for today.
Later,
Jennie
My OB appointment was great. My weight is up less than a pound from earlier this week. My blood pressure was 132/78 (yeah!). Both babies looked great during the non-stress test. Baby boy was again difficult to track at first, but finally behaved and settled down. Baby girl is getting easier to monitor and find! She did have the hiccups during most of the monitoring, though. It's such a funny sound on the speaker!
I found a new yummy drink to enjoy at Starbucks. I've cut out a majority of my caffeine intake since becoming pregnant, short of a rare frappaccino and chocolate...well, today I ordered a raspberry mocha creme frappaccino. It was heavenly! OK...yes, I'm on bed rest, with privileges to go to doctor appointments....and officially, Starbucks is on the road I take to get to the doctor. And I'm not getting out of my car and standing in line.....is that good enough justification?
I took 32 week belly pictures, too. I know I just took 31 week pictures a few days ago...but I'd like to stay on track! And, I tried to smile.....are you convinced?????
Any guesses on my waist measurement? An online scrapbook community that I frequent is having a cyber shower for me and the coordinator asked for my waist measurement for a game....any guesses???
My OB's office is going to schedule the echo for me sometime next week or the following week. Just to make sure there is no noted damage and my heart pressures have returned to normal. Hopefully if it's normal, I will be free and clear of any further cardiology issues. I'll keep you posted on when it will be.
I think I need to pack a hospital bag and have it ready to go at any moment. While my OB and I discussed that I could make it to 36 weeks, she also reminded me to take it day-by-day, which is exactly what we've been doing. Now, just to figure out what to take.......fun, fun.
Ok. that's it for today.
Later,
Jennie
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Guard Kitty
And companion. Julio has been keeping an eye on me, almost like he's going to tell on me if I don't behave.......I noticed him laying at the top of the steps, watching both me and the outside through the windows.
Once I snapped this picture, he needed to get a closer look at me.......goofy cat.
Right now, he's laying at my right side, occasionally meowing at me to remind me to pet him.
My doctor's appt was great yesterday. I actually only saw the nurse practitioner, as my OB was off for the day. The babies both behaved during the non-stress test. Believe it or not, baby girl was easy to get on the monitor, and baby boy was the difficult one! My weight was down 9 pounds, too. Now, before you judge, realize I had a ton of extra fluid weight gain. I think the last few appts I gained six pounds over one week.....so now that extra weight is gone! So far for the pregnancy, I'm up 22 to 24 pounds...not bad considering it's two babies and I'm fluffy to begin with. My blood pressure was good, 136/76, so the Procardia is working!
And, I'm happy to say I did NOT have a Procardia headache today, thankfully. For the past few days, I've been taking the Procardia with two Tylenol and heading back to sleep. Today I stayed up and NO HEADACHE! Yea.
Next OB appointment is on Friday for another non-stress test.
Later, Jennie
Once I snapped this picture, he needed to get a closer look at me.......goofy cat.
Right now, he's laying at my right side, occasionally meowing at me to remind me to pet him.
My doctor's appt was great yesterday. I actually only saw the nurse practitioner, as my OB was off for the day. The babies both behaved during the non-stress test. Believe it or not, baby girl was easy to get on the monitor, and baby boy was the difficult one! My weight was down 9 pounds, too. Now, before you judge, realize I had a ton of extra fluid weight gain. I think the last few appts I gained six pounds over one week.....so now that extra weight is gone! So far for the pregnancy, I'm up 22 to 24 pounds...not bad considering it's two babies and I'm fluffy to begin with. My blood pressure was good, 136/76, so the Procardia is working!
And, I'm happy to say I did NOT have a Procardia headache today, thankfully. For the past few days, I've been taking the Procardia with two Tylenol and heading back to sleep. Today I stayed up and NO HEADACHE! Yea.
Next OB appointment is on Friday for another non-stress test.
Later, Jennie
Monday, July 23, 2007
31 week, 3 day baby belly.
Still growing......baby girl A still sitting on my bladder.....oh, baby boy A was demoted and changed to baby boy B during the last ultrasound.....baby girl trumped her brother! I bet she's going to be a firecracker.......I need to ask my mom what I was like as a baby.....mom...care to offer any advice on how perfect of a baby I was????
Just to compare belly growth, white shirt pictures are from today, 31 weeks, 3 days, maroon shirt is from 20 weeks, 3 days....amazing what 9 weeks will do!
I have a non-stress test appointment tomorrow. It will be nice to hear the babies again!
later,
Jennie
Saturday, July 21, 2007
baby drama and baby mama drama.
Good lord. I couldn't make these things up if I wanted to........these little ones have given me a run for their money these past 31 weeks. Ok....here's the long version of the past week......it's a long one, sit down and grab a snack and drink.
One week ago, we returned home from an overnight stay at the hospital. I was home, on bedrest, behaving and minding my own business. Still trying to pass the darn kidney stone, which is no fun at all. Well, Sunday night/early Monday morning, each time I get up through the night to potty, I feel "full" in my upper belly, lower chest area with some pain all across that area. Thinking it's just from being on bed rest of some form or another for the past week or so....I continue on my exciting routine of bedrest and frequent potty breaks.
Monday I'm miserable......a person can only sleep so much in a twenty-four hour period. I remain uncomfortable and feel my breathing is wheezy, though my lung sounds are fairly normal (as best as I can tell by listening to them myself). Poor Chad returns home from work Monday night to me laying in the tub, crabby, miserable, and just plain pissy. Poor guy. He's a trooper, for sure. I'm not hungry, I'm not thirsty, yet know I need to eat and drink. I think I ate one entire PB&J sandwich and a few other small things the entire day, along with any amount of water I could tolerate. Drinking was a chore in itself, as my stomach felt squished like a pancake. On top of everything, I was not peeing much...thinking the darn stone was trying to make it's appearance.
Move ahead to 11:30pm Monday night. Up again to potty (this is happening at least every twenty to thirty minutes). I head back to bed, lay down, and feel like I'm literally being crushed. I can't breath, my heart rate is up, I can only take very shallow breaths, I'm basically freaking out at this moment. I attempt to take my blood pressure and best that I can tell it's 160ish over 80ish. It feels like the very worst panic attack one could ever have and felt bad sitting at the side of the bed, laying on a ton of pillows in bed, standing, walking...nothing helped. Not sure when I woke Chad.....but did at some point.
Finally at 12:30am, I'm feeling no different. I call my OB's answering service to let her know what's going on......she tells us to head into OB triage at the hospital.
We couldn't get to the hospital fast enough. Luckily is was the middle of the night and traffic was very light. Chad drops me off at the front entrance of the hospital while he parks. I slowly make my way to the OB unit. I know...I shouldn't have walked, but I couldn't wait.
They ask me what I came in for......"shortness of breath" was my response. I feel like an idiot telling them that was my reason.
Of course, my blood pressure was up once they took it, and I believe my oxygen saturation was also low, yet wasn't paying enough attention to the dings and rings at that time. The nurse midwife updated my OB and they decide to admit me.
After settling into my room, they take me downstairs for a chest x ray to rule out a pulmonary embolism. Unfortunately, one big risk of bedrest is clot formation in the leg, which travels to the lungs.
We return to my room where an IV is placed and labs are drawn. I attempt to settle for the night, which is quite difficult with the rapid shallow breaths and inability to lie at a comfortable angle in bed.
Fortunately, the babies are looking great on the fetal monitor. Both heart rates were responding appropriately, when they would stay still enough to catch their heart rate! Baby girl is an active one and VERY difficult to keep track of sometimes. It took a few hours for the nurse to even get a decent tracking on the little stinker! Baby boy was much easier to keep track of, though!
My OB arrives in the morning. She lets us know that she looked at the chest x-ray and my heart looks enlarged. They need to do further testing to rule out peripartum cardiomyopathy. I immediately get tearful. Of my ten years as a nurse, most of my practice has either been working in critical care or cardiovascular surgery. I know the implications. My first question is "is it reversible", which of course I know it isn't. A cardiology consult and an echocardiogram is ordered to rule out any immediate heart damage and rule out the chance that this is the correct diagnosis. My OB shares with us that if it indeed is cardiomyopathy, the babies will need to be delivered soon....like in the next day or two. She is going to ask the neonatologist on staff in the NICU to stop by and talk with us today and answer any questions for us.
Not sure at what point we head down for the echocardiogram.....Chad goes with and is able to come back into the room during the scan. Luckily it's fairly quick and we head back upstairs to wait.
At some point during the day, I receive two doses of Lasix to help remove some excess fluid build up. After the 10mg dose, I eliminate a liter or so of excess fluid. After a 20mg dose, I dump another two liters of fluid. Believe it or not, my breathing is a bit better!
The babies are monitored for a non-stress test three times a day, rather than continuously, since they are ornery and not willing to stay in one place at a time! Fetal placement was verified by ultrasound, just to get the best idea of where each was hanging out in my uterus. Baby boy was still head down, along my left side. At this time, baby girl is presenting, butt down, spine midline and belly out toward my right side. She's a mover and shaker for sure! Fortunately, they are looking great on the monitor and do not appear to be in any stress as this point.
The cardiology fellow stops by at some point Tuesday afternoon to obtain a history and physical on me. I don't think at this point they have the result of the echocardiogram. Around 4:30pm, the fellow returns with the staff cardiologist. Amazingly, it does not look like I have peripartum cardiomyopathy. What a relief.... The test did show that my right ventricular pressures were elevated. Reasons for this could either be prior damage to cause the increased values, or fluid volume overload. At this point I'm praying/hoping that it is caused by the fluid volume overload. The cardiologist recommends a repeat echocardiogram in a few weeks to ensure no changes are noted. He also recommends no further pregnancy. Luckily, Chad and I agree this is a good idea, considering the issues we've already had. Luckily we got the two for one deal with this one!
Chad and I are relieved, yet know we are not out of the woods, yet.
Wednesday, my blood pressures remain borderline and high at some points. My OB starts me on Procardia to help keep my blood pressure at a manageable level. I'm lucky enough to enjoy the lovely side effect of massive, drill through my skull headache and visual changes. About an hour after I take it, the visual changes start, followed by the headache. I'm told the side effects tone down after I build up tolerance...let's hope so. Today (Saturday) I took it at 7am or so, along with two Tylenol and went back to bed. Luckily I slept through it all!
At this point, there is a chance that I could go home on Thursday. We try not to get our hopes up too much. Good thing we didn't. Sometime through the night, the kidney stone type pain returns.......yep. The ugly bugger returns. Can you believe it? I didn't sleep much through the night at all.
Thursday morning, my OB orders a renal ultrasound to check for any stone evidence in my left kidney or bladder. According to the ultrasound report from the radiologist, there is no evidence of stones found at all, only some hydronephrosis. Apparently this is common in pregnancy. Bloody hell.....is it supposed to feel like a stone is passing through my ureter? Or is my baby boy clawing at my kidney and ureter........??? My OB reviews the renal ultrasound and is not fully convinced that there was no stone damage and feels I may have already passed it. The distal end of my left ureter is enlarged and angry. Thank goodness, I was beginning to wonder if I was just being a wuss and not able to handle normal pregnancy issues......
One more night in the hospital. At this point, Chad and I agree that we are not going to make any plans to go home and half way expect to stay here until the babies are delivered. Poor Chad has developed a cold. Fortunately, we both feel ok with him going home at night to sleep and even head to work to keep up with his projects. God knows one of us needs some sort of order! And I doubt I'll be getting it anytime soon!
Friday morning arrives. Chad arrives early in the morning in hopes of being around when my OB makes rounds. She asks if I want to go home! Hot damn, yes I do! As long as I behave at home, on bedrest, up for a maximum of ten minutes per hour, and grow these babies......yippee! We are both honesty surprised but very happy at this point. Chad heads off to work until I'm ready to break free. By 11am, I'm home, enjoying another Procardia headache, but I'm HOME! Chad gets me settled, fluffed and puffed and heads off to work.
I'm happy to say that it's Saturday night and I'm doing ok. Bedrest has been tolerable. We are in it for the long haul and pray we can make it as close to 36 weeks as possible. Please keep us in your thoughts.
Chad and I appreciate any and all offers for help. Please know we will let you know when we need something.
later,
Jennie
One week ago, we returned home from an overnight stay at the hospital. I was home, on bedrest, behaving and minding my own business. Still trying to pass the darn kidney stone, which is no fun at all. Well, Sunday night/early Monday morning, each time I get up through the night to potty, I feel "full" in my upper belly, lower chest area with some pain all across that area. Thinking it's just from being on bed rest of some form or another for the past week or so....I continue on my exciting routine of bedrest and frequent potty breaks.
Monday I'm miserable......a person can only sleep so much in a twenty-four hour period. I remain uncomfortable and feel my breathing is wheezy, though my lung sounds are fairly normal (as best as I can tell by listening to them myself). Poor Chad returns home from work Monday night to me laying in the tub, crabby, miserable, and just plain pissy. Poor guy. He's a trooper, for sure. I'm not hungry, I'm not thirsty, yet know I need to eat and drink. I think I ate one entire PB&J sandwich and a few other small things the entire day, along with any amount of water I could tolerate. Drinking was a chore in itself, as my stomach felt squished like a pancake. On top of everything, I was not peeing much...thinking the darn stone was trying to make it's appearance.
Move ahead to 11:30pm Monday night. Up again to potty (this is happening at least every twenty to thirty minutes). I head back to bed, lay down, and feel like I'm literally being crushed. I can't breath, my heart rate is up, I can only take very shallow breaths, I'm basically freaking out at this moment. I attempt to take my blood pressure and best that I can tell it's 160ish over 80ish. It feels like the very worst panic attack one could ever have and felt bad sitting at the side of the bed, laying on a ton of pillows in bed, standing, walking...nothing helped. Not sure when I woke Chad.....but did at some point.
Finally at 12:30am, I'm feeling no different. I call my OB's answering service to let her know what's going on......she tells us to head into OB triage at the hospital.
We couldn't get to the hospital fast enough. Luckily is was the middle of the night and traffic was very light. Chad drops me off at the front entrance of the hospital while he parks. I slowly make my way to the OB unit. I know...I shouldn't have walked, but I couldn't wait.
They ask me what I came in for......"shortness of breath" was my response. I feel like an idiot telling them that was my reason.
Of course, my blood pressure was up once they took it, and I believe my oxygen saturation was also low, yet wasn't paying enough attention to the dings and rings at that time. The nurse midwife updated my OB and they decide to admit me.
After settling into my room, they take me downstairs for a chest x ray to rule out a pulmonary embolism. Unfortunately, one big risk of bedrest is clot formation in the leg, which travels to the lungs.
We return to my room where an IV is placed and labs are drawn. I attempt to settle for the night, which is quite difficult with the rapid shallow breaths and inability to lie at a comfortable angle in bed.
Fortunately, the babies are looking great on the fetal monitor. Both heart rates were responding appropriately, when they would stay still enough to catch their heart rate! Baby girl is an active one and VERY difficult to keep track of sometimes. It took a few hours for the nurse to even get a decent tracking on the little stinker! Baby boy was much easier to keep track of, though!
My OB arrives in the morning. She lets us know that she looked at the chest x-ray and my heart looks enlarged. They need to do further testing to rule out peripartum cardiomyopathy. I immediately get tearful. Of my ten years as a nurse, most of my practice has either been working in critical care or cardiovascular surgery. I know the implications. My first question is "is it reversible", which of course I know it isn't. A cardiology consult and an echocardiogram is ordered to rule out any immediate heart damage and rule out the chance that this is the correct diagnosis. My OB shares with us that if it indeed is cardiomyopathy, the babies will need to be delivered soon....like in the next day or two. She is going to ask the neonatologist on staff in the NICU to stop by and talk with us today and answer any questions for us.
Not sure at what point we head down for the echocardiogram.....Chad goes with and is able to come back into the room during the scan. Luckily it's fairly quick and we head back upstairs to wait.
At some point during the day, I receive two doses of Lasix to help remove some excess fluid build up. After the 10mg dose, I eliminate a liter or so of excess fluid. After a 20mg dose, I dump another two liters of fluid. Believe it or not, my breathing is a bit better!
The babies are monitored for a non-stress test three times a day, rather than continuously, since they are ornery and not willing to stay in one place at a time! Fetal placement was verified by ultrasound, just to get the best idea of where each was hanging out in my uterus. Baby boy was still head down, along my left side. At this time, baby girl is presenting, butt down, spine midline and belly out toward my right side. She's a mover and shaker for sure! Fortunately, they are looking great on the monitor and do not appear to be in any stress as this point.
The cardiology fellow stops by at some point Tuesday afternoon to obtain a history and physical on me. I don't think at this point they have the result of the echocardiogram. Around 4:30pm, the fellow returns with the staff cardiologist. Amazingly, it does not look like I have peripartum cardiomyopathy. What a relief.... The test did show that my right ventricular pressures were elevated. Reasons for this could either be prior damage to cause the increased values, or fluid volume overload. At this point I'm praying/hoping that it is caused by the fluid volume overload. The cardiologist recommends a repeat echocardiogram in a few weeks to ensure no changes are noted. He also recommends no further pregnancy. Luckily, Chad and I agree this is a good idea, considering the issues we've already had. Luckily we got the two for one deal with this one!
Chad and I are relieved, yet know we are not out of the woods, yet.
Wednesday, my blood pressures remain borderline and high at some points. My OB starts me on Procardia to help keep my blood pressure at a manageable level. I'm lucky enough to enjoy the lovely side effect of massive, drill through my skull headache and visual changes. About an hour after I take it, the visual changes start, followed by the headache. I'm told the side effects tone down after I build up tolerance...let's hope so. Today (Saturday) I took it at 7am or so, along with two Tylenol and went back to bed. Luckily I slept through it all!
At this point, there is a chance that I could go home on Thursday. We try not to get our hopes up too much. Good thing we didn't. Sometime through the night, the kidney stone type pain returns.......yep. The ugly bugger returns. Can you believe it? I didn't sleep much through the night at all.
Thursday morning, my OB orders a renal ultrasound to check for any stone evidence in my left kidney or bladder. According to the ultrasound report from the radiologist, there is no evidence of stones found at all, only some hydronephrosis. Apparently this is common in pregnancy. Bloody hell.....is it supposed to feel like a stone is passing through my ureter? Or is my baby boy clawing at my kidney and ureter........??? My OB reviews the renal ultrasound and is not fully convinced that there was no stone damage and feels I may have already passed it. The distal end of my left ureter is enlarged and angry. Thank goodness, I was beginning to wonder if I was just being a wuss and not able to handle normal pregnancy issues......
One more night in the hospital. At this point, Chad and I agree that we are not going to make any plans to go home and half way expect to stay here until the babies are delivered. Poor Chad has developed a cold. Fortunately, we both feel ok with him going home at night to sleep and even head to work to keep up with his projects. God knows one of us needs some sort of order! And I doubt I'll be getting it anytime soon!
Friday morning arrives. Chad arrives early in the morning in hopes of being around when my OB makes rounds. She asks if I want to go home! Hot damn, yes I do! As long as I behave at home, on bedrest, up for a maximum of ten minutes per hour, and grow these babies......yippee! We are both honesty surprised but very happy at this point. Chad heads off to work until I'm ready to break free. By 11am, I'm home, enjoying another Procardia headache, but I'm HOME! Chad gets me settled, fluffed and puffed and heads off to work.
I'm happy to say that it's Saturday night and I'm doing ok. Bedrest has been tolerable. We are in it for the long haul and pray we can make it as close to 36 weeks as possible. Please keep us in your thoughts.
Chad and I appreciate any and all offers for help. Please know we will let you know when we need something.
later,
Jennie
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Bedrest, but no rickets for me.......
Chad and I arrived home from the hospital a bit ago. Once we received the all clear to go home, it didn't take long to get dressed and ready to go.
Here is what led up to heading to the hospital.....
Friday at 11am I had an ultrasound and doctor appt. Per the ultrasound, baby girl is only at 10% of her expected weight (she was 25% last u/s). Baby boy was holding on at 40% of expected weight, last time he was at 50%. My blood pressure was elevated in the office and I had yet to pass the kidney stone. Darvocet was not helping for the pain, either. Luckily, Chad was at that appt with me and we headed right to the hospital from the appt.
My blood pressure behaved once I was settled in, and actually was lower that it's been in a LONG time during later checks. Heartbeats on both babies is good (well high when baby boy is kicking baby girl, quite the funny thing to hear on fetal monitor). I received a liter bolus of IV fluids, with a continuous running IV. I have not yet passed the stone, but have not received any pain medication since 10pm Friday night. So, hopefully the stone is in my bladder, ready to make it's appearance.
I also received two doses of steriods, so if babies were to arrive early, as we expect, their lungs will have a boost in development.
I'm going to download some digital scrapbooking software that I've had for awhile. I figure now is as good of time as any to dive into the digital arena of scrapbooking......
Please, if you have prayers, thoughts, fat wishes to spare, send them on to the babies.
thanks,
Jennie
Here is what led up to heading to the hospital.....
Friday at 11am I had an ultrasound and doctor appt. Per the ultrasound, baby girl is only at 10% of her expected weight (she was 25% last u/s). Baby boy was holding on at 40% of expected weight, last time he was at 50%. My blood pressure was elevated in the office and I had yet to pass the kidney stone. Darvocet was not helping for the pain, either. Luckily, Chad was at that appt with me and we headed right to the hospital from the appt.
My blood pressure behaved once I was settled in, and actually was lower that it's been in a LONG time during later checks. Heartbeats on both babies is good (well high when baby boy is kicking baby girl, quite the funny thing to hear on fetal monitor). I received a liter bolus of IV fluids, with a continuous running IV. I have not yet passed the stone, but have not received any pain medication since 10pm Friday night. So, hopefully the stone is in my bladder, ready to make it's appearance.
I also received two doses of steriods, so if babies were to arrive early, as we expect, their lungs will have a boost in development.
I see the doctor again on Friday. Per bedrest order, I can be up nce an hour for ten minutes, shower daily, use the stairs minimally and drive to my appts...wish me luck! I made a shopping list of store and pantry/fridge food that Chad has brought up to the master area so I'm should be set for food while he's at work. Luckily, we have a mini fridge set up in our master suite area, so will be able to keep cold foods handy.
I'm going to download some digital scrapbooking software that I've had for awhile. I figure now is as good of time as any to dive into the digital arena of scrapbooking......
Please, if you have prayers, thoughts, fat wishes to spare, send them on to the babies.
thanks,
Jennie
30 week baby belly.
I can't believe it's 30 weeks! This picture was taking on Friday, July 13th before heading out for my OB appointment and ultrasound.
Hopefully the babies have fattened up some......
Since I haven't passed the darn stone yet, and have taken Darvocet this morning with little, if any, relief, Chad is picking me up shortly.
Believe me, I tried to look "happy" but the stone pain was really getting to me....and I slept a total of maybe 30 minutes at a time, as I was up so often to try to void...not fun at all!
I'll report back with an update.
later, Jennie
Hopefully the babies have fattened up some......
Since I haven't passed the darn stone yet, and have taken Darvocet this morning with little, if any, relief, Chad is picking me up shortly.
Believe me, I tried to look "happy" but the stone pain was really getting to me....and I slept a total of maybe 30 minutes at a time, as I was up so often to try to void...not fun at all!
I'll report back with an update.
later, Jennie
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Out, out, damn stone!
OH, what stone, you ask????? The KIDNEY STONE I'm trying to pass. I'm to the point of being miserable.....but, I'm grateful it isn't pre-term labor. OK, let me start back to the weekend....
Saturday I had a backache across my low back. Didn't think much of it and attributed it to being on my feet too much during the day.
Early Sunday morning, I woke shortly after 7am to worse back pain, cramps (not quite contractions, like I'd know) and other feelings of not being right. I called the OB answering service. A few minutes later (impressive) the OB on call returned my call. She asked me to head down to OB triage to get checked out. Before I called the doctor, I woke Chad and told him what was going on. He jumps in the shower and is ready to go as I finish packing a "just in case I'm admitted" bag. Once we arrive to triage, I'm hooked up to the monitors to watch both babies heart beats and the toco monitor to monitor contractions. Both heartbeats look great, they are responding appropriately and no contractions are noted on the monitor (even though it feels like I'm being ripped in two). The urine sample I provided had blood in it, so we needed to ensure it wasn't from cervical changes. Luckily there was not blood to be found due to cervical changes, my cervix was estimated at 3cm or so and closed, but soft. Well, that's good news. They took a swab to check for fetal fibronectin. Luckily, an hour later, the fetal fibronectin is negative, and it's 99.5% accurate....meaning I'm not likely to go into labor in the next two weeks. What a relief, as both Chad and I were worried this was it......even though we didn't mention it to each other, we both had a feeling. So, I'm sitting up in the bed, dealing with some pretty intense pain, that is not a contraction. I've had this feeling before....it was just over 5 years ago on our way back from an all inclusive vacation to a Sandals resort in Jamaica. At that time, it was a kidney stone.......
Yep, I'm working on passing a kidney stone. I haven't birthed it yet, but gosh darn it, I darn well better soon! Luckily, I'm able to take Darvocet to numb the pain, though I'm only taking it when the pain is unbearable. I'm sick of drinking tons of water, so have been drinking weakly flavored Crystal Light all day. It's a nice break from plain water.
Will update soon...I hope. Any thoughts on a name for this darn stone? I named the first one Bitch.........
Oh, OB appointment on Friday with an ultrasound. Chad is joining me to see how the babies are growing! They are kicking the crap out of me, too. And my belly is getting bigger day by day. They better be fattening up like they are supposed to!
later, crabby and miserable Jennie
Saturday I had a backache across my low back. Didn't think much of it and attributed it to being on my feet too much during the day.
Early Sunday morning, I woke shortly after 7am to worse back pain, cramps (not quite contractions, like I'd know) and other feelings of not being right. I called the OB answering service. A few minutes later (impressive) the OB on call returned my call. She asked me to head down to OB triage to get checked out. Before I called the doctor, I woke Chad and told him what was going on. He jumps in the shower and is ready to go as I finish packing a "just in case I'm admitted" bag. Once we arrive to triage, I'm hooked up to the monitors to watch both babies heart beats and the toco monitor to monitor contractions. Both heartbeats look great, they are responding appropriately and no contractions are noted on the monitor (even though it feels like I'm being ripped in two). The urine sample I provided had blood in it, so we needed to ensure it wasn't from cervical changes. Luckily there was not blood to be found due to cervical changes, my cervix was estimated at 3cm or so and closed, but soft. Well, that's good news. They took a swab to check for fetal fibronectin. Luckily, an hour later, the fetal fibronectin is negative, and it's 99.5% accurate....meaning I'm not likely to go into labor in the next two weeks. What a relief, as both Chad and I were worried this was it......even though we didn't mention it to each other, we both had a feeling. So, I'm sitting up in the bed, dealing with some pretty intense pain, that is not a contraction. I've had this feeling before....it was just over 5 years ago on our way back from an all inclusive vacation to a Sandals resort in Jamaica. At that time, it was a kidney stone.......
Yep, I'm working on passing a kidney stone. I haven't birthed it yet, but gosh darn it, I darn well better soon! Luckily, I'm able to take Darvocet to numb the pain, though I'm only taking it when the pain is unbearable. I'm sick of drinking tons of water, so have been drinking weakly flavored Crystal Light all day. It's a nice break from plain water.
Will update soon...I hope. Any thoughts on a name for this darn stone? I named the first one Bitch.........
Oh, OB appointment on Friday with an ultrasound. Chad is joining me to see how the babies are growing! They are kicking the crap out of me, too. And my belly is getting bigger day by day. They better be fattening up like they are supposed to!
later, crabby and miserable Jennie
Friday, July 6, 2007
The nursery...almost ready.
Here are pictures I took of the nursery this morning.
Chad painted the changing table, shelf next to the changing table and hamper frame. I purchased the small shelf at Goodwill for a whopping $4. I wasn't quite sure what sort of shelf it was, given that it was wrapped in plastic without directions. Luckily, it wasn't a wasted purchase and will keep baby changing stuff handy!
I altered the picture frame with some great Basic Grey paper and Mod Podge. I can't wait to add pictures of the babies to it!
I still need to make curtains and have Chad hang some things on the wall. It's slowly getting there......the bundles of joy will be here before we know it!
Hopefully I've satisfied curious fans of the blog with my updates!
Later,
Jennie
Chad painted the changing table, shelf next to the changing table and hamper frame. I purchased the small shelf at Goodwill for a whopping $4. I wasn't quite sure what sort of shelf it was, given that it was wrapped in plastic without directions. Luckily, it wasn't a wasted purchase and will keep baby changing stuff handy!
I altered the picture frame with some great Basic Grey paper and Mod Podge. I can't wait to add pictures of the babies to it!
I still need to make curtains and have Chad hang some things on the wall. It's slowly getting there......the bundles of joy will be here before we know it!
Hopefully I've satisfied curious fans of the blog with my updates!
Later,
Jennie
the closet, organized....
Or it feels like it's organized! I stocked up on Luvs diapers during a great sale at Target. Not sure how long these will last....but hopefully it will prevent us from needing to purchase any for a bit! I'd hate to have to make some late night runs to the local Wal-mart to restock.
The orange and pink diaper packages are 12 year old diapers from Chad's brother and sister-in-law. She found the huge box as they were preparing to move. Somehow, the sticky tabs still seem sticky!
I purchased the closet organizer, hoping to add additional storage space...we'll see how it works once it's used in action after the babies arrive!
The orange and pink diaper packages are 12 year old diapers from Chad's brother and sister-in-law. She found the huge box as they were preparing to move. Somehow, the sticky tabs still seem sticky!
I purchased the closet organizer, hoping to add additional storage space...we'll see how it works once it's used in action after the babies arrive!
29 week baby belly.
Growing, growing, growing.
I feel like a punching bag today! Not sure if they are kicking ME or each other!
More stretch marks noted......and I can see the bottom of my belly button. Any guesses on whether or not it's going to pop out????
Nursery in progress.
The nursery is getting there! Here are a few pictures of the work in progress. The first picture is right before Chad started to paint. This room was previously his office. We moved his office into the bonus room on the other side of our master bath. He loves his man cave now that he's settled into it.
Note the closet packed FULL of baby stuff! It's amazing how much stuff they have already.
Luckily it's more organized today. I'll share pictures in a later post today.
Somehow, we survived putting the crib together with a small amount of bickering.......this can definitely be a test of marriage strength!
We love the sage green wall color. I think it's so soothing! I hope the babies agree.
Note the closet packed FULL of baby stuff! It's amazing how much stuff they have already.
Luckily it's more organized today. I'll share pictures in a later post today.
Somehow, we survived putting the crib together with a small amount of bickering.......this can definitely be a test of marriage strength!
We love the sage green wall color. I think it's so soothing! I hope the babies agree.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
28 week OB appointment
Well, things are progressing, but maybe not in the right direction. My blood pressure was elevate again, plus, this time, I had a small amount of protein spilling into my urine. I will see the OB every 1-2 weeks depending on how things progress.
I'm measuring at 35 weeks, too! That might explain the sudden feeling of tiredness and wanting to sleep every single change I get. My poor lungs are getting squished and squashed every which way......
So far, I'm not on bedrest, but it may be coming soon. I've pretty much put myself on modified bedrest while I'm at home, and my blood pressure has been behaving. We will see what the babies have planned for me!
That's about it for now....
later, Jennie
I'm measuring at 35 weeks, too! That might explain the sudden feeling of tiredness and wanting to sleep every single change I get. My poor lungs are getting squished and squashed every which way......
So far, I'm not on bedrest, but it may be coming soon. I've pretty much put myself on modified bedrest while I'm at home, and my blood pressure has been behaving. We will see what the babies have planned for me!
That's about it for now....
later, Jennie
28 week OB appointment.
Well, things are progressing, but maybe not in the right direction. My blood pressure was elevate again, plus, this time, I had a small amount of protein spilling into my urine. I will see the OB every 1-2 weeks depending on how things progress.
I'm measuring at 35 weeks, too! That might explain the sudden feeling of tiredness and wanting to sleep every single change I get. My poor lungs are getting squished and squashed every which way......
So far, I'm not on bedrest, but it may be coming soon. I've pretty much put myself on modified bedrest while I'm at home, and my blood pressure has been behaving. We will see what the babies have planned for me!
That's about it for now....
later, Jennie
I'm measuring at 35 weeks, too! That might explain the sudden feeling of tiredness and wanting to sleep every single change I get. My poor lungs are getting squished and squashed every which way......
So far, I'm not on bedrest, but it may be coming soon. I've pretty much put myself on modified bedrest while I'm at home, and my blood pressure has been behaving. We will see what the babies have planned for me!
That's about it for now....
later, Jennie
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