It was about 10:30 am I think when I first said to my nurse, “I feel weird.” I was having tightening and such in my lower abdomen and I was thinking, “contractions??” But the monitor was showing nothing, absolutely nothing, as far as contractions go. So I was really confused, and so were my nurses.

They sent for a resident doctor and ran blood and urine tests on me. I was pretty aggravated, neither test was fun. And when the first chick tried to get my blood she missed the vein completely and that is never fun. The second one got it first try though. The tests came back normal, no infections. The resident doctor said she thought that if I was having contractions, the pain or pressure would also be up higher, at the top of my uterus. So they just kinda backed off and said we’ll watch it.

I got a shower about 2pm, finally, and it was while in there that it started to become painful. At this point, I’m thinking I must have the worst gas in the history of gas or something since they’re thinking no contractions. When I got out and got ready to get back on the monitor another nurse came in who had never seen me before and didn’t know my situation. I had some pain when getting back on my bed and I told her what was up and she said she didn’t agree at all with the resident doctor’s statement that the pain should be higher too, she said, “I think you’re in labor.”

They called the doctor on call who’s from the specialists’ office I’ve been seeing. He said, “you’re in labor, you’d better call your family now.” So I drug Steve out of work a half an hour early (but I don’t think he minded lol). I got an ultrasound then with the portable machine and I tell you what, the kid they said they didn’t think could move from breech to vertex (head down) position with so little fluid has now moved THREE TIMES. She’s gone from breech to vertex then to transverse (sideways) last weekend and then with this ultrasound I was so relieved to find she was vertex again. He told me that as long as she tolerated it, they’d let labor progress naturally. But it was clear that with every contraction, her heartbeat would drop.

So they moved me across the hall to a birthing room and I got a surprise. The whole time before they moved me, I was SO close to freaking out because I’m going… I’m all alone. But then, my aunt was there! By “chance” she and my cousin had come to visit and showed up at exactly the right time and I was so thankful for that familiar face. She helped me with my breathing because apparently, even though I’ve been through this before, I forgot everything in the heat of the moment.

From the moment I was aware of the contractions, before they were painful even, they were about 5 to 10 minutes apart. I was already dilated to 3 cm before moving over and a half an hour later was 5 cm.

Since the monitor still wasn’t picking up anything they actually put one in my uterus. Strange, and sounds painful but I didn’t even know they did it until it was done. They also put in a tube to give the baby fluid. It’s not something they can do all the time because eventually it will introduce infection but they can do it for a few hours. It was so freaking weird. I could feel her pushing on the tube. Not to mention when he checked me and I was 3 cm, he said then that he felt her head.

So they were telling me, if you’re going to get an epidural you’d better do it now before it’s too late. And I kept saying I wanted Steve to get there. But then they said, no, now. Thankfully he showed up just in time and I’m so glad because the epidural really really freaking sucked.

It took a half an hour and three tries. Yes, three. I’ve seen the spots on my back. Ugh.

The first guy took 20 minutes with his two tries. I was getting so mentally freaked out. I kept apologizing and saying I didn’t know what I was feeling and I was getting really upset. When he was done with his 2 tries, I said, “just forget it!!” And that I wanted to go home LOL. They sent another woman in and she got it on the first try. Good thing too because if she failed I probably would have started snapping people’s necks.

They laid me back down and everyone but one nurse left. That nurse started walking over across the room to the bathroom. Steve was at my right holding my hand.

I started yelling. And, lol, of course, this was at the moment my mom was at the door so she probably thought I was dying. But I’m yelling, “pressure, lots of pressure!” because they’d told me to tell them. And then, “NOW, SHE’S COMING NOW!!!”

And that she did. I am not delusional!

Technically, no one delivered that baby!

She just came right out on her own, no pushing nothing (heck, I was trying to keep her in there), right onto the bed. So yeah, I’m freaking out, going, “she’s out, she’s out!”

It all happened SO fast. Steve didn’t think even a minute had passed since they’d laid me back down. The nurse turned and started running and people started pouring in the door. I heard Kayleigh squeak a bit which was a great noise to hear and I started to cry. They started checking her and they took blood from her cord for testing and they took her to the bassinet thing to immediately get to work cleaning her and getting her a breathing tube.

After what seemed like forever, they let Steve come over and see her which is where those clearer pictures are from. Then they brought her by and I got to see her face (the rest of her bundled) for a little bit before they took her to the NICU.

She’s been here for several hours now and I’m alone in my room and wide awake and she’s down at the NICU and stable. We got to go in and see her for a little bit, even Elijah did. They explained some stuff but it’s so overwhelming. No matter how prepared you think you are, the NICU is pretty darn scary. But since we were even down there, they said that they’ve been able to reduce her oxygen percentage some. They are trying to wean her down to “real” air which is 21%. Last I heard she was at 38%, down from the 40′s when we were down there. So from what I know and am told, she’s doing really good. I expect her to be in there until about the end of June, though, more around her due date.

She’s 2 pounds and 8 ounces (not 6 like I accidentally told some people) and 14 inches long. Born at 4:29pm.

Shew!

So anyway, some people keep asking me what I’ve had to eat. So I thought I’d show you some of it. It’s really not all that bad for being in a hospital. The nutritionist clued me in how, as a long term patient, I can order from the cafe and then there’s “room service.” The cafe changes on a daily basis, and I don’t always want what they have, but it gives me more choices. And yesterday, Steve took me down for my wheelchair ride to the cafe and we had dinner there together.

First we have here what Steve and I had the other night, taco salad! It was pretty good!

Some chicken strips and fries and some cream of potato soup. All of those items are awesome. Even the fries are good, lol. I plan to get the soup again sometime soon and I’m totally hooked on the chicken strips. But as certain people would testify, that’s nothing new!

Two more meals. The first from the cafe, the second room service. The meat in both was really good. Remind me not to get the “green beans” again though!

A deli sandwich. I’ve also had this several times. I know it’s way simple but I love it! The bread is good bread, the kind that doesn’t stick to your teeth, and I get roast beef and turkey with cheddar and provolone cheese. lol what can I say, I love cheese! And they want me eating it lol

And finally, two breakfasts! I also really like to get the omlette. I get it with mushrooms and cheddar cheese. A photo would not be appetizing whatsoever however, but it really is good!

It’s funny though, ’cause my monitors will go offline 99% of the time when I eat because I’m sitting up too straight to get a good signal. So after a few minutes, a nurse will come in to adjust it and see I’m eating and they always say, “oh! You’re eating! Good!!!” Like, it’s the most awesome thing in the world, haha. Does make me wonder if it’s just because of the pregnancy that they’re like this or if people tend to lose their appetites while in the hospital or on bed rest or something. They’re always very happy!

I got weighed again today, too, and was down 2 lbs from last week when they weighed me. I don’t think that nurse was too happy. But it’s like, what do you want me to do? I feel like I’m eating all the time. Yesterday I did nothing but snack after dinner. Some days I don’t at all, other days I do a lot. And, in between the last time they did a growth check and the most recent time, which was the 24th, the baby went from being 1lb, 1oz to 1lb, 10oz; from about 16th percentile to 30 something. I didn’t think that those 9 ounces over about 2 or 2 and a half weeks was that big of a growth but the doctor that came in to talk to me later said it was very good. They are really happy with that growth. I think they’ll do another growth check next week. But that still makes me under my pre-pregnancy weight, even if just by 3lbs and it’s like they want me to gain more weight. I’m not worried about it though, I told her that I think it’s just because I’ve pretty much cut soda out of my diet and have been eating better over the last 6 months. Not to mention, I know that bed rest is leading to the end of all my muscles and muscle weighs more than fat…

So there you have it. Food’s not absolutely horrible here. Not to mention I have some FREAKING AWESOME friends and a FREAKING AWESOME husband who have brought me food. Steve will probably bring me anything I ask, lol, I think he’s caught between feeling sorry for me and missing me so he’ll do just about anything I want (except buy me a Nintendo DS LOL) but so far I’ve only asked him for Subway, which he did bring my third or so day here. And another friend brought me Chinese last week and it was so amazingly good that I ate everything she brought me and was absolutely stuffed!! Two friends came today and they brought me Applebee’s, which was also great, I love their pastas. Then my friend who brought Chinese and also my parents have brought snacks as well. And, also doctor’s orders, I try to order a little something extra at at least one meal so I have something if I’m hungry later. All last week, though, I was getting these tropical fruit cups and Elijah was eating them when he came in. ;-)

Ok, done rambling, think I should try to sleep!

So far it hasn’t been TOO bad. I had a melt down Wednesday night, but it’s been the only one. And I think that was brought on because I laid there for a long time listening to the monitors, that were turned up really loudly, just emit the noise of baby moving around, not the heartbeat like they’re supposed to be. So the sounds were just really grating on my brain and drove me nuts.

But other than that…

It’s often hard for me to type a lot though, like now – this is weird. Trying to extend my arms and reach the keyboard on the pull over table without upsetting the monitor. So if I don’t answer emails very fast and stuff, that’s why! Sometimes all I can do is use the mouse and play a game or something. But even that doesn’t happen all that often. I’ve mostly spent my time doing that cross stitch and watching TV and this internet is extremely slow during the day. Cross stitch takes me a long time, too, since I can’t move as efficiently as normal.

But anyway, it’s interesting the things you don’t think about regarding bed rest, before you’re actually on it.

They’ve got me on a couple of medicines and even last night gave me an Ambien which was… interesting. I got to sleep for a bit then had to get up and go to the bathroom and let’s just say, don’t walk while you’re on Ambien. I was so dizzy! It was weird. But after that, I got to not wear the fetal monitor for a few hours and I slept SO good.

They’ve got me on these things that go on my calves and are cuffs that fill up with air intermittently. This is to make sure the blood pumps through my legs and I don’t get blood clots. They’re not all that bad. I was worried at first it would be like wearing a blood pressure cuff all the time, like when I had Elijah – and it went off every 3 minutes. After just a few times, my arm hurt so bad. The worst part of these things is that they can get hot and also, I don’t like the feel of their material on my bare feet LOL. Oh, and the other night the nurses made me sleep in them though I know the doctor said just all day to wear them, and that was incredibly annoying. Thankfully, the nurses last night didn’t make me wear them to sleep.

I’ve had both of the steroid shots and by now they have reached their maximum effectiveness. So now we are just waiting. They did hurt, but not as bad as my wonderful friends made it sound like! Maybe I went in over prepared and expected them to be worse, ha. Actually, I find that that can be a pretty good technique, I think that’s how I went into childbirth with E and I didn’t think it was so bad at all. These shots are for the baby’s developing lungs, though. I got to learn about that, too, how they actually help. Pretty interesting. And the nurse told me why they sting so bad – because the liquid is really thick and goes right in your muscle, but you just work that muscle and it’s all fine as it disperses it.

But anyway, I don’t know if I mentioned this before – but what they didn’t tell me before I was in here, was that when I get out, I’m apparently going to need physical therapy. I know that I’ve already lost muscle mass, at least the stuff I gained from working out throughout 2007/8, but apparently after all this it will be bad enough I’ll have to have therapy. Well, whatever, really, that’s the least of my worries I think, but it’s just weird because I didn’t think about that before at all! It also has to do with back problems. I have those already, yay, not to mention back problems from pregnancy and now back problems from being in bed all the time. My butt hurts quite a bit, too, and the other day my back hurt so bad it literally hurt through to my chest. It was not fun.

Visitors are fun though :)
Even just if they come in and can only sit and talk a few minutes. Great to see a familiar face. I’m starting to get to know some of the nurses but I haven’t really had any repeats yet and they don’t always write their names down for me (actually, only 3 have) so I often can’t remember their names either!

Just had another visitor lol. The dietitian haha.
She was concerned about my weight loss over this pregnancy. But I think I’m about a pound from being back where I was pre-pregnant. She also wanted to make sure I was getting plenty of calcium and fiber. She gave me a menu where I can order from the cafe and not just “room service.” She says they let long term pregnancy people do that, so she comes after you’ve been in about a week. So yay, more choices! I’m sure there will be a post on hospital food forthcoming. :)

Here’s some more pics, click through for descriptions:

We had an appointment at the first hospital for an ultrasound and to pick up our paperwork. They sent me there first because the doctor who’s patient I am considered was on staff there for today.

I really wasn’t expecting any changes during the ultrasound but suddenly the ultrasoundist said, “wait, wasn’t this baby always head up?” I sort of snapped to attention and was like, “yeah…” She checked her little thing to make sure it was pointing the right way and then she was like, “well now she’s head down!” She was clearly excited and surprised! I was like “YES!!” Even if I still end up with a c-section, this is freaking awesome. The doctors and ultrasoundists have always said that because of the loss of fluid, there was really not any chance of her being able to flip around.

So when the doctor came in, he had his usual not surprised attitude, but Steve took some of the things he said as surprised and re-thinking things. I asked him, “so does this mean if I get to 34 weeks, that there’s a possibility I can have a normal delivery?” He said, “Not possibility, there is a probability.” To which I had to admit I didn’t know the difference and he said, “Possibility means there’s a chance, probability means it’s greater than 50%.” So, like friggin A man.

So from there, we got some lunch and went to the second hospital. They’ve admitted me to an actual labor & delivery room. The doctor had said that we’ll monitor all the time for a week then “re-evaluate.” I really don’t know what that means and I doubt it means I’ll be going home after a week but maybe it means I won’t have to have the monitors on ALL the stinking time. Because I tell you what, I’ve only been here for like 7 hours and I am reminded just how annoying these things are! And this child does not like them, she keeps moving out of the way so they’re constantly adjusting and sometimes it takes a long time to get it on there! Right now, it’s not finding her heartbeat so they’ll be in before long. And it’s not my fault! :P

Anyway, they were initially going to give me an IV with antibiotics for 2 days but then decided that I’ve made it five and a half weeks after my water breakage and was so “stable” that it wasn’t needed. GOOD THING, I was not looking forward to an IV, it really makes my whole arm unusable. They did make me take the blood glucose test which is never fun but it wasn’t that bad except for when my body decided to cough while I was in the middle of a drink and the stupid stuff went up my nose from the back and I nearly threw up. :) But then you know, they take your blood and they checked that and I am FINE there. Good, too, because apparently the steroid shots can raise your blood sugar, or DO raise it, so they have to be very careful if you have diabetes. They also took a tube to test my white blood count which was fine, too. No infections. Giving the blood wasn’t bad at all this time, the lady was real gentle. The tape, however, left me with a nice purple welt!

Yes then there was the steroid shot which, y’all know I hate needles. Of course, who LIKES them? But I guess I was anticipating it to be so bad that it wasn’t as bad as I thought. I hope that tomorrow it will be the same or better. It does sting but she told me to move my muscles there to get it dispersed faster and it also helps not feeling it when you’re moving.

So I’m alone now, but it’s ok, been a long day. Just entertaining myself until it’s time to try to sleep. :)

However, I may have caught Elijah’s stomach bug because all yesterday and now so far today, any time I’ve been up moving around, I’ve felt really queasy. Only thrown up twice though, and then pretty much before I ate anything. But it’s been a feeling that’s lasted all day. And, like Elijah was late Thursday and all Friday, I don’t have any fever. But then again, I’m supposed to just be lying around anyway, so, whatever.

My hospital visit could start as early as this coming Saturday and could go for as long as 10 weeks, or until around May 15th, as now they’ve said they will not let me go past 34 weeks. That’s a long time.

Things would just be so much easier if I knew exactly which date I would go into labor, or they’d need to take the baby, etc., then I’d just go to the hospital the day before. :) But alas, life is not like that!

Friday they did an ultrasound at the specialists’ office (well, what turned out to be that hospital’s perinatal center) which showed the same results: no fluid or next to none surrounding the baby but she had some in her bladder.

They want us to decide when I should go in the hospital. I’m kinda at the point where I’ve resigned myself to say at 24 weeks (so in about a week and a half from now) but Steve still hasn’t made up his mind. It’s one of those things that, eh… Choice A seems like a no brainer and then Choice B also seems like a no brainer, so you’re liable to go back and forth between the two choices. Or three choices, or whatever. Either way, though, no matter what you decide, it almost feels like you’re trying to play God. But a decision has to be made. I just kinda want someone else to tell me what to do.

Other than that. Nothing.

I’m still doing the bed rest thing. Elijah has a fever now. He acts completely fine most of the time, but he has this fever. I guess if it’s not broken tomorrow, we’re going to arrange for him to go to the doctor. We’re taking extra precautions so that I don’t get whatever it is. That is the absolute last thing I need.

I was really upset Friday, though, after talking to the doctor about it all. It bothered me all day, everything from the steroid shots to c-sections to possible early birth complications. I’m better now but who’s to say I won’t get so nervous again? Especially when the time comes and especially if I have to go for that c-section and I’m all alone?

In other news, the dog won’t leave me alone and he’s driving me insane…