Let's list my illnesses!

Well, here we go, this is my list of complications so far: (I just wanted to see how long it really was)

Blood clotting disorder, on blood thinning medications.
Placental tear.
Subchronic hematoma (blood clot in the placenta).
Bladder infection.
Gallstones.
Gallbladder sludge (small, grainy gallstones in bile-yummy!)
Bleeding.
Can't take a crap.

I'm sure there's more that I'm forgetting!

The Hospital Sucks!

Yep, the hospital sucks. My day consists of waiting for the next meal to be delivered and watching reruns on basic cable. I've only got 2 days down so far! I keep telling myself...make it 2 weeks and 5 days and we can test her lungs for maturity & get her out! I've been feeling dizzy all day and had to unplug my cords in a panic twice because I thought I was going to puke. I've got another ultrasound scheduled tomorrow, so we'll see how little Belle is doing. I think I'm gonna go crazy and develop bed sores like old people....

I plan on moving into the hospital I guess...

I spent 3 days in the hospital this week. I got up like an ordinary Monday morning, got one baby off to preschool, bathed the other, and myself, got some make up on and went to the bathroom. I just needed to quickly pee before Josh and I headed off to Wal-Mart. I went to sit down and was surprised to see my underwear full of blood and fluid. (Sorry TMI I know...)

I first kind of went into shock seeing so much more blood than what I had last week. I searched for the phone and called my husband at work, shaking and frantically trying to dial the correct numbers. I had to call it 3 times to get the call to go through! All I could say, shaking so badly, was "I'm pouring blood." Jeremy says, "Ok, I'm on my way." We made our second journey in a week to the hospital. I was having bad pain in my lower back and alot of pressure low in my stomach. They admitted me, but couldn't find a reason for the bleeding. They gave me 2 shots over 24 hours to help Annabelle's lungs mature, started me on an IV, antibiotics, and a medicine to stop contractions (which is dangerous because it can lower the baby's kidney function, which lowers the amount of amniotic fluid).

They finally released me yesterday to go see my high risk doctor at Sacred Heart because I already had an appointment scheduled for that day. My OB said she wouldn't be surprised if he wanted to admit me for the rest of the pregnancy, and she would also be comfortable keeping me at Santa Rosa, but just to go and see what he thought and if saw anything they missed.

He did see a small tear where the placenta is separated from the uterine wall. Belle and I both didn't appear to be under stress, so he recommend complete bed rest. No getting up for anything but peeing and quick showering. Hard to do when you have a 3 and 5 year old. I'm on my first day of bed rest and going crazy already! Every time I get up, I have a contraction. My stomach gets so tight it almost feels impossible to wall and I think my stomach may explode! I had some more bleeding this morning too, but not too bad.

My high risk doctor wants me to be monitored twice a week. I have an appointment for a biophysical fetal profile and non-stress test tomorrow afternoon. My husband almost feels like they should just admit me back to the hospital because it is so hard to be home and really not get up, especially with the kids. I just don't know how I'm gonna do this. We were supposed to have my son's 3rd birthday party next weekend too, and Easter the next day. How do I do this?

On top of the "placental abruption," I've read that the risk for a normal person with a small tear is having it tear more, and not necessarily bleeding because the blood could get trapped behind the placenta and uterus, so it is a "concealed abruption" which is really dangerous because you are internally bleeding and can go into shock without having any warning signs. Well, top this off with me and my blood thinner and aspirin, my chance of bleeding is greater. It is starting to terrify me of the "what-if''s" if I'm not constantly being monitored.

On the ultrasound Monday and Wednesday, Belle had not grown any since last week. What if her nutrients are being cut off by the abruption because she isn't growing. See, I'm gonna go crazy! I'm still having contractions and bad back cramps. I want her to be safe and healthy when she is born, but which is more risky, having a premature baby or risking a complete abruption, me hemorrhaging and her dying? I'm going crazy!!

Bleeding and a fun day at the hospital!

I woke up yesterday morning, went to pee, (as my husband was walking out the door to go to work), and noticed blood in the toilet. I made him come look (no, he was not happy about my request and was hesitant to look at the gift I might have been making him check out in the toilet). I told him that I shouldn't be bleeding at all and we should probably go to the hospital.

My mother-in-law took my boys to preschool with her. This was heart wrenching for me to let my baby Joshua go, as he had never been before and I thought he would be afraid to go. Thankfully, they let him stay with her in her classroom and he loved it!

We checked in and they admitted me to labor & delivery, got me into a gown and on the baby monitor. My doctor finally came to make her rounds and wanted to check things out in the nether regions. She put in the metal speculum and said she couldn't see any blood. She took it out and went to check my cervix to see if I was dilated. As she pulled out her hand, she says you aren't dilated and you aren't bleeding any more. She looks down and says, "Well, you are now..." She pulled up her hand, covered in blood and we both exchange a look of terror. There was blood all over the bed too. She thinks she ripped something with the speculum. She got the bleeding to stop and I stayed on the monitor all day, having quite a few contractions too.

I asked for some breakfast and our wonderful hospital staff sends me a plate of 2 pieces of bacon and a piece of sausage. Perfect heart attack on a platter! I don't eat meat, so needless to say, I starved.

We finally got to leave at 3:00 yesterday afternoon and I haven't had any problems since. This was a big wake up call for me though, getting caught off guard with no clothes or bottles clean, and nothing ready for myself or Annabelle for when the big day does really come. I need to get on that.....

30 Weeks, We Have A Name, and I Finished her bedding!

Today marks 30 weeks and 4 days (according to my doctor's calculations). I had an appointment yesterday, a day early because I've been having bad cramping in my lower back and lower stomach. I sat on the fetal monitor for an hour, until my butt and the rest of my body was so numb I couldn't move! I didn't have any contractions, but did get to hear our baby girl having hiccups in the process- a quite hilarious experience to listen to! My doctor said to call back if the pain doesn't go away in a few days because it could be kidney stones. I was in bad pain last night, but hopefully it will go away soon!

I should be attempting the amniocentesis in about 5 weeks from Friday. I hope I am making the right decision by doing this and letting them take her early. I hope this is the right decision for her health and not just because I am selfish and want her here sooner, I just want her here alive!

Speaking of HER, she has a name now, officially! Annabelle Grace! I had to just suck it up and name her so I could get her wall letters and other accessories ordered and made! I'll probably always call her Belle.

Feeling the pressure of her fast approaching arrival, I finished up the last side of her crib bumper, whipped up a crib sheet (which I am pretty proud of myself for accomplishing!), and finally got her crib skirt delivered! I was afraid of the skill and amount of fabric it would take to make a crib skirt, so I settled for a store-made one instead. I'm not 100% fond of it, but it works.

So, here are some photos of my work! I still have some black swirly trees with birds to put somewhere on the walls, along with her letters- if I ever get them and finish them in a timely manner, and a few canvas pictures I plan to make.