I went to the perinatologist yesterday and although there has been some slight improvement, he thought it would be best if I go on short term leave until the babies are born. He said that because of all of the walking and driving involved with my job, after 2-3 days back at work I would be right back where I was a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunately I can't really do my job from home, and I don't have the option to work half days. I know I should enjoy the downtime, but I wish I could be more productive with all the time off! Never again in my life will a doctor say "you know what...take it easy for 8 weeks!" He told me to keep my walking to a minimum, so luckily they eased the restrictions a little bit.
It looks like Dan will be traveling to Cleveland Mon-Fri until November (the babies could come any time after that), but we are making the best of the situation. We know it is only for a short period of time. We are also making progress towards purchasing our house in NC, and we are so optimistic we are planning a going away/baby shower for October 18th. Both the sellers and us have agreed to the terms of the contract, and someone from the bank has been assigned to review the paperwork. We hope to have a close date within the next two weeks, and then the planning/coordinating really begins!
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
Joni's baby shower
It was so nice to get out of the house for a little bit on Saturday, and even nicer to celebrate at my friend Joni's baby shower. We bonded when we both worked at GSK, and have remained friends ever since. Ironically, we are due within 1 day of each other (if I was to make it to 40 weeks). She and her husband Mark are going to be surprised at delivery as they have decided to not find out the gender. Here are a couple of pics from the shower.
I also wanted to say THANK YOU to my wonderful family and friends for all of their phone calls, dinners, movies, books and well wishes. It has definitely made the days bearable, especially since poor Dan is stuck in Ohio every week for work. I am blessed to have such kind and giving people in my life. THANKS!!!!
I also wanted to say THANK YOU to my wonderful family and friends for all of their phone calls, dinners, movies, books and well wishes. It has definitely made the days bearable, especially since poor Dan is stuck in Ohio every week for work. I am blessed to have such kind and giving people in my life. THANKS!!!!
Monday, September 21, 2009
Another week of bedrest
I went to the perinatologist on Friday and Dr. Nathan thinks it would be best for me to stay on strict bedrest for at least another week because the babies are still giving me contractions and my cervix isn't yet at the "acceptable" level. I will go back a week from today for another check-up and then we will try to make a long term decision as to my work status. I am using vacation and sick days for now, but they are quickly running out!
Unfortunately Dan had to leave for Cleveland early this morning for another week. Luckily his flight left on time, considering the days and days of rain we have had with severe flooding at times. My dad and stepmom will be in town tomorrow evening to visit for awhile and cook dinner, and I have some friends coming over on Wed evening to keep me company as well. Thank goodness for them, and for TIVO, the movie channels, and good books. I am hopeful I'll be able to go back to work on a limited basis for at least a few weeks, but I think I am in the minority in my beliefs. We'll see....
Unfortunately Dan had to leave for Cleveland early this morning for another week. Luckily his flight left on time, considering the days and days of rain we have had with severe flooding at times. My dad and stepmom will be in town tomorrow evening to visit for awhile and cook dinner, and I have some friends coming over on Wed evening to keep me company as well. Thank goodness for them, and for TIVO, the movie channels, and good books. I am hopeful I'll be able to go back to work on a limited basis for at least a few weeks, but I think I am in the minority in my beliefs. We'll see....
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Follow up with the OB
I went to see the OB yesterday and the good news is my infection is getting better and the cramping is subsiding some. Unfortunately I am still contracting and measuring the size of someone 36 weeks pregnant (I've gained about 21 pounds so far). Yikes! No wonder my body is getting ready for labor...it thinks it is only a few weeks away! She is keeping me out of work for now and has modified my "taking it easy" status to no sitting and laying on my side only and "watching Oprah" as she put it! After I see the perinatologist on Friday, they will make a decision regarding my work status. I hope I can go back on a limited schedule, but I have to do what is best for the babies. I guess I'll be watching lots of movies and reading over the next several days considering there isn't much else I can do from my side. I am trying to enjoy the down time, because once the babies come it will be crazy to say the least!
Sunday, September 13, 2009
A trip to the ER
Our babies had their first experience with the ER at Kennestone Hospital yesterday. When we got home from the perinatologist on Friday, I took it easy just as instructed and drank lots of fluids. Unfortunately, the cramping got worse throughout the evening, and I wasn't able to fall asleep until almost 5am on Sat. morning. I woke up around 7am and drank 2 big glasses of water, hoping maybe I was just dehydrated. Around 10am, we decided I should call my OB and ask her if I needed to be checked further. She instructed me to go to the Women's Center at the hospital and she would attach me to a monitor to check for contractions. So off we went to the hospital.
After we finally got checked in a little after noon (gotta love the ER experience!), they hooked me up to all kinds of monitors. Two monitors were attached to our babies to monitor their heartbeats and one was attached to me to monitor contractions. The babies were really active, probably because of all the extra attention being paid to them, so we kept having to adjust their monitors every 10 seconds! They also checked my urine sample for infections, etc and did a pelvic exam (ouch!). The monitor showed that I was in fact mildly contracting, which was concerning for the doctor since my cervix was also measuring "soft". They decided to hook me up to an IV and pump me full of hospital grade gatorade and give me a shot every 20 minutes that was basically a muscle relaxer to help stop the contractions. At this point Dan and I were really anxious as our biggest concern was to stop any and all labor because our babies are just too little to be born yet.
Luckily the muscle relaxer shots eventually helped ease the contractions, and our babies were showing no signs of distress. They also determined I had a bladder infection and gave me an IV antibiotic as well as a prescription to take for the next week. The fluids and antibiotics should ease the cramping, but they haven't started working just yet! The doctor decided that due to the nature of my job, which requires lots of walking and driving, that I should stay out of work for the next week and make the couch or bed my new best friend! I will go back to the doctor on Tuesday to be rechecked and to the perinatologist on Friday to make sure my cervix isn't getting any worse and the contractions haven't restarted. My long term work status is still uncertain at this point, but the most important thing is making sure we do everything we can to keep our babies growing for several more weeks.
Dan has been so great at being the domestic house husband and making sure my water glass is never empty! He is heartbroken about having to travel this week for work, but he has made sure all the laundry is done and dinners are made for me for the week so I won't have to do too much standing over the next several days. I am lucky to have such a wonderful husband! Hopefully we'll get positive news from the doctor on Tuesday. For now, back to bed!
After we finally got checked in a little after noon (gotta love the ER experience!), they hooked me up to all kinds of monitors. Two monitors were attached to our babies to monitor their heartbeats and one was attached to me to monitor contractions. The babies were really active, probably because of all the extra attention being paid to them, so we kept having to adjust their monitors every 10 seconds! They also checked my urine sample for infections, etc and did a pelvic exam (ouch!). The monitor showed that I was in fact mildly contracting, which was concerning for the doctor since my cervix was also measuring "soft". They decided to hook me up to an IV and pump me full of hospital grade gatorade and give me a shot every 20 minutes that was basically a muscle relaxer to help stop the contractions. At this point Dan and I were really anxious as our biggest concern was to stop any and all labor because our babies are just too little to be born yet.
Luckily the muscle relaxer shots eventually helped ease the contractions, and our babies were showing no signs of distress. They also determined I had a bladder infection and gave me an IV antibiotic as well as a prescription to take for the next week. The fluids and antibiotics should ease the cramping, but they haven't started working just yet! The doctor decided that due to the nature of my job, which requires lots of walking and driving, that I should stay out of work for the next week and make the couch or bed my new best friend! I will go back to the doctor on Tuesday to be rechecked and to the perinatologist on Friday to make sure my cervix isn't getting any worse and the contractions haven't restarted. My long term work status is still uncertain at this point, but the most important thing is making sure we do everything we can to keep our babies growing for several more weeks.
Dan has been so great at being the domestic house husband and making sure my water glass is never empty! He is heartbroken about having to travel this week for work, but he has made sure all the laundry is done and dinners are made for me for the week so I won't have to do too much standing over the next several days. I am lucky to have such a wonderful husband! Hopefully we'll get positive news from the doctor on Tuesday. For now, back to bed!
Friday, September 11, 2009
Mixed News from the Perinatologist
We had our check up with the perinatologist today and the good news is the babies look great. Our little girl weighs about 1 pound 13 ounces with a heartbeat of 141 BPMs. Our son weighs around 2 pounds with a heartbeat of 153 BPMs. We weren't able to get really good pictures today (they did not feel like cooperating!), but at least all of their measurements are on track. Our daughter is facing my back, so we got a good look at her little booty, and our son had the hiccups the entire visit!
On the downside, the doctor was concerned about the size of my cervix, as it was on the lower range of what they consider "acceptable." I have also had some mild cramping the past few days. The doctor told me to take it easy over the weekend, and come home straight from work next week and prop my feet up as much as possible. They are going to recheck my cervix next Friday to see how things are or aren't progressing, and then they will make a decision from there as to how to proceed. In the meantime, he told me to track the cramping and go to the ER so they can monitor contractions if necessary. I am definitely going to take it easy as our babies are too little to see the outside world yet.
Unfortunately, Dan begins work on a new project in Cleveland next week, which will put him traveling Mon-Thurs evening for the next few weeks. The client has agreed to work with him as much as possible if I do end up on bed rest, so fingers crossed it all works out!
We also got some good news regarding the house in NC today. The bank has agreed to delay the foreclosure, which means we can work with the sellers and all the bank has to do is approve the details. Sounds easy, but who knows how long the bank will drag their feet getting to our paperwork! We are still optimistic, though, we can move before the babies arrive. Given the recent updates, we're going to need the help of lots of family over the next few months!
On the downside, the doctor was concerned about the size of my cervix, as it was on the lower range of what they consider "acceptable." I have also had some mild cramping the past few days. The doctor told me to take it easy over the weekend, and come home straight from work next week and prop my feet up as much as possible. They are going to recheck my cervix next Friday to see how things are or aren't progressing, and then they will make a decision from there as to how to proceed. In the meantime, he told me to track the cramping and go to the ER so they can monitor contractions if necessary. I am definitely going to take it easy as our babies are too little to see the outside world yet.
Unfortunately, Dan begins work on a new project in Cleveland next week, which will put him traveling Mon-Thurs evening for the next few weeks. The client has agreed to work with him as much as possible if I do end up on bed rest, so fingers crossed it all works out!
We also got some good news regarding the house in NC today. The bank has agreed to delay the foreclosure, which means we can work with the sellers and all the bank has to do is approve the details. Sounds easy, but who knows how long the bank will drag their feet getting to our paperwork! We are still optimistic, though, we can move before the babies arrive. Given the recent updates, we're going to need the help of lots of family over the next few months!
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
No Gestational Diabetes!
Yay! We just got my test results and thankfully I do not have gestational diabetes. Whew...I am so relieved! Our next appointment is with the perinatologist this Friday, and we look forward to seeing our little ones on the big screen! They are really moving a lot now, and certainly growing stronger as they are beginning to pack quite a punch! Dan likes to pretend they are having an MMA match in my belly while I prefer to think they are playing nicely and peacefully together. Guess we'll see how well they get along in just a few short months!
Friday, September 4, 2009
OB visit and house update
We had a brief visit yesterday with our OB yesterday and everything is still going great. They did the test to see if I have gestational diabetes, and should find out the results next week. They also tested my iron, which was a little low (should be 12 and mine was 11.2), so they have added an iron supplement to my prenatal vitamins. I am hoping it doesn't make me nauseous as they advised it might because I am just now beginning to eat somewhat normally! Also, I am steadily gaining weight and trying not to obsess about the scale too much. I just keep telling myself the babies have to grow big and healthy so each pound I gain makes them that much stronger.
During our visit with the doctor, the nurse let us listen to the heartbeats. We heard our little boy's heartbeat and she started to put the doppler away. The doc looked at her and said "you're not done yet!" She looked so confused as she didn't realize I had TWO buns in the oven! Her face was so funny. Our son also kicked while listening to the heartbeat, and it was so loud. I guess he didn't like being awakened from his nap! We go to the perinatologist next Friday, and soon we'll start going to the doctor every two weeks (which will end up being every week between the two docs!).
We also got an update from our realtor this week regarding the house we made an offer on. Long story short, we should get more final details after the foreclosure processes on Sept 23rd, and if all goes well we should have a close date for sometime mid-late October. It's certainly not ideal, but we would LOVE to be somewhat settled before delivery day. At least we'll be able to get the nursery and basic things set up beforehand. Our realtor wasn't kidding when she said dealing with a foreclosure was a pain! We just hope our patience will all be worth it in the end!
During our visit with the doctor, the nurse let us listen to the heartbeats. We heard our little boy's heartbeat and she started to put the doppler away. The doc looked at her and said "you're not done yet!" She looked so confused as she didn't realize I had TWO buns in the oven! Her face was so funny. Our son also kicked while listening to the heartbeat, and it was so loud. I guess he didn't like being awakened from his nap! We go to the perinatologist next Friday, and soon we'll start going to the doctor every two weeks (which will end up being every week between the two docs!).
We also got an update from our realtor this week regarding the house we made an offer on. Long story short, we should get more final details after the foreclosure processes on Sept 23rd, and if all goes well we should have a close date for sometime mid-late October. It's certainly not ideal, but we would LOVE to be somewhat settled before delivery day. At least we'll be able to get the nursery and basic things set up beforehand. Our realtor wasn't kidding when she said dealing with a foreclosure was a pain! We just hope our patience will all be worth it in the end!
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