I had an earrrrrrrrrrrrly a.m. sonogram this morning. Apparently they usually do them at 7:30 am, but since I arrived during a holiday weekend, the schedule got all screwed up and every scan I've gotten has been "Oops, we forgot her" so they run back over here for me. I was not supposed to be scanned today, but when the doctor and nurse were asked who WAS scheduled, they still didn't know where to put me so in I went. Apparently all of this will be straightened out after the holidays are over, and I will have regular dates and times for my sonograms.
Today, the doctor was in a better mood, lol, so he was his usual informative self as he was looking around. He measured each of the babies (we do this every 2-3 weeks) and they are estimated at 1 lb 8 oz, 1 lb 9 oz, and 1 lb 10 oz. He said their heartbeats all look good, fluid levels all good etc. Babies A and B are still next to each other, at the bottom, head down; Baby C is still floating around on top (sideways), like a little princess, on top of the world (that's how I picture her :) ).
Speaking of their size though, I STILL have not gained weight! I'm only 3 lbs over my pre-pregnancy weight, and I've been there for 4-5 weeks now. Since I lost about 15 early on with nausea, etc, that puts me at about 18 lbs gain (funny thing is, about 4 lbs of that was the fluid they put back in after a particularly bad few days put me in the ER with dehydration early on). None of the doctors seem concerned. They say as long as the babies are growing, all is well. I guess these little boogers are just sucking up everything I eat.
He did measure my cervix as well, and we held steady at 1.7 cm, same as last Friday, so that's good. As long as we aren't shortening, they're fine with it.
So, it's nice to have some good news, eh?
Thanks everyone for your continued prayers and good thoughts. I truly believe it is, and will continue to make a difference.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Date Night
I have a date tonight :) Scott's parents are in town so they will be able to stay at the house with the kids while he comes up here to hang out and spend the night on the chair, lol. Of course, I'm talking about renting a movie and whatever and he informs me that there is an "important" football game on, so I guess that's what we'll be doing. Goody. lol
Still, we haven't been alone in over a week, so I'm looking forward to it. I miss him, ya know.
Still, we haven't been alone in over a week, so I'm looking forward to it. I miss him, ya know.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Rough day
Today I finally had another sonogram. I was supposed to have one Tuesday, but that was Christmas so no-go. Then Wednesday came and went so I finally asked and was told Thursday for sure. On Thursday, I was wheeled down the hall to the sono room, waited a while, then the doc came out and said he was way behind to get back to his office and would come after clinic hours. 5:30 rolled around and the nurse came in and said he was backed up again, and would definitely see me Friday. Well sheesh. I mean, the only reason I am here is to have my cervix monitored and and I haven't had it done all week.
But they woke me today at o-dark-thirty and I sat in the wheelchair line again before finally getting my turn.
The doctor (perinatalogist) freaked me out. He was just looking around but didn't seem to be looking at the babies much, just other stuff (I couldn't tell what). Then he starts asking questions - How many weeks are you? Who's your doctor? Have you had your steroid injections yet (used to help mature the babies lungs if they are born too early)? He finally measures my cervix and it has gotten shorter again (not good) so the only comment he makes is that "we are doing the right thing", meaning having me in the hospital. My nurse finally asked him about the heart rates of the babies and he said, "oh, everything is normal". Good grief!
I really haven't stopped crying all day. I'm just so freaked out about having these babies too early. Next week is the point of Viability, meaning they CAN live if they are born. But, it is still SO early, that they have a very high likelihood of having major, even lifelong, complications/problems/damage. With every 1-2 weeks that pass after that point, they're chance of survival and escape from those major problems improves.
I just want to bring home my healthy babies. They are doing so great at this point, if only my stupid body will just cooperate and let them stay in there. You just don't know how hard it is, knowing you're doing everything that you can, and things still happening that seem to be beyond your control.
5:30 Update: OB just came in again (2nd time today; still a partner of MY OB who will be back on Monday; all of the partners have been really great and I'm glad of that) to let me know that she talked with the peri and the other OBs and decided ot put me on a medicine that is used to stop contractions. Now, no, I'm not really having contractions, just occasional cramping or tightening, but they want to try it in case it helps relax my uterus and stop the cervical changes. So at least we're trying something else. She did tell me that I am "a puzzle" as to why this is happening. That scares me a still because these changes are happening without me being aware of it, so there's nothing I can change, monitor, notice at any given moment that gives us a head's up that something might be wrong.
But they woke me today at o-dark-thirty and I sat in the wheelchair line again before finally getting my turn.
The doctor (perinatalogist) freaked me out. He was just looking around but didn't seem to be looking at the babies much, just other stuff (I couldn't tell what). Then he starts asking questions - How many weeks are you? Who's your doctor? Have you had your steroid injections yet (used to help mature the babies lungs if they are born too early)? He finally measures my cervix and it has gotten shorter again (not good) so the only comment he makes is that "we are doing the right thing", meaning having me in the hospital. My nurse finally asked him about the heart rates of the babies and he said, "oh, everything is normal". Good grief!
I really haven't stopped crying all day. I'm just so freaked out about having these babies too early. Next week is the point of Viability, meaning they CAN live if they are born. But, it is still SO early, that they have a very high likelihood of having major, even lifelong, complications/problems/damage. With every 1-2 weeks that pass after that point, they're chance of survival and escape from those major problems improves.
I just want to bring home my healthy babies. They are doing so great at this point, if only my stupid body will just cooperate and let them stay in there. You just don't know how hard it is, knowing you're doing everything that you can, and things still happening that seem to be beyond your control.
5:30 Update: OB just came in again (2nd time today; still a partner of MY OB who will be back on Monday; all of the partners have been really great and I'm glad of that) to let me know that she talked with the peri and the other OBs and decided ot put me on a medicine that is used to stop contractions. Now, no, I'm not really having contractions, just occasional cramping or tightening, but they want to try it in case it helps relax my uterus and stop the cervical changes. So at least we're trying something else. She did tell me that I am "a puzzle" as to why this is happening. That scares me a still because these changes are happening without me being aware of it, so there's nothing I can change, monitor, notice at any given moment that gives us a head's up that something might be wrong.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Christmas incarcerated
Christmas was interesting this year. Scott brought all of the wrapped gifts up to the hospital so that I could sort out those to be opened Christmas Eve (always pajamas of course!) and then watch them open on Christmas morning. So there were 3 huge lawn bags of gifts in my room. Santa brought gifts to the house, but stockings to my hospital room so I got to see most everything the kids got.
The problems started when we told the twins they could only open one toy to play with while they were here, since the room is just so darn small. That was fine for a few minutes until they wanted to open the next "just one thing". So the crying and whining and general chaos ensued. Scott finally took them all home for a nap, some playtime and Christmas dinner at Didi's (my mom). Dinner ran a little late but he decided to bring the kids back up for a visit before bedtime. That didn't turn out to be such a great idea. By now, we are on day 5 of me in the hospital, and this "visiting" thing just wasn't much fun for them.
It was tough but I had to tell him just to keep them away for a couple of days (since he had to go back to work anyway). I'm hoping that they'll learn to miss me a little and just be glad to hang out instead of wanting to explore the hospital, eat all my snacks, get cokes from the coke machine, etc.
We'll see how that plan works *sigh*
The problems started when we told the twins they could only open one toy to play with while they were here, since the room is just so darn small. That was fine for a few minutes until they wanted to open the next "just one thing". So the crying and whining and general chaos ensued. Scott finally took them all home for a nap, some playtime and Christmas dinner at Didi's (my mom). Dinner ran a little late but he decided to bring the kids back up for a visit before bedtime. That didn't turn out to be such a great idea. By now, we are on day 5 of me in the hospital, and this "visiting" thing just wasn't much fun for them.
It was tough but I had to tell him just to keep them away for a couple of days (since he had to go back to work anyway). I'm hoping that they'll learn to miss me a little and just be glad to hang out instead of wanting to explore the hospital, eat all my snacks, get cokes from the coke machine, etc.
We'll see how that plan works *sigh*
Friday, December 21, 2007
I'm in
Yep, they put me in the hospital. He said the best I can hope for is that if I stay stable then we MIGHT talk about me going home at 28 weeks or so (5+ weeks from now).
I'm trying to stay calm. I know this is best for my babies, so I'm trying to just picture them big and healthy so I don't freak out too bad.
Thanks for everyone's prayes and well-wishes.
I'm trying to stay calm. I know this is best for my babies, so I'm trying to just picture them big and healthy so I don't freak out too bad.
Thanks for everyone's prayes and well-wishes.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
I had another appt with the perinatalogist today as a follow up after the cerclage last week. Thankfully the babies look fine. They are each a little over 1 lb. now
My cervix is not fine. It has started shortening again despite the cerclage. He wants me in the hospital. I was a little, ok a lot, taken aback. I thought this was our cure that was going to keep these babies in for another dozen weeks. I have to go back on Friday and if it is shortened at all, over to the hospital I go......probably for the duration.
Has anyone else noted that this will be 4 days BEFORE Christmas?? I am devastated. Not so much at the idea of the hospital, but that we are having this much problem before these babies are viable, and that I could miss Christmas with my kiddos. I'm just so heartbroken.
There are just so many things running through my head right now; I can barely think straight.
Please, Please, Please keep praying for us!
My cervix is not fine. It has started shortening again despite the cerclage. He wants me in the hospital. I was a little, ok a lot, taken aback. I thought this was our cure that was going to keep these babies in for another dozen weeks. I have to go back on Friday and if it is shortened at all, over to the hospital I go......probably for the duration.
Has anyone else noted that this will be 4 days BEFORE Christmas?? I am devastated. Not so much at the idea of the hospital, but that we are having this much problem before these babies are viable, and that I could miss Christmas with my kiddos. I'm just so heartbroken.
There are just so many things running through my head right now; I can barely think straight.
Please, Please, Please keep praying for us!
Thursday, December 13, 2007
First trip to the hospital
Yep, I just spent 3 days and 2 nights in the hospital. Not. fun.
On Tuesday, I had a regular appt with the perinatalogist. Dh took the afternoon off to go with me (he hasn't been to an appt since the very first) so we scheduled a tour of the NICU the same day. We did that, met the neonatalogist and other staff members, got an idea of what to expect, etc. When we were speaking with them, we were very positive opposite their "you WILL deliver early and the babies WILL be in the NICU for a while" etc.
After that we headed over to the perinatalogist. He did a quick ultrasound (it's usually 20-30 minutes long) and said I had "funnelling" of my cervix; basically, the top part of my cervix had started to open. He told us to go to the hospital, to labor and delivery, where they would monitor me to see if I was contracting and contact my OB about doing a cerclage (at stitch in my cervix to hold it closed). He was so calm and nonchalant about it, that I wasn't sure if he was saying that we MIGHT have to do that, so I finally said, "what....now?!?" So much for the uneventful pregnancy we were hoping for.
We headed over there where they put me on a hugely uncomfortable stretcher and cinched the monitor so tight around my middle that I was sure it would cut me in two. One thing I know about my own body is that I usually contract when I am very tired, or uncomfortable. So, though I had not contracted at all for the first 2 hours I was there, I told them I could feel a few in the last half hour because of my discomfort and they decided to keep me overnight "just to be safe". Bleh. A partner of my OB finally came in and talked to us for a while, but they still had not scheduled a time for the cerclage, so the thought was that I would go home after 24 hr observation then come back for a scheduled procedure. (While we were in the observation area, the nurse from the NICU stopped by and said we were supposed to go home and stay for a couple of months, not decide to hang around, LOL)
I wasn't too worried about one night in the hospital. As soon as they put me in a regular bed and adjusted the monitor, I was fine, and never contracted again. Figures. The next morning, I hadn't heard anything about the cerclage until the anesthesiologist showed up to introduce himself and said it was scheduled for that afternoon. At this point, I still have not seen my own doctor. Noone seemed to really know what to expect after the procdedure (i.e. how it would feel, etc) so I wasn 't too worried about it. I was going to have spinal anesthesia, which I'd had with my twins' c-sec, so I knew what to expect from that (so I thought).
The procedure time kept getting pushed back which just made me more nervous as the minutes passed. I finally went into to the OR. The spinal hurts like a bitch! I swear he must have stuck me 8 times and it hurt! Once I was finally lying down, he asked if I wanted something to help me relax. Uh, YEAH! LOL The procedure was fine; I think I dozed off a few times and it didn't last but maybe half an hour or so. I went into the recovery room where dh was able to join me. All was well; we were even talking, laughing and joking with the nurses. My OB came in and talked with us for awhile. She said I shouldn't have any pain afterwards, maybe some discomfort. Dh asked his usual 100 questions since he hadn't been able to talk with her since my first visit.
Once I got back to the room, things started going down hill. I had a catheter which was clamped in the this strange way and was taped to my leg so I could move my legs without it pulling and hurting, and I couldn't put a pillow between my legs, which is the only way I can get comfortable. My back was KILLING ME where the spinal had been. I could not get comfortable. You know what they offered me for the pain? Tylenol. Gee, thanks. I was supposed to get the catheter out as soon as I was able to stand, but the nurses decided I should keep it overnight so I wouldn't have to get up to go to the bathroom (which turned out to be ok, since I'd had about 8 bags of fluid in 24 hours and they could barely keep the catheter bag emptied I was going so much- sheesh). I finally took a sleeping pill at midnight (I had had one the night before, but it only lasted a couple of hours) and thankfully I slept about 6 hours then dozed after that.
She finally took the catheter out and I went to the bathroom without any problems, but by then, I was so uncomfortable in my nether regions (ha ha) that I felt like I was being turned inside out. Plus, my back still hurts so bad that I can barely get up or move in the bed. They checked me and I had a little fluid so they started doing swabs to test for an amniotic fluid leak. Everything was negative. They scheduled another ultrasound with the perinatalogist before I could go home. That turned out fine, though he said it was too early to tell if there was a slow leak.
Anyway, despite my misery, I finally got released. I am glad to be home, in my own bed, but it is still hard to get around. I am on pretty strict bedrest until next week when I have follow up appts. After that, if all is well, I may be able to be on just moderate bedrest, which would be nice.
Last night, I was very tearful. I just didn't think I could go through all of that pain and discomfort again, and knowing I will have to when it's time to deliver. I told dh I want a general anesthesia with my c-sec; that spinal was for the birds! It was different when it had been 6 years and I didn't remember all of that; this time, it will only have been a couple of months, and I WILL remember, so I will be that much more anxious and nervous.
I was so determined to have an uneventful, fairly easy (as easy as it can be with triplets!) pregnancy. Now I'm scared because you never know when something can happen, or even start to go very wrong without knowing that it is happening.
Keep praying for us
On Tuesday, I had a regular appt with the perinatalogist. Dh took the afternoon off to go with me (he hasn't been to an appt since the very first) so we scheduled a tour of the NICU the same day. We did that, met the neonatalogist and other staff members, got an idea of what to expect, etc. When we were speaking with them, we were very positive opposite their "you WILL deliver early and the babies WILL be in the NICU for a while" etc.
After that we headed over to the perinatalogist. He did a quick ultrasound (it's usually 20-30 minutes long) and said I had "funnelling" of my cervix; basically, the top part of my cervix had started to open. He told us to go to the hospital, to labor and delivery, where they would monitor me to see if I was contracting and contact my OB about doing a cerclage (at stitch in my cervix to hold it closed). He was so calm and nonchalant about it, that I wasn't sure if he was saying that we MIGHT have to do that, so I finally said, "what....now?!?" So much for the uneventful pregnancy we were hoping for.
We headed over there where they put me on a hugely uncomfortable stretcher and cinched the monitor so tight around my middle that I was sure it would cut me in two. One thing I know about my own body is that I usually contract when I am very tired, or uncomfortable. So, though I had not contracted at all for the first 2 hours I was there, I told them I could feel a few in the last half hour because of my discomfort and they decided to keep me overnight "just to be safe". Bleh. A partner of my OB finally came in and talked to us for a while, but they still had not scheduled a time for the cerclage, so the thought was that I would go home after 24 hr observation then come back for a scheduled procedure. (While we were in the observation area, the nurse from the NICU stopped by and said we were supposed to go home and stay for a couple of months, not decide to hang around, LOL)
I wasn't too worried about one night in the hospital. As soon as they put me in a regular bed and adjusted the monitor, I was fine, and never contracted again. Figures. The next morning, I hadn't heard anything about the cerclage until the anesthesiologist showed up to introduce himself and said it was scheduled for that afternoon. At this point, I still have not seen my own doctor. Noone seemed to really know what to expect after the procdedure (i.e. how it would feel, etc) so I wasn 't too worried about it. I was going to have spinal anesthesia, which I'd had with my twins' c-sec, so I knew what to expect from that (so I thought).
The procedure time kept getting pushed back which just made me more nervous as the minutes passed. I finally went into to the OR. The spinal hurts like a bitch! I swear he must have stuck me 8 times and it hurt! Once I was finally lying down, he asked if I wanted something to help me relax. Uh, YEAH! LOL The procedure was fine; I think I dozed off a few times and it didn't last but maybe half an hour or so. I went into the recovery room where dh was able to join me. All was well; we were even talking, laughing and joking with the nurses. My OB came in and talked with us for awhile. She said I shouldn't have any pain afterwards, maybe some discomfort. Dh asked his usual 100 questions since he hadn't been able to talk with her since my first visit.
Once I got back to the room, things started going down hill. I had a catheter which was clamped in the this strange way and was taped to my leg so I could move my legs without it pulling and hurting, and I couldn't put a pillow between my legs, which is the only way I can get comfortable. My back was KILLING ME where the spinal had been. I could not get comfortable. You know what they offered me for the pain? Tylenol. Gee, thanks. I was supposed to get the catheter out as soon as I was able to stand, but the nurses decided I should keep it overnight so I wouldn't have to get up to go to the bathroom (which turned out to be ok, since I'd had about 8 bags of fluid in 24 hours and they could barely keep the catheter bag emptied I was going so much- sheesh). I finally took a sleeping pill at midnight (I had had one the night before, but it only lasted a couple of hours) and thankfully I slept about 6 hours then dozed after that.
She finally took the catheter out and I went to the bathroom without any problems, but by then, I was so uncomfortable in my nether regions (ha ha) that I felt like I was being turned inside out. Plus, my back still hurts so bad that I can barely get up or move in the bed. They checked me and I had a little fluid so they started doing swabs to test for an amniotic fluid leak. Everything was negative. They scheduled another ultrasound with the perinatalogist before I could go home. That turned out fine, though he said it was too early to tell if there was a slow leak.
Anyway, despite my misery, I finally got released. I am glad to be home, in my own bed, but it is still hard to get around. I am on pretty strict bedrest until next week when I have follow up appts. After that, if all is well, I may be able to be on just moderate bedrest, which would be nice.
Last night, I was very tearful. I just didn't think I could go through all of that pain and discomfort again, and knowing I will have to when it's time to deliver. I told dh I want a general anesthesia with my c-sec; that spinal was for the birds! It was different when it had been 6 years and I didn't remember all of that; this time, it will only have been a couple of months, and I WILL remember, so I will be that much more anxious and nervous.
I was so determined to have an uneventful, fairly easy (as easy as it can be with triplets!) pregnancy. Now I'm scared because you never know when something can happen, or even start to go very wrong without knowing that it is happening.
Keep praying for us
Friday, November 30, 2007
LMAO! I freaked him out
I have been making phone calls all day trying to get some things settled now that I am officially out of work (yea! yesterday was my last day).
Today I called one place and got the requisite Indian man. He asked the reason for my particular request and I told him I was pregnant with triplets and on bedrest.
He said, "Wh-wh-what?!?! I'm sorry, what did you say??"
It was all I could do not to laugh out loud. After I repeated and he confirmed what I'd said, it took him at least half a minute to get out a coherent sentence.
Something tells me THAT wasn't in his script!!
Today I called one place and got the requisite Indian man. He asked the reason for my particular request and I told him I was pregnant with triplets and on bedrest.
He said, "Wh-wh-what?!?! I'm sorry, what did you say??"
It was all I could do not to laugh out loud. After I repeated and he confirmed what I'd said, it took him at least half a minute to get out a coherent sentence.
Something tells me THAT wasn't in his script!!
Friday, September 14, 2007
Monday, August 13, 2007
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