Another Unexpected Trip to L&D

Yesterday, Michael and I spent 8 hours in the labor & delivery unit at Fairfax Hospital. I guess we got a free trial run out of what was a very difficult day for the both of us.

I had been trying to get in touch with my OB for 2 days to discuss the fact that I have been sick for the past week or so and get some advice. When the OB called yesterday morning I happened to mention what I thought was a harmless occurrence. Before I could even finish my sentence, my OB insisted that I go immediately to Fairfax Hospital to be monitored. I was very unhappy (mad) about it, but it ended up being a good thing that I went. It turned out that by the time we got to the L&D, I was having contractions that were 2 minutes apart. Though the monitor usually read between 20-65, I was having contractions that registered above 100, which I didn't even know were possible. It was very painful and daunting... Fortunately my OB -- Dr. Silas (the one who will hopefully be delivering Noah on September 3rd) determined that my water had not broken - though he told me that if it had, he would have delivered Noah yesterday. The idea that we could have had a baby yesterday is still a little alarming. (There is still so much I need to do to prepare!) It was a big wake up call for both of us...

Dr. Silas also discussed with me the issue of my platelets and what the OB told me at my last appointment. The platelet count taken at the office on Monday showed that my count had gone down to 70,000. The OB who warned me about being hospitalized until it could go up (the same one who sent me to Fairfax yesterday) insisted that I make an appointment immediately with the hematologist. Fortunately, a manual count at the L&D showed that they were closer to 84,000 which is still low but not at alarming. Dr. Silas said he would not presume to speak for the anesthesiologists at the hospital and that we would cross whatever bridge when we got to it. He said that if the count went below 75,000 again I'd most likely have to go on steroids but his outlook seemed much more positive and his approach more flexible. That made me feel a lot better about the situation...

The remedy for the contractions I was having was to give me IV fluids (since it was likely dehydration from being sick that led to all this in first place) as well as to give me an IM shot of Terbutaline, which is the drug that gave me very bad side effects the last time I was having pre-term contractions. Fortunately, it did not have as bad of an effect this time. My contractions eventually slowed to every 10 minutes but the doctor on call did not think that this was sufficient. And so, I got a second injection right as Michael and I thought we were going to be permitted to go home. (I felt like a pin cushion to be honest and neither of us were thrilled about having to stay any longer in the unit than we already had.) My heart rate, needless to say to anyone who is familiar with this drug, stayed up around 120 for most of the day. I feel like I ran a marathon. Noah was true to form and spent most of the day kicking the monitor that was reading his heartbeat (which I was no less than thrilled to listen to all day). It sounded like someone was constantly hitting a microphone with full force and it gave me a lot of good laughs through all the confusion. 

Once the contractions slowed down enough I was released... just in time to go get something to eat with my husband's band and all the other D.C. Serve volunteers, who were gathering to celebrate a job well done. Given that I had not eaten since the early morning and it was now almost 8:00PM, I was thrilled... even though a big part of me was longing for my own bed.

So... I hope I made that long story as short as I could. I am home in bed now on strict orders to take it easy, stay off my feet, and drink a ton of water, etc. etc. etc. still trying to come to grips with the fact that Noah could really be arriving any day now -- though in my heart of hearts, I just pray it's a Thursday so I can at least have him delievered by our doctor of choice. 

4 weeks and 6 days (max) until we meet our son.

It's all in God's hands...

Nan<3

Sobering News

We now have no more than 38 days until we bring Noah home! The excitement regarding that fact aside, today I went for my routine prenatal visit and sadly, got nothing but bad news (though – to look on the bright side – it could have been much worse). Apparently my platelets took another dive and the OB warned me that they would have to intervene very soon to bring the count up (via steroids) b/c the anesthesiologists at Fairfax have been refusing to administer any anesthesia to patients with platelets as low as mine. He said that if my platelets stayed this low they would have to hospitalize me and postpone my C-Section until they could get those numbers up. Not at all what I wanted to hear. I will now be going to the OB once a week to have my blood taken and will be started on steroids any day now if things do not improve quickly. I was also urged to see at least two more specialists, who are not covered under our insurance deductible... The bad news just kept coming...

To top matters off, I was also warned that I should not travel outside of Virginia for any reason from here on out. The doctor warned that I am "too close to the end of my pregnancy" and that "too much has gone wrong now that I cannot take any risks by leaving Virginia for any reason." This was not made easier for me by the fact that my grandmother (Ma) went to the hospital today (and still may be there for all I know – I am still waiting for news). Not being able to go to NY to be with her is killing me… I honestly don't know that I will be able to stay away...

Aside from all this, recently the nerves in my hips and lower back have become severely inflamed – so much so that I could barely walk the last few days. I have never experienced worse sciatica than I have these past two weeks. I was able to go to church yesterday only because I happened to still have the cane I used from after my back surgery… God did use this experience, however, as a woman at church with her own physical limitations came over to me and told me what an encouragement I was to her that I had these problems and was still carrying on as well as I am... That certainly made my day and reminded me of how far God has brought me. I must say that I never thought my spine would hold up as well as it has. It was just ironic that I had been asking God all week why this was happening to me and in that moment when I spoke to her, I really felt that there was a purpose for the pain and it made me feel SO much better...

So… pregnancy (and life in general) is not getting any easier but I am hanging in there. Just a little longer, right? In the meantime, the nursery is almost finished and I'm eager to post some pictures... Hoping to do that soon...

Nan<3

An Affair to Remember

After counting down the days for weeks, my family finally arrived from New York last week to throw me a baby shower that they put so much time, love, money and energy into that I’m still in disbelief. It was a wonderful day for Noah and one I will not soon forget...

Although I knew the date, much about the shower was very much a surprise. My family (and that includes Christina, Stefanie and Jenna, who might as well share a last name with me and my sister for how they have been there for both of us) sent me out of the house and treated me to my first pedicure and manicure in over a year so they could get everything ready and perfect. When I walked in I was beyond surprised. Never could I have envisioned the view I’d see. I really have never seen such BEAUTIFUL decorations in all my life. I’m only sad that it seems that no one captured it on film ☹ Fortunately, it's firm in my memory! Of course I will update this entry should any pictures surface, though I doubt any could do it justice...

Aside from being the most beautiful shower, it may have also been the first time in the history of baby showers that the mom-to-be got nearly everything she could ever want or need for the baby! I was encouraged to over-register for weeks in order to get the 10% completion discount at Babies R’ Us after Noah is born, but never did I expect that by the end of the week, that registry would be SO near completion that there would be little left for me to purchase! What a blessing during what has been such a challenging time for M and me!

Among the special moments at my shower was seeing Vanessa in the shirt that one of my best friends, Emily, made her. The front read "Big Sis" and the back read "Little Angel" with beautiful wings. Nessa was ecstatic to sport that shirt and share in opening all her baby brother's presents -- and there were many!

Another favorite moment was when I gave Vanessa the photo book I made her ("Before We Were Four"), which documents the last four years in pictures. I so wanted her to feel special that day and I think she did. I hope that it will remind her of all the happy memories we shared when it was just the three of us. You have no idea how eager I am to make her a sequel ("Now We Are Four") -- as any other A.A. Milne devotee will understand... :)

I am so grateful to everyone who made it possible and worked so hard to give me a day I would never forget. I cannot say enough how moved I was by how many people showed up for Noah and me. I certainly feel loved…. and blessed beyond belief. This was just another great reminder of how God provides! Noah is one lucky baby to have so many people who care about him and I am so blessed to have the friends and family I do! I know that my son will not want for anything – especially not love, of which there will never be a short supply! – and that is the greatest gift of all...

Nan<3

Never a Dull Moment (10... 9... 8...)

We now have less than 8 weeks to go until my Cesarean, which we are working to get scheduled on September 1 so we can keep our OB of choice.  In the meantime, things have gotten... interesting... 

On Monday morning, I got a call from one of my OBs telling me that the results of my blood test came back and that my platelets took another dive, making it necessary for me to see a hematologist. The OB explained that my platelet count had dropped 17,000 every 2 weeks for the last 4 weeks and that it was now below 75,000, which is the cut-off point at which the hospital will do an epidural/spinal. (A normal range, apparently is 250,000-150,000 and I had been warned in the past that if the numbers dipped below 100,000 I'd be started on steroids). He said if my platelets stayed this low, I would have no choice but to go to sleep for the Cesarean, which is somewhat reassuring in that Michael and I already made the decision to go with all the advice we've been given and deliver Noah under general anesthesia in September... at least we made the decision and aren't being "forced" into it by any means...

So today Michael and I went to the hematologist, where they did a platelet count on the spot. The test came back showing 98,000 on one look and 100,000 on another and the doctor said my platelets will need to be monitored.  So, long story short, I will be going to the hematologist once a week for the remainder of my pregnancy. The doctor said they would not start steroids (thank goodness!) unless the numbers dip below 50,000, but that if my platelets remain below 100,000, I will need a transfusion when I deliver Noah.  So... my schedule just got busier, it seems... I will be doing a LOT of driving to Fairfax in the not too distant future, but with less than 8 weeks to go, it will hopefully fly!

Other than that, the most recent blood work also showed that I am slightly anemic, which at least explains why I have been feeling so tired and dizzy again... I have not felt up to swimming anymore sad to say.  I miss having that energy but hopefully it will come back soon.

In the meantime, M and I are house-sitting/dog-sitting in South Riding at our friend Sherry's so traveling to the doctor was certainly made a lot easier this week. I am grateful for that.  Noah, of course, is very active.  I am getting more and more anxious to meet him.  

Won't be long now! :) 

30 weeks down, 9 to go!

This week has been markedly different from the weeks proceeding it – and in mostly good ways. For one, I’m out of work now (not a good thing), so I was able to enjoy the last few days spending time with my stepdaughter, who is with us until Sunday and has been since last Friday. We’ve spent a great deal of time swimming, which has been a huge blessing to me, as it is the one exercise I am amazingly able (and very well-able I might add) to do.

Believe it or not, I think pregnancy has somehow made me a better swimmer! Michael jokes that my belly acts like a fin that gives me more traction in the water LOL but I honestly feel strong – stronger than I have in a long time! (Special thanks to Sherry for getting me off the couch and into the water!) Vanessa really enjoys pool-time, especially the fact that she can “lift” me up in the pool, with me laying on my back on the surface of the water. She gets a very big kick (no pun intended) out of the fact that my belly emerges from under the water like a huge iceberg oddly shaped like her brother. Noah’s kicks and turns can clearly be seen under my black bathing suit which lays flat like a triangle on one side when my belly comes up out of the water and then shows off Noah’s round little back on the other. I have been amazed at how my belly has contorted lately, especially during our pool-time. Needless to say, I will not be posting any pictures of myself to illustrate this entry. Suffice it to say that the only way I could look more like orca or a penguin at the pool is if my bathing suit had a little bit of white on the stomach. Fortunately, my waddle only seems to appear on dry land!

To date, I have gained 21 pounds and with 9 weeks to go, I wonder how much bigger my belly could possibly get. I had an appointment with the OB yesterday who assured me that I am right on target with my weight and that I shouldn’t worry that Noah is a giant given the enormous size of my belly. He said I should think of myself as “gloriously small” and Noah as normal sized. That said, my fundal height has me measuring 1cm big and the OB estimated that Noah is approximately 3 ½ pounds now! He has certainly been packing a bigger punch these days so I suppose that I should not find that surprising.

In other news, which has been very upsetting to me, Michael and I are back at the drawing board now in terms of deciding when to have Noah and who to have deliver him if the choice does turn out to be ours to make. We had all but decided on September 2 with Dr. Silas but much to my dismay, I learned yesterday that that date does not work for him. So now we must decide whether we should change the date or the doctor. I am extremely anxious about making this decision, especially because I had total peace about it before we got the news yesterday. I am hoping that God will answer my prayers quickly, though Michael reminds me that whoever is meant to deliver Noah will – something I don’t doubt.

The countdown continues…