A surprise ending?

I am writing this on my iPhone from Labor & Delivery at Fairfax Hospital. It looks like date night will have to wait. It appears that I'm in labor. I am contracting every two minutes. At 5pm I started having bad pains and realized that in all my rushing around today and fussing with laundry I hadn't felt Noah move. So I ate some teddy grahams and drank some juice and laid down. Since that time I have been having bad contractions. Noah started moving shortly after so I did not go to the hospital. But once they got worse I had no choice. So here I am. Waiting. Feeling really nervous. I thought I had more time but I guess nothing prepares you for this, huh? After two botched IVs and contractions that have made me see stars I am accepting that it's now or never. We are still waiting on the platelet count so they can decide whether to transfuse me. Because I ate the Teddy grahams I have to wait until 1:00am for the cesarean. So it looks like Noah will be born on august 25th unless things start moving faster. My water still hasn't broken for whatever that is worth. Dr. C will be delivering Noah. For now we wait...

My family just called to tell me they going to be on their way from New York in a few hours. I still can't believe this is happening or that I'm just hours away from meeting my baby. I'm so nervous. Please keep us in prayer. Will update this entry if more news.

Nan<3

The Final Countdown!!!!

We now have TEN days until Noah will be born! It’s a little difficult to grasp. When I think of how time has flown and all the mini-countdowns we’ve already been through, it makes my head spin! Wasn’t it just yesterday that we were counting down to making it past the 12 week mark? Or to the third trimester? Or to the next ultrasound? The last was 18 weeks ago! Sometimes it's so hard to believe it is really happening.

I was going through my “belly book” the other night. (It's a book that charts the growth of my belly and baby in pictures and documents all of my prenatal appointments and milestones). And I couldn’t believe that when we first saw our son’s precious little face he was only 4.5 inches long!


Now he is possibly more than 20! Seeing how tall his dad is, that would not surprise me – or anyone!

These last few days I have been in crazy “nesting” mode, having huge bursts of energy during the day that send me cleaning, organizing and doing everything I can until my feet are so swollen I can no longer stand! Yesterday, I detailed the inside of my car with a dust-buster and microfiber cloths for a good 2 hours. I felt like a nut but all I kept thinking is that our precious baby will be riding in that car in a matter of DAYS and I wanted it to be as dust free as possible! Today I am set on folding and washing every remaining article of clothing and anything else that needs washing (car seat, swing, etc.) before I drop. It should be a fun day! If nothing else, it will certainly help me to get some much needed sleep tonight!

Tomorrow marks another milestone: Our last OB appointment! Our last chance to get any questions we might have answered. A big question on my mind concerns a conversation I had with Dr. B last week that I have not blogged on. Apparently, my platelet count seems to be in free fall for some reason. By the last hand count my platelets are at 64,000 which means that over a 4-day period they somehow decreased by 20,000. That is a little disconcerting and I’m hoping that there is either some mistake or that they will jump up a bit before delivery. The hematologist who I saw 4 days before that very last blood test was taken told me the only real “danger” is that the count drops into the 30,000’s -- but if they are decreasing as fast as the latest test suggests, that might not be so far fetched. Please keep that in prayer... We are still hoping that come delivery-time, a transfusion won't be necessary...

In the meantime, Noah is growing very uncomfortable in his close quarters. His kicks are very intense and he seems to be dragging limbs back and forth in frustration. (It really does look sometimes as though he is planning his escape!) I find myself gently rubbing his protruding feet out of my rib cage several times a day and all through the night. He has also now managed to get his hands down in my hip sockets which is a VERY unpleasant feeling. He is exploring... And yes, he is still content to kick just about anything that comes into contact with my massive belly. Washing the dishes at this time in life is NOT fun. But, oh, what a character my little boy is! I cannot wait to meet him!

In the meantime, I am treasuring my last remaining days with my husband, when it is still just the two of us for the most part. And I’m looking forward to one last “date night” before we have a new little life to take care of... God only knows how much our lives are about to change...

How time flies… More tomorrow…

The Final Stretch

We now have exactly 16 days until Noah's arrival... or less! Today, my OB confirmed that I am 1 cm dialated, which -- as she put it -- is not earth shattering, but it shows that things are starting to progress! She said it was unlikely that Noah would come today or tomorrow but that he could really come any day now. I am still holding out hope that "any day" will be a Thursday, but we shall see what God has in store. Today marked the day that Noah became full-term so at least we have no more worries about "going early!"

Today's OB visit was mildly uneventful aside from learning this news. I did finally sit down and chart out a birth plan so that no matter who is on call when the time comes, that person will know all the details. Comforting... Next on the agenda: Packing the hospital bag! This morning I did a large load of Noah's laundry. I just sat there going through all those tiny tiny clothes and imagined what it would be like when he arrives. My head is spinning!

Other than that, these last couple of weeks have been trying to say the least. My feet have been so swollen that I can barely get my shoes on (some days not at all). My flip-flops won't even fit. Dr. C calls this "pregnancy Shrek feet" and for those who have seen the movie, I can say, it is a very accurate description. It's awful -- but it will be over soon, right? Dr. C just had a baby herself (8 weeks ago) and told me that after her Cesarean her foot swelling actually got worse for a couple of weeks but then cleared up. I'm hoping that won't be the case with me! We shall see.

The countdown continues...

Update from Hematology Appointment

So, yesterday I went to the hematologist where I had my platelet count done by hand. Fortunately, that count was in the low 80's, as we hoped and expected it would be. The doctor discussed different options with me and told me that she likes Dr. Silas' plan to give me a transfusion before the Cesarean and so she will not put me on steroids this late in the game. I thank God for that! I will have to come back in if the count goes back down into the 60's, but I'm hoping that, that won't happen. I will also have to go back in for more testing a month after I give birth to make sure that this was caused by the pregnancy and that it's not something that is going to be problematic in the future...

In the meantime, I have been getting a lot of quality time with my good friends, which has certainly helped me through what has been a trying time. Cardmaking with Kate, scrapbooking with Sherry, cookie baking with Carin (just to name a few examples from the last week!) -- it's all been a huge blessing to me and reminded me of just how lucky I am to be surrounded by so many caring people!

I am also blessed to have such a wonderful husband. Michael and I had a wonderful 3rd wedding anniversary on the 11th when he took me to my first drive-in movie, where I (in true pregnant fashion) fell asleep before the movie ended! I have a feeling it will not be the last time that happens as we approach parenthood!

We now have 20 days until my Cesarean! Less than 3 weeks! Time has flown so fast. And what a ride it has been...

Update from OB appointment

So yesterday I finally saw Dr. Silas and he addressed a number of my concerns, including the issues with my platelets. He basically told me that the new plan is that if i make it to September 3rd, I will need to be at the hospital by 7am where I'll get all kinds of blood testing and then a transfusion of platelets if my count is anything below 100,000. Once they reach that threshold, then I will be ready to go under general anesthesia. Alternatively, if I go into labor on a different date, then I will receive platelets until the count is above 80,000 before I will go into surgery. If I make it to the 3rd, I will be at the hospital for at least 5 hours before the surgery so now I can prepare myself for a long day...

I go to the hematology and oncology specialist on Thursday where they will run all kinds of test to determine whether the cause of my declining platelet count is an autoimmune disorder, that my platelets are just not being replaced by my body as fast as they are being consumed or that my body is actually destroying them. Dr. Silas mentioned something about a bone marrow test, which I sincerely hope will not be necessary. There is still also a strong possibility that I'll be started on steroids which I am also hoping against. So... I will know more tomorrow and will likely be posting an update when all that is said and done.

Other than that, I am happy to report that Noah is now head down so he seems to be ready... 3 more weeks!

Another Milestone.... and some more bad news....

Three years ago today, Michael and I eloped on a beach in the Turks & Caicos islands before God and no guests...

A year later, we were married in our church wedding in front of our closest family and friends... 

The year after that, we were on our way out of the city and into the suburbs...

And today, after three years of marriage we are just weeks (or days) away from bringing a new life into the world and adding a little addition to our family!

A lot can happen in just a few years and I feel very blessed for where God has taken me and what he has taken me through. This year has been a rough one, but I do believe that God has used it as a growing experience for me, Michael and our marriage.  Lately, in these last months of pregnancy, I feel like our patience and faith have been put to the test and I'd like to think that we are holding up to the test on both counts, only through God's Grace...

Yesterday, I got a very upsetting call from my OB (Dr. D). She called to tell me that my platelet count is "dangerously low" and that we are now looking at a count in the 60,000's. The normal range is 250,000-150,000 and I've been warned throughout the pregnancy if they got down to a certain number they would have to intervene and put me on steroids.  She told me that I am now beyond the point of an epidural (which we had already ruled out with Dr. Silas, who I still hope will deliver Noah) so I asked her whether it would be necessary for me to go on steroids given that I am already having the baby under general anesthesia. I was not prepared for her response.  "Do you want to wake up and see your baby?" she asked me.  She then proceeded to tell me that there was a risk I could bleed to death and that at this point she is afraid that my platelets might be "nonfunctional."  This was obviously not what I wanted to hear...  

So, I am leaving here in a few minutes to go to the OB where I am seeing Dr. Silas who will hopefully give me a more positive outlook and then later this week I will be going back to the hematologist to figure out a plan for getting my platelets stabilized before delivery.  At this point, Noah can arrive at any minute so the sooner we get the count up, the better, I suppose, though I do not look forward to having to take steroids by any stretch of the imagination.  At this point, I'll do whatever I have to do in the hopes that it makes things go as smoothly as possible on Noah's birth-day.  Ultimately, I remind myself that God is in control... and that is a great Truth to rest on these days (and everyday!). 

And in the meantime, I will try my best to make this a very Happy Anniversary for me and Michael, as we can only imagine all that another year will bring and where we will be a year from today...

10...9...8...7...6...5...4....

We now have less than 4 weeks until Baby Noah arrives! 3 weeks and 6 days to be exact -- unless our little one decides he's had enough "baking" and makes an early appearance, which I am feeling certain he will. He really seems to want out these days and he has gotten noticeably bigger. His kicks have become quite painful and I won't even mention what it feels like when he tries to roll! Everyone I talk to who has seen me in person agrees that he will run out of room soon, but somehow my belly seems willing and able to keep accommodating him! I still am in awe of it most days!

The preterm contractions have continued, sad to say, and the doctor is fairly certain it is stress-related. I should have gone back to the hospital on Sunday night but forced myself to try and sleep through them -- something I probably won't get away with much more as we are now so close to our delivery date. I have been under a great deal of stress these past few weeks and I'm hoping that life will calm down a little before I REALLY learn what stress is, having my first interaction with a newborn that does not belong to someone else. I was hoping that M and i would be able to take a newborn care class but unfortunately they all filled up and we can't fill the one slot remaining in the only class left. I did have a good time learning how to change a diaper on a stuffed bunny at my friend Kate's house a couple of weeks ago so hopefully what I learned from doing that will stick! Not much experience, but better than none!

3 weeks and 6 days is likely to fly and there is still so much Michael and I need to do to get ready for Noah's arrival (besides learning how to change diapers on stuffed animals lol). I have been slowed down quite a bit now that I'm so far along (and so big!) but hopefully we will both find time and energy to get as prepared as we possibly can!

A little bit at a time...