Hey Everyone! My doctor conferred with the perinatologist and they agreed that it is safe for me to come home and continue my bedrest from here! Hurray! After a full month in the hospital I'm home at last. Jeff picked me up at 4:00 and is busily getting things set up. He had all sorts of special surprises for me at home too...there's a small fridge by my bed so I don't have to go to the kitchen for cold food, this cool little cart set up with my books, medications, snacks etc, underneath the fridge and he TOTALLY remodelled our bathroom as a Christmas gift to me! Wow! Do I have an awesome husband or what? He even got me this nifty adjustable tray that I can use for food or the computer. It angles up so I can see the keyboard better from my position lying down. I feel like a queen. :)
It's soooooooo good to be home! We want to lay low for a little while and give me a chance to adjust to being back here so I might not be able to have visitors for a little while. Too much excitment definitely has an impact on how many contractions I have.
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! I sure have a lot to be thankful for!!!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
A Milestone to Celebrate
Yesterday marked 28 weeks for the twins! Hurray! If the boys were to come now they would have a much better chance of avoiding many of the complications of extremely premature infants. This was the doctors' first goal for us. It's hard to believe that 4 weeks have passed since I was first admitted to the hospital! God is so good! Our prayers for our children are being answered with each extra day they remain on the inside!
Originally, my doctor had thought that she may be able to send me home after 28 weeks to continue my bedrest. However, events from this past week will probably prevent that from happening. I'm a bit disappointed because I had my hopes up a little over the prospect of spending Thanksgiving in the comfort of my own home, but Jeff and I would much prefer not to take any unnecessary chances with the boys so we are happy to comply with the doctors.
Events from this past week...since my last blog, celebrating my newfound freedom of ambulatory and wheelchair privileges, I have had two episodes of increased contractions prompting the doctors to re-attach me to the dreaded IV for fluids. Both times the contractions subsided without any trouble but because of this, sadly, my privileges were taken away. Sigh! Today the doctor said she may have me try out the wheelchair trips again. We'll see. It will be nice to see the outside world again. :)
On the homefront...Jeff has been busily getting things ready for the babies. With help from some dear friends and family, the nursery is slowly coming together. I can't wait to see it when I finally do come home. Jeff is doing such a wonderful job juggling all the projects around the house, his day to day work, and visiting me and bringing me things here at the hospital. I am truly blessed!
On Friday night, we celebrated my mom's birthday in my hospital room. There were six of us squeezed in here eating pizza and cake and throwing balloons around the room while my mom opened gifts. It was so much fun to spend that time with family. However, somehow the combination of sitting up and eating and the excitement of lots of visitors gets those pesky contractions going and we had to cut the evening short so I could let my belly rest. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted! So nice to get to celebrate with my mom! Here are some pictures from that night. Notice Billy sitting on the bedside comode (aka: the potty chair)! :)
Originally, my doctor had thought that she may be able to send me home after 28 weeks to continue my bedrest. However, events from this past week will probably prevent that from happening. I'm a bit disappointed because I had my hopes up a little over the prospect of spending Thanksgiving in the comfort of my own home, but Jeff and I would much prefer not to take any unnecessary chances with the boys so we are happy to comply with the doctors.
Events from this past week...since my last blog, celebrating my newfound freedom of ambulatory and wheelchair privileges, I have had two episodes of increased contractions prompting the doctors to re-attach me to the dreaded IV for fluids. Both times the contractions subsided without any trouble but because of this, sadly, my privileges were taken away. Sigh! Today the doctor said she may have me try out the wheelchair trips again. We'll see. It will be nice to see the outside world again. :)
On the homefront...Jeff has been busily getting things ready for the babies. With help from some dear friends and family, the nursery is slowly coming together. I can't wait to see it when I finally do come home. Jeff is doing such a wonderful job juggling all the projects around the house, his day to day work, and visiting me and bringing me things here at the hospital. I am truly blessed!
On Friday night, we celebrated my mom's birthday in my hospital room. There were six of us squeezed in here eating pizza and cake and throwing balloons around the room while my mom opened gifts. It was so much fun to spend that time with family. However, somehow the combination of sitting up and eating and the excitement of lots of visitors gets those pesky contractions going and we had to cut the evening short so I could let my belly rest. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted! So nice to get to celebrate with my mom! Here are some pictures from that night. Notice Billy sitting on the bedside comode (aka: the potty chair)! :)
Thanks to all of you from my church family who sent me the beautiful and enormous bouquet of flowers!!! They sure do brighten up the room and came just as my other flowers were on their way out! I feel so spoiled!
Saturday, November 15, 2008
A Little Fresh Air
This week my doctor informed me that she would like to see me get out in a wheelchair now and then and get a little fresh air. At first I was hesitant. With a short cervix and a propensity towards contractions when I'm sitting up straight, even the lure of sunshine and a brief escape from my four drab hospital walls didn't quite seem worth the risk. But she convinced me. So yesterday my parents came by and took me out for a 15 minute spin in the wheelchair. It was really nice! It's surprising how quickly 15 minutes passes when you get your first taste of fresh air in 2 1/2 weeks!
Today I thought I was going to go stir crazy. I think somehow getting a look at the outside world just gave me a hunger for more. Thankfully, Jeff and I had a date this afternoon for another whirlwind trip out of doors and some take out food and a movie. It was so nice to spend time together...not what you would normally think of as a date since we never left the hospital grounds, but heaven for me just the same. I'm so thankfull for my wonderful, adorable husband!!!
In addition to my new wheelchair privileges, the doctor has ordered that I get up out of bed up to three times a day and be on my feet for 5 - 10 minutes at a time...ambulatory priviliges. This is to prevent problems with blood clots from being inactive for so long. In any case, I'm enjoying the freedom of allowing myself to get up to do little things for myself a few times a day instead of having to call the nurses for help. I have to say, whether it's the weeks of inactivity or the increasing amount of weight around my midsection, it feels REALLY WIERD to walk. I guess I dodn't really walk, I shuffle. Hopefully I'll get more used to it with time. We'll see.
Well, that's all the exciting news for now. More on Monday when the boys get measured again. I'm hoping they've reached two pounds by now. :)
Today I thought I was going to go stir crazy. I think somehow getting a look at the outside world just gave me a hunger for more. Thankfully, Jeff and I had a date this afternoon for another whirlwind trip out of doors and some take out food and a movie. It was so nice to spend time together...not what you would normally think of as a date since we never left the hospital grounds, but heaven for me just the same. I'm so thankfull for my wonderful, adorable husband!!!
In addition to my new wheelchair privileges, the doctor has ordered that I get up out of bed up to three times a day and be on my feet for 5 - 10 minutes at a time...ambulatory priviliges. This is to prevent problems with blood clots from being inactive for so long. In any case, I'm enjoying the freedom of allowing myself to get up to do little things for myself a few times a day instead of having to call the nurses for help. I have to say, whether it's the weeks of inactivity or the increasing amount of weight around my midsection, it feels REALLY WIERD to walk. I guess I dodn't really walk, I shuffle. Hopefully I'll get more used to it with time. We'll see.
Well, that's all the exciting news for now. More on Monday when the boys get measured again. I'm hoping they've reached two pounds by now. :)
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Good News!!!
I'm happy to report some very positive news...the doctor came yesterday to do an ultrasound and discovered that my cervix, while very short, has not changed at all in the last week. That means that all this bedrest here is doing what it's supposed to do! Hurray! Not only that, but Jeff went to see the doctor yesterday and though his ear will take some time to heal, he's feeling much better! God is good! That's all for now!
Friday, November 7, 2008
One day at a time...
Tomorrow marks 26 weeks into the pregnancy. I'm still in the hospital and thanking God for each extra day the babies stay inside and grow bigger and stronger. As of Monday, they weighed in at 1 lb 12 oz and 1 lb 13 oz. So far so good!
People keep asking me if I'm going nuts lying in bed all day. But the truth is, God has given me the grace for each day. I just take it one hour at a time. I wake up around 7:00 or 7:30 each morning. I order my breakfast, read my bible and pray, listen to soothing music (I've read that it lowers stress in pregnant women), and try to do the exercises the physical therapist gave me before the nurse comes in to put my leg squeezers on (like plastic blowup leg warmers that massage my legs to keep the blood moving and prevent blood clots). Each morning the new nurse on duty for the day puts both babies on a heart monitor for anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour depending on how cooperative they are that day. They take turns avoiding the monitors. There must be something about the ultrasound that they don't like. After this, I read or knit or do some sudoku puzzles or talk to people on the phone. Then before you know it, it's time to order lunch. Sometimes I'll get a visitor in the afternoon. I've begun watching a show called Bringing Home Baby on TLC. This week has been multiples week so I've watched different families bring home their twins and triplets for the first time. It's been very eye opening. Am I boring you yet? I have a variety of activities to keep me busy throughout the day and around 5:00 I order dinner and Jeff comes to join me. When the night nurse comes on duty, the babies get monitored again. Once that is done, I pull out my computer or watch tv until I go to sleep. It's not an exciting life but the days are passing just fine and I should probably be thankful for the rest I get now because I'm not likely to get much if any for a long time to come once the twins arrive. :)
The plan for now is to keep me in the hospital until I hit at least 28 weeks. I've made it almost 2 weeks so far and the new medication they have me on appears to be keeping the contractions under control for now. Please pray that it continues to work because for now it means I don't have to be on an IV! Hurray! I've also had no side effects with this medication. Once I've reached 28 weeks the doctor will reassess my situation and possibly send me home for bedrest. We're just praying that God continues to give the doctors wisdom and direction.
In the meantime, I believe Jeff is carrying the heavier burden between us. He not only continues to work each day and picks up the slack for me at home, he also field phonecalls and questions and has added burdens of preparing the baby nursery and considering how all of this will affect us financially as a family. Early maternity leave caught us a little by surprise. To add insult to injury, he perferated an eardrum last week and has been in a lot of pain and not hearing out of his right ear. He could use a lot of prayer right now. Poor guy! He's been my angel, taking care of me and keeping me company in the evenings in addition to everything else on his plate these days.
Many many thanks to all our friends and family who have been showing their love and support through phone calls, visits, flowers, books, movies, snacks, magazines, offers to help. We feel so incredibly blessed to have so many amazing people in our lives! I don't know what we'd do without all of you!!!
People keep asking me if I'm going nuts lying in bed all day. But the truth is, God has given me the grace for each day. I just take it one hour at a time. I wake up around 7:00 or 7:30 each morning. I order my breakfast, read my bible and pray, listen to soothing music (I've read that it lowers stress in pregnant women), and try to do the exercises the physical therapist gave me before the nurse comes in to put my leg squeezers on (like plastic blowup leg warmers that massage my legs to keep the blood moving and prevent blood clots). Each morning the new nurse on duty for the day puts both babies on a heart monitor for anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour depending on how cooperative they are that day. They take turns avoiding the monitors. There must be something about the ultrasound that they don't like. After this, I read or knit or do some sudoku puzzles or talk to people on the phone. Then before you know it, it's time to order lunch. Sometimes I'll get a visitor in the afternoon. I've begun watching a show called Bringing Home Baby on TLC. This week has been multiples week so I've watched different families bring home their twins and triplets for the first time. It's been very eye opening. Am I boring you yet? I have a variety of activities to keep me busy throughout the day and around 5:00 I order dinner and Jeff comes to join me. When the night nurse comes on duty, the babies get monitored again. Once that is done, I pull out my computer or watch tv until I go to sleep. It's not an exciting life but the days are passing just fine and I should probably be thankful for the rest I get now because I'm not likely to get much if any for a long time to come once the twins arrive. :)
The plan for now is to keep me in the hospital until I hit at least 28 weeks. I've made it almost 2 weeks so far and the new medication they have me on appears to be keeping the contractions under control for now. Please pray that it continues to work because for now it means I don't have to be on an IV! Hurray! I've also had no side effects with this medication. Once I've reached 28 weeks the doctor will reassess my situation and possibly send me home for bedrest. We're just praying that God continues to give the doctors wisdom and direction.
In the meantime, I believe Jeff is carrying the heavier burden between us. He not only continues to work each day and picks up the slack for me at home, he also field phonecalls and questions and has added burdens of preparing the baby nursery and considering how all of this will affect us financially as a family. Early maternity leave caught us a little by surprise. To add insult to injury, he perferated an eardrum last week and has been in a lot of pain and not hearing out of his right ear. He could use a lot of prayer right now. Poor guy! He's been my angel, taking care of me and keeping me company in the evenings in addition to everything else on his plate these days.
Many many thanks to all our friends and family who have been showing their love and support through phone calls, visits, flowers, books, movies, snacks, magazines, offers to help. We feel so incredibly blessed to have so many amazing people in our lives! I don't know what we'd do without all of you!!!
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