She's Here!

Finleigh Grace

7lbs 1oz

19 1/4 inches

5-22-2013 

7:46 AM

Remember that time that I went to L&D? Twice?

Wait.  What?

That was this week?

Oh, yes, it has been quite an eventful week around here!

I think that there are times that I say things and God just LAUGHS and says "just wait."

Case in point...around the time of my shower, I made the comment that my belly didnt feel as big as I thought it would this late in my pregnancy.  Well, fast forward 4 weeks and I am regretting that statement and imaging God just chuckling as my belly continues to grow.  and grow.  and grow.

Another laugh? I made the comment to several people that even though this pregnancy has been crazy w/ the bed rest and all, it really has been uneventful.  When I look back, there is a LOT that has happened...but nothing super alarming.  Sure, I ended up in the hospital and on bed rest at 26 weeks,  but there has been no problems since then.  No after hours Dr calls.  No strange symptoms.  No contractions.  No freak out moments.  It's been an uneventful, yet eventful pregnancy!

Why is that funny?  Well, because this week has been anything BUT uneventful!  

I've been in Labor and  Delivery TWICE this week.

I was given permission to go to Mother's Day service at church on Sunday.  The perinatologist was hesitant, but we figured that it was not really that different than spending 2 hrs at Drs appts each week.  So, she allowed me to have one last "hoorah" before the baby comes.  It was such a special day...we were SO blessed to be there and I just enjoyed being back among groups of my people!  It was crazy to answer "10 days" when people asked us how much longer we had left! 

After church, I was DONE.  When we got home, I CRASHED and took a short nap.  Ben went and picked up Salt Grass steaks for lunch (complete w/ cheesecake)!  He then surprised me with the sweetest card (that made me tear up) and a spa package for a pregnancy spa day to use on the Tues before she is born (on Wed).  After that, I crashed again.

I had noticed on Sat that she didnt seem to be as active.  She didnt have her "party" on Sat night and then on Sunday I was being very conscious of her movements.  She had a few kicks, but not any of the consistent "drumming" patterns that are her normal.  So, around 10 that night, I drank some Hawaiian Punch, which normally makes her GO CRAZY.  An hour and a half later, I only had 2 movements counted.  At this point, we started talking about calling the OB on call. We waited a bit longer and finally called around 12:30.  The Dr (who didnt know the bed rest history) assumed that everything was OK, but told us to come on into L&D to reassure us.  So, it was close to 1 AM and we headed to the hospital.

I was so hesitant to go in.  I hate feeling like I'm causing "drama" and really didnt want to feel dumb if it was nothing.  Its a strange feeling of wanting it to be nothing for the baby's sake but also wanting to have a REAL reason for going to the hospital at 1AM.

It didnt take TOO long to register and we were taken back to triage and hooked up to monitors.  Her heart rate was found quickly, but it was a lot slower that it normally is.  

I'm telling you, this baby is normally CRAZY and when I am hooked up to the monitors each week at the Dr, her heart rate is usually 159 and goes UP as she kicks and goes crazy.  The nurse took all of our crazy history and information and at that point said that there was no uterus activity/contractions happening.  Although we had her heart rate, she wasnt having any "accelerations" that they want to see and I had only felt 1 movement since we got there.  So, she left me hooked up and I had a button to press when I felt her move.  The nurse came back in about 20 minutes later and said that I was now contracting every 2-3 minutes.  

Who knew?  

I sure didnt!  I've had what I could call Braxton Hicks, some tightening and shortness of breath, but ZERO pain...and I had only felt a small one during that 20 minutes.  Anyway, I stayed hooked up for about an hour and we finally logged 6 movements (in the last few minutes of that hour).  The baby had also started showing some "accels and decels" that they were waiting to see.  The nurse called the on call Dr and he gave the OK for me to go home.  So, we headed home and straight to bed at 3:30 or so.  I felt so bad for Ben who had to go to work the next day.  :(

The nurse was GREAT and reassured us that we had done the right thing.  She said that if, even the same night, the baby still wasnt moving normally, to head back in.  Well, we didnt have to do that because as soon as we got in bed and laid down, little miss Finleigh started going crazy and having her drum party.  I sat up in bed and said "FINLEIGH GRACE!!"  She got a little talking to and we informed her that she was GROUNDED and had to stay in her room for 9 more days.

If I'm being honest, I laid there with a smile on my face.  My baby was back to normal...and she hasnt slowed down since.

OK...so that was drama o' the week #1.  That's not all.  Here's #2.

I woke up on Tuesday w/ a stuffy nose and a sore throat.  Not a big deal, but I wasnt feeling so hot.  Wednesday, I was feeling worse.  I had my Drs appointments on Wednesday w/ my OB and the perinatologist.  This was supposed to be our last appointments...1 week before her scheduled arrival date.

Someone brought lunch that day and then Ben picked me up for the Dr at 1:15.  When he got to the house, I was laying in bed...feeling crummy...and just didnt want to move.  I had just used my asthma inhaler before I laid down (for 10 min).  I just felt sweaty and shakey and knew that my blood pressure wasnt going to be pretty.  I even joked w/ Ben about it on the way to the Dr.

My OB appt was first.  I was in his office, across from the hospital, and of course, my blood pressure was up.  I explained to the nurse that I had had a more eventful morning and that I had just used my inhaler, which always makes me jittery.  Only, here was also protein in my urine, which combined w/ the blood pressure could be signs of preeclampsia.  I was supposed to leave his office and head over to the perinatologist for my weekly sono (their office is at the hospital).  

The Dr had other plans.  

He had me go straight over to L&D to get monitored and to have labs run.  So...back over we head.  Checked in, once again, and went to triage.  Someone came in and started an IV line (didnt hook anything up) and drew my blood.  We sat there for a while w/out anyone coming to help us, but then were taken up to the perinatologist office.  Wheelchair and hospital gown and all!  The sonogram looked great and the baby wasnt in any kind of distress.  The perinatologist gave us 3 scenarios of what was about to happen:

1) Spend the night at the hospital for monitoring & then go home until the scheduled C

2) Spend the night in the hospital and then have to stay until the scheduled C

3) Spend the night in the hospital and move the C-section date up.

Great.  

Not what we had planned for our last week!

We went back down to triage and I was hooked up to the baby monitors and the BP machine.  They laid me on my left and my BP was read every 15 minutes.  It went down almost instantly and was in the normal range for the majority of this time.  The baby was putting on a great show and PLENTY of "accels" and kicks.  Her heart rate was at her normal of 159 or higher!  And...this time, NO CONTRACTIONS!

 By the time I had been hooked up for an hour and a half or so, it was after 5.  So, the nurse called the on call Dr w/ my clinic (who had been given info from my OB) and they let us go home!!  We were SO relieved to be able to go home!!!  I had instructions to stay laying down on my sides and to make an appt with my OB on Friday.

Thursday was spent in my bed w/ Finleigh's humidifier by my bed.  I was feeling SUPER crummy from this head cold!!  It was only getting worse.  But, I was feeling OK pregnancy wise.

As an update...we went to the Dr this morning (Friday) and my blood pressure looked OK (much better).  I had even lost a pound since Wed, which would not have happened if I was starting to get preeclampsia.  Pregnancy wise, I was great.  Congestion wise, I told them that I felt like I had been hit by a truck!

We left w/ a rx for a z-pack, instructions to take mucinex around the clock, and permission to knock myself out w/ benadryl at will!!  

I love my Dr! :)

When I got home, I started the z-pack and took a benadryl and woke up 3 hrs later!  Luckily, my plan for the weekend was to lay around...now it's even more of a priority!  If you need me between now and Wed, I'll be in my bed...propped up on 8-10 pillows...humidifier beside the bed...tissues in hand.

We are having a baby in 5 days and I plan to be nice and healthy for that!!
We left the Dr with a "See you bright and early Wednesday morning" and smiles all around.

(and of course instructions to call if anything changes...even in the smallest)

AHHHHHH...a baby is coming in 5 days. 

The moral of the story?
ALWAYS SHAVE YOUR LEGS.

Oy.

The Nursery Reveal

I am just in LOVE with miss Finleigh's room!

Luckily, we had started working hard before I was put on bed rest, so a lot of it was already done.  Since then, we've had help!  My mom stayed the day after my shower to help wash and organize the clothes and blankets and such.  Ben has been a huge help getting all of the little things done, and I've probable done a little more than I was supposed to, but nothing too strenuous.  

I just love to go in there and sit in the rocker.  And just sit.  Ben always comes in and chuckles and asks, "What are you doing?" to which I reply, "Just enjoying it."

SO many special people have come together to make this nursery what it is! I LOVE the special feel that the personal items add.  I know that Finleigh will love it as much as we do!

From the door.  Curtains made by my mom.

From the door (ignore the ply wood)

Rocking chair from my mom, she used it w/ us girls & my sister used it for my nephew.
Quilt made by my lifelong BFF's mom, Mrs Judy!
Table painted by Sister after I was bed ridden.

We have had this bookshelf in our entryway and we painted it black.  We have yet to replace it, but its worth it to have space in her room for books!  I love book! I made the lampshade (covered in fabric & added ruffle) and I just love the floppy bunny under the table that I bought in Canton.

 

 

Oh my goodness, I am IN LOVE with this!!
Jana had a friend make this for Finleigh and had it at the shower.
This is the verse that we claimed for this baby early in our pregnancy.  We hope that it will always bring her peace! 

Her monogram above her bed.

Mobile.  Her first besties.

Bed.
I bought the fabric and had a lady make the bedding.  I am IN LOVE!!!
We made it "gender neutral" but added the bright pink sheet and plenty of pink around the room to make the room girly!  We bought the crib from a HS friend and painted it black.  This pic doesnt do it justice, it has BEAUTIFUL scrolling and woodwork on it!!  (You cant see the grey chevron fabric at the bottom of the skirt and the outside ends of the bumper)

 

 

View from the rocking chair.

Dresser/changing table.  Sign made by my friend and old co-worker, Natalyia.  I LOVE the pop of color that it adds!
LOVE my Ubbi diaper pail!!

My little ode to Louisiana!

Her bow holder...I know.

Her closet & my Kelly Moore bag!!!

The top of her bow holder.  It fits a scrap book page.  This is a work in progress.

Another shot from the door.

We love it.  What do you think??  I'm not much of a pastel person...so I just love the bright colors...and I'm kind of obsessed w/ greys & chevrons at the moment.  Now, to get her in here!!

Showering Blessings

When I was put on bed rest, my first goal (after leaving the hospital) was to get to 32 weeks.  At 32 weeks, we would be out of the critical stages if I were to have the baby...but it also meant BABY SHOWER!!!

Everyone kept asking "what about your shower?" and my reply was always that I was trying my hardest to get there.  My plan was to get there and sit w/ my feet up & let people come see me.  That's exactly what happened!  My shower was at my friend, Jana'a, house and was hosted by some sweet sweet friends!

Here are some pics:

YUMMY cake!!!

Wedding/shower cake is one of my FAVE things in life.

Corsages are hard.

Me w/ Finleigh's Grammie & Nana.

Sign in.

Leave a blessing, prayer, or advice.

SWEET hostesses & friends!

Courtney, Kara, Jana, Jaime, Sara, Shelly, Erin.

When on bed rest, this is how you sit during the shower.   Unaware of how it looks from the "audience" angle.  :(

Mrs Marilyn (and Donna) came from Mansfield...they are friends from WM, so it was GREAT to see them!!

When I was a little girl, I loved to sit and hand gifts to the moms/brides!

The gifts.  We are SO blessed & Finleigh is SO loved!!

Can't wait for her to wear this for next year's March Madness!!

I used to teach w/ Jackie and I was SO SO SO excited that she got to come!!!

Former LA friends...now all Texans.

Thank you SO much to everyone that came and helped give the shower!  We are truly blessed and SO SO SO excited for Finleigh to get here and use all of these goodies.  I am mostly excited for all of the love that she will get once she's actually here!!!

Lessons Learned in Pride

(First, I'm still here...feeling VERY blessed to be at 34 weeks w/ only 3 weeks to go until we meet our daughter!  Second, sorry for the lag, but when your life consists of the bed, to the couch, to the recliner with a daily dose of "Days," "90201," and "Judge Judy" there is just not so much excitement to blog about!)

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Let me start by telling you something about myself.  I shower daily.  I put makeup on before I go ANYWHERE.  To be "presentable" I prefer my hair to be not only washed (HAVE to wash it daily) but blow dried and straightened.

(Oh, how I long for the days in college when I could wash and go and let it air dry.  Back then, it dried straight & shiny.  My friends hated me for it...and I would hate me, too.  Why cant it do that now?)

My "make do" day still consisted of a shower, blow dried hair, foundation, mascara, and eyeliner.  

I like my house SPOTLESS and organized before someone comes over.  You know, proper candles lit and the right balance of lamps on.

It's a pride thing, I guess...yet not one that I was working to change.

I guess God got a good laugh and decided that it was something I needed to work on.

Back in January, I started attending the Ladies Bible Class at our church every Wed morning.  I was free at that time during the week & I thought it would be a great way to meet other ladies and spend some time on God's Word.  It was tough, because it meets at 9:30 in the morning.  Tuesday's are (were) my tough counseling days and I often wasnt getting home until after 9 at night and THEN fixing dinner and cleaning up after.  It made for some late & busy evenings.  Wednesdays had been my day to lounge around until clients later in the afternoon.  HOWEVER, I made the committeemen to attend and made to it all but one of the weekly meetings. So, I may have been perpetually 10 or so minutes late, but I was there...and I was blessed each week!

The last study that I was able to attend before being put on bed rest was all about serving others and allowing others to serve you.  I wasnt feeling well that morning, so I didnt really "add" to the discussion, but took it all in.  One lady in our small group study mentioned being put on bed rest early in her pregnancy (around the place in her pregnancy that I was at the time) and I think I said "I would DIE".  She talked about having to let people serve her by bringing food, taking care of her young son, and cleaning her house (toilets specifically).  

Well, fast forward 6 days and I find myself in the hospital and looking at bed rest for the remaining 11 weeks of my pregnancy.  What a great lesson to have ended on.  

Coincidence?  

I think not.

We were so blessed to have a friend set up a Care Calendar for us and we had dinners and lunches provided for awhile.  It was SUCH a blessing...we had meals provided so that Ben didnt have to worry about cooking. On nights that someone didnt bring dinner, we usually had leftovers.  I had some sweet ladies & friends bring lunch to me and just sit and visit.  It really cut into the "time" that I had to myself and my crazy thoughts all day...everyday.

The dinners slowly started weaning off, and we were making it OK.  Ben got good at making spaghetti, grilling, and heating frozen pizzas!  Friends still brought lunches to me around once a week or so.  We know how busy life is & we didn't "expect" anyone to do anything for us.  We were blessed by the times that we Ben didn't have to think about dinner!!  During the "slow" time, we DID have one lady bring 2 large pans of Mexican casserole one night and we ate on that for DAYS and DAYS!!

And DAYS!

Well, fast forward to 2 weeks ago...things started to get busy.  See, Ben is in grad school and his work started piling up...along with all of the "tasks" that he had at home & taking care of me.  He has a final coming up tomorrow (Sat), a term paper & presentation due for the class, as well as watching the class twice each week, and completing the normal homework assignments.  PLUS, he had a large presentation/interview/bid for a large job at work (the weeks that he has these presentations in the past are ALWAYS busy with many hours spent at work & little left for anything else).  To top it all off, he was juggling the yard work, house work, dinners, and anything else that I needed.

Two weeks ago, I started noticing how fatigued he was. He was having to stay up late to work on his school work and I just felt SO guilty because there was nothing that I could take off of his plate.  When I asked him what he needed, his only reply was "more time in the day."  We found ourselves living on pizza (for a few nights), fast food, and BBQ that we could make stretch for a few days.  It made do...but I found myself actually WANTING vegetables!  Even still...Ben wasnt getting to bed until after 1AM and getting up for work early each morning.  That was 2 weeks ago and I knew that this week was going to be worse.  I didnt know what to do...other than PRAY!

I have no doubt that those prayers led me to have the courage to ask for help.  SO, on Sunday, I messages 2 ladies (from that Bible class who had been over several times w/ lunches & dinner).  These 2 ladies kept making me promise that I would ask for help if I needed it.  So, I bit the bullet and asked.  I simply said "we need help this coming week" and that I didnt expect them to pick up the slack, but that maybe they could round up some helpers.  I'm pretty sure that I even mentioned 2 or 3 dinners would be enough.

WELL...what has happened just leaves me speechless.  We have had dinner brought 4 nights this week and I have had lunches 3 days.  It doesnt end with this week, though, there are people signed up for dinner a couple of nights each week for the next 2 weeks.  I dont know what these ladies said...but we, once again, find ourselves blessed as the recipients of people's generosity.  Speechless, I tell you.  When someone brings dinner, I dont have anything other than "thank you SO much" to offer.

Even WITH the dinners, Ben is still staying up until 1 or 2 AM, so I cant imagine if he was cooking & cleaning up the dishes after on top of the rest.  :(

Now, back to the pride about my hair, face, and house...ummm...that all went out the window 9 weeks ago.

I am not allowed to shower every day, so I get 3 showers each week. The days in between, I have to take my nappy oily hair and put it in a messy bun on top of my hair.  The bun itself isnt bad, but I just "cringe" at the brushed back part.  I've gone from full faces of makeup to throwing on some BB cream and mascara...and I wear the 3 same t-shirts and 3 pairs of yoga pants each week.  I've learned to "sponge bathe" in between showers...and it's all just had to be ENOUGH.  

And then, there is my house...oh my house...I paid to have it cleaned about 3 weeks ago & it isnt too bad.  BUT, there are dishes in the sink and clutter that about drives me bananas.  HOWEVER, I dare not ask Ben to put down his grad school stuff to pick up something because it bugs ME.  Currently, I am looking at a pile of empty boxes in my living room.  They simply need to be broken down and moved to the garage...but, they can wait.  There are other things that take precedence.  This has all been a HUGE lesson to me as we have had people in & out of the house so much.

In the past, when I have gone into people's homes, I couldn't CARE LESS if they had boxes in the living room, papers on the bar, or dishes in the sink.  WHO CARES?  But...thats not how I responded when it was people coming in to MY house.  What I've learned...I dont have control over it.  There is NOTHING that I can do about it...so there is no reason for me to stress about it.  What I've REALLY learned??

NO ONE CARES.

The biggest thing that I have learned through this??  This is our season to receive blessings...and soon, we will be able to turn around and use our experience to bless others.  My Love Language has always been in gifts...I just sometimes become so blinded by my daily life, that I don't look for ways to bless those around me.  Let me tell you...that will change after Finleigh comes and after I am recovered from my c-section. 

I could go on & on about how blessed we are...except that I dont really know the words to use...other than BLESSED and THANK YOU to everyone who has served us.  We may not be able to repay the kindness...but we WILL pass it on.

And...on that note...the doorbell just rang with dinner!!

(please pray for his final tomorrow...I'm ready to see him relaxed..a little...at least until BABY DAY!!)

Easter

Today hasn't been the best.  I am starting to get very sore and tired of flipping from one side to the other!  We were SUPPOSED to be in Lubbock w/ Ben's family this weekend.  Easter spent alone has always been something that bums me out. To me, it's a day that everyone is enjoying family and the times that we haven't been w/ family are a bit of a letdown.  On those other occasions,  we've tried to do something "special" like a special lunch/brunch.  This year, we were going to GO and actually be with family.  

I am SO very thankful to be at home and still have my little miss in my belly...and NOT in the hospital or worried about a preemie in the NICU.  BUT...today has been tough.  Not only are we NOT with family, but we weren't even able to enjoy our church family this morning. Sundays are usually the toughest days of the week anyway (there are only so many times I can watch House Hunters or Diners, Drive-Ins, & Dives before they start repeating)...so today is just BLAH. 

When we went to bed last night, Ben said that he was going to get up and get doughnuts and chocolate milk and bring it to me in bed.  Well, he "forgot."  Obviously he doesn't understand the pregnant ladies' NEED for food that she's promised.  I MIGHT have actually dreamed about it last night. 

HOWEVER, the part of today that is NOT blah is the REASON for Easter! 
We are blessed beyond words to get to celebrate the empty tomb and our risen savior!!!  Despite the devil's desire to damped my day, he cannot take away the fact that death was defeated and we serve a living God!!
Praise Him!

So, I will leave you today with the video that  I post every Easter.
"New Again" by Brad Paisley & Sara Evans (from the soundtrack from The Passion)

The infamous "orange drink"

The day that I was put into the hospital, I was supposed to do my 1 hour glucose test.  Well, I was sent from the perinatologists office straight to L&D and then to a hospital room.  I was instructed to NOT eat or drink ANYTHING before I completed the test. 

For those lucky ones who havent taken the test...this test entails drinking a very sugary orange drink and then waiting an hour to have your blood drawn. I have heard such horrible things about the drink.  Most people describe it as a really thick, but flat orange soda.  

Let me divulge a bit about myself...I dont do well having to drink/eat things that are gross.  Who does, right? 

(remember the Maalox from the last post?)

 But, I seriously have an issue with it.  I've had enough medical tests run in my life w/ nasty things to drink and I dont usually make it through.  I usually end up w/ a sympathetic nurse who pours it out and says "oh look, you are done!" as she winks.  So, to say that I was dreading this was an understatement.

My hospital nurse brought the drink to me and luckily it was cold.  Before she left I asked for a straw and she looked at me like I was crazy.  I explained that I planned to "shove it down my throat and bi-pass my tongue."  Her response was "You arent going to gag yourself are you?"  Ha.  I assured her that I knew what I was doing and she brought a straw.  

I started drinking and it wasnt TOO bad.  I stopped to tell Ben something and that was the worst part...the super sugary drink in the back of my throat made me cough for a bit.  So, I stopped talking and just drank the rest as fast as I could.  I finished!  I left a drop for Ben to try, but he wouldnt.  Chicken.

I didnt notice myself feeling TOO bad. I mean, I was already hungry b/c it was 12:30 by this point...and I had already been upset most of the morning...so I didnt notice a change in anything.  My blood was drawn an hour later and then I ate a hamburger...just in case it was my last!  :) 

Whelp, I failed.  Dang.

My numbers were in the 150s & they want them below 135 (maybe?).

When my Dr came in later that day, I told him that I failed and we talked about what it could mean if I did have Gestational Diabetes.  He also explained that the 2 shots of steroids I would be getting would elevate my glucose levels...so I couldnt take the 3 hour test for another week.

(after you fail the 1 hour, you have to take one that lasts 3 hours and includes 4 needle sticks)

When I was released from the hospital, I made an appointment to see the perinatologist the following Thursday, a week later.  My OB said that he also wanted to see me that day and that I could do the 3 hr test as well.  His plan was that I could have my first blood draw (baseline) and drink the drink before my first appt, go see the peri, go back for a blood draw, go see him, and then go back to finish the test.

(all of these offices are in the same bldg at the hospital)

WELL...my peri appt was at 2:45 that Thursday.  My Dr said to just start the blood test around 2:30.  OK.  No problem.  Right?

When I got home and could think clearly, I realized that this was a FASTING test...so if I started at 2:30, I wouldnt get to eat until 5:30.  This didnt seem too healthy!  I emailed my OB nurse to ask her opinion, but didnt hear back (a rare glitch), so 2 days before the test, I called the lab to ask if they would even be open until 5:30.  I talked to a man and he explained that this was a BAD idea b/c being THAT hungry, the drink would make me sick.  He suggested that I come in at 11 and finish at 2, get something to eat and then go to the peri's office.  He ended the conversation with "ok, so we will see you at 11:00 on Thursday" but he never took my name or anything (which led me to assume that I didnt need an appointment).

OK, so I called my OB's office to see when I should see them.  

My OB's practice has 2 offices:  one at the hospital that is their OB office and one across the street that is their GYN office.  The Drs rotate being "on call" and seeing clients in the OB office.  This Thursday wasnt my Dr's day to be in the OB office, but he didnt have any open appointments across the street, either.  SO, they told me to come into the OB office around 11:15 and see Dr Hagood who was on call.

Got all that?

So, I started fasting at 10 the night before and got to the hospital to start the 3 hour test.  I signed in and said that I needed to start my 3 hr glucose test.  The lady behind the desk was obviously put off by this and got an attitude and said that they do those by appointment only and start at 8:30 in the morning because it's a fasting test and did I fast? I explained that I did fast and that my Dr didnt say anything about making an appt, but said that I could just go in.  I also explained that I talked to a guy at the lab who said to come in on Th at 11, but didnt take my name.  Under her breath she said "so you obviously didnt have an appointment" as she sighed very loudly and huffed to turn to her computer.  She asked my name to look up the order...and of course couldnt find it.

So, Ben and I walk to the Drs office...2 doors down...I am about in tears (I cry when frustrated)...have been on my feet too long...so we walk in and I just sit down.  Ben went to talk to the receptionist.  There was some confusion, so I was called back to talk to the nurse.  They didnt have the records of my 1 hr test, so I explained that it was done in the hospital.  She was then able to look it up and was working on getting the order for the 3 hr recorded,  but had computer problems.  Of course!

The nurse was very sympathetic that it was 11 AM and that I had been fasting.  She kept saying "you poor thing, we usually do these so early!"  I was a little shaky, but told her I could make it until 2.  She got the order working on the computer, but couldnt get it to print...so she sent me back to the lab and told me to tell them that it was on the computer.  Great.  My bestie behind the desk wasnt thrilled with this, either.  They were having the same computer problems, and she couldnt get it to come up...but she said to go ahead and start.  Thank the Lord! And, thank the LORD that she wasnt the one drawing my blood!!!

A guy came in and drew my blood for the baseline test and then brought me the dreaded drink.  Luckily, this time he brought the fruit punch flavor.  I have heard better things about this one.  No straw this time.  It actually wasnt bad, but I still have the stinging in the back of my throat when I stopped to talk.  The lab guy explained that a lot of women start feeling queasy, so they have a bed that I could lay down in if needed.  I let him know that I had a appt w/ the OB after this draw, but that I was supposed to be on bed rest...so I would take him up on it later.

Back we walk to the OB's office.  It was pretty crowded, so we had to wait in the waiting room for a bit.  I was reading "The Duck Commander Family" on my phone while we waited. I wasnt feeling GREAT, but wasnt feeling too bad.  I had this.

Or so I thought.

After I sat for a while, I started feeling VERY queasy.  I started shaking and getting hot.  I just handed Ben my phone and said "I cant even bookmark this" and "I need to lay down."  He asked what I had said b/c I had whispered it.  I said, more desperatly, "I need to lay down, ask them if I can lay down" and then waited about 2 seconds before I said "never mind" and had to jump up to run to the bathroom.

Yep.  Up came the fruit punch.  A lot of it.

The bathroom is right across from the nurse's station, so when I walked out she just gave me the biggest look of pity and said "you poor thing, just sit here, I think you are next anyway."  I asked if that was going to ruin the test and she said it had been down long enough not to effect it.  I was weighed (which was down 9 lbs from my last appt) and she took my blood pressure (which wasnt the prettiest after my time in the bathroom and the craziness of the morning).  Anyway, we saw Dr Hagood and heard the babies heart beat and talked over a few things.  She did say that it seems like everyone fails the 1 hr test while in the hospital, so we were crossing our fingers that this one worked out!

After the appt, we walked BACK to the lab and sat in the waiting room for about 5 minutes until they called me back for my blood draw.  This one was supposed to be at 12:15 and he called me back a few minutes early, I assume to get everything ready and draw it right on time.  After he drew it, I asked to lay down and they sent us down to a room that had an exam table in it w/ a strange cotton ball filled plastic pillow.  It was SO nice to be able to lay down and read for the next hour!!  

A few minutes early, 1:10 ish (assuming I would give it a few minutes like they had the last time), I walked down to the office and peeked my head in and said "I'm ready for my next draw" to which my bestie replied to the other woman in the room (w/out even looking at me) "she has 4 minutes.  she's at 15 after."  OK.  Yes ma'am.  So, I walked across the hall to the room where they were drawing my blood and sat down.  I THEN hear front desk girl give a rendition of how I came in with an attitude and "told her..." and gave a very dramatic & attitude filled account of how the morning had gone.  I was a bit shocked!  I was thinking "honey, if you want attitude, I can give you attitude, but I dont think being on the verge of tears this morning is anything to roll your neck around at."  Oh the drama!  

The other girl came in and drew my blood (she was very nice as was the guy who did all of the other draws) and I walked back into the room w/ the bed where Ben was waiting.  I gave him an impersonation of the story I had just heard...complete with finger waving, lip smacks, and neck rolling.  I laid back down and kept reading until the last draw at 2:15.  This time, I waited the appropriate ammt of time, thankyouverymuch.

At 2:15, we FINALLY finished the test and headed down to the 1st floor and shared a sandwich and chips from the cafe.  We THEN headed upstairs for the peri appt at 2:45 and were SUPER pleased to find out that everything was holding steady with my cervix.  AWESOME NEWS!!!

I came home and fell promptly fell asleep.  You know, nothing like a nap from 5-7PM to ensure a great night's sleep!

The next day, I got a message from my Drs office about the test.

I HAD PASSED!!!  THANK THE LORD for some good news!!!!!!!!!!!!!

From the fasting to the  rude lady at the lab to the puking to the late nap...this is a day that I hope I dont have to repeat anytime soon!

Things Learned While on Bed Rest (Hospital Style)

1. Always accept the Ambian when offered.


2. Ambian only lasts me a good 5 hours...so in order to avoid being wide awake at 4 AM, it shouldnt be taken at 11 PM


3. Hospitals should have beds and then special beds for those confined to them.  Ouch on ye ol' hips!


4. A good pregnancy pillow is a MUST and a life saver! 


5. A noise machine app on the phone is heaven sent!


6. When you have heartburn, they order Maylox


7. Swallowing the Maylox MAY be the worst part of the whole hospital stay


8. Dramatic gagging may come from said Maylox while the husband just laughs


9. Hoarding straws from the meals comes in handy to get Maalox down


10. I love Presby Perot.  Well, as much as one can love a hospital.  


11. The food, however, has gone down since my last stay.  :(


12. There is nothing better than the Presby water glass...and the unlimited ice water! 


13. Seriously...it's the little things.  


14. E!, Bravo, TLC, and The Food Network are a few channels that need to be added to the TV list


15. Clothes from home make ALL the difference in the world!


16. My husband has a wonderful job & a great boss (they send flowers & bring activities!)!



17. Friends who are NICU nurses at the hospital are always a plus...and a blessing!


18. And sometimes they scare the crap out of you...and it helps. :)


19. Setting goals is always important.



20. Making those goals makes for an exciting day!


21. Ben is a heavy sleeper, and for that, I am SO thankful!


22. My husband is THE BEST.



23. Our little girl is STUBBORN & likes to hide from the monitors.


24. I love to hear her little heart beat and feel her kicks!
25.  She is BEAUTIFUL!