Another Monday... (Day 38)

Well I made it through another weekend. In fact, tomorrow is another huge milestone-- a cause for celebration-- I'll be 30 weeks. And as I've mentioned earlier, its in the 30's that the baby will really grow-- approximately a half pound a week. I can't believe how many miracles we've experienced. I have to keep that in mind to overpower the doldrums of the day in and day out in the hospital.
Yesterday-- Sunday, went really fast. The Brinton family (from church) came up and spent the afternoon playing games. We played this strategic, yet hilarious card game called Scum. I haven't played it in probably 17 years!! Then Byron, my mom and the girls came up with dinner (homemade roast, mashed potatoes and corn). It was yummmy. Reese and Greer each brought books they'd checked out at the library. So we had fun reading those. They were both bear books. Our family seems to have an obsession with bears-- dating back to Byron's early encounters with bears out in the wild.
Dr. Lovelace is back in town. Phew! He told me this morning that my stomach actually looked a little bigger. He says everything is about the same with the baby and me... so we'll shoot for 32 weeks and try and test the amniotic fluid for a certain chemical or something like that -- that will show his lungs have developed. And then we'll decide from there. I did ask Dr. Lovelace what the longest possible time I could keep the baby in--- he said he hesitates to say-- because things can change and do change every day-- but the absolute longest he will now let me go is 35 weeks. Holy Cow!!! I can't even wrap my mind around being here another 5 weeks. I really think that would put Byron over the edge. He says he's already so used to me being gone-- it will be a real adjustment when I move back home... eventually. Ah, the twists and turns of life.

My Great Escape (Day 37)

I did make it out of my room to see fireworks last night. I know, naughty, naughty-- since it was against the fill-in doctor's orders. Byron pushed me in a wheelchair. There were three of us pregnant moms. We went up on the top floor (4th) of the parking garage with a nurse as our escort. I'll admit, I enjoyed being outside in the fresh air more than the perfect view of the fireworks. I haven't been outside since the end of May!!! And it was beautiful last night-- full moon, perfect weather etc. All went well, in fact, when I came back, my blood pressure was the best its been since I've been in here (I have extremely low blood pressure). Must have been the overdose of excitement. I know, I know, it doesn't take much to get me excited these days.

Spartacus looked great on the monitor last night (Byron was here)-- but looked flat this morning. The nurse loaded me up on juices again and by the end, he had more spark.

My mom took the girls and our box of fireworks over to a friend's house for a party and BBQ. I haven't heard about their adventures yet-- they had church first thing this morning and are all crashed out for naps as I write this.

My dear friend, Les has kept me entertained on the phone with his adventures covering Michael Jackson for the past gazillion hours straight. He and I worked together at KCBS in LA. He's now a network photographer-- and is today based at Forest Lawn Cemetery on the "burial" watch. He sent me these photos from his blackberry-- to show what media cluster it has been. I guess CBS is sending in 50 or 70 producers, photographers, editors and reporters from New York and Chicago to help cover this story and prepare for Tuesday's memorial circus. Les says that's more than they sent to cover the Democratic National Convention when it was in LA. I guess we all know what the masses really will care about and watch. Crazy.

This is outside the Coroner's office. I told him he should have his little boys set up a lemonade stand-- they could make enough to pay for their college and my hospital bills too!

This one is outside M.J.'s parents home.

And this one is just one satellite truck in a small city of sat trucks that is parked outside Forrest Lawn Cemetery. Les says the security guards for the cemetery are a bit edgy. Surprise, surprise.

If you are sick of all of the coverage, I apologize. I always think its interesting to see what's going on behind the video you see on your television.

Happy Fourth of July!!! (Day 36)

Yup. I'm still here. Stacy has already called to make sure everything was allright. I'm just very, very late in getting to this. (It's after 7pm). I had my blog all pulled up and ready to start when my friend, Rachelle showed up to give me a pedicure (bright red polish with fireworks on the big toes)! Then Byron came to spend the day with me (he's still here). My mom took the girls to a parade and my brother's house for a BBQ. Now they are headed over to Sally's house for a party and fireworks.
Remember I had told you the fill in doctor for Dr. Lovelace had put a big no on my foray to watch fireworks. The nurses (who I know oh, so well) said I already have a wheelchair order to go to craft day-- so if Byron wants to sneak me out to watch fireworks for a few minutes-- it's all okay. They think Dr. Christensen was just being overly cautious since I'm not his patient. So Byron is staying here and we have our great "escape" planned for 10 p.m. Can't wait to get out of this room!!!!
Spartacus looked just okay this morning during monitoring. But I have to say when Byron was here this afternoon he looked the best he's looked in a week. He must have perked up at hearing his dad's voice. We'll see if my theory holds for the 9p.m. testing. Hope everyone has a great 4th! I know I will-- I get to get out of here for 15 minutes.

Byron and Reese's Overnight Get-a-way

Remember I told you Byron had taken Reese on an overnight camping trip for his birthday. We'll here's the proof he survived. You can double click on the picture to get a good look at the Barbie fishing pole Byron is holding. (They didn't catch anything). Boy has life changed for Mr. Montana! They hiked in about a mile and a half to Blue Lake where there was still plenty of snow.

It rained a bit-- once they got their tents set up. Byron's brother, Craig and his son Brandon went with them.

Below is a picture of Zoe (our dog) and Blue (with the stick). Blue "parents" are in Holland on vacation. We have very few picture of Blue without a stick or log (no joke) in his mouth.

And finally, here's Reese in the tent where she attempted to sleep. I think she did okay. But Byron said with her moving in and out and all around-- he was lucky to get 2 or 3 hours. I'm impressed at how clean her face is...

Yikes!!! 35 Days today-- That's Five Weeks In Here!

Okay, I'll be honest, this is getting really old. But I'm determined to make it another two and a half weeks. Even though Byron and his brother Craig keep referring to my time here as a "stay-cation". Come now would you like to trade places with me? I do want to get to 32 weeks of pregnancy with Spartacus. All those prayers are definitely working. And even thought its a roller coaster in here, I'm feeling pretty calm. I had some cramping last night and then bleeding. But extra monitoring showed Spartacus looking just fine-- and no contractions on my part.

Dr. Christensen (Dr. Lovelace's partner) came in this morning. The nurse had told me to ask him if I could get a wheelchair pass for Saturday night to move to another side of the building to see fireworks over Boise. He gave me the big thumbs down. With my body being ruptured, placenta tearing and bleeding, and the baby at high risk for a cord accident etc. He doesn't want me anywhere but across from the O.R. Guess I'll settle for watching the show on TV. Somebody do a sparkler for me, okay?

Mary K, Jeannie and their mom, Mary brought Thai food up last night. Yum. It was so nice to have them hang out and keep my mind occupied.

On the girl world front-- I guess they had a pretty exciting night the other night. We are dog sitting the Moomey's dog: Blue. At 4am Zoe and Blue started going insane. Byron stumbled out of bed, found a flashlight and headed downstairs. Over the dogs barking-- he could hear a loud hissing and immediately thought it was a mountain lion (since we live in the foothills). By the time he got outside, the dogs had whatever it was up a big tree. Not wanting to stand directly under the tree, he stood to the side shining his flashlight. Finally, he spotted three sets of beady eyes staring at him. He said there were three massive raccoons hissing at him. He said they were the size of Reese! Guess they've been living high on all the neighbors garbage, dog and cat food.

Time keeps on slippin, slippin, slippin (name that tune) (Day 34)

It's kind of boggling my mind today to think that as of tomorrow, I will have spent five weeks in this hospital bed. That's crazy!!! My friend Cindy says someday I'll look back, read this blog and be amazed at how quickly time has gone. Don't know, that might take years to get to that point.

I have lots to report today. And many of you will be happy to know, none of it has to do with bodily fluids!!

I had a headache and slight fever last night. Since one of my big enemies in here is infection-- I was a tad apprehensive as to whether it would get worse. But I'm happy to report, as of this morning, I'm back to normal. So, phew.

Dr. Lovelace came in a little before 8 this morning and brought with him a portable ultrasound machine. These portables aren't very good-- the high level machines are in the maternal/fetal monitoring department and he would have to have another doctor conduct the ultrasound and then report back to him-- so now I know why he had me wheelchaired across the street to his office the last time. Anyway, Spartacus looked pretty darn good. As usual, there wasn't hardly any amniotic fluid-- but-- Spartacus had a full bladder, which means he's making amniotic fluid. Dr. Lovelace was not able to measure him with this machine-- but he did say Spartacus definitely looked bigger and appears to be growing. He is still head down-- but now face forward and his feet are curled up right next to his face. The doc says this is called Frank Breech (I think-don't quote me- my brain has gone to mush, right along with my body). Since the baby is so small, he shouldn't have any problems when it comes to delivery if he is still in this position. But listen to this... he said once Spartacus is born, he will likely curl up in his crib in that same position-- with his feet up to his face for a few days to a few weeks. He told me to make sure and get a picture of this because it won't last too long. Once again, he will likely need a little physical therapy to stretch those tendons or ligaments that didn't get much exercise in the womb. But he should be fine.

Dr. Lovelace is leaving town today and won't be back until Monday... so nothing better happen while he is gone.

On the homefront: my mom is doing great. She told me Reese did go down for a nap yesterday (and after my mom checked on her three times to make sure she was really down-- my mom was able to relax). They were heading to the park today for a picnic.

July 1st!! (Day 33)

It's so strange to have not been outside since the end of May. I hear it is quite hot outside (it's all relative to my friends in Vegas and Phoenix). Thankfully, I have a window where I can see trees and blue sky.
Dr. Lovelace did not make his rounds today until after 1pm!!!! So I was very, very late in getting my shower (remember I refuse to be caught in the shower again by my doc) and getting dressed. If you do not want to hear about bodily fluids-- please stop reading here.
I woke up this morning with some bright red blood. Since I've been in here, it's always been pink-- watered down by amniotic fluid. There wasn't a lot. But Dr. Lovelace says it may mean my body is ushering in a new phase... a phase that will eventually come. The placenta could be deteriorating even more or my uteris could be getting irritated. Who knows. We'll just keep monitoring the baby and plugging along. I debated whether to mention the details above-- but several of you want to know what is going on- so there you have it. I have no idea what it means-- I'm not worried. It just seems to fit the m.o. in here.. that all changes daily.
Everything gets put into persepective when I hear that my dear friend Bianca is literally in her last few minutes, hours or days of a 7 year battle with cancer. She is very much in my prayers.