A little nervous... (Day 52)

Okay, first thing this morning (seven something) as Dr. Lovelace was leaving -- oh gee, how do I say this delicately? I had a huge gush of blood. My nurse put me on the monitors for TWO hours-- ug. Spartacus looked fine but I was averaging 6 contractions an hour. It's now settled down to one every 25 minutes. And I feel slightly crampy. So things have changed a bit today. I, once again, feel off. But am hopeful to have things keep slowing down and stay on bed arrest for a few more weeks.
I guess (including the 300 pound woman who delivered in such a hurry on Friday) they've had three women deliver this past weekend. I'm the last hold-out to still be this unit with my amniotic fluid ruptured. In fact, the nurse told me this morning they've been waiting for me. Didn't like that comment at all!!! I think she was trying to be a comedienne. I did hear one of the pregnant women being rushed over to Labor and Delivery. I heard a huge commotion outside my door this morning at about 3:45 a.m. So I figured another one had "left the building". It all happens so quickly around here. I know with one of the women... she was fine at the top of the hour, looked the best she had in days but felt slightly crampy. Her baby was born within the hour. So I am trying to be very good today and stay down and in bed.
My mom has opted NOT to bring the girls up today. They all say they really wanted to come up again-- but I suspect its not about seeing me but buying huge gumballs from this cool machine in the lobby. So they are off to the library instead.
They did come up for a few hours yesterday afternoon. The Brinton's and their children had come up earlier and played some really fun card games with me. My girls came bursting in with Reese carrying a huge shopping bag to show me many of the presents she had received for her birthday. They also brought me a piece of -- yes, you guessed it-- pink coconut cake. Byron played videos of all the birthday celebration for me-- so I felt almost like I was there. I'll try and load some video today-- but at least some pictures. I've learned the shocking and painful lesson that life (birthday parties) can go on without me and the kids seem just fine.

A Full Sunday (Day 51)

Sunday is the perfect day for me to list some of the many things I am thankful for (in no particular order)…
* Uncountable miracles
* Clean sheets every day and a cushiony egg crate mattress.
* A baby in my stomach who knows the meaning of “fight”.
* A husband who can do anything and everything—including throw a 3 year old the perfect party. I love my man!
* Kind, compassionate and capable nurses.
* A big brother who happens to be my most faithful visitor.
* Prayers, fasting and Priesthood Blessings.
* My amazing parents who have made so many sacrifices—for me.
* Three little girls who get wildly excited just to talk to their mother on the phone.
* The widest circle of incredible friends—who bring me treats, books, flowers and most of all laughter and hugs that keep me sane.
* Les Rose’s daily “dose” of YouTube music videos.
* Phone calls from my dearest, far-away friends.
* The re-enforcement that cable TV is a total waste of time and money.
* Loving friends who have stepped in to be surrogate parents to my children.
* Church members (some I’ve never met) who have brought in meals, helped weed the garden and cleaned my house.
* Daily doctor visits from a medical whiz who is singularly focused on giving this baby boy the best chance at survival.
* Hospital Internet
* The young men (and adult driver) who come clear downtown to bring me the Sacrament each Sunday.
* Hope and Faith (still…)
* Absolute proof and confidence that I am very loved—by family, friends, my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

My Golden Anniversary (50 days)

I've been waiting to mark my 50 days in here so I could joke about my 50th Anniversary and every day being the equivalent of a year in here (sometimes that feels true)-- but I'm not up for much joking today. I woke up at 4am with some... well ... (is there another way to say gushing?) and Spartacus practicing Rugby. Since then I have felt nauseous and a bit off. I just want to curl up and sleep today. I've been thinking how absolutely impossible it would be to stay here in bed day after day if I felt lousy. I'm so very, very thankful that has not been the case.
Dr. Lovelace came in and I told him how I felt. He said, not to freak me out (my words) but he believes when it's my time to deliver it will most likely happen quickly. Things will change rapidly-- so to watch for infection, fever, cramping and more contractions. I had a good one, by the way, while he was examining me. But I still feel I'll be in here for a while longer.. so don't everyone go getting worried!
As an example of how fast things move, Dr. Lovelace told me about a patient who was in here until yesterday. He said she was fine yesterday morning and in fact, looked better (less contractions) than she had all week. And then she crashed.
Let me set the stage: my nurse's assistant had just come in to take my temperature. I was eating a hot lunch so she told me to finish, wait a while and push my call button. I did all that, pushed my button and seriously-- about 45 seconds later it was crazy outside my door. I heard nurses running and yelling and all kinds of commotion. The woman had gone into labor two doors down and the nurses did not think they could get her down the hall to labor and delivery-- so they were calling for the tray that holds all the sterile stuff (I know, love my medical terms) to deliver. I guess, they felt like they might be able to make it... so they wheeled the nearly 300 pound woman-- in her bed and everything out of our unit to L & D. Dr. Lovelace was just closing up in surgery, he said. So his partner took over and he went and delivered the baby-- two minutes after she arrived!!!! Never a dull moment in here. I find it all fascinating, as long as it's not me being the fascinating case!
Today is Reese's 3rd birthday and I'm feeling a little bad that I am not at home orchestrating a birthday celebration. She's at a good age to not expect a big production-- but I struggle with missing out on these milestones. It doesn't help that Greer called me the other night to tell me that I just had to come home-- that I needed to be home for Reese's birthday because 3 is a really big deal. Can we say dagger to my heart? Sorry to whine. I'll quit that. She's in great hands. Pictures will be coming-- but they called this morning to tell me all about the big camp out on the lawn and breakfast cooked over the grill... and all the presents she opened (including the most awesome PINK magic fairy wand from Elly and Ron). And my mom just called to say Eureka-- she found a white coconut cake and the lady in the bakery "sprayed" it pink. Did anyone know that little bakery secret-- that they spray the colors on the frosting??? So all is well at home and we will have one happy little girl-- tired but happy for tonight's family BBQ.
My mom did bring the girls up yesterday and Reese told me she was going to be the "birthday boy"! I said... are you sure? And she thought for a minute and then said, "No, I'm going to be the birthday sister"!! Ah, how their little minds work. It was probably more hilarious if you had been here... rather than me writing it. But I want to remember it, so there.
I think one of my nurse friends (they've all become my friends since I'm the patient that won't go away) felt sorry for me today. Debbie has a light patient load-- (I'm not even her patient today) so she took me out for a wheelchair ride. It was such a nice diversion. She took me in this area of the hospital that has all of these historical pictures of the hospital when it looked like a large Victorian house in 1902 and then how it has changed through the years. There were also all these cool pictures of nurses from the early 1900's all the way up through the days during WW II. I loved it. Plus, we went outside for a spin. The sun felt so nourishing on my lily white skin-- it's supposed to be a record breaker today-- 103 degrees. Back to my 70 degree room.

It's Official: 7 Weeks in here!!! (Day 49)

Whew!! Just dodged a close one. Fridays and Mondays are surgery days for Dr. Lovelace. So after monitoring this morning I thought I'd sneak in a quick shower. I literally had my clean clothes in hand when Dr. Lovelace walked in. I just need to learn to be a patient patient. I certainly don't want a shower interview again. I have enough humiliation in here without pulling that stunt again.
Dr. Lovelace says it looks like I am having one good contraction an hour. He says that's totally normal for a pregnancy at this stage and once again, it is amazing since I've lost all of my amniotic fluid that I have not had an early on-set of contractions. He said quote-- I have one quiet uterus. Quiet in that way, yes but geez, every time the baby moves, I feel like my entire insides are being shifted. Once again, a "benefit" of having no fluid.
I have my favorite daytime nurse assigned to me today. But I'll likely see little of Liz. She's also been assigned to the floor's "problem patient"-- a woman who has "fired" other nurses from her room, is very demanding and time consuming. Can you imagine? I can see how someone would get crabby in here but she sounds very extreme.
Once again, I was very spoiled yesterday with friends bringing in fresh salsa and chips, Butterfinger milkshakes (the drive-in actually gave them an extra one-- so Byron was very happy) and Juliet an old friend (she's not old and neither am I-- we just go way back) from KPNX-- sent me a huge box of gourmet brownies. I'm starting to get the feeling there is a conspiracy out there to fatten me up!!! Spartacus looked good on monitoring so he's liking the non-hospital, yummy treats as well. And all the laughter that goes on in this room. I have very entertaining friends!
By the way, Reese slept great last night. The antibiotics are working and she's feeling good today. Tonight is the start of her big birthday soiree'. Byron and the girls will pitch tents in the yard tonight for the much requested "camping" portion of her beeday. My friend has the girls for half the day today-- to give Saint Dee (my mom's new nickname) a break and a chance to get some errands done on her own.

Made it to another massage day!! (Day 48)

In case you have forgotten-- I know I have not-- today is massage day. 30 minutes of absolute bliss to help with the bed aches. 1pm can't come soon enough. Spartacus has looked good in his monitoring last night and today. He had a little decel-- not a big one-- last night... so I only earned 30 minutes of extra monitoring instead of an hour. I guess I should clarify that-- he earned me...
Dr. Lovelace said all looks good to keep steaming ahead. We had a long talk about the proposed changes in healthcare and how the government is good at enforcement but not great at running anything. I hear a huge sucking sound in the future as we throw gobs of money at a healthcare plan that will probably screw things up even more (however, I do believe something needs to be done-- especially since I currently have a front row seat to out of control health care costs). Okay, enough of a soapbox.
Reese slept decently last night. Oh, praise be to antibiotics. She's still "edgy" today-- but much, much improved from the last two days. It's been too quiet without my "circus triplets" coming up to visit. Maybe tonight.

There are now 47 hash marks on my wall. (Day 47)

I just had the yummiest lunch and the best company. Nope, it wasn't hospital food (shocking!!!)... my friends brought up Costa Vida (fresh Mex/Tex) for lunch. It was killer. Linda Stevens, Colleen Riggs and Caran Daley are hilarious. We laughed and laughed-- it was just what I needed. Notice, I didn't fall for the old cliche' "just what the doctor ordered".
Reese was up half the night again with an earache that is not getting better. And when she woke up with a fever this morning, my mom couldn't get her into the doctor's office fast enough. She threw up twice too. The Pediatrician says she has a full blown ear infection in one ear and one starting in the other. Poor little thing. All she wants is to come up and see her mommy. I'm hoping the antibiotics kick in and she can come up soon. For sure, she has to be better for her big birthday celebration starting Friday night. Actually, it's going to be pretty low key-- that's all Byron can handle right now. Byron is planning on tent camping with the three girls on the upper lawn (geez, I can't figure out why my mom is opting to sleep in the bed in the house). They will roast marshmallows and make smores Friday night over the fire and then cook breakfast on the grill Saturday morning. It's the closest we could come to camping with all that is going on. Remember, all Reese has talked about for the past six months is that she wants to go "camping, swimming and have a pink coconut cake" for her birthday. Then they will head down to Grandpa Bodily's house for the swimming part. My mom is hoping to find a grocery store bakery that can pull together a pink coconut cake. Greer called me the other night and after telling me how much she missed me-- she said I needed to get home for Reese's birthday... that this is a really big birthday that I just can't miss. Reese is turning 3. This is when I really struggle with being stuck in here. Yes, I should be home for this really big birthday and to hold my sick little baby who just wants her mommy. Thankfully, thankfully, thankfully, my mom is there to hold her and Byron is there in the evenings. I keep telling myself we will all get through this with the need for minimal counseling.
Spartacus (let me once again reinforce the fact that this is just a nickname) looked pretty flat or perhaps sleepy today. I'm about to go on again... so hopefully, he'll be wide awake and live up to his name. Dr. Lovelace's visit this morning was highly entertaining. We hardly talked about the baby or my condition (since all seems about the same). Instead we talked about crooked politicians, the infamous Sheriff Joe Arpaio in Phoenix, the Grizzly Diaries and many other random subjects. When this hospital stay is finally over, I'm really going to miss Dr. Lovelace's daily visits.

Yikes, I forgot...

I can't believe I forgot that today is one of those milestone days. First, I made it to 31 weeks (today). I'll have another certificate on the wall (number 6). I also have my weigh in each Tuesday and guess what????? I finally gained some weight instead of losing. I have gained 2 pounds and 8 ounces since last week. I know it sounds a little funny to be in this position-- but I've been losing even though I've been eating like a horse in here. So maybe I have no more muscle to lose. Actually, Dr. Lovelace ordered a hospital Physical Therapist to come and teach me some resistance exercises and stretches to do. To give you an idea of how much my body has deteriorated in here... my calves burn when I stand to brush my teeth. I even had a nightmare last week (I think it was last week, who knows?) that I was too weak to pick the baby up in the infant car seat. Dr. Lovelace heard my pleas and a few minutes ago the P.T. came in and walked me through a few things they will allow me to do. Phew!