Can We All Say TEN WEEKS? (Day 70)

It's a good thing this is coming to an end on Monday. 70 days in the hospital is just to hard to wrap my mind around. It doesn't even feel like reality to me sometimes.
So I was waiting this morning (in my flattering little hospital gown that barely covers the back) when Dr. Lovelace came in for his daily visit -- with a wheelchair. Of course, I immediately cleared my busy schedule for a ride over to his office for an ultrasound.
It was mixed.
First the good news: Dr. Lovelace thinks the baby's lung fields have grown a little. He showed me where the lungs are-- but can't determine how "developed" they are. He and the Neo-natalogist think he'll be okay. That was our biggest worry. He may still have to be on a ventilator and intubated-- but things are looking up.
The rest of the news isn't really bad-- it's totally all expected. He has only grown 4 ounces in nearly two weeks. He is now measuring at about 30 weeks and 4 or 5 days--- when he should be at 34 weeks and 3 days. So he's fallen behind even more. But, we knew this would happen and have reached the point where he is stalled and will do better outside of the womb. Dr. Lovelace spent some long minutes deciding whether to take him today or wait until Monday as scheduled. He opted for Monday. He doesn't feel it will make any difference on Spartacus' health or growth and he has already discussed the situation and what to expect with the team scheduled to work the NICU on Monday. Plus, it sounds like there may not be quite as many specialist working the weekend shift.
Oh, one more thing. The baby's bladder is looking like it is still having problems draining. The right Ureter (no idea how to spell that one) is backed up or perhaps has a cyst and his right Kidney is inflamed. Dr. Lovelace assures me that all that should easily be taken care of after birth. The lungs are the bigger issue and today better news.
One other thing of interest-- I have been given the okay to "stand" (not walk or exercise) for 3 minutes this morning. Four minutes this afternoon. Five minutes Saturday morning. Six minutes Saturday afternoon. You get the idea. You can all call me Mrs. Withers. Since I've withered down to about nothing. Lovely.
On the family front-- Holland and Greer are off to a movie with their other girl cousins. Reese is going with my mom to pick up my dad at the airport this afternoon and then coming up here. Reese ended up with 4 bee stings-- but the magic concoction our friend put on her -- has worked. Not a peep of complaint today. Byron is headed up this evening. Maybe, just maybe, we'll come up with a possible few names. Geez, it's not like we haven't had much time...

Back in the saddle (Day 69)

I'm feeling much stronger mentally today. I think I just needed to have an emotional day. Better than keeping it bottled up, eh? Dr. Lovelace has me scheduled for 7 a.m. on Monday morning. It's really real! Stacy is all set up with my password to update this blog with any and all baby news. Liz, my fav. nurse (who is working Monday and if all the moons are aligned will hopefully get to go with me and help deliver Spartacus) told Dr. Lovelace this morning that the doctors in NICU were wanting to talk with him to strategize about the birth and discuss whether or not to do another round of steroid shots (to boost the baby's lungs). I've already had them twice-- but the last time I had them was back at 28 weeks. Remember, I'm now just past 34 weeks. So we'll see. It's comforting to know so many bright minds are already working to make sure all goes as well as possible on Monday.
All the grandkids (including my 3) came up to visit after the zoo and lunch at "Old" McDonalds. In all, ten kids and three adults came into my room. They were actually quite good-- especially the adults! The Texas cousins are headed over to my house right now to play. Reese just got stung by a bee while jumping on the trampoline. So hopefully, the tears will have dried by the time they arrive.
Finally, last night, about 60 teenagers and youth leaders did a service project at our house and Grandpa Bodily's next door. The army of teens cleaned windows, the house, mowed the lawn, weeded and on and on. I bet is was an amazing site! Thank you!

Deep Breaths (Day 68)

I've been really quite emotional last night and today. I think I'm allowing myself to get a bit afraid of what Spartacus will be like when he's born and what's really ahead of us.
During monitoring last night, I had a pretty hard contraction and the baby's heartbeat deceled. It happened again this morning-- but not as severely. Dr. Lovelace said the baby can handle some stress during delivery-- so we'll still try for an induction but be ready for the big C-section. I am on the schedule for MONDAY. And maybe that is why I'm a bit freaked out-- this not knowing what problems he will have or won't is really difficult. Where's my strength? Where's my faith? I expected the emotions to hit on the day of his birth, certainly not this early.
But please don't call and have me "talk" about my feelings. I do better if I don't talk about it. It's only noon and I've already cried to Byron, my childhood friend April, Stacy in Arizona and my nurse. So enough of the drama. There's nothing I can do. I need to get back in that calm mode until I have a reason to cry. Deep breaths. Deep breaths.
My sister-in-law, Rachel and her three children flew in last night from Austin, TX. My mom, my two sister-in-laws and all ten of the grandchildren are at the zoo as I write this. They are coming up here to say hello sometime this afternoon. I'm looking forward to the chaos. My girls were so excited to see the cousins. My little brother, Marc and my dad both fly in on Friday. Saturday-- we have a huge family extravaganza planned (at my house because we all thought I'd be home by now). All I can say is thank heaven for video and digital cameras!

It's Getting Better All The Time..... (Day 67)

I thought I'd quote the Beatles in my title today. Things are looking up as far as an exit strategy. Dr. Lovelace told me this morning that he "reserves the right to induce the baby on Sunday" (a day or two earlier than the Monday or Tuesday we've talked about). YIPPPEEEEE. That's only four full days left before Sunday. I can do this!
Actually, I've felt for the last week and a half that nothing would happen until Dr. Lovelace induced the baby at about 35 weeks.
Clear back in May, before Byron and I rushed to the hospital (for my very long staycation), Byron and my neighbor Lee "Grandpa" Bodily gave me a Priesthood blessing. In that blessing, Byron made the statement "that I would have the faith to carry this baby full term". Believe me, as I've been confined to this bed and gone through many severe ups and downs in here... I've wondered what in the world that statement was supposed to mean. I now know that with my condition the furthest the Doctor can medically let me go is 35 weeks. And since I've about made it to that point, I believe that's what was meant by the statement in the blessing. I guess I should have had more faith all along!
Oh yes, lest I forget. Today is week 34. My wall of certificates now looks like a complete rainbow. 10 of 'em. All is good and balanced in the world.

Ho Hum. (Day 66)

It's Monday-- again. But hey, only a week left for sure. I can do this. I'm totally back to normal. This roller coaster body of mine is back in the waiting game zone. I don't have anything to report on the medical front. Monday's are surgery days for Dr. Lovelace-- so he came in quite early and woke me up this morning. After he asked me all the regular questions and checked my belly-- I remember him asking me if I had any questions. Prepare yourself for my profound answer-- uh, huh. Then I went back to sleep. Tomorrow will be my day to ask him whether next Monday or Tuesday is baby day.
Byron did bring the girls up yesterday for a visit. Greer is fine and no one else has come down with the stomach bug. Phew. We had a lovely visit-- Reese and I worked on her sticker book and I did her fingernails. She made it very clear to me that she does not want a baby brother. She's adamant Spartacus come out as a girl. Oh my. Where did we get such a pistol? Holland and Greer brought beautiful new hand colored pictures to decorate my room. "Mom, close your eyes for a big surprise"!!! My mom also came by to tell us what a great time she had at her high school reunion.
My buddy Gary Gwin (who just moved here a week ago from San Diego) came up for a visit as well. He shared with me an experience he had concerning myself and little Spartacus. He left me feeling very comforted and blessed. What great friends I have!

Here We Go... Not! (Day 65)

Last night was another one of those doozies. I was on the phone with my friend, Jeanne when I all of a sudden felt awful-- clammy, sweaty, a pounding headache, pain ramping up on my right side and some gushing. I didn't want to alarm her, so I pushed my nurse call button and got off the phone. By the time the nurse got in here, I was in so much pain I couldn't even get up out of bed for the bathroom. I reached another new level of low (in the humiliation department) when the nurse had to help me in the bathroom. Okay, enough of that. I was on monitors for nearly 3 hours (fun) and was having some pretty regular contractions and constant pain. Of course, after a long, long night and Byron ready to come in at any minute-- I've settled down. I'm still having "some action" as far as irritation in my uterus and contractions-- but nothing compared to last night. And thankfully, the severe pain is gone.
No one knows what that was all about. Dr. Lovelace thought it was an infection coming on-- but since I'm in no pain today-- he now thinks the baby was putting some pressure on my uterine wall. For the amount of pain I was in, Spartacus must be the strongest baby in the world! Good for him.
My mom had a fabulous time at her 50th high school reunion last night. She's going to a gathering/picnic this afternoon. Greer is home sick from church-- she vomited on and off yesterday. But is fine today. I'm guessing Byron and the girls won't be up for their regular Sunday visit because of that. What a bummer.

The end is in site... (Day 64)

Another day. Dr. Lovelace came in this afternoon and I have nothing to report (all is the same) other than we had an interesting conversation revolving around healthcare. I had just finished watching an interview with one of the former top executives of Cigna on the Bill Moyers Journal on PBS (this is a fascinating view). Talk about eye opening. If you want an insiders view on all of the manipulation going on in Washington D.C.-- look it up.
Byron came up last night with some fresh, blackberry cobbler (berries from our garden) and tomatoes. He used his mom's recipe and I swear he is now the most popular visitor on the night shift. My cousins came by and we all talked way too late. They left, I went to sleep and I think Byron left around 2a.m. It was nice to have some quiet cuddle time.
This weekend is my mom's 50 year high school reunion. So she's off to that tonight and tomorrow afternoon. I'm sure she'll be the hottest girl there. Good thing nothing is going on here with me. One more weekend ahead of me...