I know that my sister and probably a few others...my mom and dad...would tell me to stop dwelling, which I'm not, but how do you forget a day that 13 years later you can remember moment for moment.
It was 13 years ago, on Nov. 29, that Chris was killed...along with his wife. Not my Chris, obviously, but the Chris that Christopher is being named for!
For those that didn't have the opportunity to meet him, I wish I could express how awesome he was! Now let me just say that his awesome-ness isn't only because he loved to help people, because he might just be one of the ornriest people I knew!
Many times Jason pulls things or says things that remind me of Chris and I just think...I wish you could have met him, but at times I'm glad you two can't co-conspire!
The day started off rough emotionally, because today is a day that I usually don't go anywhere, with the exception of last year for Jeff and Angie's wedding! Instead of being a hermit, I helped load my two little men up in the vehicle...okay so I sat on the couch while they left, but I got them ready...to travel to Paullina, Iowa, for Christmas with at their Great-Grandparent's.
It was very hard and emotional, but eventually was able to fall asleep and Jason and I woke up at 12:30! A much needed day to sleep in! They are almost back here and then we get to get things ready to GO HOME!!! YAY!
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Oh what a day...
My day started off with a call from Aunt Cathy to call and check on Chris and I. At that moment I had been awake for about 10 min and was feeling okay!
I was exhausted so moved out to the recliner and then once Jason got out and we got settled into our respective chairs...I passed out! When I woke up, I still wasn't feeling the hottest, but thought that I just may be still exhausted.
We ate lunch, gourmet macaroni and cheese prepared by Jason!! Jason was still stuck on turkey.
At about 1:30 my lower back started hurting in waves about every 2-3 min. My tummy wasn't hardening with each wave, but about every 15 min. This continued for about an hour before I called HOME to talk to Jolene! I know how to answer most of my questions when I am not the OB asking them!
The intermittent lower back pain progressed to the front of my abdomen and started in on a regular basis, but kept apart at about 10 min apart. I called the hospital down here to ask what they suggested, but their suggestion was to check in with my doctor at home!!!
I think I'm gonna send maps to all the hospitals in Omaha and suggest a geography lesson! Although it was a decent suggestion I could here Dr. Pete in my head going..."there isn't much I can do from here for you!" Of course though, he would give me suggestions. After that, I thought about calling Katie, a girl I wen to high school with that is an OB nurse in Sioux Falls! I just decided to grin and bear it!
I was also battling nausea off and on, but it improved long enough for me to eat a little something! Then I decided to take a shower and see if that would help! It helped alleviate the contraction discomfort for a little bit, but by the time I got out of the shower and hit the recliner again.
Now, I'm back to the recliner and the contractions are rotating between my back and my abdomen. My abdomen isn't getting tight with each one, so I will remain hanging out until they are every 5 min apart and I have to breath through them! I just keep praying that it is next week or the week after...in O'Neill!
I was exhausted so moved out to the recliner and then once Jason got out and we got settled into our respective chairs...I passed out! When I woke up, I still wasn't feeling the hottest, but thought that I just may be still exhausted.
We ate lunch, gourmet macaroni and cheese prepared by Jason!! Jason was still stuck on turkey.
At about 1:30 my lower back started hurting in waves about every 2-3 min. My tummy wasn't hardening with each wave, but about every 15 min. This continued for about an hour before I called HOME to talk to Jolene! I know how to answer most of my questions when I am not the OB asking them!
The intermittent lower back pain progressed to the front of my abdomen and started in on a regular basis, but kept apart at about 10 min apart. I called the hospital down here to ask what they suggested, but their suggestion was to check in with my doctor at home!!!
I think I'm gonna send maps to all the hospitals in Omaha and suggest a geography lesson! Although it was a decent suggestion I could here Dr. Pete in my head going..."there isn't much I can do from here for you!" Of course though, he would give me suggestions. After that, I thought about calling Katie, a girl I wen to high school with that is an OB nurse in Sioux Falls! I just decided to grin and bear it!
I was also battling nausea off and on, but it improved long enough for me to eat a little something! Then I decided to take a shower and see if that would help! It helped alleviate the contraction discomfort for a little bit, but by the time I got out of the shower and hit the recliner again.
Now, I'm back to the recliner and the contractions are rotating between my back and my abdomen. My abdomen isn't getting tight with each one, so I will remain hanging out until they are every 5 min apart and I have to breath through them! I just keep praying that it is next week or the week after...in O'Neill!
Friday, November 27, 2009
Amazing Husband!!
I know for many of you, hearing me sing his praises doesn't happen too often! I do a lot of complaining, but I thought it was about time I sing his praises, because after this week, he TOTALLY deserves it!
Today, Cindy, Jason's mom, took the boys to the Omaha Children's Museum and left Jason and I to the house by ourselves. In a way to help not only me and his mother, he cleaned the kitchen floor and entry way and emptied her dishwasher.
After that, he did 3, if not 4 loads of laundry, folded them and put them away. He did get a break for the Husker game and then he made tater tot casserole and chocolate milk shakes for 3 little boys, a pregnant wife, his sister and mother!
He did all of this while rubbing my feet and back when asked and not complaining. I'm not sure who this man is...but I am falling madly in love with him and hope he sticks around!
Even if it takes 3 more children to get him completely trained...I will greatly consider it! Okay...probably not!!
Today, Cindy, Jason's mom, took the boys to the Omaha Children's Museum and left Jason and I to the house by ourselves. In a way to help not only me and his mother, he cleaned the kitchen floor and entry way and emptied her dishwasher.
After that, he did 3, if not 4 loads of laundry, folded them and put them away. He did get a break for the Husker game and then he made tater tot casserole and chocolate milk shakes for 3 little boys, a pregnant wife, his sister and mother!
He did all of this while rubbing my feet and back when asked and not complaining. I'm not sure who this man is...but I am falling madly in love with him and hope he sticks around!
Even if it takes 3 more children to get him completely trained...I will greatly consider it! Okay...probably not!!
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Amnio Clarification
I realized last night in my hours of insomniac uncomfortable-ness, I had stated that Chris' amniocentesis came back immature, but didn't explain what Doc had said about it!
After the results came back immature and I was still contracting, I laid there and cried and cried and cried. I was so scared that if the contractions continued, I would have a baby that wasn't ready to be born and would end up on the vent!
It wasn't until the next morning when Doc explained that just because his lungs are immature, does not necessarily mean that he would be on a vent! He said that all he may need is a little oxygen.
Talk about calming a mother's nerves!!!
After the results came back immature and I was still contracting, I laid there and cried and cried and cried. I was so scared that if the contractions continued, I would have a baby that wasn't ready to be born and would end up on the vent!
It wasn't until the next morning when Doc explained that just because his lungs are immature, does not necessarily mean that he would be on a vent! He said that all he may need is a little oxygen.
Talk about calming a mother's nerves!!!
Proud Moment
For the last few weeks we have been drilling Matthewa about his numbers and colors and speech. This last couple weeks Aunt Mariclaire has been working on his alphabet!
Today, he came to me and handed me a piece of paper with his name on it! He had written his own name! No help, no nothing!!! Just an M-a-t-t!
I was so proud of him!!! I still have the paper! What a long ways he has come in a couple of weeks!!!
Today, he came to me and handed me a piece of paper with his name on it! He had written his own name! No help, no nothing!!! Just an M-a-t-t!
I was so proud of him!!! I still have the paper! What a long ways he has come in a couple of weeks!!!
Baking Continues
After a very rough night last night, the day didn't start off much better!
Last night I was uncomfortable and very restless. I was up and down and around and couldn't get come comfortable in bed. Jason rubbed my feet, my hands and my back over and over to get me comfortable, but it wasn't working!
I was up a million times throughout the night to get up and walk around or go to the bathroom. At one point I woke up with a lot of pressure in my rectum and got very nervous, but after walking around, it went away.
I woke up swollen and puffy and cramping something fierce! I just laid in bed and hoped for it to go away. After a little bit things slowed down and I got up and showered and Matthew helped me with my hair and make up! :) All of this to hit the couch in the living room! :)
I just didn't feel right...and obviously I didn't look like it because everyone commented on it!
The Thanksgiving table was brought to me and filled my belly! I began to feel better, but got tired!
The funny thing was that the louder the room got today, the more Chris decided to kick and head-butt me! Luckily nap time came for the kids and Chris settled down!
I still don't feel that awesome, but that's okay! The cramping kind of comes and goes, but that is normal for a pregnant woman on her third baby at 36 weeks. The only difference being I need it to calm down to keep this little one baking since his lungs are ready.
Last night I was uncomfortable and very restless. I was up and down and around and couldn't get come comfortable in bed. Jason rubbed my feet, my hands and my back over and over to get me comfortable, but it wasn't working!
I was up a million times throughout the night to get up and walk around or go to the bathroom. At one point I woke up with a lot of pressure in my rectum and got very nervous, but after walking around, it went away.
I woke up swollen and puffy and cramping something fierce! I just laid in bed and hoped for it to go away. After a little bit things slowed down and I got up and showered and Matthew helped me with my hair and make up! :) All of this to hit the couch in the living room! :)
I just didn't feel right...and obviously I didn't look like it because everyone commented on it!
The Thanksgiving table was brought to me and filled my belly! I began to feel better, but got tired!
The funny thing was that the louder the room got today, the more Chris decided to kick and head-butt me! Luckily nap time came for the kids and Chris settled down!
I still don't feel that awesome, but that's okay! The cramping kind of comes and goes, but that is normal for a pregnant woman on her third baby at 36 weeks. The only difference being I need it to calm down to keep this little one baking since his lungs are ready.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Never...EVER...again!
Holly, our DON at work, is always drilling in to us about how important the care we give our patients will make a lasting impression and makes their stay better! We know this, but we always want to make sure we are doing our best!
Katie, one of my co-workers shared a story of care at a large hospital that she had experienced, but I experienced it for myself in the last 24 hours!
When I first got to Creighton University Hospital last night the girls were very awesome at first to get me hooked up to the monitors and settled in. One of the residents came in and asked questions and said, I'm gonna go look at your stuff and then we will make a plan. 30 min later, a different resident came in and told me that the plan was to monitor me over night and if I "stabalized" I would go home in the morning!
Well...my straight face lasted long enough for the nurse to walk out of the room, but once the door clicked the tears came!
I was so frustrated! No one understood that yes, if my contractions stopped and I was sent home...I was 4 hours...AT LEAST from a NICU that could care for my baby if he needed it! Every nurse and resident kept saying...we are used to delivering babies at 35 and 36 weeks gestation! They weren't getting that although they were comfortable with it...we WEREN'T in O'Neill...which is where they were planning on sending me!
The nurse came back in to finish my admit and I verbally puked on her as to what I was upset about. 20 minutes later, this man in jeans and a pink t-shirt comes watlzing in my room and says...they tell me you want to speak to me...my response was...and you are? He THEN introduces him self as Dr. Basoon or something like that!
I said yes...we were under the impression that we were coming down here to have an amnio so that if Chris' lungs weren't developed we were in the right place to deliver!
His response was...you want an amnio...you can have an amnio...and in 15 min they set up, performed and were out of my room! It was 7:15 p.m.
The last thing the nurse that was supposedly taking care of me did was say something about my
"uterine irritability" that was clearly coming every 2 min and although they weren't mountains, I was feeling everyone of them! She said...oh they aren't that strong!
For those that are not in nursing or OB...the only way you can tell that is if you are feeling the woman's tummy contract or have a monitor inside the uterus that will tell you exactly how strong it is! She then said if I wanted to eat something I had better get it ordered. I was handed the menu with no instructions. I called and left a message at 7:20 p.m. and never did receive a tray.
It wasn't until midnight that the nurse came in my room! With that in mind, I had been to the bathroom twice and had repositioned myself multiple times. I guess I shouldn't say I repositioned myself...Jason was at my side to reposition me and help me to the bathroom! I also had locked my own IV at 10 p.m. because my bag of fluids was dry! I don't know if I was a bad patient or worse nurse to wait and see how long it would take for them to come in and check my IV!
The rest of the night, no one made any attempt to make me comfortable or help me reposition myself!!! Jason did EVERYTHING for me!
The next person to come in my room was at 620 this a.m. and that was the resident to tell me that since I stabalized over night and my cervix hadn't changed, I was going to go home today! I expressed my concerns that again...delivering an immature 36 weeker in O'Neill was COMPETELY different than at CUMC. She kind of blew off my concerns and stated she would talk with Dr. Basoon and let me know!
Now, supposingly my uterus stabalized over night...however, the monitor right under my breast doesn't tell what my uterus is doing...and not checking my cervix does not necessarily mean that it isn't changing it!
After all that, I called home to our OB manager and my primary physician to say...I wasn't happy and this is the plan and am I crazy for being worried! They said no...I wasn't crazy and Doc took the time to explain things further that was able to calm my nerves!
At 8 a.m. a breath of fresh air came in the room. My nurse for the day...Bari! She was the first to assess me beyond baby's heart rate, she was the first to ask how I was feeling, she was the first to tell us what the plan was at the time and she was the first person in 16 hours to offer me a drink of water!!!! The nurse also apologized for our trouble with ordering food too! She then took the time to sit down and talk with me about the plan of care and acknowedged my concerns! I could have kissed this woman!! (Okay, probably not, but I was happy!!!)
Now, after all of this, I'm not saying that as a nurse, we don't get busy with other patients and don't get to each patient the same amount of time, but I know that I check on my patient's more than 3 times a shift!
I have never so badly in the first 3 hours after an admission, wanted to sign out AMA and go somewhere different! I cried and cried and cried. I'm pretty sure that Jason has never seen a woman cry as much as I did yesterday! All I wanted was to get back home to a hospital that I know...knew would take better care of me!
I am also going to say that I know that others have been to this hospital, including family, and had great experiences...but I just couldn't believe that I was 3 hours form home and being treated like this! To them, I was the crazy pregnant crying lady!
I was happy to get out of that hospital! I practically ran!
Katie, one of my co-workers shared a story of care at a large hospital that she had experienced, but I experienced it for myself in the last 24 hours!
When I first got to Creighton University Hospital last night the girls were very awesome at first to get me hooked up to the monitors and settled in. One of the residents came in and asked questions and said, I'm gonna go look at your stuff and then we will make a plan. 30 min later, a different resident came in and told me that the plan was to monitor me over night and if I "stabalized" I would go home in the morning!
Well...my straight face lasted long enough for the nurse to walk out of the room, but once the door clicked the tears came!
I was so frustrated! No one understood that yes, if my contractions stopped and I was sent home...I was 4 hours...AT LEAST from a NICU that could care for my baby if he needed it! Every nurse and resident kept saying...we are used to delivering babies at 35 and 36 weeks gestation! They weren't getting that although they were comfortable with it...we WEREN'T in O'Neill...which is where they were planning on sending me!
The nurse came back in to finish my admit and I verbally puked on her as to what I was upset about. 20 minutes later, this man in jeans and a pink t-shirt comes watlzing in my room and says...they tell me you want to speak to me...my response was...and you are? He THEN introduces him self as Dr. Basoon or something like that!
I said yes...we were under the impression that we were coming down here to have an amnio so that if Chris' lungs weren't developed we were in the right place to deliver!
His response was...you want an amnio...you can have an amnio...and in 15 min they set up, performed and were out of my room! It was 7:15 p.m.
The last thing the nurse that was supposedly taking care of me did was say something about my
"uterine irritability" that was clearly coming every 2 min and although they weren't mountains, I was feeling everyone of them! She said...oh they aren't that strong!
For those that are not in nursing or OB...the only way you can tell that is if you are feeling the woman's tummy contract or have a monitor inside the uterus that will tell you exactly how strong it is! She then said if I wanted to eat something I had better get it ordered. I was handed the menu with no instructions. I called and left a message at 7:20 p.m. and never did receive a tray.
It wasn't until midnight that the nurse came in my room! With that in mind, I had been to the bathroom twice and had repositioned myself multiple times. I guess I shouldn't say I repositioned myself...Jason was at my side to reposition me and help me to the bathroom! I also had locked my own IV at 10 p.m. because my bag of fluids was dry! I don't know if I was a bad patient or worse nurse to wait and see how long it would take for them to come in and check my IV!
The rest of the night, no one made any attempt to make me comfortable or help me reposition myself!!! Jason did EVERYTHING for me!
The next person to come in my room was at 620 this a.m. and that was the resident to tell me that since I stabalized over night and my cervix hadn't changed, I was going to go home today! I expressed my concerns that again...delivering an immature 36 weeker in O'Neill was COMPETELY different than at CUMC. She kind of blew off my concerns and stated she would talk with Dr. Basoon and let me know!
Now, supposingly my uterus stabalized over night...however, the monitor right under my breast doesn't tell what my uterus is doing...and not checking my cervix does not necessarily mean that it isn't changing it!
After all that, I called home to our OB manager and my primary physician to say...I wasn't happy and this is the plan and am I crazy for being worried! They said no...I wasn't crazy and Doc took the time to explain things further that was able to calm my nerves!
At 8 a.m. a breath of fresh air came in the room. My nurse for the day...Bari! She was the first to assess me beyond baby's heart rate, she was the first to ask how I was feeling, she was the first to tell us what the plan was at the time and she was the first person in 16 hours to offer me a drink of water!!!! The nurse also apologized for our trouble with ordering food too! She then took the time to sit down and talk with me about the plan of care and acknowedged my concerns! I could have kissed this woman!! (Okay, probably not, but I was happy!!!)
Now, after all of this, I'm not saying that as a nurse, we don't get busy with other patients and don't get to each patient the same amount of time, but I know that I check on my patient's more than 3 times a shift!
I have never so badly in the first 3 hours after an admission, wanted to sign out AMA and go somewhere different! I cried and cried and cried. I'm pretty sure that Jason has never seen a woman cry as much as I did yesterday! All I wanted was to get back home to a hospital that I know...knew would take better care of me!
I am also going to say that I know that others have been to this hospital, including family, and had great experiences...but I just couldn't believe that I was 3 hours form home and being treated like this! To them, I was the crazy pregnant crying lady!
I was happy to get out of that hospital! I practically ran!
The update you've been waiting for...
Oh my! As most of you know...the last 24 hours has been a HUGE whirlwind!
When Doc came in yesterday morning, he said that he wanted to consult with Dr. Albin in Norfolk about our situation, with the possibility of being transferred. So Jason and I said that because of family in Omaha we would prefer to be transferred to Omaha so that the boys could come down with us. Doc obliged and he said that he would have to talk to Fleming first!
Later we were told that we had 2 options. We could either try a terbutaline pump for the next few days or else go to Omaha where an amniocentesis would be done to check for lung maturity.
We do amnios at the hospital in O'Neill, but there is a risk of sending the mom into labor and Doc was worried taht because my uterus was already ticked off, we shouldn't chance it in O'Neill just in case Chris' lungs weren't developed!
Jason and I talked and decided that Omaha would be the best option we felt, since we had already tried the last option of meds in O'Neill and I was still contracting through them! This way, we would already be in the right place should I deliver.
The boys came up to say good-bye! Andrew was more worried about lunch and Matthew was just like...bye mom! It wasn't until later when he couldn't have his Mom, that he was upset!
We left O'Neill...in an amublance at 12:45 and after the WORST ambulance ride of my LIFE...we arrived at the hospital and I was nervous as what would happen! I got taken off all my meds, hooked up to the monitor and had an amniocentesis done which later showed that his lungs were immature!
By this time, I had a thousand questions that weren't getting answered! I am known for my "what ifs!" Their plan was that if I stabalized over night that they would send me home and just let me deliver when I got into labor!
This morning continued the frustration and worry until I spoke with my Doc...from HOME! he answered my questions that they wouldn't answer and we made the decision...which Jason and I had already set in place...to stay in Omaha at his parents until Monday, that way if something happened we were still in a "safe" zone!
I was released from the hospital this morning...I almost RAN out...and we are now sitting at my mother-in-law's who is waiting on me hand and foot!
Jason is getting ready to leave in a bit to go meet Mariclaire and Bob in Wisner to hand off two little boys that I can not WAIT to hug and snuggle! In my world, they are not going to get here soon enough!
Jason and I are doing good...horribly sleep deprived and my toes look like little smokies...but happy to be out of that hospital!
When Doc came in yesterday morning, he said that he wanted to consult with Dr. Albin in Norfolk about our situation, with the possibility of being transferred. So Jason and I said that because of family in Omaha we would prefer to be transferred to Omaha so that the boys could come down with us. Doc obliged and he said that he would have to talk to Fleming first!
Later we were told that we had 2 options. We could either try a terbutaline pump for the next few days or else go to Omaha where an amniocentesis would be done to check for lung maturity.
We do amnios at the hospital in O'Neill, but there is a risk of sending the mom into labor and Doc was worried taht because my uterus was already ticked off, we shouldn't chance it in O'Neill just in case Chris' lungs weren't developed!
Jason and I talked and decided that Omaha would be the best option we felt, since we had already tried the last option of meds in O'Neill and I was still contracting through them! This way, we would already be in the right place should I deliver.
The boys came up to say good-bye! Andrew was more worried about lunch and Matthew was just like...bye mom! It wasn't until later when he couldn't have his Mom, that he was upset!
We left O'Neill...in an amublance at 12:45 and after the WORST ambulance ride of my LIFE...we arrived at the hospital and I was nervous as what would happen! I got taken off all my meds, hooked up to the monitor and had an amniocentesis done which later showed that his lungs were immature!
By this time, I had a thousand questions that weren't getting answered! I am known for my "what ifs!" Their plan was that if I stabalized over night that they would send me home and just let me deliver when I got into labor!
This morning continued the frustration and worry until I spoke with my Doc...from HOME! he answered my questions that they wouldn't answer and we made the decision...which Jason and I had already set in place...to stay in Omaha at his parents until Monday, that way if something happened we were still in a "safe" zone!
I was released from the hospital this morning...I almost RAN out...and we are now sitting at my mother-in-law's who is waiting on me hand and foot!
Jason is getting ready to leave in a bit to go meet Mariclaire and Bob in Wisner to hand off two little boys that I can not WAIT to hug and snuggle! In my world, they are not going to get here soon enough!
Jason and I are doing good...horribly sleep deprived and my toes look like little smokies...but happy to be out of that hospital!
Monday, November 23, 2009
Minor Meltdown
After 6.5 hours of contracting, having to breath through some of them, I wanted to shut the drugs off and let my body do what it is going to do...either go into labor...or tease me for 2 weeks! Knowing my history...I bet it is tease me for 2 weeks!
Doc came in and said, yep, good contractions, let's give her a mag bolus and see what that does...which by the way, other than making me feel like crap...I'm not sure what it did!
My question to him was...I know what we are trying to do, but how many more meds are we gonna dump into my body before we call it good!
My other thought is...if I am contracting through the mag...which is what we get put on when the oral meds don't work...why are we so sure that when we shut off the mag the orals are gonna work!
I felt like a moron because here I am frustrated, crying not only in front of my co-workers, but also the Doc. I didn't want him to think I was second guessing him, I am just a frustrated pregnant woman! Which of course he would TOTALLY understand if he had ever been one! :)
Now the bolus is in, everyone has checked on the crying prego co-worker and I'm still contracting...it has just changed to a sharp piercing pain above my pubic bone! Yay me!!!
Doc came in and said, yep, good contractions, let's give her a mag bolus and see what that does...which by the way, other than making me feel like crap...I'm not sure what it did!
My question to him was...I know what we are trying to do, but how many more meds are we gonna dump into my body before we call it good!
My other thought is...if I am contracting through the mag...which is what we get put on when the oral meds don't work...why are we so sure that when we shut off the mag the orals are gonna work!
I felt like a moron because here I am frustrated, crying not only in front of my co-workers, but also the Doc. I didn't want him to think I was second guessing him, I am just a frustrated pregnant woman! Which of course he would TOTALLY understand if he had ever been one! :)
Now the bolus is in, everyone has checked on the crying prego co-worker and I'm still contracting...it has just changed to a sharp piercing pain above my pubic bone! Yay me!!!
Labor Update
Let me begin by saying that Doc is always commenting on how my explanations are always awesome! :)
Around 2:30 this afternoon, I started to tell my awesome nurse Jeri...hehe...that something was changing, but I just didn't know what. Luckily, she didn't send me off to the regional center and listened to me, because not too much later, I started to contract again pretty regularly!
Doc came in and said that he had plans to turn down my mag, but I lost that! :) He said that we will look at shutting the mag off in the a.m. and then try brethine or procardia and see what happens! If I breakthrough, then obviously someone has a bigger plan...as if that hasn't been proven to me yet! HAHA!
Aunt Mariclaire picked up the boys from the house and took them out to their place! This allowed Jason and I to have our most expensive date EVER! The food was cheap (Fox's chicken), but the room rental was quite expensive (my hospital room...for those who are slow-er)!
The boys were able to come up and see mom for a little bit. I'm not sure if they were excited to see mom or mom's hospital room! They ended up laying on the feet of the bed watching TV while we listened to Christopher's heartbeat!
I sent the boys home with their dad and we will see what the night brings as the contractions continue!
SIDENOTE: We are so lucky in our town to have an amazing facility and an awesome bunch of nurses to take care of our loved ones and people from our communities. I'm not just saying that because I work there! HEHE!
Around 2:30 this afternoon, I started to tell my awesome nurse Jeri...hehe...that something was changing, but I just didn't know what. Luckily, she didn't send me off to the regional center and listened to me, because not too much later, I started to contract again pretty regularly!
Doc came in and said that he had plans to turn down my mag, but I lost that! :) He said that we will look at shutting the mag off in the a.m. and then try brethine or procardia and see what happens! If I breakthrough, then obviously someone has a bigger plan...as if that hasn't been proven to me yet! HAHA!
Aunt Mariclaire picked up the boys from the house and took them out to their place! This allowed Jason and I to have our most expensive date EVER! The food was cheap (Fox's chicken), but the room rental was quite expensive (my hospital room...for those who are slow-er)!
The boys were able to come up and see mom for a little bit. I'm not sure if they were excited to see mom or mom's hospital room! They ended up laying on the feet of the bed watching TV while we listened to Christopher's heartbeat!
I sent the boys home with their dad and we will see what the night brings as the contractions continue!
SIDENOTE: We are so lucky in our town to have an amazing facility and an awesome bunch of nurses to take care of our loved ones and people from our communities. I'm not just saying that because I work there! HEHE!
Bring on the Mag!
Well...what an eventful last 24 hours! Since I've wrote my last blog, many things have happened.
I took my meds at 2 and although they slowed briefly, they didn't stop! I called Candy to report in and she called Doc and well...I was told to pack my bags and get my butt to the hospital!
After packing my bag and Christopher's...just in case...I headed to my parent's, where the boys had been all afternoon! I told the boys good bye and explained as to what was going on. Andrew clung to my coat and didn't want to let go! Matt shared some story about scaring Grandma and could have cared less!
Once up here, Doc showed up and we discussed having to have a c-section, since he was breech vs. doing mag sulfate for 24 hours and then seeing what happened.
I was so over whelmed! My head was swimming with "what ifs" and what would be best. I knew what would be best medically for him, but I couldn't help but think that all of that affected 2 other little boys too!
Doc made the choice to do the mag and then ordered an ultrasound to check placement! Much to both of our amazements...he had flipped!! YAY!! I felt a load go off me right there! Part of the thing holding me back and scared was that should I have a c-section and he had to be shipped somewhere...I was stuck!
I got started on the mag and the bolus sucked!! I wouldn't recommend signing up for it for the fun of it! It got better after the bolus was over, but the contractions didn't stop until around 1 a.m.! By that time I was frustrated and getting annoyed, wondering if the medicine would even work!
When Doc got here this morning he said the plan is to stay on the mag until tomorrow morning, then to stop the mag and start back on my oral medicines. Then, depending on how that goes, possibly, get to go home tomorrow evening.
The downside to all this, I am off work until after the baby gets here and I am on my butt for the next couple weeks! Doc thought it would be better to error on the side of time than to chance, by letting the contractions go!
Luckily...Jason is home until Sunday evening and then my mother-in-law is coming up to stay with us on Monday for the week possibly!
We shall see! I just keep reminding myself that he has some amazing guardian angels and that it will work out the way it is supposed to!
I took my meds at 2 and although they slowed briefly, they didn't stop! I called Candy to report in and she called Doc and well...I was told to pack my bags and get my butt to the hospital!
After packing my bag and Christopher's...just in case...I headed to my parent's, where the boys had been all afternoon! I told the boys good bye and explained as to what was going on. Andrew clung to my coat and didn't want to let go! Matt shared some story about scaring Grandma and could have cared less!
Once up here, Doc showed up and we discussed having to have a c-section, since he was breech vs. doing mag sulfate for 24 hours and then seeing what happened.
I was so over whelmed! My head was swimming with "what ifs" and what would be best. I knew what would be best medically for him, but I couldn't help but think that all of that affected 2 other little boys too!
Doc made the choice to do the mag and then ordered an ultrasound to check placement! Much to both of our amazements...he had flipped!! YAY!! I felt a load go off me right there! Part of the thing holding me back and scared was that should I have a c-section and he had to be shipped somewhere...I was stuck!
I got started on the mag and the bolus sucked!! I wouldn't recommend signing up for it for the fun of it! It got better after the bolus was over, but the contractions didn't stop until around 1 a.m.! By that time I was frustrated and getting annoyed, wondering if the medicine would even work!
When Doc got here this morning he said the plan is to stay on the mag until tomorrow morning, then to stop the mag and start back on my oral medicines. Then, depending on how that goes, possibly, get to go home tomorrow evening.
The downside to all this, I am off work until after the baby gets here and I am on my butt for the next couple weeks! Doc thought it would be better to error on the side of time than to chance, by letting the contractions go!
Luckily...Jason is home until Sunday evening and then my mother-in-law is coming up to stay with us on Monday for the week possibly!
We shall see! I just keep reminding myself that he has some amazing guardian angels and that it will work out the way it is supposed to!
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Contractions!
Well, Jason and I have mentioned off and on how weird it would be if Christopher showed up on the anniversary of Chris' accident! We didn't think much of it until this morning! Chris and Beth will have been gone for 13 years next Sunday!
Last night around 7:30 I started contracting and continually got worse until I passed out from my vistaril! I work up around 2:30 a.m. and took another vistaril and pased out again for another 4 hours!
Andrew and I got up and headed to Mom and Dad's for breakfast and nothing slowed down so I head up to the hospital to get checked out finally! Once hooked up, I was contracting every 1-3 min and felt all of them!
I got a liter of fluid and and sent home to see if my meds would stop the labor!! I've taken 50 more of vistaril and another procardia and am still feeling the contractions.
Doc said that if we can't get things slowed down or stopped, then he will just let me go and get to meet this little man finally! If nothing happens we see Doc in the a.m.!
Jason is on his way home and hopefully everything will work out! Before I left mom and dad's Matthew came up to my belly and goes...be good Christopherer...I just have this feeling that I'm going to be saying this a lot with this child! HAHA!
Knowing my luck however, he will try to come this week and then nothing will happen so I will be induced! HAHA!
Last night around 7:30 I started contracting and continually got worse until I passed out from my vistaril! I work up around 2:30 a.m. and took another vistaril and pased out again for another 4 hours!
Andrew and I got up and headed to Mom and Dad's for breakfast and nothing slowed down so I head up to the hospital to get checked out finally! Once hooked up, I was contracting every 1-3 min and felt all of them!
I got a liter of fluid and and sent home to see if my meds would stop the labor!! I've taken 50 more of vistaril and another procardia and am still feeling the contractions.
Doc said that if we can't get things slowed down or stopped, then he will just let me go and get to meet this little man finally! If nothing happens we see Doc in the a.m.!
Jason is on his way home and hopefully everything will work out! Before I left mom and dad's Matthew came up to my belly and goes...be good Christopherer...I just have this feeling that I'm going to be saying this a lot with this child! HAHA!
Knowing my luck however, he will try to come this week and then nothing will happen so I will be induced! HAHA!
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Check up!
Had the 34 week check up this morning! Went with my list of questions and prepared to get a lecture! I knew my urine hadn't been looking too pretty the last 24 hours minus my avid goal of drinking liters of fluid! By the end of the day my ankles are great examples of how much I drink!
Anyway, he is still measuring 2 weeks bigger which translates to the fact that he is going to be a big boy! Doc says to plan on a 9 lb baby and my response every time is that I am not worried about the 9 lbs. It's the 35 cm head from the last ultrasound that has me contemplating a c-section! :)
His heartbeat was great and he didn't want to be listened to at all! My ribs are now paying for it!
We will probably have another ultrasound in the next couple of weeks to verify position and to check the fluid level! I lost a lot of fluid with Matthew and that concerns me for this little man!
I asked him about the last possible day and it looks like to plan on nothing before Dec. 16 or 17 if I make it til then! If I try to go before 39 weeks by induction then I have to have an amniocentesis and yeah...don't care to sign up for that voluntarily!
So we will see...another week down and another good check up! If nothing else...4.5 weeks to go!
Anyway, he is still measuring 2 weeks bigger which translates to the fact that he is going to be a big boy! Doc says to plan on a 9 lb baby and my response every time is that I am not worried about the 9 lbs. It's the 35 cm head from the last ultrasound that has me contemplating a c-section! :)
His heartbeat was great and he didn't want to be listened to at all! My ribs are now paying for it!
We will probably have another ultrasound in the next couple of weeks to verify position and to check the fluid level! I lost a lot of fluid with Matthew and that concerns me for this little man!
I asked him about the last possible day and it looks like to plan on nothing before Dec. 16 or 17 if I make it til then! If I try to go before 39 weeks by induction then I have to have an amniocentesis and yeah...don't care to sign up for that voluntarily!
So we will see...another week down and another good check up! If nothing else...4.5 weeks to go!
Fire Drill
I was picking up Matthew at pre-school and speech this morning and as I hit the door they were having a fire drill! Next thing I know, Matt comings flying by me at top speed with his ears covered! He was out the door in no time flat!
It took me yelling his name three times and finally using his middle name to get him to stop halfway down the steps of the front entrance! At that point he grabs my hand and starts to pull me along!
When they finally gave the all clear he wouldn't go back in to get his coat and book bag! He just stood at the bottom of the steps to the school entrance and fought me to go inside!
Due to some post traumatic stress syndrome that will ensue, I'm sure we can cross fire fighter off the future job list! HAHA!
It took me yelling his name three times and finally using his middle name to get him to stop halfway down the steps of the front entrance! At that point he grabs my hand and starts to pull me along!
When they finally gave the all clear he wouldn't go back in to get his coat and book bag! He just stood at the bottom of the steps to the school entrance and fought me to go inside!
Due to some post traumatic stress syndrome that will ensue, I'm sure we can cross fire fighter off the future job list! HAHA!
Water too please!
It was priceless the other day! I was loading up all my pills in my purse to take with me to the wedding. Matthew asked me why I was putting them in my purse and my response was because the doctor wanted me to take them.
His response..."Mom, you need water! The doctor wants you to drink water too!"
Darn the kid! Everyone is on me about drinking enough water! HAHA!
His response..."Mom, you need water! The doctor wants you to drink water too!"
Darn the kid! Everyone is on me about drinking enough water! HAHA!
And he's off!
I started Matthew in preschool today! Just 2 days a week and for only 2 hours, so it won't be that bad...for mom! :)
He jumped right out of bed and wanted cereal for breakfast, which let me know that I will have to get up earlier! (I allotted time for toast!) He got ready and even smiled for "First day of school" pictures.
While he was eating his cereal he just laid his head on my belly and goes...Mommy, I will miss Christopher-er!
He walked into school so solemn. Brenda, the office gal, even commented on how serious he was. Jack, a kid that went with him to the sitter is in his class and so when I pointed out that it was Jack then he perked up a bit and started to open up when he hit the classroom!
Ironically enough, his teacher is a high school classmate of mine and has sat in with us on his IEP meetings so kind of knows Matt's history!
Big brother was beaming from ear to ear, just as proud as Mom I think! When they got out of the suburban Andrew goes to Matthew..."Now Matthew, I have to go to the playground, but you'll be okay! I'm right across the hall!" Matt was just like...whatever Drew! He could have cared less! :) HAHA!
It was so cute this a.m. because they both had to have their hair all combed before I could take pictures! Both of my boys are in school! They are growing up so fast!
He jumped right out of bed and wanted cereal for breakfast, which let me know that I will have to get up earlier! (I allotted time for toast!) He got ready and even smiled for "First day of school" pictures.
While he was eating his cereal he just laid his head on my belly and goes...Mommy, I will miss Christopher-er!
He walked into school so solemn. Brenda, the office gal, even commented on how serious he was. Jack, a kid that went with him to the sitter is in his class and so when I pointed out that it was Jack then he perked up a bit and started to open up when he hit the classroom!
Ironically enough, his teacher is a high school classmate of mine and has sat in with us on his IEP meetings so kind of knows Matt's history!
Big brother was beaming from ear to ear, just as proud as Mom I think! When they got out of the suburban Andrew goes to Matthew..."Now Matthew, I have to go to the playground, but you'll be okay! I'm right across the hall!" Matt was just like...whatever Drew! He could have cared less! :) HAHA!
It was so cute this a.m. because they both had to have their hair all combed before I could take pictures! Both of my boys are in school! They are growing up so fast!
Sunday, November 08, 2009
Kangaroo Care
Yesterday was not a good day for Matthew and his asthma! He does good throughout the rest of the year, but this time of year is hard on him. The days/nights where the temperature fluctuates so much just doesn't treat him very nice!
With that said, Matt was asthma attacking on me yesterday while we were at Lucia's wedding. When we got home we did 2 more breathing treatments and then took some Motrin.
When we went to bed, Matthew fell asleep on me and his brething was awesome. Gentle and slow and no wheezing! I thought to myself...yes! Kangaroo care works when they are big too! I was so pumped until I rolled him over to sleep! That's when the hacking and coughing started! GRR!!
I flipped it back over to his stomach and it got better, but was a lot more than when he was sleeping on my chest!
He woke up and is back to his Matt self. He just has a little bit of a hacky cough, but that is normal for him right after his attacks!
With that said, Matt was asthma attacking on me yesterday while we were at Lucia's wedding. When we got home we did 2 more breathing treatments and then took some Motrin.
When we went to bed, Matthew fell asleep on me and his brething was awesome. Gentle and slow and no wheezing! I thought to myself...yes! Kangaroo care works when they are big too! I was so pumped until I rolled him over to sleep! That's when the hacking and coughing started! GRR!!
I flipped it back over to his stomach and it got better, but was a lot more than when he was sleeping on my chest!
He woke up and is back to his Matt self. He just has a little bit of a hacky cough, but that is normal for him right after his attacks!
Go Huskers!
Last night I let the boys stay up and watch the Husker game! Praise the Lord for another win! HAHA! I also learned in that time that Mom doesn't know much about football, her her simple explanations satisfied them for now!
After Matt fell asleep Andrew and I had some awesome bonding time! There was a commercial on TV about the end of time and all of these natural disasters. Andrew asked about the "big waves" aka..tsunamis. He asked how we would be affected in Nebraska! I told him I was not completely sure and that we would have to look it up, but to take peace in knowing that we were living in the middle of the United States!!
After covering that topic, I asked him how school was going and he goes...ehh okay! I said, what don't you like about it and his response was P.E., and recess and a third thing I can't remember! I at first thought that it was an unusual comment for a kindergartener so then I asked, what do you like and his reply was, "Math, it makes me smart!" I said well so does reading and he said that he likes that class too, along with music! Yep, he's my child!! :)
He's just growing up so fast in front of me! He's really growing by leaps and bounds!
After Matt fell asleep Andrew and I had some awesome bonding time! There was a commercial on TV about the end of time and all of these natural disasters. Andrew asked about the "big waves" aka..tsunamis. He asked how we would be affected in Nebraska! I told him I was not completely sure and that we would have to look it up, but to take peace in knowing that we were living in the middle of the United States!!
After covering that topic, I asked him how school was going and he goes...ehh okay! I said, what don't you like about it and his response was P.E., and recess and a third thing I can't remember! I at first thought that it was an unusual comment for a kindergartener so then I asked, what do you like and his reply was, "Math, it makes me smart!" I said well so does reading and he said that he likes that class too, along with music! Yep, he's my child!! :)
He's just growing up so fast in front of me! He's really growing by leaps and bounds!
Saturday, November 07, 2009
Rosary
As a gift for those attending Darin and Lucia's wedding, each place had a rosary at it. I was trying to explain that it was used for a prayer and that is what Great-Grandma Shoemaker used to pray multiple times a day! They obviously were lost!
Later in the reception, we were looking at the cake and there was a Rosary elegantly placed around the cake!
Matt's response..."So that's what they're for!"
I hope Great-Grandma got a good chuckle out of that one!
Later in the reception, we were looking at the cake and there was a Rosary elegantly placed around the cake!
Matt's response..."So that's what they're for!"
I hope Great-Grandma got a good chuckle out of that one!
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Hewo, Christopher-er
From the time I picked Matthew up from the sitter until...well he hasn't stopped, he has been yelling at my belly like he missed us or something!
He is just a little off on the name though!
"Hewo, Christopher-er!"
He can't pronounce his "l"s which for those that are wondering that is a 6 year old language skill! However, not sure why Chris has an extra "er" on the end of his name!
He is just a little off on the name though!
"Hewo, Christopher-er!"
He can't pronounce his "l"s which for those that are wondering that is a 6 year old language skill! However, not sure why Chris has an extra "er" on the end of his name!
And now...the stomach flu!
Tuesday night I didn't sleep well at all! I just didn't feel "right." It continued when I got up in the morning when I started contracting around 8:10 in the morning every 4 min. I had just taken my procardia (medicine to stop contractions) so I just held off for awhile! Plus, I didn't have anywhere to go with Matthew so I couldn't take my vistaril!
They subsided, but then in the afternoon I started having nasty diarrhea symptoms and vomiting that was onset immediately! My face was flushed and didn't feel so good! I called the Doc right away and he told me to meet him at the hospital!
In 4 short hours I had dehydrated so that got me a ticket to stay over night! I ended up getting 4 liters of fluid and a little boy in my belly that knew he was just with Mommy and no big brothers around! He was so active! I did have quite a few contractions so that got me an increased dose in medication to help with contractions!
Mariclaire came up and sat with me for awhile which was a lot of fun! The boys got a night at Grandma and Grandpa Shoe's and it sounded like they had a blast!
Doc just said that this was the worst year to be pregnant because there are so many viruses out and about and my worn down system is going to catch them easier! His comment was that he had no problem putting me in isolation in the hospital for the next 3 weeks!! I said that I had a problem with that!
Instead, I'm just gonna try to hang out at home as much as possible! I still get to go to work...thank the lord!!!
They subsided, but then in the afternoon I started having nasty diarrhea symptoms and vomiting that was onset immediately! My face was flushed and didn't feel so good! I called the Doc right away and he told me to meet him at the hospital!
In 4 short hours I had dehydrated so that got me a ticket to stay over night! I ended up getting 4 liters of fluid and a little boy in my belly that knew he was just with Mommy and no big brothers around! He was so active! I did have quite a few contractions so that got me an increased dose in medication to help with contractions!
Mariclaire came up and sat with me for awhile which was a lot of fun! The boys got a night at Grandma and Grandpa Shoe's and it sounded like they had a blast!
Doc just said that this was the worst year to be pregnant because there are so many viruses out and about and my worn down system is going to catch them easier! His comment was that he had no problem putting me in isolation in the hospital for the next 3 weeks!! I said that I had a problem with that!
Instead, I'm just gonna try to hang out at home as much as possible! I still get to go to work...thank the lord!!!
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Jumping Bean
The other night, after I came from home from work, I wasn't feeling the hottest so I came home and crawled straight in bed! Matthew eventually crawled in bed with me to "take care of me."
In the mean time, Chris started jumping around like a mad man and I told Matthew to watch my belly!
Matt asked why my belly was doing that and so I said...don't know you tell me!
His response..."You have a jumper in your belly!"
In the mean time, Chris started jumping around like a mad man and I told Matthew to watch my belly!
Matt asked why my belly was doing that and so I said...don't know you tell me!
His response..."You have a jumper in your belly!"
Little Man #3 Update
Had an appointment yesterday with Doc for a follow up! The infection has cleared up and babe is doing great! I have to stay on my medicine for 3 more weeks until after 36 weeks just to ward off evil spirits! With that said, we could be meeting this little man in as few as 3 weeks!
I am a realist however and am planning on week 39! Doc said that if we don't have anything happen by the 39th week we will encourage somethign a long that week! Trust me...we will be encouraging things along WAY before that! HAHA! So we shall see!
Today he has decided to assist my diaphragm! Although, I'm not sure if it is assisting or hindering! HAHA! Needless to say I'm laying down so I can breath appropriately!
I am a realist however and am planning on week 39! Doc said that if we don't have anything happen by the 39th week we will encourage somethign a long that week! Trust me...we will be encouraging things along WAY before that! HAHA! So we shall see!
Today he has decided to assist my diaphragm! Although, I'm not sure if it is assisting or hindering! HAHA! Needless to say I'm laying down so I can breath appropriately!
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