Nothing much to update today. Things are still good. They have taken me off the IV and I'm allowed to shower once a day which is kind of exciting. They moved me downstairs to the mother/baby unit yesterday since things appear so stable, so I guess that's good. The room is a little cozier, but a hospital room is a hospital room. The specialist stopped by again this morning just to check in. At this point we are still just waiting on the ultrasound tomorrow. If it is vasa previa, I am for sure here until delivery and she thinks they'll probably move me back upstairs because any bleeding will be a dire emergency. If it's not vasa previa, chances are that I might be sent home and then I don't know what the restrictions will be there - still full bed rest, partial, nothing? I didn't ask too many questions today - will just wait and see what they say tomorrow.
I will be 25 weeks tomorrow, so that's huge. The survival rate goes up with every week he stays in there!!
Everyone keeps asking how I'm staying so calm and positive, and I really have no explanation other than that God is just giving me a sense of peace about everything. There is no way that given the situation I was in when I walked in here on Thursday that I should not be hysterical, but I have just had this feeling of "everything is going to be ok" and can't really explain it. And what's the point in whining and complaining about bed rest. No, it's not ideal or fun, but this is where I need to be so I might as well have a positive attitude and make the best of it. Every little freedom I get is a big deal and I am appreciative of them, and also know that they can all be taken away immediately if something else happens.
Well, they are getting ready to hook me up to the monitor for an hour, so gotta go. Just keep praying!! So far they are working!!
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Still Waiting
At this point nothing has changed - we are still just sitting and waiting, and I'm still pregnant! I saw a MFM (maternal fetal medicine specialist) this morning and it was just a quick check in. She is a partner of the guy who has been treating me, and we are just waiting for another ultrasound on Monday to have more answers. They are still not 100% sure that I have Vasa Previa because there was a blood clot blocking the view when they did the ultrasound on Thursday. He wants to look at it again on Monday and see if that's still what they think is going on. Basically, if it is Vasa Previa, I am here until delivery. If it's not and is just the placenta and blood clot they are seeing, they may send me home, although if I bleed again I am here to stay. So at this point, we just have to sit and wait and pray for no more bleeding before Monday and then hope that they can get a better picture with the ultrasound.
I have been doing a little research on everything they have told me about, and feel that this is actually a blessing in disguise. Most of the time, vasa previa is not diagnosed before delivery, and then during delivery the veins can rupture and threaten the life of the baby. Because they know (well, I guess think) I have it, I am in much better shape because we know I have to have a c-section and will not let me go into labor on my own so that we do not put Carter in danger of losing his blood supply. We just still have to hope and pray that it does not spontaneously bleed on it's own.
Several people have asked what they can do to help us out, and honestly right now I can't think of anything. My mom is on her way here as we speak and will be taking care of the boys at our house for the week and depending on how things look after this week she may take them back to Arkansas with her for a few weeks, so at this point child care is taken care of. I don't really need food or anything - I have snacks that a couple of people have brought over and can order anything I want from room service. Meals for the family aren't necessary because A) my mom will be at home and can get the boys fed and B) Rubin and the boys don't really eat normal meals anyway...
For those of you who have asked about visiting, feel free to come by anytime. I am in the labor and delivery unit so there are no visiting hours. The only restrictions are 4 people in the room at a time and no children besides my own. Please do not feel like you will be bothering me by calling, emailing, texting, or visiting. I am just laying here with nothing else to do so entertainment is welcome anytime!!!
Again, thank you all so much for your thoughts and prayers!!!
I have been doing a little research on everything they have told me about, and feel that this is actually a blessing in disguise. Most of the time, vasa previa is not diagnosed before delivery, and then during delivery the veins can rupture and threaten the life of the baby. Because they know (well, I guess think) I have it, I am in much better shape because we know I have to have a c-section and will not let me go into labor on my own so that we do not put Carter in danger of losing his blood supply. We just still have to hope and pray that it does not spontaneously bleed on it's own.
Several people have asked what they can do to help us out, and honestly right now I can't think of anything. My mom is on her way here as we speak and will be taking care of the boys at our house for the week and depending on how things look after this week she may take them back to Arkansas with her for a few weeks, so at this point child care is taken care of. I don't really need food or anything - I have snacks that a couple of people have brought over and can order anything I want from room service. Meals for the family aren't necessary because A) my mom will be at home and can get the boys fed and B) Rubin and the boys don't really eat normal meals anyway...
For those of you who have asked about visiting, feel free to come by anytime. I am in the labor and delivery unit so there are no visiting hours. The only restrictions are 4 people in the room at a time and no children besides my own. Please do not feel like you will be bothering me by calling, emailing, texting, or visiting. I am just laying here with nothing else to do so entertainment is welcome anytime!!!
Again, thank you all so much for your thoughts and prayers!!!
Friday, June 3, 2011
Freedom!
So I just saw the Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist and they are very pleased with the way everything is going so far. I have not bled at all in over 24 hours and the baby's heart rate has remained stable. They took me off the catheter and I am now allowed to get out of bed to walk to the bathroom. We still have a long road ahead of us and things could change at any moment, but for right now things are looking good. He said that delivery does not seem imminent so they have taken me off of the antibiotics and magnesium. They are going to do another ultrasound on Monday to see if they can get a better view of what is covering my cervix. They have a suspicion that it is the baby's blood vessel, and if that's the case I am still very high risk and will be here until delivery. If it isn't, things look a little better but I still won't be out of the woods. Thank you all for the prayers!! We are feeling them so much and appreciate them more than you all know!!
Long Overdue...
So it seems fitting that the last time I updated was Brayden's first day of kindergarten because yesterday was his last...guess I didn't have much to say? Unfortunately it seems that this blog has gotten more use for medical updates than fun stuff, but I wanted to give the longer version of what is going on for those who are interested, so here you go...
Yesterday morning I was sitting on the couch with Cameron (who had a 101 fever) and stood up to get him juice when I felt the bleeding start. I grabbed him and drove across the street to the ER where they freaked me out for a while trying to figure out what was going on - there were probably 20 people in the room and everything was pretty up in the air at first. They were trying to figure out if Carter still had a heartbeat and coudn't because my heart rate was elevated to 150 so they couldn't tell if it was mine or his with just the monitor. After an ultrasound they were still unsure of what was going on with the bleeding, but could tell that he was okay so they moved me up to labor and delivery. I have been told that I have placenta previa with a partial abruption, and vassal previa. Basically my placenta is low and has separated into 2 pieces. One of the pieces is covering part of my cervix, which is where they think the earlier bleeding came from. There are also veins connecting the 2 pieces of the placenta that are laying across my cervix. They have said that it's not really a question of IF I bleed again, it's when. If it's determined that the blood is coming from me but they are able to keep us both stable, they won't do anything. If the blood is from baby and he is in distress, the will have to take him by emergency c-section. So, I am here on complete bed rest until either I bleed again and the worst happens, or I make it far enough that they can just take him by regular c-section.
Right now I am 24 weeks and 4 days. His chance of survival at this point is a little less than 50% so every day is crucial at this point to just keep him in there. They are giving me steroid shots to develop his lungs and another medication that is supposed to protect his brain. If he survives, his risk of complications is extremely high - very probable CP, brain damage, etc. Each week is a huge milestone, and at this point the major goal we are shooting for is to make it to 28 weeks (June 27) where his chance of survival goes up to almost 100%. If I make it to there, then I think they will shoot for 32 weeks (July 25) and I assume at that point they may just go ahead and take him.
It seems really strange to be in the hospital and instead of hoping to get better and go home soon, hoping to have to stay here for a really long time. It is going to be hard on the boys but we will make it work. My mom is coming up tomorrow to spend some time here and if everything is still the same after a week or so she will probably take them back home with her to Arkansas for a few weeks. I'll miss them both terribly, but it would be a huge help for us to not have to constantly worry about who can watch them.
Thank you all for the prayers and support. I have had a ton of people ask if we need anything, and at this point all we really need are prayers to keep this baby in there! I am very open to visitors as I feel totally fine - I am in no pain or discomfort at all. I have a feeling I will be extremely bored after being here for another day or so, so don't feel like you are bothering me if you need me for anything!
For now no news is good news, but I will update if there are any changes.
Yesterday morning I was sitting on the couch with Cameron (who had a 101 fever) and stood up to get him juice when I felt the bleeding start. I grabbed him and drove across the street to the ER where they freaked me out for a while trying to figure out what was going on - there were probably 20 people in the room and everything was pretty up in the air at first. They were trying to figure out if Carter still had a heartbeat and coudn't because my heart rate was elevated to 150 so they couldn't tell if it was mine or his with just the monitor. After an ultrasound they were still unsure of what was going on with the bleeding, but could tell that he was okay so they moved me up to labor and delivery. I have been told that I have placenta previa with a partial abruption, and vassal previa. Basically my placenta is low and has separated into 2 pieces. One of the pieces is covering part of my cervix, which is where they think the earlier bleeding came from. There are also veins connecting the 2 pieces of the placenta that are laying across my cervix. They have said that it's not really a question of IF I bleed again, it's when. If it's determined that the blood is coming from me but they are able to keep us both stable, they won't do anything. If the blood is from baby and he is in distress, the will have to take him by emergency c-section. So, I am here on complete bed rest until either I bleed again and the worst happens, or I make it far enough that they can just take him by regular c-section.
Right now I am 24 weeks and 4 days. His chance of survival at this point is a little less than 50% so every day is crucial at this point to just keep him in there. They are giving me steroid shots to develop his lungs and another medication that is supposed to protect his brain. If he survives, his risk of complications is extremely high - very probable CP, brain damage, etc. Each week is a huge milestone, and at this point the major goal we are shooting for is to make it to 28 weeks (June 27) where his chance of survival goes up to almost 100%. If I make it to there, then I think they will shoot for 32 weeks (July 25) and I assume at that point they may just go ahead and take him.
It seems really strange to be in the hospital and instead of hoping to get better and go home soon, hoping to have to stay here for a really long time. It is going to be hard on the boys but we will make it work. My mom is coming up tomorrow to spend some time here and if everything is still the same after a week or so she will probably take them back home with her to Arkansas for a few weeks. I'll miss them both terribly, but it would be a huge help for us to not have to constantly worry about who can watch them.
Thank you all for the prayers and support. I have had a ton of people ask if we need anything, and at this point all we really need are prayers to keep this baby in there! I am very open to visitors as I feel totally fine - I am in no pain or discomfort at all. I have a feeling I will be extremely bored after being here for another day or so, so don't feel like you are bothering me if you need me for anything!
For now no news is good news, but I will update if there are any changes.
Friday, September 3, 2010
I have a Kindergartner!!
Brayden has officially been in Kindergarten for a week now, and we are all exhausted!! He only goes to school for 1/2 day, but we are learning that maybe that's all he can handle. He absolutely loves school and says that he is having good days, but the fact that his teacher called after Day 2 to talk about him being "animated" makes me wonder how well he is really doing... I guess we'll find out soon enough! He is trying really hard and I am super proud of him. I love this little man so much and am very blessed to be his mom.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Kindergarten
First of all, when did my little boy grow up??? I can't believe he is starting kindergarten in just over a month. Crazy!
We are in the Oswego school district, which I have heard nothing but wonderful things about, but we are pretty disappointed that they only offer 1/2 day kindergarten. We just got the official notice that he will go in the mornings - the hours are 8:40 to 11:15. He was in preschool longer than that! We have just recently started to consider putting him in a private school that is all day, but of course we have waited a long time to even start the search so I don't know what the chances are of things working out. Plus it's expensive vs free. We had never even really considered private school before since we are in a good district, but I am really starting to think that it might be worth it just for this year to have him in the structure of a full day program.
We definitely welcome any suggestions and opinions as we consider the options!!!
We are in the Oswego school district, which I have heard nothing but wonderful things about, but we are pretty disappointed that they only offer 1/2 day kindergarten. We just got the official notice that he will go in the mornings - the hours are 8:40 to 11:15. He was in preschool longer than that! We have just recently started to consider putting him in a private school that is all day, but of course we have waited a long time to even start the search so I don't know what the chances are of things working out. Plus it's expensive vs free. We had never even really considered private school before since we are in a good district, but I am really starting to think that it might be worth it just for this year to have him in the structure of a full day program.
We definitely welcome any suggestions and opinions as we consider the options!!!
Friday, June 25, 2010
Things I have learned this week....
1 - Being a single mom is hard. No matter how independent and strong I think I am, I need my husband. He has been gone since Tues and is coming home Sun. I can't wait :)
2 - Filling a pool takes forever.
3 - No matter how level the ground may seem to the naked eye, when you fill a pool with water you see just how uneven it is. And it takes just as long to drain as it does to fill....
4 - A busted lip on a 16 month old looks much worse than it is.
5 - My Shark steam mop works really well to clean blood off a white tile floor.
6 - Brayden is not a huge fan of playing t-ball, and 3 games in one week is a little much (especially when I'm dragging both boys there by myself).
7 - Eating too much and not running for a week = gaining weight.
8 - Always make sure doors are unlocked before you go outside without keys. Maybe we should hide a key outside somewhere...
2 - Filling a pool takes forever.
3 - No matter how level the ground may seem to the naked eye, when you fill a pool with water you see just how uneven it is. And it takes just as long to drain as it does to fill....
4 - A busted lip on a 16 month old looks much worse than it is.
5 - My Shark steam mop works really well to clean blood off a white tile floor.
6 - Brayden is not a huge fan of playing t-ball, and 3 games in one week is a little much (especially when I'm dragging both boys there by myself).
7 - Eating too much and not running for a week = gaining weight.
8 - Always make sure doors are unlocked before you go outside without keys. Maybe we should hide a key outside somewhere...
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