Tag Archives: tests

Halloween Sleepover

I’ve been looking forward to Saturday night since I was admitted last week Thursday.  During the day Doug was busy with the basement and I was busy getting ready for their visit.  Rae came and decorated my room with Halloween decorations.

Mom even carved me a pumpkin.  It’s an owl …. see it?

Rae helped me out by picking up some snacks for little Jaden so he could trick or treat at my bed.  AND she took me on a wheel chair adventure.  At first it felt like we were whipping down the halls and I told her to slow down!  But I think it’s just that I walk so slow these days, normal pace feels like running!  We went down to the gift shop for a bit and found a few activity books for Jaden.  Then we grabbed a snack and sat outside for a little bit.  It was a tad cold, but I was outside darn it!  I just zipped up my fleece.  Besides, the people watching was insane!  Who knew people wear ass-less chaps to the hospital?

The boys finally arrived around dinner time.  We all got to eat together.  Me and Jaden in the bed and Doug at the small table.  Then Jaden got to “find” his present in the “elevator to China” (the closet).  He was really excited.  In fact I think he colored every picture in the invisible ink book I got him.  We eat lots of candy and snacks and watched Casper.  At 10 I got hooked up to the heart monitors and Jaden was really excited to “see” his brothers.  In fact, he wanted to help!  So he crawled up onto the bed behind me.  Nurse Sue was so sweet and asked him to “help” by holding one of the monitors for her.  He was pretty excited to help … for 30 seconds.

After all the candy and coloring Jaden went to sleep really well …. he was SO cute!

At about 5am Jaden woke up and wanted to sleep with me.  I couldn’t say no.  But for heaven’s sake … he cannot sleep straight in a bed.  By the time I was woken up at 6 to be put on the monitor Jaden had his legs wrapped on top of my belly and had taken over 3/4 of the bed.  I had just enough room to lay for my test, then I gave up and moved to the chair.  I wasn’t mad or even irritated … I was so happy to have Jaden with me!  Both boys slept right through all the heart monitoring …. and it’s LOUD!!  I was really surprised.  Look at how cute they are ….

Katie was sweet enough to bring us breakfast in the morning.  Yum yum bagel, egg, cheese and sausage sammies!  Jaden woke up shortly after we started eating and the first thing out of his mouth was “can I have a sucker?”  And you know what I said?  “Of course!  Happy Halloween!”  It was a special sleepover!  We bummed around as a family watching Halloween movies, playing the banana game (has a bunch of letter blocks like Scrabble).  Doug and Jaden were spelling all the triplet’s names and I hear Doug go “W-e-s-t-i-n, that spells Weston”  I was like ” you don’t know how to spell your sons name?”  And that started the facebook vote on how we should spell our W boy.  I think the majority has voted Weston.  I think I win!

Day 4 in the hospital complete!  31 Weeks complete!  Tomorrow we are officially 32 weeks!  more updates to come …

Love you all!

Mel

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Filed under Belly Photos, Holidays, Hospital Stay, Posted by Melissa, Pregnancy

Hospital Hurdle #1

1 night down … who knows how many to go.  I was slightly confused on what 24-48 hours meant.  It was from the second shot (given this morning) not from when I was admitted  so the earliest I would be going home would be tomorrow or Sunday morning.  They gave me a swab (can’t ever remember how to say it let along spell it) which can help determine if I’ll go into labor within the next two weeks.

The charge nurse and Dr Todd come into the room … yes a male doc to give me this wonderful swab.  This is the very first time I’ve ever had a male doc with this kind of business … and it hurt like nobody’s business!  An hour and a half later, I find out that they didn’t get enough on the swab and we have to do it again!  Ouchie-wa-wa!  All I could think of was “thank goodness I’m not delivering these babies naturally!”  It sounds so wimpy … but I meant it!  I just won’t be sharing that with any of the other mom’s on the floor who are actually going through child-birth.  Low and behold it came back positive.  Which means the possibility of going into labor is higher within the next two weeks.  Doesn’t mean for sure that I will…but I could.  While no one has been able to give me a date to strive for, I’ve been told “I’ve bought myself some more time in the hospital” and Dr. Miller said he would see me on Tuesday when he left.  Awesome.

The on call doc won’t be the one to send me home, they’ll wait until Dr. Epperson is here to make the call.  This also means that since she’s not working this weekend, I’ll be here until at least Monday.  Just making myself comfortable!

Doug brought Jaden up to visit after work today.  It was so wonderful to see my men.  Jaden was super excited to see me and eat dinner in my bed … leaving more crumbs of course.  One of the first things he said to me was that he wasn’t going home tonight and he wanted to sleep over.  When I pointed out that there was only 1 bed and asked where was he going to sleep.  He quickly replied that he would sleep in the chair and be REALLY quiet.  It just broke my heart.

Kids are resilient and he’s not the only 4-year-old learning what it’s like to have siblings, but boy oh boy it breaks my heart.  It hit me really hard tonight too.  Jaden sitting next to me, hugging me so tight begging for five more minutes (which it had already been 30 extra mins).  I cried … I couldn’t help it.  He looked at me and told me he was sad when he left.  I reassured him that he could call me whenever he wanted, he just needed to ask Dad.  And he could come and see me every day!  It didn’t stop my tears tho.  It was the first hard thing I’ve had to face … and it hit me like a wall.  I can’t imagine when there will be four little men who can pull at my heart strings like that.

Katie came to visit just about the same time that the boys where leaving.  My tears were clearly shown on my face and she was reluctant to come in for fear of it being a bad time.  I reassured her it was ok and she should still come to visit.

**Let me give you a little background on my friend Katie.  Her and I met in morning Kindergarten 22 years ago.  Yes … over two decades ago!!  We went to school together thru high school, went our separate ways for college and reunited when I was pregnant with Jaden.  She was the surgical tech in on my c-section.  Then we were both engaged…and we get married on the same day! 9-19-09  We even had similar honeymoons!  Our lives have ran very parallel.  She is a very special woman whom I wish everyone had the opportunity to enjoy.  Neither Katie nor I were of the popular group growing up.  but she has always had a strong sense of what friendship is.  She would give anyone the coat off of her back because it was the right thing to do.  I look back on the years of when we had grown apart and know that it was because I was trying to be in the cool group rather than be a good friend.  Katie is God’s example of what giving and friendship is.

Tonight Katie sat and talked with me for a few hours.  It was light-hearted talks of our husbands and first year of marriage.  But it was EXACTLY what I needed.  In no time I had calmed down about missing my boys and was enjoying her company.  She refilled my water countless times and was so willing to make sure I was comfortable.  After all these years and she was willing to spend hours on her Friday night with me.  How did I get to be so lucky?  Her visit was perfect.  It re-freshened my spirits and I feel prepared for the next few days to come.  Thank you Katie for staying with me and for being you.  I am so happy and so blessed that our lives have crossed again!

Here’s to keeping these babies baking a while longer!  To finding ways of making Jaden feel special and to long lost friends who come into our lives at the most perfect time!

Love, Mel

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Filed under Posted by Melissa, Pregnancy

30 Week Health Update

First we are all still healthy.  Second, my cervix continues to shorten.  It went from 2.6cm to 1.6cm this week.  Everything happened quite quickly this morning.  Found out the cervix thing and then the next thing I know, there is a wheel chair waiting for me at the door.  So … I now find myself in a hospital room in the Birthing Center to receive the steroid shot.  This shot is to help give the babies a little boost in the development.  It also makes my blood sugar go a little crazy.  So I’ll spend 24-48 hours here so they can monitor me closely and make sure all is still well.  Totally something we can handle!

Nurse Jean warned me that the steroid shot would burn.  I told her I’d be brave since it was the right thing to do.  But boy was she right!  They give you it in your bum and boy did that booger of a shot burn!   Wowzer!  and I have another one to look forward to tomorrow morning.  Every time these boys complain about getting a shot themselves, I’m going to remind them of these ones I’m getting for them!

We have learned a few things since here.  The non-stress test works a whole lot better when I lay on my right side.  When reclined those little buggers go NUTS!  Also found out that I regularly contract when I drink too much.  So I go to the restroom regularly now  :)   And although he’ll never confess, Doug likes the Ellen show.

I was so glad that Doug came with me to my appointment this morning.  I would have felt so lost without him!  He went home and grabbed me all my stuff … book, knitting, Nook, fresh undies for the morning.  The boys will stay at home tonight … my health is good, I’ll be brave to spend the night by myself.  Of all the times I’ve been in the hospital, this is the first night staying on my own.  When I had my car accident either Mom or someone stayed with me.  Mom, Rae and Jess took turns when Jaden was born.  And my mom stayed when I had my kidney infection.  I’m really blessed to have so many people who are willing to stay by myself on those awful hospital pull out chairs/couches.

It’s time to order my dinner now!!  Please send “stay preggers” thoughts my way to keep these little men in for a while longer.  Love you all!

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Filed under Posted by Melissa, Pregnancy

28 & 29 Week Update

We are in month 7!!  Which means:

Baby’s now the size of a squash!
Baby’s energy is surging, thanks to white fat depositing beneath his skin. And since he’s growing so fast (weight will triple by birth), things are getting kind of cramped in the womb. What all this means for you: Get ready for some more kicks and jabs to the ribs.

My belly is getting bigger and bigger .. 53 cms now!  The stretch marks are growing and getting darker.  Sexy….oh baby!  Making babies isn’t all pretty but it’s a job worth giving everything into!

Speaking of jobs, I’m done with Kohl’s now.  After the itchy feet stuff and being so tied, it’s time to call it quits.  I’ll go in on Friday to get a few things (empty my snack drawer and my digital photo frame) and of course say my goodbyes.  I hope I don’t cry … but I’m sure I will!

Also on Friday, we’ve got more doctor appointments.  But first a recap of our appointment today.  We (Doug and I) saw another doc in my OB’s office (while Dr Epperson is in Paris).  The protein levels are elevated but are still in the normal range for being pregnant.  AND while my bile acids are elevated, they are also still within normal range for being pregnant.  However, we need to start Non-Stress Tests and we are going to repeat the potty test (I know you are ALL jealous!) and I had to get my blood drawn again.

Now since I wasn’t seeing my regular doctor I also didn’t have my regular nurse.  This new nurse was a little older and very sweet…. but the woman cannot draw blood!  She pokes me in the right arm and I could feel her digging a little bit.  Then she says “sorry hun, I missed”.  I’m thinking that’s why she was digging.  The needle comes out and look over and the tubes are still empty!!!  WHAT?  So now she’s got to poke me in the left arm too.  She’s got me sitting in the other chair, standing, holding my arm, on with the elastic band, off with the elastic band, on with the elastic band….holy moly!  My regular nurses come in to drop off the jugs for the protein test and they are throwing me glances from the door.  Finally we got the blood and we could head over for the Non-Stress test.  As I’m walking out, Katina was like “I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry!”  haha  She just owes me one now!  She said next time I should just say no and request someone else … I was like I could…..but you know I can’t!  I’d feel horrible!

So we walk over to another office to have a non-stress test done.  There are a series of monitors strapped to my belly, one for each baby’s heart beat and a fourth to monitor if I’m having contractions.  The test is usually 15 mins long …. our took about 2 hours.  Babies were rolling around and kicking and not being very cooperative.  The Nurse Tracy’s hands, arms and back were cramping while she was trying to find all the heart beats for long enough to pass the test.  Baby A started on the right side of my belly and by the end of the test was on the lower left side.  The other good news is that I need to have this test done twice a week from now until the babies come!  Me and Nurse Tracy are going to be very good friends!

Our next appointment is on Friday.  I’ll meet with Tracy again to talk about my diabetes at 9am then seen Dr Miller at 10:30.  We are going to try and do a biophysical profile during my ultrasound.  It’s  an ultrasound test that can tell the same information from a non-stress test.  However, they aren’t sure as the babes might be too little still to have it done this way.  If it doesn’t work then I’ll have a non-stress test again after my apt with Dr. Miller.

Things are really starting to heat up with this pregnancy.  But I would go thru all of these tests again as long as it means my baby boys are healthy and come into this world with the best start possible!  I was lucky to have Doug there with me today.  I know it’s hard to sit in a room for two hours while nurses are trying to get a heart beat and no one is talking to you.  But I hope he knows just how much it meant to me to not have to be alone today.  My best friend was in the room with me and for that I felt 200 times more brave!

Of course I’m a little behind on the belly shots …. so here is 28 & 29 Weeks!

28 Weeks (Jaden took this one!)

29 Weeks

Next posting I hope to have pictures from Mom’s baby shower from Sunday.  Just a little teaser to keep you all reading!

Love you all!  Mel

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Filed under Belly Photos, Posted by Melissa, Pregnancy