I know there are plenty of parents who do not get to bring their babies home with them right away from the hospital or even...at all. I'm grateful I hit a healthy milestone and know that if this girl decided now was the time she would spend time in the NICU but she would come home in a month. I just really want to leave the hospital with our baby. I don't want to be one of those parents. I pray for those that are. It is a tough battle.
I have been really fortunate to have wonderful friends and family praying for me and our little girl. People ask about us all the time and how we are doing. Marcus finally hit the limit of questions at work last week though. When so many people ask how things are going, and frankly they suck, he tries to be kind but he doesn't want to talk about it. He is exhausted too. We've been in and out of the hospital 7 times now. I wish they would just keep me. They won't because after a few days there my contractions get under control and it seems as though everything is calm. So, on paper, I don't need to be there. Insurance only cares what it looks like on paper. They have to send me home. If I lived in the middle of nowhere they would keep me, but my local hospital is only 15 minutes away, and the specialized hospital for premies is 40 minutes away. Anyways, all the driving and finding people to cover his shift, and trying to figure out how to still be a good father has been difficult for him. My mother-in-law flew in to help which has been such a blessing. The last two trips to the hospital she was here and we didn't have to worry about leaving at night and what we would do with the girls. Since she was here we were able to just grab my hospital bag and go. But she is leaving this week. And Marcus has his night shift and 24 hour shift and I am nervous. I don't like being left alone...because...what if? I get caught up in my mind with things that could go wrong while Marcus is away for so long. I'm sitting at 3cm and when I get to 4-5cm my body progresses quickly. With both my girls they came within 2 hours of regular contractions/my water breaking.
I wish I had kept count of how many needles have stung me this pregnancy. It's been a LOT. I have bruised arms and legs. And now that I have been diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes (the least of my worries) I prick myself (it's scary for me every time) 4x a day.
We're so fatigued from trying to be strong for so long. We need those around us to help carry this load. And we are being helped. We are so grateful. But it may seem like we are not but we're just tired. Really tired. Just know we appreciate everything that has been done for us and on our behalf. We are grateful for all the prayers. We are grateful for the meals. We are grateful for the thoughts. We are grateful.
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| The first time we went to the hospital I was put on Magnesium Sulfate and after three days my feet got so swollen. |
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| This IV bruised so badly. I haven't had this one for two weeks, but there is still a nasty bruise. |
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| This was a shower day. Woo! |
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| I love when I get to goof with Maddy. She brings such a light to my heart. |
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| They were finally able to visit me in the hospital and I was so happy. |
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| Marcus tries to make our room more lively and beautiful by bringing home flowers. <3 td=""> |
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| I miss being a good mom. |
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| I have picked up crocheting but only the single stitch. I want to finish this blanket for the baby before she comes! |
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| This was how we spent Valentine's day. |
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| 29 weeks. |
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| Sorry it's upside down. But this is how they monitor the baby's heart rate and my contractions whenever I go to the hospital. Sometimes I have to try and sleep with all these things hooked up to me including an IV and pulse monitor. |
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| My most recent hospital stay. Thankfully they were able to stop the contractions with flluids, and terbutaline. No Mag! Yay. |
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| He has gotten used to sleeping in these hospital chair-beds. They fold out further, but he was so tired. |
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| This IV was the MOST painful one ever. The nurse learned how to do IV's on a different system so she is still learning how to work these and it gushed blood and bruised and hurt just sitting there. The hand IV's are also the most sensitive spot. But, I have good veins there. |
Pregnancy Survey:
How far along? 31 weeks
Sleep: I sleep long and hard these days.
Best moment this week: Coming home from the hospital and seeing my girls.
Food cravings: A Blizzard, Sour Cream and Onion Lays Chips, Stuffed French Toast, etc.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Sometimes I just hate the smell of my husband's shampoo. But it's not every day. My meds also make me feel sick sometimes, but I need to keep these contractions under control.
Have you started to show yet: Yes!
Leakage: Noooo.
Gender prediction: It's a girl!
Wedding rings on or off? On.
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy aside from when I get frustrated for being on bed rest or the trips to and from the hospital.
Milestones: Six more days until the big 32 week milestone, but "every day in is a week less in the NICU" as my doctor says.
Maternity clothes? If I get dressed. Lately I'm in nightgowns and hospital gowns.
Have you told family and friends: Yes! Everyone is excited.
Movement: She gets the hiccups at least once a day which is so meaningful to me because it means she is practicing her breathing or tasting what I've been eating.
Labor Signs: Yes. I have been losing the big mucus plug but it can regenerate so hopefully it keeps regenerating with all my water-drinking and bed rest.
Belly Button in or out? In when I am laying down or sitting. Out when I am out of bed, and based on where the baby is bunched up.
Gender prediction: It's a girl!
Wedding rings on or off? On.
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy aside from when I get frustrated for being on bed rest or the trips to and from the hospital.
Milestones: Six more days until the big 32 week milestone, but "every day in is a week less in the NICU" as my doctor says.
Maternity clothes? If I get dressed. Lately I'm in nightgowns and hospital gowns.
Have you told family and friends: Yes! Everyone is excited.
Movement: She gets the hiccups at least once a day which is so meaningful to me because it means she is practicing her breathing or tasting what I've been eating.
Labor Signs: Yes. I have been losing the big mucus plug but it can regenerate so hopefully it keeps regenerating with all my water-drinking and bed rest.
Belly Button in or out? In when I am laying down or sitting. Out when I am out of bed, and based on where the baby is bunched up.
