Now that I'm off bedrest, we begin the familiar pattern. And I've decided why this happens to me. As with 95% of the the trials in my life, this revolves around teaching me to be more patient. And I have yet to learn how to. I try. Really I do. I just have a hard time waiting for something to happen once I've decided I'm ready for it. And particularly like now, when I'm so excruciatingly uncomfortable - can't draw a full breath, my whole body aches from bedrest and just being big and pregnant, the contractions never stop and are definitely hurting now, lots of pressure down low, I can't sleep well, I'm anxious about when this baby will come (will I have much time? will the kids be at school? middle of the night? how will we get everyone where they need to go?), plus Mace's birthday is looming and he's so very very excited I just can't tell him "sorry, no party this year. We're having a baby."
And I know I'm supposed to be able to just relax and let this happen as it should. Go about my routine and let nature take its course. Oh yeah - that'll happen.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Doctor Appointment Update
So at today's appointment, we had (yet another) ultrasound. Based on head/torso/femur/etc. measurements, they estimate Eowyn's weight to be 6 lbs., 11 oz. (give or take 3/4 lb.), so she's likely at least 6 lbs by now - yay! Or, she's small/normal and just has PJ's big melon (which is a distinct possibility - poor girl!). She's measuring in the 86th percentile now, so it's nice to know she isn't teeny tiny.
Her head is still down - waaaaay down. She's smashing the top of my cervix - very evident in the ultrasound. That's shortened from 2.9 cm to 2.4 cm and is opening again at the top. I take that as a sign that as soon as I involve gravity again, these contractions are going to get things moving pretty quickly.
I get to get off my meds and off the couch on Friday and let nature take its course. Peggy thinks it'll be another week - I'm doubtful, but I've been wrong before. This weekend would be great: the kids aren't in school, it's a week before Mace's birthday, and I'm so done with this. But if not, having her stay in longer is only a good thing, I know.
Measurements:
Waist: 35.5" (must have measured wrong the past couple of weeks?)
Belly Button: 40"
3" Down: 41"
Hips:
Weight: 168.4
Her head is still down - waaaaay down. She's smashing the top of my cervix - very evident in the ultrasound. That's shortened from 2.9 cm to 2.4 cm and is opening again at the top. I take that as a sign that as soon as I involve gravity again, these contractions are going to get things moving pretty quickly.
I get to get off my meds and off the couch on Friday and let nature take its course. Peggy thinks it'll be another week - I'm doubtful, but I've been wrong before. This weekend would be great: the kids aren't in school, it's a week before Mace's birthday, and I'm so done with this. But if not, having her stay in longer is only a good thing, I know.
Measurements:
Waist: 35.5" (must have measured wrong the past couple of weeks?)
Belly Button: 40"
3" Down: 41"
Hips:
Weight: 168.4
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Bedrest - Weeks (Weeks 33/34 Recap)
Lots of Christmas prep, kids running around free from school, family, visits and such. And I got to watch it all from my chair. But it was fun, the kids had a great time, my mom was here to help out, PJ was here helping, too, and now it's over. :-)
I'm tired. My body is sore. Every time I get up I have contractions. I ache from sitting down and not using muscles for any real amount of time. When I do do anything (yeah, yeah, I know - I'm not supposed to. I'm honestly sitting or lying anywhere from 21-23 hours a day), I'm really sore after - my hips, lower back, pelvis, legs, abdomen. Sitting/lying all day has the curious side effect of being unable to get comfortable in bed at night and/or fall asleep. It generally takes me at least an hour - during which I'm left alone with my crazy overactive brain and all my lists.
On the plus side, I don't seem to have much of an appetite and haven't put on near as much weight as I was afraid of. In fact, my measurements have oddly gone down - but I sure don't feel any smaller. The baby seems to be doing well and we're on track to make it to at least 36 weeks. Yay!
Measurements:
Waist: 34"
Belly Button: 39"
3" Down: 41"
Hips: 42.5"
Weight: 165.4
I'm tired. My body is sore. Every time I get up I have contractions. I ache from sitting down and not using muscles for any real amount of time. When I do do anything (yeah, yeah, I know - I'm not supposed to. I'm honestly sitting or lying anywhere from 21-23 hours a day), I'm really sore after - my hips, lower back, pelvis, legs, abdomen. Sitting/lying all day has the curious side effect of being unable to get comfortable in bed at night and/or fall asleep. It generally takes me at least an hour - during which I'm left alone with my crazy overactive brain and all my lists.
On the plus side, I don't seem to have much of an appetite and haven't put on near as much weight as I was afraid of. In fact, my measurements have oddly gone down - but I sure don't feel any smaller. The baby seems to be doing well and we're on track to make it to at least 36 weeks. Yay!
Measurements:
Waist: 34"
Belly Button: 39"
3" Down: 41"
Hips: 42.5"
Weight: 165.4
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.....
Melanie's a klutz and had a great fall! (aka: Yet another visit to Room 2414)
So Friday was eventful. First, I'm just trying to put bread in the freezer in the garage, when I slip on some cardboard I didn't see, my feet go flying out from under me, and I go flying down the 3 stairs in the garage, landing flat on my right side, in a pile of stuff, on top of some stockpots, and somehow partially trapped under a bike. With much cursing and crying, I managed to extricate myself and hobble back into the house. (I have a fabulous bruise on my right thigh, one on my ankle, and am generally quite sore right now.)
I call the doctor's office, and they advise me of what to watch for, but say I should be fine - baby's well insulated in there. The rest of the day I have somewhat more contractions, but never more than six in an hour, which is the "magic" number to avoid.
The kids go various places that night, and PJ & T go to a movie. PJ and I watch a movie that night, and when I go to bed around 12:30, I find that it feels as though I'm having constant contractions. Plus, I'm having nasty stabbing pains in my cervix. Hmmmmm.... I finally call Peggy right before 1, she tells me to take another Nifedipene and see if it helps. From 1 to 1:40, they come every 3 minutes. So we have to load Tristen up (children aren't allowed in hospitals these days because of H1N1), take him over to Grandma's, then head in to labor and delivery.
We get there around 2:30 am, they hook me up to the monitors, PJ passes out in the super comfy rocker, and it begins. Of course everything has slowed down, but the monitor does show I'm having them every 2-10 minutes, so Peggy tells them to give me the nasty Terbutaline shot to try and completely stop them. I forget just how much I hate that stupid drug until it's coursing through me, first making me a little dizzy, then jittery, then panicky, then giving me the full on shakes. All while being strapped to a monitor on a rock-hard bed. Sweet.
But it calms things down, they check me and determine the contractions haven't started any labor, so we get to go home. At 4:30 am.
They figure this may have happened as a result of the fall, or I was just up late and my body was super tired, or who really knows. Regardless, today, everything is sore, I'm exhausted, and it seems like my poor body is just tired of this. Every time I shift positions, I have a contraction. I hope a day of solid sleeping will help it to recover.
So Friday was eventful. First, I'm just trying to put bread in the freezer in the garage, when I slip on some cardboard I didn't see, my feet go flying out from under me, and I go flying down the 3 stairs in the garage, landing flat on my right side, in a pile of stuff, on top of some stockpots, and somehow partially trapped under a bike. With much cursing and crying, I managed to extricate myself and hobble back into the house. (I have a fabulous bruise on my right thigh, one on my ankle, and am generally quite sore right now.)
I call the doctor's office, and they advise me of what to watch for, but say I should be fine - baby's well insulated in there. The rest of the day I have somewhat more contractions, but never more than six in an hour, which is the "magic" number to avoid.
The kids go various places that night, and PJ & T go to a movie. PJ and I watch a movie that night, and when I go to bed around 12:30, I find that it feels as though I'm having constant contractions. Plus, I'm having nasty stabbing pains in my cervix. Hmmmmm.... I finally call Peggy right before 1, she tells me to take another Nifedipene and see if it helps. From 1 to 1:40, they come every 3 minutes. So we have to load Tristen up (children aren't allowed in hospitals these days because of H1N1), take him over to Grandma's, then head in to labor and delivery.
We get there around 2:30 am, they hook me up to the monitors, PJ passes out in the super comfy rocker, and it begins. Of course everything has slowed down, but the monitor does show I'm having them every 2-10 minutes, so Peggy tells them to give me the nasty Terbutaline shot to try and completely stop them. I forget just how much I hate that stupid drug until it's coursing through me, first making me a little dizzy, then jittery, then panicky, then giving me the full on shakes. All while being strapped to a monitor on a rock-hard bed. Sweet.
But it calms things down, they check me and determine the contractions haven't started any labor, so we get to go home. At 4:30 am.
They figure this may have happened as a result of the fall, or I was just up late and my body was super tired, or who really knows. Regardless, today, everything is sore, I'm exhausted, and it seems like my poor body is just tired of this. Every time I shift positions, I have a contraction. I hope a day of solid sleeping will help it to recover.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Bedrest - Weeks 3 & 4 (Weeks 31/32 Recap)
So I was trying to do daily recaps, but ya know, there's not much to say. I sit on the couch or my recliner. I do things on the computer. I watch the kids watch TV. I crochet. Sometimes I nap. I contract.
So here's a sample of what I was trying to do:
Saturday: Not surprisingly, even though at the beginning of this, I had thought of several worthwhile projects I could do while sitting here on my heiny, I find myself doing a whole lot of nothing too useful these days. So unlike me! (ha ha ha)
I could finally put those hundreds of pictures I have printed into the albums I've bought.
I could fill in the kids' baby books with the notecards I've used instead.
I could do some Family History work online.
I could crochet hats for preemies in the NICU.
I could do scrapbooking in Photoshop.
But what do I do? I dunno. I research online (man! I'm such a nerd)
Today, I was going to start on some more crocheting projects I've spent a couple of days finding patterns & ideas for online. So what do I do? Spend hours researching yarn. Yarn! And it's so excruciatingly frustrating not being able to go out and shop for what I'm trying to find. To find the best price, the best color, feel the yarns.
And now I'm updating the blog. Another productive day on the couch!
So here's a sample of what I was trying to do:
Saturday: Not surprisingly, even though at the beginning of this, I had thought of several worthwhile projects I could do while sitting here on my heiny, I find myself doing a whole lot of nothing too useful these days. So unlike me! (ha ha ha)
I could finally put those hundreds of pictures I have printed into the albums I've bought.
I could fill in the kids' baby books with the notecards I've used instead.
I could do some Family History work online.
I could crochet hats for preemies in the NICU.
I could do scrapbooking in Photoshop.
But what do I do? I dunno. I research online (man! I'm such a nerd)
Today, I was going to start on some more crocheting projects I've spent a couple of days finding patterns & ideas for online. So what do I do? Spend hours researching yarn. Yarn! And it's so excruciatingly frustrating not being able to go out and shop for what I'm trying to find. To find the best price, the best color, feel the yarns.
And now I'm updating the blog. Another productive day on the couch!
Friday, December 4, 2009
Bedrest - Week 2 (Week 30 Recap)
I think I'm finally past the initial shock and upset of all of this - must have moved past denial and anger and all of that - but this still isn't fun. Sitting around on your behind day and night while watching life proceed on around you while having absolutely no control and being completely unable to participate is extremely frustrating - particularly when you're a bit of a control freak (which I most certainly am not).
On a happy note, at my appointment this week, it appears the bedrest is doing its job. My cervix hasn't shortened anymore and has actually closed up a bit. And the baby is no longer so completely engaged in my pelvis like she was. So yay! But I'm still down until 36 weeks. So - crap.
Oh, and I've had a fabulous head cold for the past week, and now have the matching cough. Coughing is so much fun with a weak pelvic floor and a stomach already sore from contractions. Oh, and breathing was already difficult - I frequently have to sit/lay with one or both arms above my head to be able to draw a decent breath.
And, as I'd feared, my butt has grown considerably in the past 3 weeks. Sweet! Can't wait to work that off!
But other than that, things are swell. :-)
Measurements:
Waist: 35.75"
Belly Button: 39.25"
3" Down: 40"
Hips: 42"
Weight: 164.2
On a happy note, at my appointment this week, it appears the bedrest is doing its job. My cervix hasn't shortened anymore and has actually closed up a bit. And the baby is no longer so completely engaged in my pelvis like she was. So yay! But I'm still down until 36 weeks. So - crap.
Oh, and I've had a fabulous head cold for the past week, and now have the matching cough. Coughing is so much fun with a weak pelvic floor and a stomach already sore from contractions. Oh, and breathing was already difficult - I frequently have to sit/lay with one or both arms above my head to be able to draw a decent breath.
And, as I'd feared, my butt has grown considerably in the past 3 weeks. Sweet! Can't wait to work that off!
But other than that, things are swell. :-)
Measurements:
Waist: 35.75"
Belly Button: 39.25"
3" Down: 40"
Hips: 42"
Weight: 164.2
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Bedrest - Week 1 (Week 29 Recap)
Ah, the first week - how to sum it up? Oddly, as soon as I knew I was going to be in this position, I was desperate to get my laptop up and running so as to fully document this experience. I even had all kinds of profound things I was going to say. However, once I got my computer, caught up with emails, gave a quick update on the blog, paid bills and such, I kind of ran out of steam. So here I am.
The first couple of days were spent mostly coordinating what was going on with the kids, getting my "affairs in order", getting people up to speed, etc. Then I settled into a rhythm of sorts: up with Tristen (who thankfully is quite self-sufficient), make sure he eats, has lunch and school stuff together, then see him off to his ride; sleep a little on the couch until Mace wakes up; let him watch TV until Monster gets up; get all of us breakfast; lay back down; have Mace get dressed, get him set for school, wait for his ride; lay back down; hang out and watch whatever Monster wants to watch on TV the rest of the day; get us lunch sometime in the middle; boys come home; Dad comes home. And take my meds every 4 hours. Yep, that's my day.
Thankfully, PJ had a major change of heart (and more importantly, attitude) a couple of days into this, so that's made things a lot more pleasant around here. He has the oh, so enviable job of being dad and mom, plus mom's gopher, plus working all day, plus walking to and from the bus in the rapidly cooling weather. Not the end of the world, but certainly more than any one parent who is normally part of a pair wants to do for 7 weeks.
Of course, once I had internet access again, I lost no time in researching pre-term labor, preemies and all that stuff. Very helpful to my state of mind. But hey, that's what I do.
Measurements:
Waist: 35.75"
Belly Button: 39"
3" Down: 39.5"
Hips: 42"
Weight: 160.2
The first couple of days were spent mostly coordinating what was going on with the kids, getting my "affairs in order", getting people up to speed, etc. Then I settled into a rhythm of sorts: up with Tristen (who thankfully is quite self-sufficient), make sure he eats, has lunch and school stuff together, then see him off to his ride; sleep a little on the couch until Mace wakes up; let him watch TV until Monster gets up; get all of us breakfast; lay back down; have Mace get dressed, get him set for school, wait for his ride; lay back down; hang out and watch whatever Monster wants to watch on TV the rest of the day; get us lunch sometime in the middle; boys come home; Dad comes home. And take my meds every 4 hours. Yep, that's my day.
Thankfully, PJ had a major change of heart (and more importantly, attitude) a couple of days into this, so that's made things a lot more pleasant around here. He has the oh, so enviable job of being dad and mom, plus mom's gopher, plus working all day, plus walking to and from the bus in the rapidly cooling weather. Not the end of the world, but certainly more than any one parent who is normally part of a pair wants to do for 7 weeks.
Of course, once I had internet access again, I lost no time in researching pre-term labor, preemies and all that stuff. Very helpful to my state of mind. But hey, that's what I do.
Measurements:
Waist: 35.75"
Belly Button: 39"
3" Down: 39.5"
Hips: 42"
Weight: 160.2
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