The Silver Lining To My Hospital Stay

This past week has been interesting, to say the least. It all starts back about 2 weeks ago. I caught whatever bug was going around. Normal annoying symptoms-starting with the flu then seeming to progress into a really bad cold. I called the nurses station at Kaiser San Diego when I first got the temperature, and they gave me the information for pregnant treatment. I did everything they said to do. It didn't get better, so then I scheduled an appointment with my general practitioner. He gave me essentially the same information. I started noticing my weight dropping, and when I went into my prenatal appointment I had officially lost 5 pounds. Nobody seemed to worry much, but I kept telling everyone that I hadn't been able to keep any food or fluids down. Still no seem to worry. I told them that Thomas wasn't as active as he usually was. Still no cause for concern-they chalked that up to less room in there to squirm. I kept having that nagging feeling though.

Still, by Tuesday, I had no appetite, I'd lost 10 pounds, and I'd thrown up water one too many times. I called the triage nurse in San Diego one more time. At first they seemed apprehensive to even really listen to me. When I told her about the 10 pounds, she tried to correct me & say that it'd only been 5. I told her that since my Friday apt. I'd lost another 5 pounds. Finally, with a hint of aggravated annoyance in her voice, the nurse advised me to come to San Diego triage to be checked out.

Needless to say, I was severely dehydrated, and the baby's amniotic fluid was really low. I had elevated liver enzymes, which they could never figure out, a virus that needed antibiotics, and a myriad of other complications that needed to be addressed through medicine & obsvervation. I knew things weren't right, yet it wasn't until I really started making a stink that they listened to me.

Luckily Thomas was ok through it all, and after they hydrated me he started back to his usual self-flipping, kicking, squirming & generally being himself. They had to take a few ultrasounds, and he was his same ornery self! In fact, when the lab tech tried to get a good picture for me to keep, he kept throwing his arm up in front of the picture!

Finally on Saturday morning they told me that, although my liver enzymes are still high, they're going down. I was put on a thousand different meds for at home, and I'm still on high alert as far as exposure to anyone really goes. aka, no hugs & kisses from the kids and no baseball games for the next week :(

I was extremely lucky to have the help of Steve, my Aunt Diana, and my friend, Kathy. Without them, I don't think this week would have been able to happen. Finally, that age old question "what exactly do you do all day" was answered for Steve! His was sprinkled with 45 minute one way drives to the hospital, too, but he saw what a hectic lifestyle we have going on here. Not to say I'd ever want to repeat the week, but I think it was nice to get a little boost in appreciation from him for the work I put forth :)

On to my silver lining-I really got to spend some one on one time with this little peanut baking in here. I was monitored regularly, got many ultrasounds, and once I started feeling better, was able to focus on my pregnancy and what it's like. Knowing that this is my last pregnancy, to be able to have that opportunity to enjoy the little movements, and that time that is secret & special to the two of us. Don't get me wrong-I'm totally ready to pop this little guy out, but I appreciate the kicks, squirms, and hickups too!

I'm including the picture that the lab tech was finally able to get. It was so different seeing Thomas' face so personally-those 20 week scans all look basically the same. I want to say thank you to everyone who was praying for us during the time, and tell you that we really appreciated all the support we got during my stay there.

I'd say I'm 90% back to myself-which is good, because these next few weeks are going to be HECTIC w/baseball, school ending, and a special little girl's 8th birthday!

Mother's Day

Yesterday was a nice time with Steve, Andrew, & Hannah. Besides a few breakdowns by my hormonal crying :) I have been ultra sensitive this week over nothing!

The kids gave me their presents, which, of course, were great! I love homemade gifts! Andrew made a pop up card and Hannah made 3 blocks that spell out MOM. She also gave me a paper with a secret code that I have decipher.

After breakfast & presents, we did a drive down to the San Diego hospital that I will deliver at if I go into labor before June 2nd. I loved the hospital! The staff was really nice, and a nurse took us on an unofficial tour to quite a few of the rooms to show us what it will be like if we're there. It makes me sad in a way that I only have 3 more weeks before I can go down to Palomar Hospital in Escondido! Reality, of course, is that I'd rather do the short 20 minute drive over the hour one, but STILL, the room was great, and I really liked all of the staff there. We have a tour of Escondido hospital next Saturday, so we can make the final decision then-that is, of course, if Thomas comes after 36 weeks!

Steve was definitely shocked by the rooms-I asked him afterward & he said that he expected it to be more sterile or stainless steel or something. He was impressed by the drop down delivery bed, and the fact that everything was encompassed into one room. Seeing his face when he saw the little baby weigh/monitoring station was priceless. We found out that when I go in for my tubal ligation, Steve will be with the baby by himself for the whole time-I think I saw a glimmer of terror which he quickly hid when he saw me looking at him! We didn't get to see the rooming area, where I'll be staying afterwards, but she said there's a possibility we'll be sharing a room with someone else. I definitely hope it's a slow week!

After the hospital, we went over to the cemetery that some of my family is buried at. My Grandma Linda was buried there, along with her mother, father, and one of her brothers. Also, one of her sister's ashes were scattered over all of the graves there. We laid flowers on my Grandma's and Great Grandma's grave, and walked around looking at how many graves were from people born in the 1800's. There were quite a few. In fact, we found one family born in the 1820's. As awkward as it sounds, the kids really enjoyed being there. I think Hannah got to have a little bit more of a connection to her Great Grandma, since she was born after my Grandma had passed away.

After going to the cemetery, we took the kids to Dave & Busters. We ate lots of yummy food & played some games. Hannah won 350 tickets altogether from $10 worth of play. 119 tickets were from playing "Deal Or No Deal" by taking the "deal."Unfortunately, she held the case with 200 tickets! She didn't mind though, because the other case left over was only 30 tickets, so she figured she wouldn't be greedy with it! Andrew & Steve played all the shoot 'em up, run 'em over games. Andrew played a few games for tickets, and tried to convince Hannah to combine tickets to both get something better! Needless to say, he didn't get to, despite his pouting, and Hannah got a nice little bracelet, while Andrew got some Chinese Finger Traps!

It was a great weekend, and a wonderful Mother's Day. I can't imagine a better little family if I tried!

Our Trip To Santa Maria

I didn't think we'd get another good family trip in before Thomas arrived, but was pleasantly surprised by this semi-last minute drive to visit Steve's Grandma Marie in Santa Maria. I've been on a trip up there before, but this was the first time the kids got to see a piece of Steve's childhood. We drove past his old house, places he went to school, "his" restaurant that he loved, and to the 2 best parks I have ever seen in my life! We visited with his Aunt Ida & Grandma Marie, and took his Grandma out to lunch, & then down to the beach. The kids got to climb the trees that Steve & his brother built tree forts in, and see pictures of him at their ages. I was so glad we got to go, and see another layer of Steve come out as he shared his special memories with us. We ended up taking over 50 pictures, so I'll have to weed through them to post some of my favorites (any time they're in a picture, it's a great one for me!)

Words can't describe what it feels like to watch them explore the world together.

They didn't even fight when I stuck them together for a nice picture!

Steve & his Grandma.

Poker, a crazed look in her eye, chasing squirrels at the park.

Poker didn't know what to do when the squirrel shot up the tree-she's used to ground squirrels!

A little pond in the park. One of a few.

Ok, this is more like our family!

I couldn't even fit the whole tree in the picture!

32 weeks & 5 days!

Tree root jail-can I keep them there?!

Duck, duck......GOOSE!