I think he's smitten. ;)
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Introducing....
Alice Anne Christie
born September 20, 2012
2 lbs 6 oz
14 1/2 inches long
Already loved and completely spoiled.
A Slew of Stumped Specialists
I didn't make a Birth Plan.
Any Labor and Delivery Nurse will tell you they go flying out of the window the second you make one. They silently say "bless her heart" when pregnant women waddle up to L&D with birthing balls and a 'no drugs!' approach.
So I didn't make one.
However, had I made one - it would not have involved a Neurologist, a Cardiologist, a Rheumatologist, a Hematologist, Yom Kippor, PRES or delivering at 29 weeks and 4 days.
So I guess it's a good thing I didn't make one.
I mentioned my hand pain in my last post. That's what brought me to the hospital on Sunday, September 16th and I'm pretty sure that's what saved my life. The pain had become so unbearable I wasn't sleeping or eating so to the ER we went. I've never had high blood pressure at all; however, when they checked it - it was extremely high which meant I got to move up to L&D.
By Monday I'd seen every specialist the hospital had and each of them said "this doesn't make sense". Yeah, I get that a lot. The Rheumatologist couldn't explain why it was only my hands that were red and splotchy. The Hematologist couldn't explain why my platelets were going down and down. The Cardiologist couldn't explain my all of a sudden dangerously high blood pressure issues.
According to the OB filling in for my OB - I'm a variant. :) I like that. It sounds much better than mutant.
We spoke with the NICU doctors in preparation for if we had to deliver and Baby Girl was given some Steroids to help speed up her lung development. Things improved on Tuesday.
But Thursday I apparently had a seizure and an emergency C-section.
It's a good thing I didn't make a birth plan.
Baby girl came out screaming, which is encouraging, and has been on room air since birth which is pretty impressive for a baby born at 29 weeks and 4 days at 2 lbs and 6oz. She's a little fighter and for that I'm thankful.
I spent a week in ICU recovering and came home yesterday with a slew of meds. My slew of specialists think the hands (which eventually moved to my feet which made more sense to the doctors) is something auto immune which is apparently tricksy to diagnose. They don't know if it was pregnancy induced - only time will tell. I seem to be responding well to the steroids and my hands are no longer burning with pain so that's lovely! The blood pressure issues seem to be pregnancy induced and will eventually level out with monitoring and drugs. And my PRES (which is a more rare form of preeclampsia - rare, yep - that's me) should correct itself now that I'm no longer pregnant.
No longer pregnant. Yeah, I'm dealing with that. I had to call to cancel our childbirth class, I'm pretty sure we don't need it anymore unless they want an example of what not to do. ;)
Our girl is making lots of great progress and is already spoiled and super loved.
And we are SO thankful to the nurses, doctors and staff at The Woman's Hospital of Texas for taking such good care of us.
And while we didn't plan for her to come so early - we're awfully excited she's here. She is after all the cutest, smartest baby in NICU 3 - of this we're sure. ;)
And I'm thankful God's birth plan always seems to work out.
We're thankful for the prayers and the checking ins and now that I'm home, I'll post lots of updates.
Until next time.......
Any Labor and Delivery Nurse will tell you they go flying out of the window the second you make one. They silently say "bless her heart" when pregnant women waddle up to L&D with birthing balls and a 'no drugs!' approach.
So I didn't make one.
However, had I made one - it would not have involved a Neurologist, a Cardiologist, a Rheumatologist, a Hematologist, Yom Kippor, PRES or delivering at 29 weeks and 4 days.
So I guess it's a good thing I didn't make one.
I mentioned my hand pain in my last post. That's what brought me to the hospital on Sunday, September 16th and I'm pretty sure that's what saved my life. The pain had become so unbearable I wasn't sleeping or eating so to the ER we went. I've never had high blood pressure at all; however, when they checked it - it was extremely high which meant I got to move up to L&D.
By Monday I'd seen every specialist the hospital had and each of them said "this doesn't make sense". Yeah, I get that a lot. The Rheumatologist couldn't explain why it was only my hands that were red and splotchy. The Hematologist couldn't explain why my platelets were going down and down. The Cardiologist couldn't explain my all of a sudden dangerously high blood pressure issues.
According to the OB filling in for my OB - I'm a variant. :) I like that. It sounds much better than mutant.
We spoke with the NICU doctors in preparation for if we had to deliver and Baby Girl was given some Steroids to help speed up her lung development. Things improved on Tuesday.
But Thursday I apparently had a seizure and an emergency C-section.
It's a good thing I didn't make a birth plan.
Baby girl came out screaming, which is encouraging, and has been on room air since birth which is pretty impressive for a baby born at 29 weeks and 4 days at 2 lbs and 6oz. She's a little fighter and for that I'm thankful.
I spent a week in ICU recovering and came home yesterday with a slew of meds. My slew of specialists think the hands (which eventually moved to my feet which made more sense to the doctors) is something auto immune which is apparently tricksy to diagnose. They don't know if it was pregnancy induced - only time will tell. I seem to be responding well to the steroids and my hands are no longer burning with pain so that's lovely! The blood pressure issues seem to be pregnancy induced and will eventually level out with monitoring and drugs. And my PRES (which is a more rare form of preeclampsia - rare, yep - that's me) should correct itself now that I'm no longer pregnant.
No longer pregnant. Yeah, I'm dealing with that. I had to call to cancel our childbirth class, I'm pretty sure we don't need it anymore unless they want an example of what not to do. ;)
Our girl is making lots of great progress and is already spoiled and super loved.
And we are SO thankful to the nurses, doctors and staff at The Woman's Hospital of Texas for taking such good care of us.
And while we didn't plan for her to come so early - we're awfully excited she's here. She is after all the cutest, smartest baby in NICU 3 - of this we're sure. ;)
And I'm thankful God's birth plan always seems to work out.
We're thankful for the prayers and the checking ins and now that I'm home, I'll post lots of updates.
Until next time.......
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
So...
I'm exhausted. And I'm spent. And by the time I get home, I have no desire to share my fun stories or sweet pictures. Sorry.
But not really.
I was lucky and didn't spend much time tired in the first two trimesters but that seems to be over. Now I want to fall asleep any time I sit still for more than 5 minutes.
And I'm pretty sure the hormones have increased as well. My poor Beloved. As I'm bawling in his arms yesterday morning saying "my hands hurt and I won't be able to hold a baby and I think I have arthritis in my toe" - he laughed - because he's a fixer and he can't fix me. :) Bless his heart. He's being SO patient with me and I'm so thankful for him.
My hands are KILLING ME. I thought the wrist surgery would prevent any complications but apparently babies ruin everything and that includes hands. :) I don't really mean that - it's the exhaustion talking. My left hand is so bad that I went back to my hand surgeon to discuss options. Both of my doctors have said a steroid shot would be safe and might help alleviate some of the pain. The hand surgeon didn't want to give it to me - he doesn't like to work on pregnant women. Then I cried. And I got a shot. He said it might get worse before it gets better. Why is that? Why can't things just get better?! That's dumb. D.U.M.B.
Yeesh.
The shot was Friday. I'm still waiting. So far it was a bad decision and has done nothing but increase the pain, rendering my left thumb and pointer finger useless. I'm currently typing this with my right hand and left pinkie praying to God I don't accidentally hit the space bar with my left thumb.
You use your thumb a lot by the way. I mean - A LOT.
And I'm icing it which doesn't help. And I'm putting heat on it which doesn't help. And I'm reluctantly taking Tylenol which has again been okayed by my medical professionals even though it's no longer helping. And the pain is keeping me from sleeping so today - I'm a total HOT MESS!! Watch out world - it's an Ugly Cry day.
The Doctors want me to gain weight so I've been eating lots of extra protein. Apparently Little Biscuit has a big head and butt but a dainty waist and for a baby - that's not great. Who knew! Apparently my medical professionals. ;)
And with the exhaustion, my anxiousness has increased. She doesn't wiggle and I worry. Then she wiggles and I worry she's getting all twisted up. I could really use a glass of wine.
Daniel said according to the book - I've reached the part of the pregnancy where I'm supposed to be over it. Yep. I feel like a Hippo and my hands hurt and I want a nap.
And I'm pretty sure we're in trouble. Last week at the ultrasound, Baby Girl refused to flip - she doesn't appreciate being pushed around. So all we could see was the back of her big head. :) And the next day at Doctor #2's appointment when the nurse was looking for a heart beat - she kicked the nurse. Yep - doesn't like being pushed around one bit. ;)
We've signed up for baby classes and registered with the hospital. According to my pregnancy app, we only have 11ish weeks left. Stupid phone, like I need that additional pressure! :)
So...I'm sorry I haven't felt up to posting.
But not really.
Until next time....
But not really.
I was lucky and didn't spend much time tired in the first two trimesters but that seems to be over. Now I want to fall asleep any time I sit still for more than 5 minutes.
And I'm pretty sure the hormones have increased as well. My poor Beloved. As I'm bawling in his arms yesterday morning saying "my hands hurt and I won't be able to hold a baby and I think I have arthritis in my toe" - he laughed - because he's a fixer and he can't fix me. :) Bless his heart. He's being SO patient with me and I'm so thankful for him.
My hands are KILLING ME. I thought the wrist surgery would prevent any complications but apparently babies ruin everything and that includes hands. :) I don't really mean that - it's the exhaustion talking. My left hand is so bad that I went back to my hand surgeon to discuss options. Both of my doctors have said a steroid shot would be safe and might help alleviate some of the pain. The hand surgeon didn't want to give it to me - he doesn't like to work on pregnant women. Then I cried. And I got a shot. He said it might get worse before it gets better. Why is that? Why can't things just get better?! That's dumb. D.U.M.B.
Yeesh.
The shot was Friday. I'm still waiting. So far it was a bad decision and has done nothing but increase the pain, rendering my left thumb and pointer finger useless. I'm currently typing this with my right hand and left pinkie praying to God I don't accidentally hit the space bar with my left thumb.
You use your thumb a lot by the way. I mean - A LOT.
And I'm icing it which doesn't help. And I'm putting heat on it which doesn't help. And I'm reluctantly taking Tylenol which has again been okayed by my medical professionals even though it's no longer helping. And the pain is keeping me from sleeping so today - I'm a total HOT MESS!! Watch out world - it's an Ugly Cry day.
The Doctors want me to gain weight so I've been eating lots of extra protein. Apparently Little Biscuit has a big head and butt but a dainty waist and for a baby - that's not great. Who knew! Apparently my medical professionals. ;)
And with the exhaustion, my anxiousness has increased. She doesn't wiggle and I worry. Then she wiggles and I worry she's getting all twisted up. I could really use a glass of wine.
Daniel said according to the book - I've reached the part of the pregnancy where I'm supposed to be over it. Yep. I feel like a Hippo and my hands hurt and I want a nap.
And I'm pretty sure we're in trouble. Last week at the ultrasound, Baby Girl refused to flip - she doesn't appreciate being pushed around. So all we could see was the back of her big head. :) And the next day at Doctor #2's appointment when the nurse was looking for a heart beat - she kicked the nurse. Yep - doesn't like being pushed around one bit. ;)
We've signed up for baby classes and registered with the hospital. According to my pregnancy app, we only have 11ish weeks left. Stupid phone, like I need that additional pressure! :)
So...I'm sorry I haven't felt up to posting.
But not really.
Until next time....
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