I'm home!!!

After two and a half days in Labor and Delivery I am finally home!!!  I've gotta say though after the second day I was actually enjoying my stay, it was great staying in bed, having visitors and not doing anything but relaxing.
My doctor came in this morning and heard that I was actually enjoying myself and asked me if I was sure I wanted to leave.  If it weren't Christmas this weekend I probably would have just stayed a day or two more but they would have had to take out the IV, I can't stand that thing.  When I am home I am restless thinking of all the things I could be doing or need to do etc. which is really hard when you are on strict bed rest.

The doctor put me on an oral drug called Indomethacin, it's an organ relaxer and is definitely making the contractions subside.  Oh and did I mention I made a new friend?... Ambien. Can I just take a moment to thank the genius behind such a miracle drug?!  Right before I was going to bed last night room next to me a lady had her baby and all I could hear were screams and shrills of excitement as well as a screaming baby, it was cute but just not as cute as if it were my own I guess.  My saint of a nurse came in and offered me an Ambien and I eagerly jumped on the offer.  I finally slept and felt well rested when Brian came to the hospital in the morning after his shift at work.

Now I am at home drugged up and chained to my couch.  My cousin Abby was a total lifesaver today, she not only came over to visit but she picked up a bunch of stuff from Target for me and helped me wrap my Christmas gifts! A HUGE help, thanks Abby!

As of right now, I am on strict bed rest and can pretty much twiddle my thumbs for the next four days until my next doctors appointment on Tuesday, unless I have more contractions and have to return to the hospital.  Right now the goal is to keep these babes in until I am at least 36 weeks which is 3 weeks away.  If the babies came today they would have to spend 3 weeks in the NICU to learn how to regulate their temperature and to eat which isn't bad but still not fun.  Every week I get closer to 36 means one less week in the NICU so fingers crossed!

Thank you everyone again for your thoughts and prayers for us and our little family.  I am so lucky to have so many family and friends praying for us.

Another day in the L&D...

Last night my mom, sister and brother Josh brought me warm fresh baked Oatmeal Chocolate chip cookies to the hospital. They were sooo good!!  Tiersha and Josh came to visit me also and got to hang out for a while.  It's so nice living so close to so many family members!  Tiersha was so great, she offered to stay with me at the hospital overnight because Brian had to work and she knows what it's like being alone in the hospital.  I think she might have caught a cold from my room because I keep it at arctic temperatures, so I've been told.  She had 3 heating blankets covering her and I used just a sheet.  It's amazing how warm you are when you are a human incubator.

Unfortunately the night didn't go so well.  I had long contractions, 5-6 minutes long.  They were also frequent and not subsiding.  The nurse came in around 3 AM with the thing I was dreading most, an IV.  I had been trying to consume as much water as possible to avoid this but no such luck.  This time my nurse numbed the area before she stuck me with the needle, she had to do it twice because the first vein hid the second she numbed it and she couldn't find it when she poked around.  This was not enough... at 3:30 she came back with another shot of Terbutaline.  This is a little tiny needle with a huge bite! It is so painful!  It also causes your heart rate to speed up and you to become anxious.  The last two times I had to take this it wasn't as noticeable because I was watching TV and talking with people.  This time it was night, the TV was off and I was the only one awake... it kind of made me freak out a little bit because I could feel my heart racing.

At about 7 AM the doctor came in to see me and check if I was dilating.  I wasn't.  Since I had such an eventful night of contractions he decided to keep me for one more night and re-evaluate in the morning.  So here I am, still in the hospital.  It actually hasn't been too bad though.  They switched me to oral medication that's supposed to be an organ relaxer and make the contractions stop.  So far it's working pretty well.  I haven't had as many long or strong contractions so hopefully I will be released tomorrow. I got my second shot of the steroids in my rear and it hurt more than the first one!  I have been told that I should only have oral medication from now on though so that is a relief.

Today I had two pleasant surprises.  My Grandma Connie and Papa Neilson came to visit me and then one of my mom's best friends,  Terri Hubbard and her daughters Melissa and Cheryl, came to visit and spent 3 hours chatting with me.  It was so nice to have visitors!  It definitely made the time fly by!

Not a completely bad day for me; I got to shower, which is interesting with an IV but SOO nice to get clean, have breakfast, lunch and dinner brought to me, visitors to keep me company and less contractions!  The only thing that could make it better is if this IV was out.  I kind of like not having to do much, it's hard getting up and taking care of myself at home.

I really appreciate everyone's thoughts and prayers, it looks like they're working because the contractions are slowing and I might get to go home! Thank you so much!

Another iv

I am having a lot of contractions so they just put me on another iv. :o(

If this doesn't work I'll be getting another shot of terbutaline...

I'm back...

Looks like these babes really want to make their debut early, either that or my body wants to kick them out early.  I went to my follow up doctors appointment this morning and they put me on monitors, unfortunately my contractions were still coming at a rate they weren't happy with so they sent me to the hospital.  I am on monitors and have to stay at least for 24 hours.  They have given me the first of a set of two steroid shots (total OUCH, it's in the bum!) to help the babies lungs just in case they come super early.  I also got another shot of Terbutaline to help ease my contractions.

The doctor wants to try and keep the babies in until at least 36 weeks, I am 32 weeks and 5 days so hopefully I can make it another 3 weeks.  He said if my contractions stay the way they are in 24 hours when he comes to check on me then I might have to stay longer and continue to be monitored.  I am not dilated at all and my cervix is 3 cm thick so I at least have that going for me.  I was told that the preterm labor contractions are a reaction from my body not wanting to expand anymore and thinking it's time... SUPER.

Too early!!!

This morning I had quite the scare. I went to bed around 10:30 and was feeling some minor cramping, I called Brian at work and told him that I was going to wait an hour and see if the cramps go away or progressively get worse before calling the doctor. I fell asleep around 11 but still had cramps. I woke up around 2:15AM and my cramps were significantly worse. Needless to say I called the on call doctor and she told me to check into Labor and Delivery. Luckily I wasn't in too much of a panic, I had my bag mostly packed, grabbed a few things just in case and then got dressed. We got to the Emergency Entrance to the hospital around 3:00 AM and I was admitted, hooked up to fetal monitors and an IV. I was having a lot of contractions so they gave me a shot of something to stop them. They also did a test to see the likely hood of me delivering in the next two weeks and luckily that was negative. After about two hours the contractions slowed down but the heart rates were a little concerning so they kept me until the doctor came in around 7:30AM. When he came in he said that the heart rates have gone up and that everything looks good. I am now on BED REST, at least until Wednesday when the doctor wants to see me and see how I am doing.

This was a very scary experience for me, I am ready for these babes to come, but it worries me that THEY might not be ready to come out. I'm not so much ready for delivery, I hate needles, hospitals and pain so I was very anxious being admitted knowing that I could potentially be delivering my babies early and if I did, they would very likely be going to the NICU. I am so happy that the contractions have subsided for now but a little bummed to have to be on bed rest. I'm not used to letting people help me or being dependent on those around me so this is definitely going to be a challenge.

Being Pregnant is HaRd!

Being pregnant is no easy feat. Every day that goes by brings a new challenge. Can I get up without my lower back screaming? Can I put on my shoes today? Can my body stop itching all over? Can my arms and thighs stop expanding? (I mean these babies are in my tummy not my thighs and arms.) Can I try to exercise without every part of me aching like I am a 80 year old woman? Can I please control my raging hormones and control my tears that flow for no apparent reason? I have such a respect for anyone who has ever had a baby and even more for those who go on for two, three, four etc. People don't realize all the changes that take place and all the sacrifices we as women make in order to create life. I was really sick for a couple weeks in the first trimester and remember thinking, why would anyone ever go through this more than once?! I know, I know, because A) you forget and B) the miracle of life that comes as a result at the end. I don't want anyone to misinterpret my last post, I do not think that because I was told by a family member to think that Heavenly Father trusts me so much that he is sending me two means that he trusts me MORE than anyone else who has one at a time. I am severely humbled by this pregnancy. I do not believe that I am more qualified or more capable at all. There are many women out there that I think are WAY more qualified to have twins. To cope with this insecurity I have to remember what I have always been taught, that we will never be given more than we can handle. I still struggle with the idea of taking care of two at a time. I knew I was ready for one and that I always wanted twins, but once the doctor told me I was actually having two I was filled with fear. Fear that I won't be able to handle double duty, fear that I won't be a good mom for both, fear in many different aspects. I am so grateful for the love and support I have been given by my family and friends. I know that without that this pregnancy would be a lot harder. I have been blessed with so many wonderful examples in just my own family alone. I have so many amazing and wonderful Aunts, Cousins and Grandmothers who are amazing wives and mothers. KUDOS to all you great mom's out there! You are my constant inspiration.

Babies :o)

It has been over 4 months since I have written in this blog. I would apologize but so much has happened that I am perfectly content with my hiatus. I am in my 19th week of being pregnant with TWINS! We confirmed at the doctor about a week and a half ago that we are having a Boy and a Girl! These last four months have been an interesting roller coaster of sickness, exhaustion, fear, anticipation and anxiety but most of all overwhelming joy and love. We feel so blessed for this miracle in our lives. I have been getting a lot of different responses when I tell people I am pregnant with twins... "Oh, congratulations?" "Wow, twins huh? That's gonna be a lot of work." "My condolences?" "Oh, I'm glad it's you and not me." "Oh wow, you are going to get HUGE!" Sweet right? Don't get me wrong here there are just as many happy responses as well and those are the most helpful... "That is so exciting!" "Twins would be so fun!" "I always wanted twins!" "You guys are so lucky, lots of people dream of twins!" One response I got from someone very close to my heart in a time when I was overwhelmed, scared and stressed, was something that has stuck with me the most, she told me, while I sobbed on the phone, "You are so blessed, Heavenly Father trusts you that much that he is sending you two of his sweet little spirits at one time. You are about to experience what many people dream of but won't always admit. Take this in stride and count your blessings everyday." I cannot tell you how much I repeat those words in my head, they have given me a whole new insight and gratitude for this blessing in my life. It reminds me that Heavenly Father has a plan, only he can see the bigger picture. He knows us individually. He knows are strengths, our weaknesses, our desires. He knows our fears, our joys, and our futures. I know that I will never be given more than I can handle, not to say that I won't feel stressed or tired, overwhelmed or defeated, just that I will be given the tools and strength to handle whatever is thrown my way and for that I am extremely grateful. I am excited for this adventure that is going to start in just a few short months and await the arrival of my two sweet babies.