Hospital Stay from Down Under

So we've been sitting here in the hospital room most of the day waiting for our doctor, who the two previous nurses constantly assured us was "on his way shortly". Well, you can only keep that up for so long before one begins to wonder. When the nurse came back in an hour ago to give Kasha another shot - the same medication that caused the reaction last night and we'd been told wouldn't be given to her again - I got upset.

Long story short, the nurse apologized and called our doctor who is the only specialist in El Paso who is experienced in cases like hers. It was the first time all weekend that he'd heard she was in here. Apparently the previous nurses either called the wrong doctor, didn't call at all, or emailed him (which he doesn't check on the weekends) and claimed to have called him.

So we've spent 30 hours now in the hospital and still haven't seen a doctor, the contractions are only a few minutes apart, and as of the latest exam, Winston is in position and is ready to come out with a 1cm dilation.

We'll keep you updated, but this is the hospital stay from the place down under - and I don't mean Australia.

Not too much longer

Yesterday we went to yet another doctors appointment. After being in the hospital twice since my last appointment i was a little worried how this one would pan out. But to my surprise everything went amazing. The Dr looked at Winston and measured him. Win is measuring at 31 weeks and 3 days. Its nice to know that my child is already advanced. lol. His heart and everything looked great. We even saw him drinking some fluid, which the doctor informed me was pee. um can you say disgusting! Anyway the Dr also told us his weight but it was in Kg, so it didnt totally register with Jon and I. Once we were in the car we estimated the calculation to be around 4 pounds...you dont even want to know how much i have gained.lol
With him measuring at 31 weeks and some change i am sure that he is going to grace the world early. He just doesnt want to stay in there any longer. Plus when i asked the Dr when he would drop and turn...the Dr responded " oh he is already in position." I dont know if i should be scared, happy, or nervous. All i know is that i am now in the final stretch and have appointments every two weeks. Plus the nursery should be all put together by the end of the weekend. All that is left is for me to take the dreaded glucose test.
I have read blog post after post about this test and have come to fear it. I am not scared of the fact that im getting blood taken, as that is a normal thing for me. I am scared to fail the first hour. If i fail then i have to stay there for another 3 hours and drink even more of the nasty sugar packed drink. Not to mention if i fail the whole thing... i wouldnt be able to eat anything i crave and i only have 8 more weeks to eat sugary packed goodness until i have to start getting back into shape. :( Plus i watched my mom have Gestational Diabetes with my little brother and it did not look fun. Now we just have to wait until August 1 to see how everything is coming... Ugh cant wait for him to just be here!!!!

Scary Reality

Over the past few weeks i have read many blog posts about women's pregnancy problems. I would have never thought that one of these complications would have happened to me. Thursday night after a great burrito dinner, Jon and I were told to go to Labor and Delivery because i was having intense pain...and when i say intense i was crunched over in crying. Once we got to the Emergency Room it came pretty clear that i was having major contractions. They wheeled me up to Labor and Delivery where i spent the night. They determined that i was having pre-term labor. I was having contractions every 1 to 6 minutes in the beginning. Then after a shot to stop/slow the contractions they changed to every 10 to 20 minutes. Thank god i wasn't dilated! The shot and pills the nurse gave me made my heart race a thousand miles a minute.

After spending around 3 hours in the recovery room, the nurse moved us into a room for the night so they could watch me. At this point i was terrified that baby winston would be on his way...thank god they got the contractions to stop! 

The doctor told me to take it easy and i would see him July 17 for my check up. I am so glad after that terrifying night that everything is ok now. I am just taking it easy and praying that i don't have to experience contractions again until baby Win is going to come into this world! With that in mind, i am thinking that Winston is going to be early. He just cant wait to see the world :)
This whole situation has made me realize how unprepared Jon and I are for our son to be here. He has to keep baking for a little longer, there is still so much to do! We have to finish the nursery....not to mention all the stuff we still need to get. So stressful! 

In a little over 24 hours my husband will finally be home!!! Im so excited! In those 24 hours i am rushing to get everything ready for him. He is going to have an amazing surprise when he gets home...lets hope he likes it.

New Due Date

So I was looking at the new ultrasound pictures that i got from my most recent doctors visit and saw that in the lower right hand corner there was a new estimated due date. We were under the impression that Win would be here in early October...but no. Since his growth rate is at 24 weeks our new due date will most likely be around September 24. How exciting is that! I cannot wait for him to be here. These 101+ days in the desert are getting the best of me. Im ready for my family to all be together again, say hello to Winston, and make roots in another location with seasons!
23 days until Jon is back and i cannot wait! It is getting harder and harder to do things. I dream about that moment when he gets off the escalator in the airport and i will finally have him back for good. Why do these days have to drag on like they do....

Doctors Visit

Today i had my first doctors appointment for June. I was a little weary of  what he was going to say, given the fact that I have been  having Braxton Hicks Contractions. If you don't know what these are, they are mild contraction that last about 2-15 seconds and happen every so often. The medium contraction tend to give you the feeling that you have to pee, believe me NOT fun. Anyways, my doctor assured me that these are normal and will continue to happen during the rest of the pregnancy...lucy me, right. I also got the news that i have turned anemic. So as a result, I have to add another pill to the handful i have to already take on a daily basis.
Thankfully the rest of the appointment was filled with good news. The blood work i had taken previously had all came back looking good, including the down syndrome test. I was so happy to hear this! I had been worried for the past three weeks. Of course i would love Win no matter what, but it is like a brick house has been lifted off my shoulders. He is looking very healthy and growing fast. I had thought i was 22 weeks 3 days pregnant, but to my surprise i am a week ahead at 23 weeks and 3 days. While they were taking Winston's pictures, i was surprised to find out that Winston's growth is ahead as well. His head measures at 24 weeks....thank god i am not giving natural birth, he has one big noggin.
With the good news leaving me smiling, i left the doctor's office and headed to treat myself to lunch. I am now counting down the next 3 months. i cannot wait until my little man is hear!

30 Days and a Wakeup

   Today I saw a report on the news about a black bear which was seen walking around a California neighborhood near two schools. Not long ago my reaction would have been much different than today’s reaction. My first thought was “I hope nothing like that ever happens at Winston’s school.” Wow, what a change.

    When I learned that Winston was on his way, my biggest concerns centered around things… now it seems that all I think about are the intangibles. What will it feel like to hold him for the first time? Will I be there for his first steps? What sort of hobbies will be have? Baseball? Science? Will he be a musician? Will he read as many books as I did during his elementary years?   How do we provide a fostering, loving, nurturing, and prepatory  environment for our son?  Wow, what a responsibility.

   Today I sent Winston a postcard from Afghanistan that we will be able to place in his “baby book” so one day when he grows up and appreciates it, he will know that he was loved before birth by both his parents. For the first time in my life I signed my name as “Dad”. Wow, what a feeling.

   I can’t wait to get home and “talk” to him in-utero. I can’t wait to kiss his mother again. I can’t wait to hold him in my arms. I can’t wait to watch him develop into an amazing man. Wow, I’m a dad.

Jon

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