Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Sunday, December 16, 2007
14 Weeks - Off My Feet
This week begins the 14th week and I have been getting use to being off my feet. After the cerclage, the doctor instructed me to be off my feet from that point forward. He required me to stop working and to limit any walking, standing etc. It is not bed rest yet, so I don't have to be lying down and stuck in bed at least. The good thing is that with modern technology, I can do my job from home and my company has been incredibly supportive in allowing me to do so. I really need this for my mental state as well as financially. We're going to re-evaluate my medical situation/workload every 30 days. It is definitely a challenge to discipline myself to really limit being on my feet. I've never been much of a homebody so it is an adjustment being home all day and not really seeing anyone. But, this past week actually went by pretty fast for my first week being at home. There has been enough activity with work to keep me busy all day and sometimes I find I am still checking emails and doing some little things for work into the night. I've also had over 200 Christmas cards to write for work to send to our clients (this is why I haven't sent my own cards the last 3 years). I feel like I probably get more work done being at home and focused since I'm not really taking a lunch break or mingling with my co-workers throughout the day. It is so helpful to have the internet to do all my Christmas shopping so that I can avoid having to go to any malls or stores and I'm also going to start ordering my groceries for delivery online. I tried to do that today, but it said they couldn't deliver them until Wednesday, so Dennis is going to go for me. He has been amazing in taking such good care of me! He has done a lot of errands for me and I am now getting door-to-door service while he does the parking. I think he enjoyed coming home after work to a homemade dinner all week and the laundry done. I feel like a real housewife. This past week I started these iron infusions that my doctor has me doing. I guess when you are carrying multiples your body needs more iron than it can possibly get with vitamins or diet. So, I have to go this Hematologist doctor in Clifton, NJ 2x a week where they hook me up to the Iron with an IV that pumps into my system for about 30 minutes. December really flies by doesn't it? Between work, doctor's appt.'s and shopping for 25 people this year plus each other, it has really made the days go quick. One more week here and then we will be leaving for Binghamton on Saturday for Christmas. I have an ultrasound this Thursday so it will be a good check-in before we leave. Looking forward to spending Christmas in Binghamton and seeing everyone!
Sunday, December 9, 2007
13 Weeks - Belly Shots
Several people have been requesting that I take weekly pictures to show how I am growing. I don't think it would be exciting to do every week, but we'll try and keep them coming.
Saturday, December 8, 2007
13 Weeks - The Drama Has Begun!
We are now entering the second trimester and what a relief it is to know that all three babies are doing well.
Thursday December 6th - A Special Day!
We had an ultrasound scheduled which was ironic because this was the day we had met 5 years earlier, so it was really special timing. Dennis was watching the monitor throughout the very detailed and thorough ultrasound, so he was able to see them moving all around. They sent us home with some nice pictures and a reassuring prognosis that all looked great. The pictures were so clear and the babies looked so developed that they seemed like they were already ready to come out. The nurse kept saying "they are so cute". They were still all the same size and developing at the right stage and all had strong heartbeats. They want them to be the same size because it can get complicated when one is less developed than another. They are positioned with "Baby A" on the bottom of my stomach, "Baby B" in the middle and "Baby C" on top (stacked on top of each other with Baby A laying across the bottom holding them in like a hammock). "Baby A" and "Baby C" are both facing the same way and "Baby B" is facing the opposite way (but all laying across).
Friday, December 7th - The Day of the Cervical Cerclage
The doctor had decided to perform a cervical cerclage on me as a preventative measure to ensure that the babies stay inside as long as possible. In a multiple pregnancy, the goal is to get to at least 32 weeks which is not always easy when your body is really only built for carrying 1 baby at a time! Many times woman with multiples will need an emergency cerclage down the road when their cervix weakens or thins, so doctors will sometimes opt to do this in advance at 13 weeks to avoid complications down the road. This is meant to be a same day procedure, so Dennis and I went into it with no nerves and the expectation that it would be pretty simple. We arrived at St. Joseph's hospital at 10am and basically did some prep work (paperwork, bloodwork, IV getting inserted in me, etc.) but it was a lot of waiting around. The procedure was scheduled for 12pm but it did not get underway until closer to 2pm when all was said an done. They gave me a spinal/epidural so that I couldn't feel anything from the waist down and I was awake for everything. It was a bummer that Dennis couldn't be in there with me (but I'm sure he was relieved). There were about 8 people in the room between the doctors/nurses so this is when I began to realize that this whole surgery was much more involved than I had expected. It lasted only a short while and I didn't feel a thing but it was a strange sensation not feeling my legs and just an overall strange feeling in my body. I had my eyes closed pretty much the whole time I was in the room because 1) I am blind without my glasses which I had to leave with Dennis, so it was all a big blur anyway and 2) I don't even like to look at anything medical-related. But, I did peak at one point and since I didn't even know where my legs were I was shocked to see that they were being held up by something and sticking straight up into the air. After the procedure they were moving me and I felt like I was on a roller coaster ride and actually vomited right there all over myself and the table a few times.....oppps. After they changed me, I was brought to the recovery room where they gave me some morphine and waited for me to begin to move my legs again. This is when the cramping that they warned me about started to kick in. Once I was able to start moving my legs they brought Dennis in to see me (finally!) and then took me to another recovery area in the short stay wing. The cramping turned into more pain down there in the lower abdomen so they eventually gave me more morphine. After 3 hours and the pain only increasing, they called the doctor and he came to see me. I was terrified at this point that something was happening to the babies. But, he reassured me that he wasn't worried but wanted me to stay overnight so they could give me something else called magnesium sulfate which they give to people in premature labor but in my case to relax my uterus. They brought us to the labor and delivery wing which was a much nicer place to be in (a big cozy room) than the crowded area we had been in with people moaning all around you. Once the magnesium sulfate got into my system I started to feel much better. The pain subsided and I eventually felt more relaxed....it was a huge relief! They checked to make sure I wasn't having any contractions which I wasn't and basically just monitored me for the rest of the day/night checking my blood pressure every few hours and I just had to stay in bed hooked up to the IV. Once I was feeling better, they transported us to yet another floor and room (again our own nice big room) around 9pm where we stayed for the rest of the night. Dennis went and got us dinner downstairs at the Au Bon Pain (key) and then we hunkered down watching TV. I hadn't eaten in 24 hours so I was glad that my first meal did not have to be hospital food. Dennis was able to stay with me overnight on the fold out chair/bed. I didn't think he'd be able to sleep but he slept like a rock and didn't even wake up for all the nurse check-in's and me getting up to go to the bathroom (on the bed pan on the chair next to the bed - awful). I hope our babies sleep like him! The doctor came to see us the next morning around 11:30am to send us on our way and I asked him if we could do an ultrasound since it wouldn't be for 2 more weeks that I would have one and I just wanted to leave there knowing the babies were okay after all that trauma. It took a little pleading and then he gave in and ordered the ultrasound machine. It only took a few minutes and we heard the heartbeats and saw them again and it was a great way to end the horrible experience that took place over the last 24 hours. Although the procedure (well, surgery is what it was) was much worse than we had expected, I am glad we had it done if it is going to help keep this pregnancy going. It was nice to be able to see the hospital, meet some of the nurses and get a sense of where we may be spending some time later on. I asked if we could check out the NICU but they advised against it because they said at a hospital like this it is a scary place to be and not a pleasant sight to see. They said it will not be good for your mental state to go there at this point. I guess it isn't like visiting the nursery of a normal hospital and seeing the babies because these ones are all hooked up to machines/tubes and incubators, etc. So, that was probably good advice from the nurse. It wasn't how we would have liked to have spent our "5 year anniversary (of knowing each other)", but we made it through a rough experience which was probably good preparation for what is to come. Just home resting now!
Thursday December 6th - A Special Day!
We had an ultrasound scheduled which was ironic because this was the day we had met 5 years earlier, so it was really special timing. Dennis was watching the monitor throughout the very detailed and thorough ultrasound, so he was able to see them moving all around. They sent us home with some nice pictures and a reassuring prognosis that all looked great. The pictures were so clear and the babies looked so developed that they seemed like they were already ready to come out. The nurse kept saying "they are so cute". They were still all the same size and developing at the right stage and all had strong heartbeats. They want them to be the same size because it can get complicated when one is less developed than another. They are positioned with "Baby A" on the bottom of my stomach, "Baby B" in the middle and "Baby C" on top (stacked on top of each other with Baby A laying across the bottom holding them in like a hammock). "Baby A" and "Baby C" are both facing the same way and "Baby B" is facing the opposite way (but all laying across).
Friday, December 7th - The Day of the Cervical Cerclage
The doctor had decided to perform a cervical cerclage on me as a preventative measure to ensure that the babies stay inside as long as possible. In a multiple pregnancy, the goal is to get to at least 32 weeks which is not always easy when your body is really only built for carrying 1 baby at a time! Many times woman with multiples will need an emergency cerclage down the road when their cervix weakens or thins, so doctors will sometimes opt to do this in advance at 13 weeks to avoid complications down the road. This is meant to be a same day procedure, so Dennis and I went into it with no nerves and the expectation that it would be pretty simple. We arrived at St. Joseph's hospital at 10am and basically did some prep work (paperwork, bloodwork, IV getting inserted in me, etc.) but it was a lot of waiting around. The procedure was scheduled for 12pm but it did not get underway until closer to 2pm when all was said an done. They gave me a spinal/epidural so that I couldn't feel anything from the waist down and I was awake for everything. It was a bummer that Dennis couldn't be in there with me (but I'm sure he was relieved). There were about 8 people in the room between the doctors/nurses so this is when I began to realize that this whole surgery was much more involved than I had expected. It lasted only a short while and I didn't feel a thing but it was a strange sensation not feeling my legs and just an overall strange feeling in my body. I had my eyes closed pretty much the whole time I was in the room because 1) I am blind without my glasses which I had to leave with Dennis, so it was all a big blur anyway and 2) I don't even like to look at anything medical-related. But, I did peak at one point and since I didn't even know where my legs were I was shocked to see that they were being held up by something and sticking straight up into the air. After the procedure they were moving me and I felt like I was on a roller coaster ride and actually vomited right there all over myself and the table a few times.....oppps. After they changed me, I was brought to the recovery room where they gave me some morphine and waited for me to begin to move my legs again. This is when the cramping that they warned me about started to kick in. Once I was able to start moving my legs they brought Dennis in to see me (finally!) and then took me to another recovery area in the short stay wing. The cramping turned into more pain down there in the lower abdomen so they eventually gave me more morphine. After 3 hours and the pain only increasing, they called the doctor and he came to see me. I was terrified at this point that something was happening to the babies. But, he reassured me that he wasn't worried but wanted me to stay overnight so they could give me something else called magnesium sulfate which they give to people in premature labor but in my case to relax my uterus. They brought us to the labor and delivery wing which was a much nicer place to be in (a big cozy room) than the crowded area we had been in with people moaning all around you. Once the magnesium sulfate got into my system I started to feel much better. The pain subsided and I eventually felt more relaxed....it was a huge relief! They checked to make sure I wasn't having any contractions which I wasn't and basically just monitored me for the rest of the day/night checking my blood pressure every few hours and I just had to stay in bed hooked up to the IV. Once I was feeling better, they transported us to yet another floor and room (again our own nice big room) around 9pm where we stayed for the rest of the night. Dennis went and got us dinner downstairs at the Au Bon Pain (key) and then we hunkered down watching TV. I hadn't eaten in 24 hours so I was glad that my first meal did not have to be hospital food. Dennis was able to stay with me overnight on the fold out chair/bed. I didn't think he'd be able to sleep but he slept like a rock and didn't even wake up for all the nurse check-in's and me getting up to go to the bathroom (on the bed pan on the chair next to the bed - awful). I hope our babies sleep like him! The doctor came to see us the next morning around 11:30am to send us on our way and I asked him if we could do an ultrasound since it wouldn't be for 2 more weeks that I would have one and I just wanted to leave there knowing the babies were okay after all that trauma. It took a little pleading and then he gave in and ordered the ultrasound machine. It only took a few minutes and we heard the heartbeats and saw them again and it was a great way to end the horrible experience that took place over the last 24 hours. Although the procedure (well, surgery is what it was) was much worse than we had expected, I am glad we had it done if it is going to help keep this pregnancy going. It was nice to be able to see the hospital, meet some of the nurses and get a sense of where we may be spending some time later on. I asked if we could check out the NICU but they advised against it because they said at a hospital like this it is a scary place to be and not a pleasant sight to see. They said it will not be good for your mental state to go there at this point. I guess it isn't like visiting the nursery of a normal hospital and seeing the babies because these ones are all hooked up to machines/tubes and incubators, etc. So, that was probably good advice from the nurse. It wasn't how we would have liked to have spent our "5 year anniversary (of knowing each other)", but we made it through a rough experience which was probably good preparation for what is to come. Just home resting now!
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