Labor and Delivery FOR REAL this time

To start off, Mark had a birthday on Wednesday and was so nice to celebrate it here at the hospital with me and the kids. We ordered some Thai Food which was finished off by some mini cupcakes that Jane was sweet to give Mark for his birthday. Well, sure enough our sweet little baby girl decided she wanted to have her birthday 3 days after dad's.

 His work also treated him to this birthday cake!

Now for the details on delivery....

Friday April 15th-

Friday morning my doctor dropped by my room to check up on me. My bleeding had slowed down a lot the past 2 days and as the doctor likes to put it - everything was quiet and boring. ;) She said, ok lets keep it that way.  She also informed me that we will plan on deliver dates being either May 3rd, 4th, or 5th. It felt great to finally have a date to look forward to that was less then 3 weeks away!!!

 Since I didn't have any visitors that day and was feeling rather hospital bound, I asked my nurse if she would wheel me down to the 4th floor atrium for a change of environment. It's a nice open space with sky light windows and they even had some comfy chairs to sit on with leg rests. Perfect place to read the new book I just started, All the light we can not see.

9:30 pm-

In the evening I was knitting away on my 3rd hat. I thought I might as well make a matching one for Chantel since I have extra yarn.  I was sitting on a chair by the side of my bed watching a show while knitting when all the sudden a ginormous amount of clear liquid burst out of me, all over the floor. It was REALLY SCARY at first because I thought it was blood and it just kept on coming out. I wasn't right near my call button so I had to get up off the chair, walk to the call button while screaming for help. I knew from past experiences, that often they don't answer right away from the bed side call button, but do respond immediately from the bathroom call button. So when no one came, I walked to the bathroom and pulled the emergency cord. It was rather clear to me that my water broke and not just by a little bit. If felt like a gallon came out and there were puddles all over the floor. It just wouldn't stop. I'm really glad it wasn't blood!

From there we knew I was going to deliver that night so once I was safe in bed, I immediately called Mark. Thanks to his new Vespa and friends on call willing to help out then and there, he didn't take long getting here. Truman was not so excited about him leaving for the night, but that is only expected.  [A big thanks to Tory Perry for spending the night at our house and taking Truman to soccer that next morning, plus keeping him all day. Also a big thanks to Kristi Winders for taking Chantel all day. We feel so blessed by all the friend that have reached out to us and come to the rescue.]

Mark arrived at the hospital a little after 10:00 and we waited for about an hour until they wheeled me into operating room to prep for  c-section (due to 2 previous c-sections).  I think the hour wait had to do with them wanting to give me penicillin before the delivery.

That evening, which actually led to early morning I went from crying and screaming (due to the pain of the IV fluid going in my hand and the burning stinging sensation it left all up the arm) to smiles of joy when I heard baby's voice and got to kiss her cute cheeks.

 The name we have chosen is, Lila Faye Green. We love the name Lila (pronounced, Lie-Luh), which is also the name of Mark's mother's mother (with a slight variation from her primary spelling, "Lyla"--just our preference, and the way Mark's Grandma spelled it at one point in her life). Faye is Liz's Mother's middle name.

*We are so grateful for our mothers and love that we could pay tribute to both sides.

When we told our kids the name we had chosen, Chantel's reaction was pretty funny. She said, "No, because I have a friend Lila in my class." She cracks me up and I'm sure she will warm up to the name. Truman seemed happy with it. 

Lila Faye Green was born at 33 weeks and 6 days
April 16, 2016 (and happens to be the 16th grandchild for my parents)
@12:07 am
5 lbs 1 oz
17 3/4 inch long

I got to hold her and nurse her for my first time from 5:30-6:40 this evening.  I tried to make it down to the nicu earlier, but my body wasn't ready for it after passing out in the bathroom. It was really scary and I was in tears as the nurses and Mark walked me back to my bed. Mark said the same thing happened the day after giving birthday to Chantel which I vaguely remember. So after a few more hours of resting, I tried to get up again and was successful. Mark escorted me by wheel chair down to the nicu before he took off to rescue the kids from their all day play dates. To my surprise, she nursed really well, so I plan to make it back to the 9:00 pm and possibly the 12:00 feedings. We'll see how my body does tonight.  C-section recoveries suck, but the joy of holding our new baby makes it all worth it.

This has been the best day I've had in a long time!!! The joy that comes in holding a new born child makes me realize that all those miserable magnesium days were well worth it. 

Regular Tuesday! In the hospital for the long hall

I always wonder how these Tuesday play out. Sure enough that is the day I had to have more unexpected red bleeding. It wasn't a huge enough amount to have them monitor me and immediately do a specular exam, but enough bright red blood to say it's not the best idea to be discharged.  It of coarse happens at the end of the day when the doctors comes in to check on me. She was nice to even consider the idea. I didn't realize that what she had in mind with me being discharged, is that she would still want me to come in 3 days a week to be monitors which right there doesn't even make the bed rest at home worth it. I might as well just stay in the hospital and wait it out.

Good news! If all goes well and I make it as far as 36 weeks, then she will plan on delivering the baby then. The reason for that is the baby is growing well and actually measures a week ahead of schedule, so right now she measure 34 weeks. Also, with how often the bleeds have come on all the sudden, it would reduce the risk of having any really heavy bleed come on which can be risky and dangerous for me.

It really helps for me to have a date to look forward to. Now all I need to do is have my mind set on all the things I'd like to get done before delivery and while on bed rest. I have 5 new books to read that I just might finish up on 3 weeks.

I will be 36 weeks on May 1st, so this means there is a good chance I will be home for mothers day. Yippee!!!!

33 weeks and possible discharge this week!?! :)

I had a great weekend. Saturday was filled with visitors from 10:00-6:00.  Friends Adrienne Thomas and Kim Wheeler were nice to bring Chantel along with them since Truman had an early morning soccer game on Saturday. Chantel was able to stay with me from 10:00-4:30 and I thoroughly enjoyed her visit. Mark dropped her off at Adrienne's place at 7:15 that morning and she did some baking with Adrienne. They brought me some yummy banana bread. Mark came by around 3:00 with Truman and then right as they were leaving, Michelle Everette stopped in. 

Sunday I had about 45 min visit with kids and Mark before they left for church. I finished knitting the baby hat that day and now just need to knit some flowers to go with it. Yes, you'd think at first it's a boys hat, but no!

This morning I went in for an ultra sound and all looks good. Baby is measuring well and she now weighs 4 lb 12 oz, so she's gained a pound over the last 2 weeks.  They didn't print out a profile picture, but here is an awesome picture of her foot. :) She is definitely a kicker and loves to pull off some moves for mommy.

Other really exciting news! When my doctor came in this morning to check on me I was asking her since I've had very minimal bleeding for this past week, is there a chance I can go home? She made it sound like it's possible and we'll talk more about it tomorrow. It all depends on how this Tuesday plays out! ;)  She said, it wouldn't be different if we were planning on delivering at 34 weeks, but since we are wanting to wait it out as long as possible, that she will talk more about it tomorrow. Is this really happening??? If so, it's a true miracle and will be the best day ever.

To be honest, it's been harder for me to be in the hospital day after day when my bleeding is so minimal. Yes, I'm glad I haven't had any recent trips to labor and delivery, but feeling completely fine and minimal bleeding, why can't I just spend the rest of the my days at home?

Fingers crossed!!!

Emotional Wreck! How to escape the prison?

This week has been good as far as bleeding is concerned. Nothing terrible happened on Tuesday this time although I will admit, that's kind of when I lost it emotionally and burst into tears. Mark was sweet to come visit me after work when he received my text about how I feel stuck in this jail and want to run away. I also had a friend come visit me that evening that was so willing to listen to my emotions. She is one that has been on bedrest for 16 weeks, but only 5 weeks in the hospital.

I can always blame the tears on emotional pregnancy. Many times it just helps to cry and for all those that know me, I'm not much of a cry baby. Then next morning, Megan Parker and I were joking (partially) around saying that I should just tell them I need to see a psychologist because mentally I feel unstable. Ha! She was going to bring it up to the patient care director who came in to check on me. ;) They ask me how I'm doing every day and I have to be honest. When she left, I followed her to the elevator which technically is out of my 7 south unit in the hospital. A far enough walk to the point where I did feel a little more freedom. Today, I escaped the unit once again to find another place to practice violin since the lounge was occupied and I now have a room mate that probably doesn't want to hear me practice. My nurse that day saw me out in the hall near the elevators and was nice to introduce me to another room that they call the quiet room. I was able to finish my practice in there and was happy to know of a different place for times when the lounge is occupied.

Window View

I've had a room mate for 2 days now, but she seems really nice, quiet and doesn't snore which is always a bonus. There is a chance she may be discharged tomorrow morning.

Yesterday they had a social event that was held in the lounge where patients get together and talk/socialize as well as having someone come in to talk about NICU experience and nursing. It would be great if they had these social events more then once a month. It's the 3rd one I've been to during my 10 week stay.

Emotionally, I'm feeling much better now. It helps to remind myself that I'm way past my half way mark and that I should only have another 5 weeks at the most. If I do make it as far as 38 weeks, (which I really hope is not the case) then that means I'm 2/3 the way there. I also was able to start up another knitting project making a baby hat and I have 4 more books I'd like to have read while I have all the free time in the world. They are 1-all the light we can not see 2- me before you 3- the total money make over 4- How to talk to kids so they will listen and listen so they will talk.

Thank you to all the visitors this week. Namely- Shelley Reed, Tara Kerr, Natalie Buttars, Kalli Wheeler, Shannen Lyons, Ann Catherine, Shauna Summers, Carolyn Richards, Annalisa Peterson, and Megan Parker.
Also, thank you to the beautiful pot of flowers Mark's parents sent me.

A quote my mom left with me to remind me that I can make it through this tough time, but am not alone.

"God doesn't give us what we can handle, God helps us handle what we are given."

Annalisa brought me ice cream tonight! :) Ice cream makes everything better and now I have discovered that I have 2 dessert places close by that deliver. :)

32 weeks - Great weekend!

I finished Chantel's scarf on Friday. Now I need to start up another knitting project. Problem is, I can't just hop over to the store and pick up yarn whenever I want. :(

I had a great weekend. Enjoyed a visit from 2 friends (Andrea and Marilee) on Saturday morning and then Mark biked with the kids that afternoon to visit me for a few hours. They even took me outside for a bit before the weather changed.


Whoever thought Chantel would enjoy an adult coloring book so much. :) Glad I have plenty of books to share with her that I've received from friends.

I

Sun 4/3
Our friend Breena, was so nice to bring the kids this morning for another weekend visit. We played general conference bingo with her as well as a few other games. Chantel also added a few drawings to my wall.

The scarf fits her well!

Chantel and I got a lovely manicure from Breena. She chose her 2 favorite colors.

Notice the beautiful art work Chantel has added to my wall.

I almost went through 2 full days of light brown spotting, but then was surprised with some more medium/heavy bleeding this afternoon. Its still surprising how quickly the bleeding comes on. And to think I even had hope of having an excuse to go home early. The nurse and doctors did the regular repeat where they put me on the monitor and did a specular exam.

I've been really lucky to keep my IV in for 12 days now. It still doesn't bother me or show any signs of redness. In fact, I can't even feel it when they flush it. It's the strongest IV I've had yet and the longest lasting. So nice to not have to be poked every 4 days with new IV like they did before. The doctors have been a lot more understanding and reasonable since I am a long term patient. I've been lucky to have the room to myself for the past 3 days.