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So-was having 10 min contractions all day Sat - we went for a walk and they stopped all together... but then started back up around midnight, but I could sleep and wasn't really timing them. But at 4am, WOW! That one hurt and I knew it hadn't been 15 min since the last one, so I started timing them. When Chris' alarm went off - I told him no work today - I knew this was it! I waited til they had been 5 min apart for about 3 hours before we called and drove in this time. MAN! The drive in they would space out and just when I would think they were stopping, WHAM! Another bad one. Of course, I was very nervous they would send me home again... but it had to be it. Around 9am, they got me settled in a room and checked me, I was 5cm, and almost completely thin. So I was staying. Started the IV etc and Dr Barnes was the one on call and he wanted to regulate the contractions a little more and put me on pitocin. The nurse (Kaley) was great. She was trying to hold off til I could get the epidural since I was already hurting so bad, but Dr Barnes finally insisted. I wish now, looking back, that I had been more forceful(or Chris) and said not before the epidural... anyway - I was in sooo much pain! It was almost 2 hours before the anesthesiologist came(and she was in a c/s with Dr Barnes-so he KNEW I didn't have the epi yet) Anyway-luckily it worked fast this time. I ended up having Mom and Dad leave the room until I could get it going though-I just couldn't handle the pain with them in there too. The epi was much better this time-I could move my legs on my own some, so it wore off quicker. Anyway- I pushed for about 20 min I guess and then it was time for delivery... and Mason Jude Rhoden was born @ 5:39pm weighing 6 lb 9 oz and being 19" long. Apgar 9/9 both times and he peed on the nurse LOL! He was just amazing! And while Chris went to get the boys and bring them in-all I could think is how blessed I am, but at the same time, I already missed being pregnant! I also made him move as much as I could before the epi-since I knew after that, I wouldn't feel those kicks and squirms anymore... it truly is bittersweet to give birth! The boys were excited to see and finally know their brother's name. Andrew wasn't ready to hold him, but Brandon did and he was so sweet. We let the boys go back out to the waiting area to tell everyone the name and then the grandparents came in and then Crystal and Joe - they both had to get to work. Everyone else waited patiently at the nursery window. Mason latched on right away to nurse and we had him there with us for right at the hour limit... then they took him and prepped me to go to the PP room. We were upset to learn his body temp was too low to bathe him, so they had to warm him, then bathe him, then warm him again before they brought him back to me in the room. Everyone was disappointed, and some of the visitors left with only seeing him in the window. FINALLY at almost 9:45pm, they brought him out. He was so very tiny! We ended up "making" Andrew hold him before he left though and the next day - it was all he could do to wait his turn...
Went to see Dr Stenklyft for the last time today... NST turned out fine, but Baby Boy was NOT cooperating. Dr said he would be out of town until Sun night - so I told him the baby heard him and I would have him before he got back... He said "Nah-I'll see you Tues for the induction" I highly doubt it - that's just the way things have gone this pregnancy!
After having 15 min contractions that went to 5 min for 2 hrs-we went into the Dr to find out they were slowing and nothing much new was happening cervix wise... a little more dialted, but not labor. So we wait.
So - been having LOTS of contractions for about 5 wks now... when I mentioned it to the Dr, he went ahead and checked my cervix and I am already 2cm and soft, but high. The good news in that is that means they can go ahead with the induction on the 29th. Amnio to check his lungs is the 28th - I'd rather not have it, but they won't induce without it - unless there is merconium, then they induce regardless. The contractions wake me at night most nights, and are coming more regular - I knew they were working - now I have proof!
First NST for him and he won't move enough(sleeping) so we had a BPP and he is fine... stubborn, but fine. We will have a BPP done every Mon, and see the OB every Thur for a NST, followed by a BPP if needed til he arrives. Bloodwork indicates the Urso is working to lower my levels... Have only gained 6 pounds. At the 4-3 appt they estimated his size to be 5 lb 15 oz, I am HIGHLY skeptical of that, since the other 2 boys were not that big and I am only 33w5d - that would put him at possibly 9 lb + ??? No way.
So-the results are in- I have developed cholestasis... a liver condition brought on by hormones. The bile acids from my liver don't drain properly and build up in my blood, coming out through my skin in the form of itching. It will go away(with the itching) at birth or shortly there after. Bad news is it can be very serious for Baby Boy - so I have been put to high-risk and will see the perinatologist along with the OB. The baby's liver cannot handle the extra acids that pass over the placenta, so we will be watching him closely with u/s and bloodwork. Recommended course of treatment: take Urso to reduce the acid level and help prevent passing to baby and inducing no later than 38 wks... so it looks like we will NOT have a May baby after all...
So-had the one hour glucose test today - failed with a 173... supposed to do the 3 hr one next. Met Dr. Barnes and everything was fine there-Baby Boy is doing great and the boys and Chris can feel him pretty much whenever they want. Well-except Chris-apparently he likes to tease Daddy!
update: After using Mom's glucometer for 5 days as if I were diagnosed GD, I decided to NOT do the 3 hr since none of my readings either fasting or after meals was elevated even close to the threshold... also started this insane amount of itching all over? At first I thought it was just growing - but now I don't itch much on my belly... but everywhere else without any rash etc... I am going in for a Bile Acid panel to make sure it's not a liver bile duct deficiency.
Oh-and also a new belly pic-from 27w 5d
So-had another u/s today - and the CPCs are completely gone - praise the Lord! Dr. Stenklyft moved upstairs to the new office this month, it's different, but fine. I start next month seeing the other 3 OBs in the practice. Weight doing great surprisingly and Baby Boy gave us a nice shot to prove he was, in fact, a HE... We spent 5 days in Disney last week with the boys and it was fun, but exhausting! Oh-and today is my 35th birthday!
BOY! Yep-had the u/s today and saw the parts... everything looks good-he's weighing about 10 oz right now(a little ahead if the curve). He has two Choroid Plexus Cysts in his brain that they are not really worried about, but I will have a f/u u/s at Jan's appt to be sure they go away. The boys were excited to hear it was a boy-we were a little worried about that. Brandon immediately started talking about how he can teach him to play baseball. Andrew kept saying "My baby sister's a boy" and then later when he said it-I reminded him it was a brother-not a sister and he said "I want a baby sister" and I told him "well-Jesus gave us a baby brother" and he said "Make Him make it a sister!" It was so cute! But Chris and I were worried - so Chris asked if it was Ok he was having a baby brother and he said Yes like there was nothing ever said... I guess he's Ok with it? LOL! I'm hoping to get more video in jan as well-I'm not really happy with the live-action we got today... only about 3-5 seconds per clip...
here's the belly at 16 wk... I have felt some taps off and on for a few weeks-will be glad when I start feeling them everyday for reassurance! I have felt sooo much better the last 3-4 weeks though-just tired still. I think it's age!
Well-the blood has been drawn-now to wait for the results to come back-we most likely will not do an amnio either way, but I will feel MUCH reassured if the risk is lower than what's expected with my age. I also had them check for a HB again. The boys were even with me this time-so they got to hear it and the nurse even let Brandon listen to his own. Then she had him jump up and down a few times and listen again to the difference. He loved it!
Not a whole lot new this post- went to the Dr on Wed for another HB check. He found it right away and nice and strong. Hopefully alot of this bad nausea will be gone soon! I'm thinking it will be, since I've already been doing better a little...
Chris found out that he was approved for the Residential Builders' license... now it's onto looking for land, getting plans and securing a loan to build a house-maybe he can have it done before the baby comes? I am so very proud of him for sticking through this last yr to get this accomplished - God has been so good to us lately!
For the appt AND it's Chris' 35th birthday! We also celebrated our 12th anniversary on Sunday! So-after a horrendous wait at the office-I explained to the Dr my concerns over starting to feel better more often and even though he doesn't usually before 12w-he tried the doppler. it only took several seconds to find first my HB, and then the baby's! it was measuring between 172-180 bpm... for a 9w4d appt-that is great news! I was a little bummed about the lack of another u/s, but really, hearing the HB externally is a MUCH better indicator that things are great! I'll go back in 3w for another HB check at 12w4d. I was also able to schedule the "Big u/s" for Dec 18th so we can share the gender for Christmas!
So-I have been sick, (started 6w3d) really just lots of nausea- which is usually a great sign. As the appt on the 17th approaches though-I am feeling better more often-makes me nervous... last year I chalked it up to "I'm getting closer to the 2nd tri" when that wasn't the case at all. I'm hoping the Dr will do another u/s to reassure me.
After almost seven long weeks-we have a heartbeat! Everything looks good-"peanut" is measuring right on at 6w5d, all aspects internally looked perfect as well... on to the first OB appt now in 2 1/2 weeks!
So-I heard from "Mary" today-my u/s is scheduled for Sept 28 @ 9am, first OB Oct 17 at 9:30-which is coincidentally Chris' 35th bday! So far, so good!
So-the results are in! My progesterone was 35.5 - which is great! And even though I was praying for at least 2500, and hoping for 3200, my Hcg level was an amazing 5807 ! I am now waiting on the OB coordinator to call with the u/s appt and my first OB appt!
GOD IS SO GOOD!
I called the Dr yesterday and went in today to do the bw. Hopefully-they will only need this one draw due to things going well! The best thing about today was the awesome answer to prayer! I had been concerned about taking their test today, since the last 2 pregnancies, I had a slow, faint + result. This time though-even after having water on the way into the office - the + came up nearly immediately! Now I am praying for Hcg levels of at least 2500!!
Official Due Date-May 18, 2008
So-We have found ourselves with yet another pregnancy... I guess I should start at the beginning?? In Jan 2006, Chris and I agreed after a year of prayer, that we should try to add to our family. We began this effort in Feb. After several months of negative results-we finally found ourselves expecting in May, with the baby due in Jan 2007. Well- just 11 short weeks later-after some light spotting, we found out the baby had stopped growing at 6w5d, so I had a D&C, and we began to heal and continued to try. Forward to Jan 2007, and we have another pregnancy-this one would be due mid-Sept 2007 and we were both at peace and excited with this blessing. Sadly-After 2 rounds of Hcg levels, we knew this baby would be in heaven as well. Refusing still to give up and not feeling that was what the Lord was leading us to do, we continued to try, and found ourselves pregnant yet again in June. This time-the numbers rose, but only slightly and I also miscarried that baby - it was due in Feb 2008, on my Mom's bday.
Ok-so now that I have the long, and sad past filled in... let's start with this last week! I found myself horribly sick with a stomach virus-like the rest of my family over last weekend... this messed up my "plan" to check my temperature to see if I would be starting another cycle or not. Well-2 days later-still no new cycle and I pretty much "knew" then, but Chris wanted to wait a week to test. I really think we both just wanted to be past the dates of the last two known early losses. But-since I was taking Prometrium as a precaution - I knew even if things weren't going well-I might not have any visible "signs" for some time due to the meds - so we compromised and I tested today at 20 dpo and saw a beautiful "Pregnant" once again on the test. I will be calling the Dr on Mon...
