Pregnancy Update

I haven't exactly fallen off the face of the Earth, but it sure seems like it to me. I just wanted to give a quick pregnancy update and let everyone know what is going on.

I went to my 32 week appt. on July 8, had a biophysical scan (they do these routinely on me because I had preeclampsia with Evan and delivered four weeks early). Libby looked really good and was actually weighing in at a little over 5 lbs (which is huge for 32 weeks). But when I got to the patient room, the nurse took my blood pressure and it was really high. And then the first thing my doctor asked was what this baby was doing to me. And then she said I wasn't going to like what she was going to make me do. Immediately I just thought she meant bedrest because of the high blood pressure.

She then told me that my amniotic fluid was really low. Average for 32 weeks should be about 10 cm. and I only had 3 cm. So she sent me to the hospital...FOR A WEEK!! They literally wheeled me out of the exam room and straight to the 6th floor of St. John's across the way.

I was told that there were basically three scenerios:

1.) If my fluid did not increase (or happened to decrease) in 48 hours, they would take the baby on Friday morning. She would have been 33 weeks.

2.) If my fluid increased but only marginally, I would remain in the hospital until 35 1/2 weeks and they would take her at that time.

OR 3.) If my fluids increased significantly, I could go home on bedrest until they decided the time was right to take her.

The AF doubled after 2 1/2 days of IVs of saline and steroids (which were actually to strengthen the baby's lungs in case she had to come too early) and then by Monday it was up to 11 cm. I also had semi-regular contractions the entire time I was in the hospital. Too regular to be Braxton-Hicks but not regular enough to be labor.

I was released late Monday night but am on strict bedrest until the baby comes. But I have to be honest, it is really hard to do bedrest with a two year old so it isn't exactly as strict as it should be. I am trying really hard but poor Evan just doesn't understand and he had such a hard time when I was in the hospital, that I just am giving in to his every request...uh, demand.

I also found out the baby is breech so I may have to have a c-section. At first my AF was so low they didn't think she would be able to turn into the proper position, but now that the levels are ok...it is definitely a possibility that she will move out of the breech position.

It is just really frustrating right now for me. My doctor kept saying she would probably take the baby at 36 weeks but then she went on vacation and the doctor filling in said 38 weeks since levels were back to normal. So just like with Evan...I have absolutely no idea when this kiddo will grace us with her presence. Hopefully, I will know a little more by next Monday or Thursday's biophysical scans.

Summer Days!

It has been so busy for us...which actually kind of surprises me. I was certain you wouldn't be able to drag me out of the air conditioning once I was eight months pregnant. But I think keeping Evan busy is key for me getting a full nights rest.

My friend Monica came into town from Denver last week and so we have taken the kids out on several excursions.

Last Sunday, we headed out to Woolaroc again. It was Kids' Fest and the kiddos had a wonderful time. There were Jupiter Jumps, petting zoos, treasure digs and several different crafts for the kids to make. However, we had a hard time getting Evan and Anna out of the sandbox.





Then on Monday, we met up again and went to the Tulsa Zoo. Monica wanted to go to Feather Fest, which I had been avoiding all summer. I finally gave in but all it did was reinforce the fact that I hate birds. Those things are ruthless and they were dive bombing us. I lasted about 60 seconds and then I couldn't get out of there fast enough...




Tuesday night, Monica and the girls drove up to Bartlesville and we went to the Kiddie Park here in town. We had a blast and I can not believe it was our first time to visit. It is about three miles from our house and it was so much fun and so cheap. Most of the rides only cost 25 cents. I was really surprised that Evan just hopped on all the rides...he acted like a pro. I think we are going again this week.






Fourth of July was spent at Uncle Mike and Aunt Dianna's. There was a ton of great food and I think this was Mike's best firework show yet! Evan spent a lot of time swimming and then Matt and I surprised him with his own toddler sized lawn chair. Let me tell you...he thought he was hot stuff. I wish I had a picture, but I forgot my camera :(

Today, Matt and I are headed off to see Phantom of the Opera at the Performing Arts Center in Tulsa. I am so excited...a real date! I have heard it is an incredible performance so I can't wait to see for myself.

Another Recipe

I am not a huge meat loaf fan (actually, I am not much of a meat person at all) but these have been a huge hit in our house. Evan actually says "mmmm" with every bite. I can suffer through with that kind of response...

Mini Meat Loaves
Betty Crocker quick & easy cookbook
Hands-on time: 10 minutes | total time: 30 minutes | makes 6 servings

½ cup ketchup
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
1 lb lean ground beef
½ lb ground pork
½ cup Original Bisquick mix
¼ teaspoon pepper
1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
1 egg

1. Heat oven to 450°F. In small bowl, stir ketchup and brown sugar until mixed; reserve ¼ cup for topping. In large bowl, stir remaining ingredients and remaining ketchup mixture until well mixed.

2. Spray 13 x 9-inch pan with cooking spray. Place meat mixture in pan; pat into 12 x 4-inch rectangle. Cut lengthwise down center and then crosswise into sixths to form 12 loaves. Separate loaves, using spatula, so no edges are touching. Brush loaves with reserved ¼ cup ketchup mixture.

3. Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until loaves are no longer pink in center and meat thermometer inserted in center of loaves reads 160°F.

Evan & Matt’s Rating: *****


And the best part...they only take 30 minutes!

Pregnancy Update

Thanks for the emails showing concern about my rough week last week. I am just glad to report that I am doing MUCH better. After my follow-up, my bladder infection was all cleared up and my glucose test came back at 135 (which really doesn't mean much to me, but I don't have to do the 3 hour test so I guess it means "GOOD"!). My blood work did show that I am severely anemic, just like I was with Evan. I didn't even really notice so hopefully a few doses of iron and I will be feeling like Wonder Woman!

After my rant, my doctor's office/lab messed up two more things...which is just so frustrating now that I live 45-minutes away. They didn't do my antibodies screen either time I was at the lab, therefore they couldn't give me my rhogham shot (which is necessary at 28 weeks if you are RH-). My doctor called me personally to apologize so I am just going to be thankful everything is okay and stop feeling so put out! Easier said than done, huh? So I went to the lab yesterday for the third time and hopefully they got all they need from me!

Well, Little E and I are off to the zoo. Since we are finally going in the morning (as opposed to after his nap in the afternoon), I am going to surprise him with a train ride. Hopefully, I will have some good pictures to post tomorrow!

Woolaroc

On Father's Day, we drove out to Woolaroc for the afternoon. I hadn't been out there since college and even then I was there for a wedding so there wasn't much time for exploring. We had a great time and Evan was fascinated by all the animals. He is still talking about the moose (which was actually an elk...oh well)

Dad's Day

Even though it is belated, I wanted to shout out Happy Father's Day!


Thank you to my wonderful hubby for being the best dad to Evan that I could ever hope for. Sometimes I don't realize how lucky I am for Evan to have such an involved father but when I talk to some of my friends, I see that Matt does so much for and with Evan. They have so much father and son time and Evan knows exactly what that means. I get a wave good bye and then the rest of the day is just the boys. They work in the yard together all the time (and Evan has his very own set of "real" yard tools) and go out to breakfast at Eggberts at least once a weekend. And Dad puts Evan down to bed every night. Bath time, couch time and then bed time. If I even try to be part of the "ritual" they both look at me like I am crazy! Evan and I are both very blessed indeed! And I know Evan will be an awesome father someday...how could he not with an example like that?

What a week!

As I was finishing up my last post, I got a call from Evan's school. He had gotten so upset that he had made himself throw up. I was fairly certain he wasn't sick but I had to pick him up anyway. I couldn't believe the little turkey had found a loophole!

After picking him up, it was lunchtime (which he ate like a champ!) and then nap time. I woke up from our nap with a sore throat, a slight fever and a somewhat congested head. And it just got worse as the day progressed. This was on top of my still achy stomach. Believe me, I don't know if there has ever been a day that I have felt more sorry for myself.

Tuesday was just more of the same and luckily, Matt had already taken the afternoon off so that we could have a family day. Well, I bailed on the boys and stayed home and rested while they went swimming.

Wednesday was my regularly scheduled appointment with my OB and I also had my glucose test and a biophysical scan scheduled. I really didn't feel like driving into Tulsa but I hated to put off an opportunity to see the baby. Plus after Sunday's visit to Labor and Delivery, I felt like I should really keep my appointment. I also decided at the last minute to keep Evan home from school and take him with me and swing by his doctor to check out a cough he has had since Memorial Day week-end.

First stop was the pediatrician. Dr. Daley really thinks Evan's problem stems from allergies so he increased his medicine load to now include Singulair. Poor kid. I just hate that he takes Zyrtec and Singulair and I STILL have to chase him around with a Kleenex. I really don't think there have been many days this spring that he has felt good but the little guy never complains and is such a trooper about it all.

My mom met us after the appointment to let Evan play at Ma's (my grandma) house while I did my round of appointments.

First of all, I went to the lab to drink my icky sugary goop for the glucose test. I then went upstairs and had my biophysical scan (which I don't know how this is different from an ultrasound but my doctor will now perform them regularly since I have high blood pressure. They measure the baby and the organs and just have a good look around. Good news is that everything looked great and she was being quite the performer yesterday. Bad news is that she is measuring almost two weeks too large.)No problems there.

I then went to wait on my doctor who had to run over to the hospital for a minute. I noticed my hour for my glucose test was almost up so I went back down to the lab. I told the receptionist I was back to draw blood for my glucose test. She looked at my lab sheet and said I had about five minutes left but to go on back and they would be there in a minute. So then a different lady comes in and starts to get another drink ready. I told her I already did that...I just need my blood taken. She informed that I did in fact need to take the drink. I asked her if she was sure, I had already taken it. She ignored me. I asked one more time. She just huffed at me and said she was sure. Well, I was feeling really bad by then and my decongestant had completely worn off so I just drank up. She then starts telling me that I can't eat or drink for an hour, blah, blah, blah. And I reply "I already did that...an hour ago." She then screams at me "Why didn't you tell me that??", leaves the room and starts screaming at the receptionist about why she didn't mention I had already drank the syrup. I finally got up and followed her in and said "Look here lady. I told you THREE times that I had already drank the syrup. You just didn't listen. DO NOT blame this on anyone but yourself. And I will be sure to let my doctor know exactly what happened."

So back upstairs I went with a severely congested head and an extreme sugar high. I was so jittery! I went back to my room and Dr. Gray came right in. She asked if I had my blood taken and I said "no" and then proceeded to tell her the story. It made me feel good that she was just as mad as I was. Of course it doesn't change the fact that I have to do this dreaded test once again but I did find out that Bartlesville has four of the same labs so I can do it here and not drive all the way back into Tulsa for the test.

Dr. Gray then asked about my visit on Sunday to L&D and wanted to know my exact symptoms. She then wanted to know who my nurse was and what exactly she did while I was there and what did she say to me when I checked out. I thought it was all very, very strange.

Well, it was strange because Dr. Gray informed me that I had a bladder infection and my symptoms from Sunday were very textbook when pregnant. They had taken a urine sample at the hospital but never ran it. Can you believe it? I was a little mad (well, maybe more than a little) but also relieved that there was a fix to my problem.

So that brings us to today. Evan now has a 101 degree fever and a constant runny nose and cough. Mom is still sick (but doing much, much better) and unfortunately Dad is now displaying symptoms.

Thanks for letting me rant...I feel much better in that regard at least!

And just because I think a post is always better with pictures...

Finger painting one day last week. As you can tell, Evan really enjoyed expressing himself artistically. Thanks Aunt Clydella for the paints!




What's that sound?

An Airplane!!