Update

I had a doctor's appointment today. I've still been having contractions although it's been no more than maybe 2 an hour and they're not as strong as they were on Tuesday so who knows if they're actually causing any change or not (I hope they are!). My OB said that me having contractions still is to be expected so not to worry about it at all, just to take it easy and remain on bed rest until she says otherwise. I have another appointment on Monday to check up and see how I'm doing and if I'm still contracting. Also, if I do go into labor anytime now it won't be stopped. They're happy with me being 35 weeks so it's not a huge deal anymore. So let's hope the contractions pick up and I get this baby O-U-T!!!

Hospital Stay

On Tuesday I was 34 weeks, 5 days and admitted to the hospital for preterm labor. Around 2:15 I started getting some cramps but didn't think too much of it. After a while of laying on my side (talking to Colleen on aim) it got worse and I started getting a lot of back pain as well. I followed the typical procedure of drinking water and laying on your left side for a while to see if the pain would subside- it didn't. An hour passed and I was still in pain and decided to call my OB's nurse to see if it was worth coming in. Since I have had no previous problems with my pregnancy so far they decided to tell me to come in to see if I was having contractions or not.

I left the house at about 4 pm and started the drive to the Recruiters office to wait for Sean to get done with something he had to do and then we would go to the hospital together. The drive there was AWFUL! The pain tripled in intensity while I was driving and I ended up crying because it hurt to bad. When I got to the office, Sean's Ssgt and Cpl were outside and came to say hi and realized I was crying and in a lot of pain and needed to go to the hospital NOW. Mike [sean's cpl and now a good friend of mine =) ] got in the car and drove me to the hospital, which was about 10 minutes away.

I got there and went straight to L&D, took a urine sample, changed into a gown, and was in bed hooked up to moniters so they could keep an eye on the baby's hearbeat and any contractions I was having. About 30 minutes later (and after me saying oww many many times) the nurse checked my cervix and how often I was having contractions. I was 1 cm and 60% effaced. In that 30 minutes I had had 10 contractions that were 2-3 minutes apart and lasting about a minute each. They ended up giving me a shot of Terbutaline to stop the contractions and that started to slow them down but they picked right back up and I continued having them. An hour later, I was given a second shot and had the same effect. Slowed down for a while, then start back up. After another hour, I was given a third shot, a pill for of Terbutaline, and I was hooked up to an IV to keep me hydrated. My contractions spaced out and weren't as intense but I was still having them. Around 7:45 they had me take another urine sample and it came back that I was still a little dehydrated so I was given a second bag of the IV. When that was finished, at around 9:45, I took a third urine sample (came back as hydrated) and was checked a second time to see if there was any change in my cervix. I was still 1 cm dialated and most likely still 60% effaced but she didn't tell me that so I don't know. Because I didn't have any change, they were going to send me home, yay! So around 10:15 I was given my discharge papers and was good to go!

I'm now on complete bedrest, only allowed to get up to go to the bathroom, until my OB tells me otherwise. I am still having contractions just not as frequent or painful as they were before, and chances are they aren't doing anything, but who really knows. I'll call my OB today so she can check up on me and see how the contractions are and then I can a regular 35 week appointment tomorrow as well.

I know a lot of you were praying for the 3 of us and I really appreciate it. It means the world to me! Both Sean and I are good, just exhausted from a long night of being there and Gunnar is as healthy as he can be- responding to ever contraction I had which is a good sign! I'll be sure to keep everyone updated as anything changes from now on since we're definitely getting closer to the big day!

33 Week Appointment

All is well in the land of pregnancy. I've managed to drop 4 pounds since my last appointment (2 weeks ago) which can happen in the 3rd trimester due to losing amniotic fluid, just usually not this early on. When I first got into the office I took my usual route straight to the bathroom to do my urine sample because lord knows I can't wait that extra 5 minutes to pee lol. As soon as I got out, the nurse was right there waiting to weigh me then took me to the room and took my bp. It came out to be an astonishing 148/80! Umm.. yeah, something was not right with that so she said my OB would probably have her come back at the end of my appt and try it again.

Enter Doc M. We went over questions I had first.
1- She's putting in a Rx for Nexium for me since Pepcid AC did nothing
2- Gunnar is about 4 lbs- 4 lbs 2 oz ("normal" for 33 weeks is at least 4 lbs 8 oz)
3- She aggrees that the pedi I have chosen is a good one!
4- Group B Strep test will be done at my 36/37 week appointment
5- Gunnar is head down and definitely engaged
6- hospital policy for inductions is at least 1 week overdue unless medical reasons call for it

We then got to hear his heartbeat like we always do at every appt which i love. She then told me to lay on my left side for 5-10 min and then the nurse would be back in to re-take my bp. When the nurse came in and took it I was very much relieved to hear it went back down to what is normal for me- 107/60. The previous high bp reading was chalked up to the fact that I hadn't gotten the chance to sit down and relax before it was taken. That's all there is to report this time. Nothing too exciting happening just yet, but in 4 short weeks i'll be full term and that's when the real fun begins! I can't wait!

New

The new year has finally arrived; Happy New Year everyone! Hopefully this year will be better than last (no matter how good 2008 was to you). There's some much anticipated events happening this year for growing family and we're so excited we can hardly contain it!

First of all is the much anticipated arrival of Gunnar Thomas in February, surely to be the highlight of the year. In June Sean will officially be doing a LAT move to a new mos (tank crewman hopefully) and going active AND my younger brother will be shipping off to Marine Corps Boot Camp on June 22 which will be shortly followed by his 18th birthday. To end the year with a bang, we'll be celebrating my 21st birthday! This year is bound to be great with all the exciting things happening.

The holidays were festive and fun, although very draining for me. I didn't have to do anything but just being around so many people and the constant last minute shopping and after Christmas shopping really wore me out and made me feel less than spectacular. Now that that is all over I have had time to rest and re-coop for next week. This next week I have 3 awesome things happening. For starters, I get to see one of my best friends Colleen whom I miss an ungodly amount, I have my 33 week ob appointment where I'll ask my OB to confirm what I think and feel (which is that Gunnar is engaged) and then on Saturday I have my baby shower! Let's just say I'm not getting much sleep due to the anticipation for the upcoming events. Let's hope January flies by so our little boy can hurry up and make his appearance; we're all so impatient to meet him!!