to be continued...

after a round of drugs my wife is off to sleep land. umm at least temporarily. we should get things going again for the big finale around 5:00 am. thanks for your prayers. Also just wanted to say how amazing it is to be going through this. my wife is really a trooper and I'm amazed that God has blessed me with such a wonderful woman and Lord willing tommorow we will have a son.

Baby Coming!!!

Just got back from the doctor and they are inducing me at 4:00 PM today. Tonight is a first round of drugs/hormones or whatever it is, and tomorrow morning they will start me on the pitocin. So it is likely we won’t have a baby until Friday at some time. Please pray for us; in particular for my blood pressure as it’s been sky high and they will be watching it closely. Pray for little Brady as he has quite the journey ahead of him. Pray for my parents and Linda as they are leaving right now and driving through the night to get here. We will update everyone as soon as we can.

Doc Update

D-Day might be drawing closer...due to my consistently high blood pressure, I am going back to the doctor on Thursday and at that time they will decide if they should deliver me by this weekend. Key word is might. If everything looks good, we will stick with my original delivery day of August 7. I was told to monitor my blood pressure and write down the readings three times per day for them to take into account.

Obviously, we want what is best for Brady. But at this point, they are not worried about him, they are worried about me and my reaction to the high blood pressure. Brady looks good on the monitors, his activity is where it should be, and he is still growing.

My selfish side just wants Brady OUT! (I haven't made that much of a secret, have I?)

Please pray with us! We'd love to meet Brady this weekend, but we know that God's timing is best.

Weekend Update

Nothing to report.
My test from last week came back high.
I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow to "discuss it"
...I am not sure what that means!
Blood pressure has been off the charts.
Whatever happens, we don't have that long to wait!
But August 7 seems sooooo far away.
Come on Brady, don't you want OUT???

D-Day (DELIVERY DAY)

Brady's eviction has been set.

AUGUST 7!

That is the last day I will carry this child inside of me. Here's hoping I go on my own even earlier than that. Wishful thinking? Probably.

Keep praying for lower blood pressure. They are making me do the 24 hour test again and if that test comes back positive, then we may have a baby by the weekend. That is highly unlikely...I hope!

I could have gone earlier, but I opted to have my doctor be the one who delivers me. The way the doc's office is set up, you are delivered by the doctor on call - could be one of several different doctors. My doctor's on call day is Thursday, so August 7 it is. You can meet him by clicking here. You'll notice he has the same haircut as my husband. He also has the same sense of humor. And he identified my purse as a Vera Bradley design and said his daughter has the same one. I really like him.

YEEHAW!

Weekend Update

I don't want to get anyone too excited, but it has been over a week since we have been to the hospital (someone please knock on wood!). We are savoring our last few days as a couple with no kids - that means we are taking naps, reading books, and eating popcorn for dinner. I suppose after Brady arrives, he will be the one taking the naps and we will have to have vegetables or something healthy for dinner. The only books we read will have lots of pictures.

Jason and I learned how to put the carseat into the car after church today - we were given a crash course by the carseat expert who works at Graco (John Mizener). We watched some cheesy childbirth videos which just made us shake our heads and laugh. My blood pressure was consistently high this weekend so I guess I'll have to reveal that little detail to the doctor on Tuesday.

Oh, and I did a lot of whining. "I. Want. Him. OUT!" is my favorite new saying. But stubborn little man won't even give me a contraction in return. I guess he's comfy in there all snuggled up inside and my ribs make a perfect place to rest his feet and relax.

Happy Birthday to Uncle Jeff Jeff. He's 27 today!

Visitors from Afar (Dubuque)

We were super encouraged to have an overnight visit from Ben and Jenna and their two boys, Elias and Zach. They were traveling through on their way to visit Ben's family in Canada. We ordered some pizza, stayed up late talking and playing with the kids, and the next morning sent them off after a tour of the mission. Good times and great memories!

Jason got some baby-holding practice - what a natural!

Handsome boy!

Jason and I wondered if this was a glimpse of our future.

Why did we think it was a good idea to stare into the bright sun for a picture?

Doc Update

Sorry for not updating yesterday, but since I was not meeting with the doctor until today, I didn't really have anything to report from my ultrasound. The most I could get out of the ultrasound tech was that Brady weighs about 6 pounds and that the placenta had migrated higher (a good thing!). She did have a hard time with Brady's measurements as she said he was in a difficult position and would make lots of movements but would never adjust his position. Hmmm...imagine that...our son being naughty, once again! I think Brady has managed to annoy every single member of the medical field that he has met thus far.

Today I met with my doctor, the one who is the most familiar with my situation and the one who will (hopefully) deliver me. He said that I will not have a c-section - the position of the placenta is okay for me to attempt labor; and if there is any sign of rupture then I will be delivered via cesarean. He also said that he will probably "end my pregnancy early"..."WOOHOO!" I replied...but he is only talking about inducing me one week early, and that is only if I am dilated. Otherwise it is wait, wait, wait. Most of you know that patience is not one of my virtues, so that should be a fun time. Of course if there is any onset of pre-eclampsia or other emergency situation then Brady will be delivered right away (and promptly spanked and sent to his room without dinner).

There you have it. Things are looking good for the most part; my blood pressure is still high but just low enough to keep me out of the hospital. The doctor said I am "handling it well" so no need to do anything. I was lectured again about taking it easy, so I guess I will have to head down to the pool now. Feel free to join me!

Weekend Update

30 Years old and 36 Weeks!

After our Thursday/Friday excitement, (see previous post) we recovered nicely with a low-key weekend. I spent a considerable amount of time at the pool this weekend, because I am working on my old lady skin. Jason had to work Saturday and Sunday, but we still celebrated my birthday on Saturday with our friends Jim and Ashley. The four of us went out for dinner and then played Settlers of Catan and had cake at our house. And we also discovered that four adults can have a great deal of fun with a simple blood pressure cuff.

Jim trying to win the "lowest blood pressure" contest

Here is my cake courtesy of my hubby and my son. Notice the "Go Cubbies" on the side!

I had a GREAT 30th birthday!

I have an ultrasound tomorrow so it's likely I will post an update tomorrow night. This blog has been an unexpected blessing to us - just because we can post updates so regularly and know that our family and loved ones can be informed. THANK YOU for the encouraging comments and especially your prayers! And THANKS just for checking! :)

We pulled an all-nighter...

...at the hospital. Before you read on, know that we are fine now!

• Since the beginning of this blood pressure fiasco, the doctors said that if I developed a persistent headache - that wouldn't go away with Tylenol - I was to call them immediately. It could indicate pre-eclampsia. Thursday afternoon I felt one coming on and it stayed steady until about 10:00 last night, when it got significantly worse.
• I called my doctor's office reluctantly, already knowing what they would say. Sure enough, the doctor on call said come in to the hospital so we can take some labs and check you out. We trudged out the door at 10:30 PM.
• When we got to the hospital my headache increased - I have never been in so much pain from a headache. I felt like I was going to black out or be sick, and there was an awful lot of whining, thrashing around, and tears (and that was just from Jason...haha!). They hooked up an I/V and gave me something for the headache. Jason was so patient, he rubbed my back the entire time and prayed for me.
  
• 30 minutes later, the headache was still worse and my blood pressure had spiked to 184/108. They thought that the pain from the headache might be causing my blood pressure to go up, so they gave me morphine through my I/V. AHHHHHHHH............
• Problem was, the morphine helped me but also went straight to Brady, so now they had to watch him carefully on the fetal monitor. Brady was previously having a dance party in my uterus, complete with hiccups, but as soon as the morphine hit he curled up and went to sleep.
  
• My blood pressure went back down after the morphine knocked out the headache, which indicated I could go home, but not until Brady's activity was back to normal. My bloodwork also came back looking good, so no onset of pre-eclampsia. The diagnosis was just a good old-fashioned migraine. Yay.
  
• 3 hours later of fetal monitoring and Brady was still snoring. The doctor decided to give him another bio-physical profile and he scored an 8 out of 10 - his best score yet! They finally let us go at 5:30 AM.
• We were exhausted - poor Jason was worse, as I got to lay in a hospital bed all night but he only got a hard plastic chair. We slept this morning until about 11:00 and then Jason went to get us a healthy lunch from McDonald's. Work was kind enough to tell Jason not to come in. They have been very understanding and cooperative through this whole process.
  

So...the drama continues but praise the Lord that it was nothing more serious. At least I am getting to know the nurses in the OB triage department of the hospital; they are all very sweet and sympathetic! My favorite nurse is the one who brought the morphine. :) Brady's morphine has definitely worn off as he is back to kicking and squirming. We will take it easy for the rest of today. I was able to skip my scheduled dr's appointment today because of my hospital visit, but I practically had to beg them to let me off the hook! I have my ultrasound on Monday and regular exam on Tuesday. Hopefully we won't have any more drama - thanks for your prayers!

Doctor update

Dull visit to the doctor's office yesterday...yay! My blood pressure was 150/90 which is high but at least they let me escape for home despite a few disapproving looks from the nurses. Brady behaved himself and stayed on the monitor during the non-stress test and he was even active enough to "pass." Nobody called him any names and he proved that he can be a good boy when mama really needs him to be. I saw a different doctor because mine is in the hospital - I didn't know doctors were allowed to get sick - but this guy was pretty nice.

Despite escaping for home in under 2 hours (that might be a record for me) I do have to return on Friday, Monday, and Tuesday. Blech. This doctor indicated that 38 weeks would be the ideal time to deliver me - um, yeah that gives us just over 2 weeks to get our act together! My ultrasound is on Monday and they will check the placenta again and determine whether I will have a c-section or natural birth. Not sure it's really "natural" after they induce me and pump me full of drugs...but still...

Weekend Update

You haven't heard from us since Tuesday...that's a good thing! That means life at the Hubbies is starting to feel normal again.

The bullets are back...

• I didn't have to go in to the doctor on Thursday - he said my labs were good from the Monday night hospital visit and I would be fine to wait and see him at my scheduled appointment this coming Tuesday. Praise the Lord!
• I am still taking it easy, only light activity for me...(notice how I changed that from partial bed rest to light activity? Is there really a difference?)...I generally cash in on the "bed rest" diagnosis only when it is in my best interest...like when there is garbage to take out or laundry to switch over or vacuuming to do. I think Jason has caught on to the trend.
• We had a nice and easy 4th of July weekend...we saw a movie, went fishing, slept in and took naps, went to the pool, read books, watched tivo'd episodes of Law and Order...someday after Brady arrives I will read this entry and cry at the luxury my former life afforded me!
• My doctor's appointment on Tuesday involves another non-stress test, so we'd appreciate your prayers that Brady would behave himself and stay on the monitors so we can avoid a bio-physical profile and ultimately another non-stress test at the hospital. Since we've been through that whole drill twice now, we are wary of what to expect on Tuesday!
• My 30th birthday is on Saturday. 30! 30! 30!!!!!! Someone please remind my husband to get me a cake. After all, a birthday without a cake is just sad, in my opinion. What's really sad is that Jason and I will be the only ones to eat the cake. Well, Brady too. I guess that just means more for me!
• This is just for fun...Today I tried to paint my toenails. Here is the process: Take a deep breath, lean forward as far as I can, paint one toenail as fast as I can, lean back again, gasp for air. Repeat ten times. Jason was laughing pretty hard until I suggested he paint them for me.
  
• That's really it. How boring is this update?
  

The Scoop

I have gestational hypertension. Click HERE for details on this condition. The description at that website describes exactly what I have gone through and pretty much exactly how they are treating me from here on out. All of the symptoms I have experienced and the monitoring they are doing is because of the gestational hypertension.

Yesterday we had an appointment at 2:15 in the afternoon, and with the exception of a short dinner break, we didn't get back home until 10:00 PM. I am soooo sick of being poked, prodded, monitored, questioned, evaluated, and stared at. I bet the nurses could identify my prego belly in a lineup, they have seen it so much! Jason is pretty sick of sitting in hard plastic chairs just waiting and waiting! We started off the appointment with a non-stress test. They could NOT get Brady to stay on the monitor. At one time we had four people in that tiny little room trying to get him to stay put long enough to record his heart rate. They gave up, and instead gave me another bio-physical profile (ultrasound) which is exactly what happened on Friday. 30 minutes later, he scored a 6 out of 10 again, which is not good enough. When a 6 of 10 result is recorded, the protocol is that the test has to be repeated within the next 24 hours.

So, we went and grabbed some dinner with Lee, which was already part of our plans. Afterwards we went back to our home away from home, the hospital, for another non-stress test. This time our little guy behaved and he stayed on the monitor like a pro. His activity looked great. After a stressful 2 hours, during which I desperately (and repeatedly) whispered to Jason, "They are going to make me stay. Yes they are! Yes they are! They are going to make me stay! They took my blood! Why would they do that unless they were going to make me stay? They are going to make me stay!" the doctor came and told me that I could go home! But after telling me initially that she didn't need me back for a week, I found out just before leaving that I had to be seen again by Thursday. So it is quite possible that this will all have to be repeated again on Thursday. SIGH...!

One thing we found out for sure; we won't be making it to our due date. The doctor told us that the latest they will let me go with hypertension is seven days before our due date. And there is nothing wrong with Brady - we asked flat out if there appears to be any problems with his brain or his development. No.

But...poor kid. He's been called so many names...stinker, rascal, naughty boy, you name it...mostly by his parents, but also by the medical staff, which is hilarious to us! The nurses and midwives at the office are literally stumped over Brady and his mysterious activity. The ultrasound tech knows him by name and has several of his personality traits figured out. Our doctor actually said that if I was 37 weeks along, he probably would induce me and get him out of there just because Brady is a pain in the butt! Haha! (He said that jokingly...really!) I think we will have our hands full with this child. He is grounded as soon as he arrives, that is for sure.

Thanks for reading all of this; if you made it to the end! And thanks for keeping up with our situation. I realize that you all probably don't need every single detail, but this is also a great way for me to "journal" my way through the end of this pregnancy. Some day I will force Brady to read through all of this and apologize profusely.

We are thankful for a terrific doctor and medical staff and feel we are in good hands. Of course the real "hands" we are in belong to the Lord, the great physician, who loves us and hears our prayers. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed and exhausted and have moments of panic about Brady's little life, but I know that the Lord hears my prayers and He almost immediately provides comfort. It is by His grace that we are mostly able to laugh our way through this!

And yes, I am writing this at 2:35 AM. If none of it makes sense, that would be why! I am preparing myself for late night feedings by waking up every couple hours. I wish I hadn't thrown away Jason's birthday cake, I could really use a slice right now...