36 Weeks

This morning I went to work for about 45 minutes, then I took off for my 36 week check-up. My blood pressure was a little high (141/92) and my doctor decided to run labs and do a non-stress test. So, I have some markers for preeclampsia and she ordered me to bedrest. I am able to get up for the bathroom, fix a sandwich, and take a shower (quick one...good-bye clean shaven legs!). That's it...no laundry, no chores, no nothing!

I go back again on Thursday for another check-up after a non-stress test. My doctor is then going to decide when this baby is coming. She said she will not let me go past 38 weeks, which is Thursday, March 19. So the bedrest thing won't last much over a week at most.

I'll keep you posted. Tomorrow I plan to do a post about Caeleigh's birthday weekend. We had a really good time. She was so excited about her new DS games (Barbie Fashion Designer; Imagine Wedding Designer, Imagine Babysitter, and Ener G Gym Rockets) and some Littlest Pet Shop toys. Nana came up to help with the party and had a sleepover with her. Then on Sunday Sean's mom, aunt, cousin and her family came over for a small family gathering. A very nice weekend, though I was wiped out! More details tomorrow!

XOXO,
Sarah

Photos of Baby Shower (Better late than Never!)

The Cake

The Balloons

Caeleigh helping me open gifts!

Caeleigh putting a bow on Cousin Wesley's head!

Caeleigh, Cousin Wes, and Grandma Shirley

That's all for now....I'm not very good at downloading pics on here! Hope you enjoyed them!

XOXO,

Sarah

Well, You'll Never Believe This...

I'm nearing back to 90%+ (don't think I'll ever be 100% since I am 36 weeks (measuring 38 weeks pregg0)....but Caeleigh threw up this morning before going to school.....LOVELY!

So Sean could not get out of here fast enough (after he cleaned up Caeleigh's mess first though! He such good guy!) Poor guy....he is so stressed and probably so tired of taking care of me and now her! I need some good ideas to get this guy on a vacation or something!! (After baby of course...feel the need to stress him to the max first!) He wants to buy a used road bike (for cycling)....I think I'll have to cave and not complain about it...at least it will get him out of the house! He deserves it!

That's it for now....hopefully no more news is good news for the next few days. :)

XOXO,
Sarah

Another Trip to Clarian North

Where do I begin? Tuesday (3-3-09)….Sean’s lucky number is 3 and 3 is the square root of 9….so I thought it would be a lucky day….Not necessarily a lucky day to have a baby, but just a lucky day to stop throwing up and having (as Sean would say) the Big D. Sorry folks….no way to sugar coat it. I have been SICK, SICK, SICK.

Okay, let's back up…came home Sunday night from the hospital for treatment of dehydration and meds to stop contractions. Woke up Monday, went to a Dr. Checkup and ultrasound…baby weighs about 7lb; 7oz; my doc had no concerns except to rest and keep food and solids down. Went home and felt OK…later that evening started throwing up AGAIN, Big D AGAIN, and feeling weak.

I was up about every 30 minutes -90 minutes throughout Monday night. Sean left for work. I got sick about 7:15 and started timing contractions. This time they were about 4-5 minutes apart. I called the doctor when they opened at 8. It took them over an hour to call me back to tell me to go back to the hospital. Ugh…little frustration.

Got to the hospital around 10am…4-5 car pileup on Interstate 74 (our link to 465 to get to Clarian North)…so 56th street was also backed up…needless to say a longer trip than normal.
The triage nurse remembered me from the weekend and knew the docs weren’t going to stop contractions with medicine anymore, so she arranged for me to be in a more comfy Labor and Delivery Room (LDR). They started more IV fluids…the contractions slowed down to 5-8 minutes apart, I ate some mashed potatoes, 3 bags of fluids later (about 4pm) decided to send me home because I had only dilated from 1cm to 2cm. Doc sent me home with the drug that docs give chemo patients when nauseated and order to stay hydrated. (Easier said than done.)

Last night I was able to get much more sleep. I feel better today. Still weak, but think I’m able to tolerate bland food better. The hot tea was good. Not put on “bedrest” yet…they say to go back to work when I feel I can tolerate it, so I’m just burning up sick days I was saving for maternity leave, but oh well….life goes on. I’m going to stay home again on Thursday…we’ll see about Friday. My mom is coming back to town on Friday to help with Caeleigh's 8th Birthday Party on Saturday.

Many thanks to all those thoughts, prayers, meal offers/deliveries/ etc. I am so blessed to have such wonderful people in my life. I love you all.

And many of you are probably wondering…No there is still not a definite name for this little bean yet!

Also, I do want to clarify....I want this baby to stay in as LONG as possible. I'm not wishing the labor to progress along any faster. I just want to stop being SICK!!! Even though baby is doing well and still moving, great heartrate, and is big enough, I want her to come when she (and God) are ready for her to come. (And they may be ready before this household is...lol!!)

A Weekend Worthy of Some Updates

Saturday was a busy day. Caeleigh had her First Communion Retreat from 9am-12pm; then a little dress shopping for First Communion; then I took her to her Grandma Shirley's to spend the night. I went home and took a little nap and then went to Mass. During Mass I just did not feel "right." I was having some contractions, which was normal, but just felt "icky." I probably overdid it!

Sean and I had plans to go out to eat, but on my way home from Mass I called him and said I would just grab something and stay home. I ate a few chicken nuggets and some french fries, felt a little better, but then the contractions started to come harder and more frequent (about 10 minutes)...well I'm supposed to call if I have 6 contractions in an hour...so I did and Dr. Murphy was covering for my doctor. She said to come on in.

Sean and I left the house around 7:15 and were to Clarian North pretty quickly. After a quick assessment they decided to give me a dose of Terbutiline (sp?) to relax the uterus and stop contracting. They also started an IV bag to help rehydrate me. The nurse gave me the first dose of a lung steroid for the baby's lung development. I would need another 12 hours later. Since I had not been tested for BetaStrep (whatever that is...was going to happen at my regular checkup this AM) they also gave me antibiotics. Started feeling better, then vomited. But the contractions were slowed way down, so about 12:00 midnight I was discharged home.

Sunday morning we had to go back for the 2nd dose of the lung steroid medicine. I woke up fine, showered, but was very nauseated. While in the car (about 9am), started having contractions about 5 minutes apart in the ride to the hospital. So they admitted me for more Terbutiline (ended up having 4 doses totalon Sunday); the 2nd lung shot; and 2 and 1/2 bags of IV fluid. I was finally released around 5:15pm. In that time, my parents came up from Illinois and my sister came over to help out. Sean's mom kept Caeleigh all day on Sunday and brought her home around 6pm.

So Monday...Maggie spent the night and was able to take Caeleigh to school at 7:15; Sean had to get to work to wrap a few things up; and my parents took me to a previously scheduled ultrasound at 8:00am with a regularly scheduled checkup at 8:50. The ultrasound went well. Dr. Denman wanted to get measurements since I was measuring big last week. I am measuring 38 weeks (though at 35); and baby weighs about 7lbs; 7oz. WOW!! So since she's had the two lung shots, the doctor said they will not stop any further contractions.

So I got home, ate some oatmeal, had some Sprite and took a nap. When I woke up my parents had cleaned the garage, put the bouncer together, put the baby swing together, and finished organizing the baby's room. Unbelievable! They are awesome. I was feeling okay until about 1:30 and the stomach bug symptoms came back. I haven't been able to keep anything down. As I type I've had about 5 contractions every hour...so I have started writing them down to keep better track. When it's 6 an hour, I go back.

Check Sean's blog (www.reavo.blogspot.com) for further updates if we are headed to the hospital.

Bug, Bug Go Away, and STAY AWAY!

Well, the Reaves family was hit was a horrible bug this past week. I woke up last Wednesday night with the nastiest stomach bug I've ever had since I was like 10 years old. I missed Thursday and Friday of work and still felt yucky on Saturday. Caeleigh then woke up Friday night (or Saturday AM) throwing up and hers was a true 24 hour bug. Then Sean woke up with a sore throat on Sunday that got progressively worse and by Monday morning he had a temperature of 102.1 degrees! He went to a Med-Check and has strep. It's Wednesday now, and he still has a low grade temp (even with Ibuprofen and Tylenol in his system) and throat does not feel much better). He missed Monday and Tuesday of work, should've missed today, but went in.

So today Sean dropped Caeleigh off at school and as I was leaving for work, I started at the back of the house and sprayed EVERYTHING and EVERY area with Lysol (for like the 100th time!)

I am feeling so much better...but get tired very easily....the bug really zapped my energy. It was hard to stay hydrated. I don't wish this misery even on my own worst enemy!

So my parents were supposed to come last Saturday to paint and help get the nursery together, but they didn't (don't blame them!) Mom is coming on Saturday and Sunday...so hopefully we get some things accomplished! My good friends from my old school are also hosting a shower on Sunday, so I hope to get some pics of the nursery and shower soon!

Going to the doctor on Monday for a checkup...I'll post again after the appt!

Stay well everyone! Wash, wash, wash your hands....disinfect, disinfect, disinfect!!! Keep it clean folks!

XOXO,
Sarah

32 weeks, measuring 33 weeks

Had another doctor appt. on Monday. Only gained a couple of pounds...which my feet, ankles, fingers, and even MY TOES are swollen...so I have a feeling I'm going to have more water weight gain!! My blood pressure was still good (120/70); baby's heart rate was 146; and I still feel good.

It's getting harder and harder to move quick....I need to give myself at least 5 extra minutes of travel time just for getting into/out of the car and walking into the school buildings. Geez!!

Had a great date with Sean last Friday night. We went with our friends, Brent and Angie, to go see "He's Just Not That Into You." It was such a great ensemble cast with different stories going on....kind of "Love Actually"-esque (which is one of my favorite movies!) We went to Tripps's afterwards for a drink (diet coke for me!) and an appetizer. It was such a nice night....and probably my Valentine's Day celebration....since I refuse to make a big deal out of Valentine's Day with the almost 100% mark-ups, need for reservations, crowds, etc. Now don't get me wrong, I like getting a card...but can have the flowers early or late....just TOO expensive on the day of!

Not much else to report. Caeleigh is doing great. She got all A's and B's on her report card and is ready to sign up for softball. She is getting a little anxious about the upcoming birth...worried we won't pay attention to her, leave her out, etc. It is so hard to convince her that won't happen, but am doing my best!! Her birthday will be in a couple of weeks...we are starting to plan a little party for some of her friends. She went to a party with 14! girls last weekend and came home upset because there was so much drama and fighting. I told her that's what happens when you get too many girls together....and she came back with "Well, instead of 5 girls, I think I'll only invite 3 or 4 to my party....and it'll be easier to all get along!" What a smart girl...must get it from her momma!

Going to start working on the nursery this weekend. When it's done I'll post some pictures....may be a 2-3 week process (remember swollen TOES) so be patient!

Have a great week...have another appointment Feb. 23. My doctor did make a mistake about my progesterone shots...she wants them to continue through 36 weeks...so got a new scrip for 4 more doses...hooray! Dr. Denman originally told me 16-32 weeks, but guess she meant through 36 weeks. Oh well! They aren't bad at all. I've not had any reactions, so that is good!

Have a good rest of the week and a sweet Valentine's day!

XOXO,
Sarah