Monday, November 15, 2010

Doctor Check Up

Hey everyone,
I just wanted to let you know that I am going to the doctor this morning (11/15/10) to find out what Dr. Benge wants me to do. I have 9 more weeks before Caleigh is due, so please pray for Dr. Benge to have the wisdom to make the right decision for both me and Caleigh. A part of me wants to go back to work so there isn't a financial burden on our family, and the other part of me wants to stay on bed rest so we can do what we think is best for Caleigh. I don't know which is right, but I am praying that the doctor will give me an exact and confident answer based on all the information; the medicine is working at slowing the contractions, but they have not stopped.
Thank you for all of the prayers,
JME

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Shaky Mc Shakerton

That's my new nickname. Shaky Mc Shakerton. The medicine they put me on to stop the contractions has made me EXTREMELY shaky. Not like full body, arms flailing kind of shaking, just constant tremors in my hands and arms, feet and legs, and most annoying my jaw. It makes my heart beat a little faster too, but that's not nearly as disturbing as the tremors. I know that in the end this is all worth it, to have Caleigh come later, so I am trying to keep a positive attitude. Although, when I spill the milk because of the shaking, I do want to cry a little.

Please pray family, that things will go as God has planned. I believe that this was known by Him before it even became a problem, so I know He has us in His hands. I also believe that this is the reason I felt so strongly about going back to work when I found out I was pregnant. If I had stayed home to watch my friends' kids I would be really struggling to find someone else to watch them right now, and it would NOT be good. As God would have it though, I now have paid disability and great insurance, so all of the testing that had to be done Tuesday was free and we can rest easy knowing that I will eventually be paid by disability for this bed rest.

I love you all long time and thank you for all of the prayers. Now that I have some free time I will do better about updating you on our family's progress, especially Caleigh's.

Love you long time,
JME

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Bedrest

I figured I owed it to several people to let them know I have been put on bedrest, but didn't know how to contact them all at the same time so I am writing a blog about it. At least this way I can answer as many questions as possible all at the same time.


I have been having mild contractions since 22 weeks with this pregnancy, but up until the last couple of weeks they have been just mildly annoying, not anything to worry about. At the start of my 28th week (10/26) however they began to become more than annoying. As of Monday (11/8), when I finally started writing down the times of each contraction, I realized how many I was actually having. From 6 am - 9 am I was only having 1-2 an hour, but after that things got a lot worse. I started having anywhere from 4-6 an hour and that is NO GOOD at 30 weeks. Yesterday (11/9) I was consistently having 6 an hour and that prompted me to finally call the OB. The nurse told me that this was not ok, and that I needed to come in immediately. I called John, and was prepared to go to the OB alone because he has been carpooling to work and didn't have a ride home. I didn't want to pressure him because I knew there was nothing he could do, but I really wanted him there.


I was so blessed when I got to the doctor's though, because both John and Amber came walking towards me from her car! When Amber overheard John at work talking about what was going on she told her boss she had to leave and drove John to the hospital. Thank you so much for ALWAYS being there for me Amber. You would think it would be awkward for her to be there, given the private nature of the visit, but she was there when I delivered Hailey. And you don't really ever see more than that, ever! ;-)


Fortunately for me, while Dr. Benge was running very late, I was rushed into the office and put on the fetal monitors. I was indeed having contractions (glad to know it's not all in my mind) and was seen immediately upon his arrival from labor and delivery. There were a lot of angry pregnant women in the waiting room when I was rushed back, who had been waiting to be seen a lot longer than me! And trust me when I say, that's a scary sight when you're 7 1/2 months pregnant and couldn't run to save your life!! Fortunately, they were all pregnant too so the fact that they couldn't run either, kept me safe!


I'm not going to lie, I have been very scared the last couple of weeks, but, I have learned a lot in the last year meeting with my mentor Candy and I just keep reminding myself that God is in control and there really isn't much I can do about the situation.

I was given a shot of Terbutaline to stop the contractions and a prescription for management control. Dr. Benge has put me on bed rest from this point forward. My appointments are now every week (that's not supposed to start until you are closer to 36 weeks), and he will evaluate me each week to see whether I can go back or not. I truly plan to use this week off to take it easy. Since mid September I have either had a photo shoot, family party or huge event that I have needed to be at every weekend, so this is finally time for me to relax. John is taking Wednesday and Friday off to help me, so that will be nice.

Please keep our sweet Caleigh in your prayers. We can wait to meet her.

Love you all long time,
JME