Monday, December 29, 2008
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
A bit closer
Griffin is doing well with the feeding now, hasn't had a 'top up' after breastfeed for 3 full days now. The nurse said last night that hopefully sometime in the week we will take his tube out and see how he goes, oh I hope so!
Here are some cute pics from yesterday
Here are some cute pics from yesterday
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Getting there
Its getting closer! Griffin's last weight was 2070 grams and yesterday he had 2 good breastfeeds, and they just gave him a 10mls top up down his tube of breast milk. This morning he fed well again and no top up. Going back this arvo to see how we go..
I can almost see me walking through the front door with him, its only weeks away!
It might really feel like I have a baby then!
I can almost see me walking through the front door with him, its only weeks away!
It might really feel like I have a baby then!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
I'm here!
Just crazy busy between back and forth to the hospital multiple times a day. Griffin is going great, last weigh was 1950grams and due to weighed tomorrow so will be prob over the magic 2kg mark. He is getting there with the breast feeding. He is 4 weeks old today :)
Here is a photo from few days ago, he's certainly chubbing up!
Promise to be back more soon!
Here is a photo from few days ago, he's certainly chubbing up!
Promise to be back more soon!
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
PHOTO's
OKay here are some photo's.
Our first cuddle, Laci's first touch and a couple of Griffin at a couple of days old.
Our first cuddle, Laci's first touch and a couple of Griffin at a couple of days old.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
The arrival of Griffin Timothy David Robertson
Okay so here is how the events unfolded to the arrival of my son and last baby Griffin at 30 weeks 1 day on the 18th November 2008.
We were due to have the much awaited scan at 3pm, time was dragging on, thankfully we were called at about 2.30pm. Shannon and I and mother in law were all there and very nervous. My ob started scanning and straight away you could see that the fluid was less again than it had been the week before. She then did the measurements of baby, he had grown but not as much as we had hoped, the most noticeable difference was his abdomen measurement. This hadn't changed at all and was sitting at only about 25th centile. This is one of the first things that change with growth restriction and the same thing had happened with Laci. She estimated his weight at was 1450grams, obviously hoping it was a little more.
The blood flow to baby was still good so that was a good thing, but this is not something we wanted to wait to see change.
Basically the ob said, 'it looks to me that your having a baby today'. of course shannon and I got all teary. She then talked to us more in detail about her findings, coupled with my ever increasing bp that was not proving easy to control. She said she wanted to go speak to the consultant paediatrician to discuss it and come back but for us to think about what we wanted to do. Whilst she was gone, we had a very diffciult time working out what to do, we felt that it shoudn't be our decision and we could see all the reasons for delivery but scared that delivery may not be the right decision..
The ob came back and basically said upon further discussion with the consultant paed it was decided that yes definately we shoud deliver. We should pull out now. My steroids for bub's lungs were current and it would only be a matter of days till we had to anyhow, lets not wait till things turned bad.
So with that I headed back to the ward. They wanted to get an IV in and take bloods to check everything. Well here began the difficulties!
I was very puffy and swollen in my feet, hands and face basically holding onto fluid everywhere. I had also been nil by mouth for 4 hours by this stage. The dr had 4 attempts at getting an iv in, but everytime he got it in my vein would collapse. They called the anaethetist and she had similar trouble but did get it in on her 2nd attempt. PHEW big relief.
Then it was the mad rush to get me showered and ready for theatre.
Arrived at theatre, scared would be he best word. Anaethetist decided she wanted a second iv just in case due to difficult veins. Thankfully she got that one in first go.
I had pre arranged for shannon to be with me for the epidural /spinal placement. A good things in hindsite as what was to come was not fun.
Serious difficulties in getting the epi in. The whole process lasted 45 minutes, was super traumatic and very painful. She would inject the local, pierce my back but for some reason just couldn't get it in, she said my epidural space was very deep and at the maximum (6cms) of the needle. At one stage she hit a nerve and I had a very painful electric shock feeling all down one leg, I was screaming and crying :( She later said that she had 6 attempts!
She finally got the epi in and it was decided to start. They did the ice test and I passed. My ob started cutting. About 3 minutes in I started feeling a sharp pain on the outer edge of her cutting, everyone was asking me a million questions about it trying to decide if it was just discomfort or pain, then all of a sudden there was pain! I'm talking pain! Deep sharp pain! I cried out and that was when my ob, said she was terribly sorry but I was going to have to go 'under'. I started crying, begging that shannon cold stay to watch his son being born but they said no.
I remember saying over and over to shannon that I was so sorry. He was crying too but telling me it was okay and and he loved me. He kissed me and left, they then put the mask over my face to breath in that lovely stuff as I was sobbing. I remember them pulling my neck back and that was it.
I woke in recovery 2 hours later in lots of pain. I remember asking if Griffin was ok, if he cried etc, did they know if he had been intubated. They said he did make some noise and that no he wasn't intubated that they knew of.
The pain was pretty intense, they had hooked up my pca button to the epidural and I was pushing it with no relief. They ended up giving me about 3 lots of bolus pain relief down my iv to settle my pain.
After about 30 mins they asked if I wanted Shannon to come down. I said yes only if Griffin ok. Shannon arrived shortly after. My first memory is that of Shannon walking in with the biggest smile on his face. It was at that moment I realised what had really happened! I had had a baby! He was just so proud and tears in his eyes. He had a couple of photo's. He said that Griffin weighed 1540grams and had lasted 45 minutes breathing on his own CPAP on.
I really wanted to be able to see Griffin but the staff said that the bed wouldn't fit in there :( This was pretty hard to deal with.
When they got me back to my room they said if after 4 hours I was able to get in a wheelchair that they could take me to the nursery. I don't think the midwives realised at that stage how major my surgery had been or how much pain I had been in as this was certainly not going to be possible.
Shannon told me that the ob had said that my surgery had been very complicated and that my uterus had ruptured, she assured Shannon that no permanent damage to other organs had occurred and she would talk to us more about it in the morning.
The time of Griffins birth was recorded at 6.54pm. I was back in the ward about 10.30pm.
Shannon left at about 11pm and headed to the nursery, he stayed there for a while, he texted me updates like Griffin's first wee :) Then Shannon headed home and got a few hours sleep.
My pain continued to increase over the next few hours, they had hooked me up the epidural for pain relief which in hindsite was pretty pointless considering I needed the general because the epi didn't work properly. So by 1am the midwife called aneathetist and organised a morphine pump to go through my iv. By 2am I was getting pain relief. I didn't sleep at all but pain was manageable.
So..
Next morning, ob comes in and talks about what happened once they got me under..
Basically as she cut to do the lower segment caesar my old classical scar (vertical cut) ruptured. Basically me uterus tore open in an upside down T cut. She said my uterus was so thin that it would no way have lasted to 36 weeks without rupturing on its own! So I feel blessed, that would have been catastrophic, don't even want to think about it!
So that was a big complication and took quite some time to repair. She said also as we expected that my adhesions and scar tissue were terrible, my bladder and bowel very much affected. She said it was a very challenging surgery and I was very lucky to have avoided any kind of bowel or bladder injury during it all.
So due to extenisve surgery she placed a drain.
So that's the events that unfolded for my son's Griffin's birth. I did confirm with my ob that she remembered to do my tubes, she confirmed, absolutely! So there closes the chapter of my life involving trying to conceive and pregnancy. Now to enjoy being a mum!
My recovery has been slow and painful, but more about that and my gorgeous son soon!
We were due to have the much awaited scan at 3pm, time was dragging on, thankfully we were called at about 2.30pm. Shannon and I and mother in law were all there and very nervous. My ob started scanning and straight away you could see that the fluid was less again than it had been the week before. She then did the measurements of baby, he had grown but not as much as we had hoped, the most noticeable difference was his abdomen measurement. This hadn't changed at all and was sitting at only about 25th centile. This is one of the first things that change with growth restriction and the same thing had happened with Laci. She estimated his weight at was 1450grams, obviously hoping it was a little more.
The blood flow to baby was still good so that was a good thing, but this is not something we wanted to wait to see change.
Basically the ob said, 'it looks to me that your having a baby today'. of course shannon and I got all teary. She then talked to us more in detail about her findings, coupled with my ever increasing bp that was not proving easy to control. She said she wanted to go speak to the consultant paediatrician to discuss it and come back but for us to think about what we wanted to do. Whilst she was gone, we had a very diffciult time working out what to do, we felt that it shoudn't be our decision and we could see all the reasons for delivery but scared that delivery may not be the right decision..
The ob came back and basically said upon further discussion with the consultant paed it was decided that yes definately we shoud deliver. We should pull out now. My steroids for bub's lungs were current and it would only be a matter of days till we had to anyhow, lets not wait till things turned bad.
So with that I headed back to the ward. They wanted to get an IV in and take bloods to check everything. Well here began the difficulties!
I was very puffy and swollen in my feet, hands and face basically holding onto fluid everywhere. I had also been nil by mouth for 4 hours by this stage. The dr had 4 attempts at getting an iv in, but everytime he got it in my vein would collapse. They called the anaethetist and she had similar trouble but did get it in on her 2nd attempt. PHEW big relief.
Then it was the mad rush to get me showered and ready for theatre.
Arrived at theatre, scared would be he best word. Anaethetist decided she wanted a second iv just in case due to difficult veins. Thankfully she got that one in first go.
I had pre arranged for shannon to be with me for the epidural /spinal placement. A good things in hindsite as what was to come was not fun.
Serious difficulties in getting the epi in. The whole process lasted 45 minutes, was super traumatic and very painful. She would inject the local, pierce my back but for some reason just couldn't get it in, she said my epidural space was very deep and at the maximum (6cms) of the needle. At one stage she hit a nerve and I had a very painful electric shock feeling all down one leg, I was screaming and crying :( She later said that she had 6 attempts!
She finally got the epi in and it was decided to start. They did the ice test and I passed. My ob started cutting. About 3 minutes in I started feeling a sharp pain on the outer edge of her cutting, everyone was asking me a million questions about it trying to decide if it was just discomfort or pain, then all of a sudden there was pain! I'm talking pain! Deep sharp pain! I cried out and that was when my ob, said she was terribly sorry but I was going to have to go 'under'. I started crying, begging that shannon cold stay to watch his son being born but they said no.
I remember saying over and over to shannon that I was so sorry. He was crying too but telling me it was okay and and he loved me. He kissed me and left, they then put the mask over my face to breath in that lovely stuff as I was sobbing. I remember them pulling my neck back and that was it.
I woke in recovery 2 hours later in lots of pain. I remember asking if Griffin was ok, if he cried etc, did they know if he had been intubated. They said he did make some noise and that no he wasn't intubated that they knew of.
The pain was pretty intense, they had hooked up my pca button to the epidural and I was pushing it with no relief. They ended up giving me about 3 lots of bolus pain relief down my iv to settle my pain.
After about 30 mins they asked if I wanted Shannon to come down. I said yes only if Griffin ok. Shannon arrived shortly after. My first memory is that of Shannon walking in with the biggest smile on his face. It was at that moment I realised what had really happened! I had had a baby! He was just so proud and tears in his eyes. He had a couple of photo's. He said that Griffin weighed 1540grams and had lasted 45 minutes breathing on his own CPAP on.
I really wanted to be able to see Griffin but the staff said that the bed wouldn't fit in there :( This was pretty hard to deal with.
When they got me back to my room they said if after 4 hours I was able to get in a wheelchair that they could take me to the nursery. I don't think the midwives realised at that stage how major my surgery had been or how much pain I had been in as this was certainly not going to be possible.
Shannon told me that the ob had said that my surgery had been very complicated and that my uterus had ruptured, she assured Shannon that no permanent damage to other organs had occurred and she would talk to us more about it in the morning.
The time of Griffins birth was recorded at 6.54pm. I was back in the ward about 10.30pm.
Shannon left at about 11pm and headed to the nursery, he stayed there for a while, he texted me updates like Griffin's first wee :) Then Shannon headed home and got a few hours sleep.
My pain continued to increase over the next few hours, they had hooked me up the epidural for pain relief which in hindsite was pretty pointless considering I needed the general because the epi didn't work properly. So by 1am the midwife called aneathetist and organised a morphine pump to go through my iv. By 2am I was getting pain relief. I didn't sleep at all but pain was manageable.
So..
Next morning, ob comes in and talks about what happened once they got me under..
Basically as she cut to do the lower segment caesar my old classical scar (vertical cut) ruptured. Basically me uterus tore open in an upside down T cut. She said my uterus was so thin that it would no way have lasted to 36 weeks without rupturing on its own! So I feel blessed, that would have been catastrophic, don't even want to think about it!
So that was a big complication and took quite some time to repair. She said also as we expected that my adhesions and scar tissue were terrible, my bladder and bowel very much affected. She said it was a very challenging surgery and I was very lucky to have avoided any kind of bowel or bladder injury during it all.
So due to extenisve surgery she placed a drain.
So that's the events that unfolded for my son's Griffin's birth. I did confirm with my ob that she remembered to do my tubes, she confirmed, absolutely! So there closes the chapter of my life involving trying to conceive and pregnancy. Now to enjoy being a mum!
My recovery has been slow and painful, but more about that and my gorgeous son soon!
How it all happened
The birth of our son Griffin that is.. Griffin WAS born on Tuesday 18th November. I really do want to write down how it all eventuated, but in all honesty have been putting it off a little.. It didn't all quite go as planned, don't get me wrong, he is here safely and I am in one piece, but it was all very traumatic..
I'm building up to it I promise. Should have the birth story entry complete within 24 hours, will probably be good for me..
Stay tuned
I'm building up to it I promise. Should have the birth story entry complete within 24 hours, will probably be good for me..
Stay tuned
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Will today be the day?
Another days dawns, wonder what this one will bring?
Just about to be hooked up to the CTG, but bub has been having a good wiggle overnght and this morning so that is reassuring.
Had a crappy sleep, but wasn't really expecting any different :)
Told Shannon and mother in law not to rush in this morning as it may pan out to be along day.
Laci is back to her usual healthy self thank goodness after her weekend temperature and is in daycare today.
Hoping the day doesn't drag too much till the scan.
Not sure how I feel about either scenerio at the moment, if I am not to be having him today, the day to day wait will continue with still a very very good chance it will be in the next week anyhow. I am exhausted and the medications are really wiping me out.. But whatever is to be will be..it is out of my hands.
Just about to be hooked up to the CTG, but bub has been having a good wiggle overnght and this morning so that is reassuring.
Had a crappy sleep, but wasn't really expecting any different :)
Told Shannon and mother in law not to rush in this morning as it may pan out to be along day.
Laci is back to her usual healthy self thank goodness after her weekend temperature and is in daycare today.
Hoping the day doesn't drag too much till the scan.
Not sure how I feel about either scenerio at the moment, if I am not to be having him today, the day to day wait will continue with still a very very good chance it will be in the next week anyhow. I am exhausted and the medications are really wiping me out.. But whatever is to be will be..it is out of my hands.
Monday, November 17, 2008
30 weeks today!
So I actually made it to 30 weeks! Only just lol
But what a day! Has been a rough day emotionally for me up and down and really starting to be not very tolerant of nursing staff etc..
Anyhow, had a crap sleep and woke with the intention of speaking to ob today about requesting to change my ultrasound from tuesday to today. Mainly that this waiting is really starting to do my head in. Also for the past 4-5 days bubs movements have really changed. Much less frequent and not as strong :( I have mentioned this to my ob over the past few days.
So we had a good chat this morning and she said that she really wanted to hold off on the scan till tomorrow afternoon as planned.. They would continue the twice daily ctgs and if anything changed she would be in. She said she is not sure why the movement seems reduced but perhaps because I am on so much medication etc.. I am also worried that it is because the fluid has dropped off even more (it is already only on 2.5th centile)..
Anyhow, so I was annoyed as you can imagaine, but what can I do?
She also told me to not have lunch tomorrow :o so we are prepared to c/s after scan if it is not what we hope for :(
So then Mother in law arrived with Shannon,(she has flown up to help out with Laci etc). Shannon has taken mon-wed off at this stage till we know.
They hook me up to the ctg...long story short, bub not being very reactive at all, heartrate not variable and hardly moving :( We try me moving, sweet things etc. No change. They tell me they are ringing ob. Then they tell me she will be in at 1pm (it is now 11.30) but that she wants to keep the ctg on..
Another 30 mins pass and bub does get active and shows some variability so they take the ctg off. We get to 2pm and no ob, so I ask when is she coming and the midwife says, oh we rang her back and told her it improved so she's not coming! So for over 2 hours, DH, MIL and I were on tenterhooks wondering.. Anyhow you get the picture, I was peeved!
Hmm and me, still constant headache, BP ok, not great but ok. SUPER dry mouth, saliva gone AWOL with the high doses of bp meds I am on now..
JUst feeling over it!
Repeating CTG tonight after 8pm.
Bring on tomorrow!
Ob said scan will be about 3pm QLD time.
But what a day! Has been a rough day emotionally for me up and down and really starting to be not very tolerant of nursing staff etc..
Anyhow, had a crap sleep and woke with the intention of speaking to ob today about requesting to change my ultrasound from tuesday to today. Mainly that this waiting is really starting to do my head in. Also for the past 4-5 days bubs movements have really changed. Much less frequent and not as strong :( I have mentioned this to my ob over the past few days.
So we had a good chat this morning and she said that she really wanted to hold off on the scan till tomorrow afternoon as planned.. They would continue the twice daily ctgs and if anything changed she would be in. She said she is not sure why the movement seems reduced but perhaps because I am on so much medication etc.. I am also worried that it is because the fluid has dropped off even more (it is already only on 2.5th centile)..
Anyhow, so I was annoyed as you can imagaine, but what can I do?
She also told me to not have lunch tomorrow :o so we are prepared to c/s after scan if it is not what we hope for :(
So then Mother in law arrived with Shannon,(she has flown up to help out with Laci etc). Shannon has taken mon-wed off at this stage till we know.
They hook me up to the ctg...long story short, bub not being very reactive at all, heartrate not variable and hardly moving :( We try me moving, sweet things etc. No change. They tell me they are ringing ob. Then they tell me she will be in at 1pm (it is now 11.30) but that she wants to keep the ctg on..
Another 30 mins pass and bub does get active and shows some variability so they take the ctg off. We get to 2pm and no ob, so I ask when is she coming and the midwife says, oh we rang her back and told her it improved so she's not coming! So for over 2 hours, DH, MIL and I were on tenterhooks wondering.. Anyhow you get the picture, I was peeved!
Hmm and me, still constant headache, BP ok, not great but ok. SUPER dry mouth, saliva gone AWOL with the high doses of bp meds I am on now..
JUst feeling over it!
Repeating CTG tonight after 8pm.
Bring on tomorrow!
Ob said scan will be about 3pm QLD time.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Result is in!
Urine result is in..
ITS GOOD!!!
Obviously haven't spoken to my ob and won't be until monday morning, but based on the what she said yesterday as our plan, (barring off course anthing changing drastically with my BP and bub's CTG's), we will now be waiting for the growth scan on Tuesday arvo to make the decision.
Bloods were also good..
ITS GOOD!!!
Obviously haven't spoken to my ob and won't be until monday morning, but based on the what she said yesterday as our plan, (barring off course anthing changing drastically with my BP and bub's CTG's), we will now be waiting for the growth scan on Tuesday arvo to make the decision.
Bloods were also good..
Saturday, November 15, 2008
It'e nearing the end
Just saw my obstetrician, hmm
We have moved forward the 24 hour urine, starting now after this mornings dip showed 1+ protein again. My ob will review result monday morning and if has risen above a certain number that's it, eviction at exactly 30 weeks! (prefer not to discuss numbers). Oh and we don't think it will take much for it to have risen over that number based on my last result.
Also doing more blood tests today.
Medication increased for bp again today, as continues to rise :(
I am also looking pretty attractive with the puffiness now!
So the basics..
If urine and/or bloods not good, we will know monday morning that he is coming out on monday evening.
If urine and bloods hanging in there and bp hanging in there will wait till scan on tuesday arvo and decide then.
Feeling ok.. I think
We have moved forward the 24 hour urine, starting now after this mornings dip showed 1+ protein again. My ob will review result monday morning and if has risen above a certain number that's it, eviction at exactly 30 weeks! (prefer not to discuss numbers). Oh and we don't think it will take much for it to have risen over that number based on my last result.
Also doing more blood tests today.
Medication increased for bp again today, as continues to rise :(
I am also looking pretty attractive with the puffiness now!
So the basics..
If urine and/or bloods not good, we will know monday morning that he is coming out on monday evening.
If urine and bloods hanging in there and bp hanging in there will wait till scan on tuesday arvo and decide then.
Feeling ok.. I think
Friday, November 14, 2008
Another day in hospital down
Plodding along! Another day dawns. Ob been in to see me nice and early again today. CTG on baby done for the day and all okay there. He has been a bit more active the last 18 hours or so which is reassuring as he was pretty quiet for coupld of days. My blood pressure is not great but not bad. So no further changes in medication at this stage.
So basically it's a wait and see game at the moment.
I did sign my caesarean section and tubal ligatation forms this morning though.. eeek!
So it's looking like will make it to Tuesday arvo's scan. Will complete another 24hr urine (protein check) on Tuesday morning so we have all the information then.. Shannon has this feeling it will be all over after scan (this has what has happened with both Piper and Laci) and Griffin will be whipped out wed/thurs. I'm not thinking about it yet. Just getting through each day.
Shannon's arvo off yesterday seemed to help both of us :) He hung out here for about 3 hours which was nice to have some husband/wife time together :) He said he is feeling a little brighter this morning.
So today I am planning another quiet day of rest, not much else to do.
So basically it's a wait and see game at the moment.
I did sign my caesarean section and tubal ligatation forms this morning though.. eeek!
So it's looking like will make it to Tuesday arvo's scan. Will complete another 24hr urine (protein check) on Tuesday morning so we have all the information then.. Shannon has this feeling it will be all over after scan (this has what has happened with both Piper and Laci) and Griffin will be whipped out wed/thurs. I'm not thinking about it yet. Just getting through each day.
Shannon's arvo off yesterday seemed to help both of us :) He hung out here for about 3 hours which was nice to have some husband/wife time together :) He said he is feeling a little brighter this morning.
So today I am planning another quiet day of rest, not much else to do.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
A good update
My blood pressure has decreased overnight, its still not perfect but not in the scary range at the moment and my headache is no longer migraine material, just a normal headache :)
ob came in this morning and is pleased and will continue to watch me closely, no medication increase again yet. I will continue on regular blood pressure checks obviously and also daily ctg's to keep eye on bub. Currently attached for 20-30 mins as we speak.
Ob is feeling somewhat confident that will prob make it to monday to the 30's! But obviously can't say for certain as things can change very quickly. My blood tests from yesterday were ok. So on Tuesday arvo I will have another scan, this one will again look at fluid and dopplers but also bub's growth. This will give us more of a complete picture as to what is happening and we will make decisions then I guess.
Shannon exhausted and stressed :( He is considering taking the afternoon off, I encouraged him! Laci in daycare, so he is prob going to come in here for a while to chill (we don't get much time together and certainly not without busy Laci) then hopefully he will go home for a few hours rest.
Oh and my pelvis is loving this rest! Pain so much less! Back to just pain on movement instead of constant, so that is a huge improvement! Certainly makes me feel better about things when not in constant pain!
Ok now for no excitement between now and tuesday please :)
ob came in this morning and is pleased and will continue to watch me closely, no medication increase again yet. I will continue on regular blood pressure checks obviously and also daily ctg's to keep eye on bub. Currently attached for 20-30 mins as we speak.
Ob is feeling somewhat confident that will prob make it to monday to the 30's! But obviously can't say for certain as things can change very quickly. My blood tests from yesterday were ok. So on Tuesday arvo I will have another scan, this one will again look at fluid and dopplers but also bub's growth. This will give us more of a complete picture as to what is happening and we will make decisions then I guess.
Shannon exhausted and stressed :( He is considering taking the afternoon off, I encouraged him! Laci in daycare, so he is prob going to come in here for a while to chill (we don't get much time together and certainly not without busy Laci) then hopefully he will go home for a few hours rest.
Oh and my pelvis is loving this rest! Pain so much less! Back to just pain on movement instead of constant, so that is a huge improvement! Certainly makes me feel better about things when not in constant pain!
Ok now for no excitement between now and tuesday please :)
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Super quick update
BP still not good. Had very bad headache all day :(
Seeing ob in morning to see what next. Maybe increase medication again.
Will update when can.
Seeing ob in morning to see what next. Maybe increase medication again.
Will update when can.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
CRAP!!
CRAP!!!!
Very short post as Shannon and Laci will be here shortly, but lets just say things not great :(
My BP today has shot right up over the day :( and not feeling good (that lovely pre eclampsia feeling - spots in eyes etc) and scan showed the fluid level right down :(
Having first dose of steroids tonight..
The waiting game begins.
Poor Shannon not coping at all.. Me doing ok. 29 weeks is still good (chanting to self over and over)
Very short post as Shannon and Laci will be here shortly, but lets just say things not great :(
My BP today has shot right up over the day :( and not feeling good (that lovely pre eclampsia feeling - spots in eyes etc) and scan showed the fluid level right down :(
Having first dose of steroids tonight..
The waiting game begins.
Poor Shannon not coping at all.. Me doing ok. 29 weeks is still good (chanting to self over and over)
Waiting for scan
Trying to keep positive but still feeling a little nervous. Scan not until 4pm QLD time. Hoping all is good.
Starting to get to that point when I am waiting for the bomb to drop. I hate it!
Please let it be reassuring and get me through till the next one which is growth in a weeks time.
Starting to get to that point when I am waiting for the bomb to drop. I hate it!
Please let it be reassuring and get me through till the next one which is growth in a weeks time.
Monday, November 10, 2008
29 weeks today!
Woohoo, only one week until my next goal and only 3 weeks till my final goal, have decided anything over 32 weeks is a bonus.
Am still in hospital, so happy that Shannon managed to set me up on laptop. Not finding boredom an issue at all I have to tell you! Between some serious resting and the internet and making my christmas decorations and the little chats with nurses, time doesn't seem to be dragging too badly.
I think it certainly helps that my pain is less is helping the way I feel about things.
Sleep is improved, certainly not great by anyones terms but am managing 3-5 hours of unbroken sleep and some dozing.
So the other issues, my usual ones lol. My blood pressure. It is definately not being co operative. My medication is being increased today. I am now on higher dose than when I was pregnant with Laci :( It will take 24-48 hours to see if this has the desired effect.
BUT Protein on my 24 hour collection is ok. So thats a bonus! The difficult part that my ob is concerned about is that every pregnancy is different and even though I don't have the protein like I did with Laci there is still a very high likelyhood that things will go pear shaped in the near future. Just which order they go in is yet to be seen.
She has asked us to consider the steroids for bubs lungs, at this stage we have declined because of the all the research we have done ourselves and the high risk ob that we have discussed this with at length in the past. The basics are that once you have the steroids they are only effective for a week. So if you don't deliver in that week but still go early they repeat the course. Problem being no one knows how effective this repeated dose is. So we would really prefer to wait until things look immenent before we do it, problem is, it is still a bit of a guessing game. The other concern is that steroids can affect bubs growth and with our history with growth issues anyhow, this is another thing we would prefer to hold off on..
So that said obviously if we can't stabalise my bp, my protein goes up or bub's growth or fluid etc change this is when the time will come..
So am not going home anytime soon!
Am having scan tomorrow afternoon here at the hospital, this will just be fluid levels and dopplers (blood flow). Ob did say that the ctg I had yesterday was excellent so not expecting any surprises on scan.
Will update after :)
Am still in hospital, so happy that Shannon managed to set me up on laptop. Not finding boredom an issue at all I have to tell you! Between some serious resting and the internet and making my christmas decorations and the little chats with nurses, time doesn't seem to be dragging too badly.
I think it certainly helps that my pain is less is helping the way I feel about things.
Sleep is improved, certainly not great by anyones terms but am managing 3-5 hours of unbroken sleep and some dozing.
So the other issues, my usual ones lol. My blood pressure. It is definately not being co operative. My medication is being increased today. I am now on higher dose than when I was pregnant with Laci :( It will take 24-48 hours to see if this has the desired effect.
BUT Protein on my 24 hour collection is ok. So thats a bonus! The difficult part that my ob is concerned about is that every pregnancy is different and even though I don't have the protein like I did with Laci there is still a very high likelyhood that things will go pear shaped in the near future. Just which order they go in is yet to be seen.
She has asked us to consider the steroids for bubs lungs, at this stage we have declined because of the all the research we have done ourselves and the high risk ob that we have discussed this with at length in the past. The basics are that once you have the steroids they are only effective for a week. So if you don't deliver in that week but still go early they repeat the course. Problem being no one knows how effective this repeated dose is. So we would really prefer to wait until things look immenent before we do it, problem is, it is still a bit of a guessing game. The other concern is that steroids can affect bubs growth and with our history with growth issues anyhow, this is another thing we would prefer to hold off on..
So that said obviously if we can't stabalise my bp, my protein goes up or bub's growth or fluid etc change this is when the time will come..
So am not going home anytime soon!
Am having scan tomorrow afternoon here at the hospital, this will just be fluid levels and dopplers (blood flow). Ob did say that the ctg I had yesterday was excellent so not expecting any surprises on scan.
Will update after :)
Friday, November 7, 2008
Off to hospital
second update for the day. Ended up ringing my ob's office as my bp also up, which I am sure if prob just from pain and exhaustion. Spoke to the wonderful midwife, she spoke to ob and called me back.
I am being admitted today after lunch. They will do a CTG to check on bubs, full bloods and start another 24 hour urine. My ob will come in after 5pm to see what we can discuss about pain relief etc.
Hoping my stay won't be too long, but glad to be aprivate patient this time so they said I should get my own room.
We have ordered mobile internet from dodo to use on laptop, but hasn't arrived yet so will offline for a while.
I am being admitted today after lunch. They will do a CTG to check on bubs, full bloods and start another 24 hour urine. My ob will come in after 5pm to see what we can discuss about pain relief etc.
Hoping my stay won't be too long, but glad to be aprivate patient this time so they said I should get my own room.
We have ordered mobile internet from dodo to use on laptop, but hasn't arrived yet so will offline for a while.
Not doing so good
Short but whingy post ahead..
So much pain, didn't think it could get worse but it has. I can hardly stand, moving is agony. Sleep is non existant. Cried myself to sleep last night, just wish I could have more than panadiene. Managed to get 3 hours straight sleep then that was it.
Am starting to get pins and needles in my toes, don't know what thats about.
Shannon being great.. Just held me whilst I sobbed, he so wishes he could do something, so do I.
He is at work this morning, had to go for a meeting. Today is Laci day home, but she is so far being great. My house cleaner is coming in about 10 minutes, she will be here for 2 hours.
Shannon only has 5 more weeks of work before his 9 weeks off. He is taking one day off a week starting next week to be home with Laci on her day home from daycare.
Shannon not sure I am going to last the weekend at home. I'm not sure either. I want to be here for Laci. But this pain is doing my head in :(
My ob said she could do localised injections of steroids and local aneasthetic, that is looking like something I may want sooner rather than later..
I will get through this, this will be worth it. But crap this is hard!
So much pain, didn't think it could get worse but it has. I can hardly stand, moving is agony. Sleep is non existant. Cried myself to sleep last night, just wish I could have more than panadiene. Managed to get 3 hours straight sleep then that was it.
Am starting to get pins and needles in my toes, don't know what thats about.
Shannon being great.. Just held me whilst I sobbed, he so wishes he could do something, so do I.
He is at work this morning, had to go for a meeting. Today is Laci day home, but she is so far being great. My house cleaner is coming in about 10 minutes, she will be here for 2 hours.
Shannon only has 5 more weeks of work before his 9 weeks off. He is taking one day off a week starting next week to be home with Laci on her day home from daycare.
Shannon not sure I am going to last the weekend at home. I'm not sure either. I want to be here for Laci. But this pain is doing my head in :(
My ob said she could do localised injections of steroids and local aneasthetic, that is looking like something I may want sooner rather than later..
I will get through this, this will be worth it. But crap this is hard!
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
28 week update
So here I am at 28 weeks, woohoo! This was my first major goal as I can now have this baby in Cairns, wow the first time I will have a baby in the same town I'm living in! Next goal is 30 weeks, then 32 weeks. This will mean I have surpassed Laci's gestation and anything past this will be a bonus!
Lots of other stuff to report so think I will put it in point form.
* Today was growth and wellbeing scan. Griffin is continuing to grow well. Todays estimated weight was 1223 grams. Fluid levels and dopplers all good.
* My BP is hanging in there on my dose of medication I take when not pregnant.
* My latest blood tests taken last week show that I am still borderline anaemic even with having been on the iron for past 6 weeks.
* My latest blood tests also show that my platelets are continuing to drop :( This is a problem I have had on and off since childhood. Normal is 150,000 - 400,000. I started the pregnancy in the 150,000's, it has since dropped to 125,000 and now it is at 115,000. If it drops below 100,000 that's not good news. It means I am unable to have an epidural/spinal for the caesarean. It means I have to have a general anaesthetic and that Shannon can't be in there :( Needless to say we are not too happy about this but understand the need :( (There is a risk of a heamatoma - bleed). I will be having bloods done every 2 weeks now and it will also be checked just prior to delivery regardless.
* My latest 24 hour urine test taken last week show my protein is borderline. In pregnancy they like it to be under 300. At 8 weeks it was under 200, at 23 weeks it was 280 and last weeks was 300. Today at appointment, my quick dip test showed one plus protein again. I will now be doing 24 hr urine's every 2 weeks to keep a close eye on it.
* Today we had a quick tour of the special care nursery at Cairns Base to be prepared. A nice little unit and we were very happy to hear that siblings are allowed to visit as long as they are well. This had been playing on our mind a bit with wanting Laci to bond etc
* Now the pelvis! Well last week I say the surgeon about my suspected hernia, good news is that I don't have a hernia! Yesterday I say an orthopaedic specialist. The news wasn't as good there I'm afraid. Basically I have seriously damaged my ligaments that surround pelvis. Any painful movement is damaging and inflaming it more. She thinks part of the reason this has happened is due to my previous surgeries and the large amount of scar tissue/adhesions I have. So basically the short version is that I need to rest and I am talking serious rest. Do nothing! Bed rest pretty much. She also suggested hospital admission :( Today we discussed with ob and the basic plan at the moment is to try and manage at home for the next week, then re assess. She thinks the best plan is that I go to hospital for say a week at a time. I am okay with this I think as the bit that worried me the most was being in there for the duration of the pregnancy. She said we will try and avoid that. She also suggested localised injections of steroids and local anaesthetic to try and lesson the pain, even just for one day so I can ge t some sleep! Sleep is just not happening because of my constant pain and I am getting pretty exhausted :(
OKay I think thats the basics hee hee :)
Lots of other stuff to report so think I will put it in point form.
* Today was growth and wellbeing scan. Griffin is continuing to grow well. Todays estimated weight was 1223 grams. Fluid levels and dopplers all good.
* My BP is hanging in there on my dose of medication I take when not pregnant.
* My latest blood tests taken last week show that I am still borderline anaemic even with having been on the iron for past 6 weeks.
* My latest blood tests also show that my platelets are continuing to drop :( This is a problem I have had on and off since childhood. Normal is 150,000 - 400,000. I started the pregnancy in the 150,000's, it has since dropped to 125,000 and now it is at 115,000. If it drops below 100,000 that's not good news. It means I am unable to have an epidural/spinal for the caesarean. It means I have to have a general anaesthetic and that Shannon can't be in there :( Needless to say we are not too happy about this but understand the need :( (There is a risk of a heamatoma - bleed). I will be having bloods done every 2 weeks now and it will also be checked just prior to delivery regardless.
* My latest 24 hour urine test taken last week show my protein is borderline. In pregnancy they like it to be under 300. At 8 weeks it was under 200, at 23 weeks it was 280 and last weeks was 300. Today at appointment, my quick dip test showed one plus protein again. I will now be doing 24 hr urine's every 2 weeks to keep a close eye on it.
* Today we had a quick tour of the special care nursery at Cairns Base to be prepared. A nice little unit and we were very happy to hear that siblings are allowed to visit as long as they are well. This had been playing on our mind a bit with wanting Laci to bond etc
* Now the pelvis! Well last week I say the surgeon about my suspected hernia, good news is that I don't have a hernia! Yesterday I say an orthopaedic specialist. The news wasn't as good there I'm afraid. Basically I have seriously damaged my ligaments that surround pelvis. Any painful movement is damaging and inflaming it more. She thinks part of the reason this has happened is due to my previous surgeries and the large amount of scar tissue/adhesions I have. So basically the short version is that I need to rest and I am talking serious rest. Do nothing! Bed rest pretty much. She also suggested hospital admission :( Today we discussed with ob and the basic plan at the moment is to try and manage at home for the next week, then re assess. She thinks the best plan is that I go to hospital for say a week at a time. I am okay with this I think as the bit that worried me the most was being in there for the duration of the pregnancy. She said we will try and avoid that. She also suggested localised injections of steroids and local anaesthetic to try and lesson the pain, even just for one day so I can ge t some sleep! Sleep is just not happening because of my constant pain and I am getting pretty exhausted :(
OKay I think thats the basics hee hee :)
Friday, October 31, 2008
I haven't been very cheery, have I?
I was reading back on some of my posts and gee I don't sound very appreciative do I? I was thinking about it this morning.. Yes the pain is getting me down, yes I hate all these investigations and stress I have to go through.. But wow this is so worth every minute of it!
I honestly feel so so blessed to have this opportunity again and am simply over the moon that so far our little man is looking great. I am so happy for Shannon that he is getting a son, I love feeling his movements and seing my belly do a little dance, I can't wait to hold him in my arms. I can't wait for Laci to meet her brother.
Don't get me wrong I am scared that this is all too good to be true, but I try my best to push it away and enjoy the moment. I will never get to experience pregnancy again, feel the kicks and wonder just what our little blessing will be like.
When I look back at what I have been through to have my family, I don't feel ripped off, I don't feel angry, I feel so so lucky. So lucky that with my crappy body and my crappy obstetric history that I am going to be lucky enough to have two beautiful children to raise and a brave little fighter looking over us.
In my depths of grief after Piper died, I never dreamed things coud turn out like this. This truly is so so wonderful and I couldn't ask for more.
I honestly feel so so blessed to have this opportunity again and am simply over the moon that so far our little man is looking great. I am so happy for Shannon that he is getting a son, I love feeling his movements and seing my belly do a little dance, I can't wait to hold him in my arms. I can't wait for Laci to meet her brother.
Don't get me wrong I am scared that this is all too good to be true, but I try my best to push it away and enjoy the moment. I will never get to experience pregnancy again, feel the kicks and wonder just what our little blessing will be like.
When I look back at what I have been through to have my family, I don't feel ripped off, I don't feel angry, I feel so so lucky. So lucky that with my crappy body and my crappy obstetric history that I am going to be lucky enough to have two beautiful children to raise and a brave little fighter looking over us.
In my depths of grief after Piper died, I never dreamed things coud turn out like this. This truly is so so wonderful and I couldn't ask for more.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Chilling out
Today I am home doing my 24 hour urine, so much fun. NOT :) Have decided to chill out about the whole pre eclampsia thing until I get the results back from that. Hopefully that will be on Friday, if not Monday. The urine dip tests they do are only an indicator, my protein level could be alot higher or lower, it is the 24 hour test that gives the true results. So I have decided no 'over-thinking' until then!
Only 2 more sleeps until Shannon has no more overnight work trips for 4 months! YAY bring it on! I want my hubby home!
I had one of the best sleeps last night that I have had in ages. I still woke every 2-3 hours with some pain and needing to pee but fell straight back to sleep. Ah so nice!
Pain is managable today..
Just had another long chat on the phone with the daycare manager about Laci. We have consented to involving an outside agency to try and help them with managing her behaviour. They will involve us too. Hoping hoping that most of it is simply a reaction to Shannon being away and my inability to do much and with Shannon back things improve! Daycare thinks part of the problem is that she is 'advanced' or 'extra bright' lol so not sure what we can do about that lol.
Only 2 more sleeps until Shannon has no more overnight work trips for 4 months! YAY bring it on! I want my hubby home!
I had one of the best sleeps last night that I have had in ages. I still woke every 2-3 hours with some pain and needing to pee but fell straight back to sleep. Ah so nice!
Pain is managable today..
Just had another long chat on the phone with the daycare manager about Laci. We have consented to involving an outside agency to try and help them with managing her behaviour. They will involve us too. Hoping hoping that most of it is simply a reaction to Shannon being away and my inability to do much and with Shannon back things improve! Daycare thinks part of the problem is that she is 'advanced' or 'extra bright' lol so not sure what we can do about that lol.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
And so it begins..
Today at my ob appointment my urine showed one plus of protein :( My first sign that pre eclampsia is on its way again :(
Doing a 24 hour urine collection starting tomorrow to find out exactly what level it is at.
Ultrasound showed good fluid level and blood flow to bub and my BP is still stable in normal meds.
Guess I probably won't be making it that fantasy of 36-37 weeks, but hopefully still a few weeks in me yet.
Feeling bummed :(
Doing a 24 hour urine collection starting tomorrow to find out exactly what level it is at.
Ultrasound showed good fluid level and blood flow to bub and my BP is still stable in normal meds.
Guess I probably won't be making it that fantasy of 36-37 weeks, but hopefully still a few weeks in me yet.
Feeling bummed :(
Monday, October 27, 2008
27 weeks today
That's right I am 27 weeks today :) Shannon away this week till Friday night then thats it for his trips for work for the year! Dad is here until Monday next week.
Having some serious behaviour issues with Laci at the moment.. Won't go into it just now, but lets just say its full on! Daycare is even having issues coping and is bringing in an outside agency for some advice!
I also wanted to thank those readers out there who are reading this blog and taking the time to comment too :) It feels good to know I am not completely talking/whinging to myself lol :)
Having some serious behaviour issues with Laci at the moment.. Won't go into it just now, but lets just say its full on! Daycare is even having issues coping and is bringing in an outside agency for some advice!
I also wanted to thank those readers out there who are reading this blog and taking the time to comment too :) It feels good to know I am not completely talking/whinging to myself lol :)
Sunday, October 26, 2008
A pic
So I am 27 weeks tomorrow, time for the fortnightly belly shot :) Its growing! :)
Feeling down in the dumps about my pain and mobility but so far today is a good day! Just had a lovely float around in the pool, hence the photo with the wild pool hair blowing in the wind on the balcony hee hee
Feeling down in the dumps about my pain and mobility but so far today is a good day! Just had a lovely float around in the pool, hence the photo with the wild pool hair blowing in the wind on the balcony hee hee
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Quick update and scan pic
Very quick update as am exhausted after very long scan and ob appointment.
Griffin is looking perfect and so so cute! He continues right on the 50th centile with todays estimated weight of 934 grams. Fluid fine, blood flow perfect. Here is a pic!
The other news as to why my pain has been different! (more one sided and sharper) Seems on top of my pelvis issue I now also have an Left inguinal hernia! Have been referred to surgeon but ob said very likely nothing will be done until after bub and hopefully it will go after bub otherwise surgery will be needed :( It won't get better during pregnancy though, so I am stuck with this pain..
More updates on other chit chat later :)
Griffin is looking perfect and so so cute! He continues right on the 50th centile with todays estimated weight of 934 grams. Fluid fine, blood flow perfect. Here is a pic!
The other news as to why my pain has been different! (more one sided and sharper) Seems on top of my pelvis issue I now also have an Left inguinal hernia! Have been referred to surgeon but ob said very likely nothing will be done until after bub and hopefully it will go after bub otherwise surgery will be needed :( It won't get better during pregnancy though, so I am stuck with this pain..
More updates on other chit chat later :)
Monday, October 20, 2008
26 weeks today and a whinge post
So happy to be 26 weeks today. Today marks 10 weeks at the max till our boy arrives. I can't believe I had Piper at 26.3 weeks.
So the whinge..
Okay brief version..
My pelvis is well and truly crap. I am in so much pain, I can hardly walk, I shuffle. I am having to take panadeine regularly for the pain. I am crying out in the night in pain as I try to move. Getting up to the toilet is so hard as I try to grip onto the window sill etc.. You get the idea.
So this morning I rang up to see about hiring one of those wheely granny walkers, to help me have something to hold on to when get off lounge and bed and walk (shuffle) around the house, it has actually worked out cheaper to get one new off ebay so thats what I am doing.
Is good having dad here helping out thats for sure.
Shannon leaves again tomorrow morning until friday night. Tomorrow morning I also have growth scan and ob appointment so will update after that. Shannon wants me to talk to my ob about hospital admission down the track, I think it is going to come to that before I know it :( Even though I am booked into the public hospital to have bub, am hoping she will agree that if I have to go in because of pelvis that I can go to the private hospital.
So the whinge..
Okay brief version..
My pelvis is well and truly crap. I am in so much pain, I can hardly walk, I shuffle. I am having to take panadeine regularly for the pain. I am crying out in the night in pain as I try to move. Getting up to the toilet is so hard as I try to grip onto the window sill etc.. You get the idea.
So this morning I rang up to see about hiring one of those wheely granny walkers, to help me have something to hold on to when get off lounge and bed and walk (shuffle) around the house, it has actually worked out cheaper to get one new off ebay so thats what I am doing.
Is good having dad here helping out thats for sure.
Shannon leaves again tomorrow morning until friday night. Tomorrow morning I also have growth scan and ob appointment so will update after that. Shannon wants me to talk to my ob about hospital admission down the track, I think it is going to come to that before I know it :( Even though I am booked into the public hospital to have bub, am hoping she will agree that if I have to go in because of pelvis that I can go to the private hospital.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Dad has arrived
We were up late chatting away. Going to be good tohave the company for the next 3 weeks :)
Lots of pain today, I keep thinking, maximum just over 10 weeks to go! Woohoo!
Lots of pain today, I keep thinking, maximum just over 10 weeks to go! Woohoo!
Monday, October 13, 2008
We have a face!
Hee hee, today at the scan we got to see Griffin's face. Here is the only pic I got, not great as it is face on though. Today was just checking dopplers (blood flow) and AFI (fluid level) both are perfect :)
Not too much else to report from OB. My BP medication is now back to my usual non pregnant dose which is fine by me as was creeping up a little. Still no protein in urine. Also on ranitadine now for my almost constant heartburn/reflux. Ob thinks the asprin and iron amongst all my other meds is probably aggravating it. Hopefully some relief soon.
Not too much else to report from OB. My BP medication is now back to my usual non pregnant dose which is fine by me as was creeping up a little. Still no protein in urine. Also on ranitadine now for my almost constant heartburn/reflux. Ob thinks the asprin and iron amongst all my other meds is probably aggravating it. Hopefully some relief soon.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Friday, October 10, 2008
Same ole, Same ole
Nothing to report so I guess thats prob a good thing :)
Pelvis is crap crap crap, in constant pain, stairs are agony. Having to seriously limit outings. Thankfully dad arrives on Tuesday for 3 weeks so he will take Laci to daycare on the days she goes. Then I have a lady who lives here in our complex (she also cleans my house once a week) who can prob take her one way after that.
BP fine, and otherwise slowly getting bigger.
Shannon away for work last night and not back till late tonight, does make the day seem longer..
Pelvis is crap crap crap, in constant pain, stairs are agony. Having to seriously limit outings. Thankfully dad arrives on Tuesday for 3 weeks so he will take Laci to daycare on the days she goes. Then I have a lady who lives here in our complex (she also cleans my house once a week) who can prob take her one way after that.
BP fine, and otherwise slowly getting bigger.
Shannon away for work last night and not back till late tonight, does make the day seem longer..
Monday, October 6, 2008
24 weeks!
YAY 24 weeks pregnant today.
Not much to report except today was the first day that I had serious trouble getting down the two flights of stairs to take Laci to daycare :( I have had problems coming up for weeks, my legs feel weak and pain etc but going down has been slow but if I hold the railing not too bad. But today! Oh dear my pelvis really is getting worse, every step was agony :(
I off course want the pregnancy to go as long as possible, but I am not going to miss this I tell ya!
Not much to report except today was the first day that I had serious trouble getting down the two flights of stairs to take Laci to daycare :( I have had problems coming up for weeks, my legs feel weak and pain etc but going down has been slow but if I hold the railing not too bad. But today! Oh dear my pelvis really is getting worse, every step was agony :(
I off course want the pregnancy to go as long as possible, but I am not going to miss this I tell ya!
Friday, October 3, 2008
Results
Okay so bloods were fine. 24 hour protein showed 280 of protein, they like it to be under 300 when pregnant so she is happy with that. At this stage with Laci is was 531. So far so good..
Swab for group B strep showed Group G strep lol. Nothing too sinister but treating me with antibiotics just to be 'extra cautious' in Ob's words.
So next week will be my last week of no OB appointment, then the weekly visits/scans begin.
Swab for group B strep showed Group G strep lol. Nothing too sinister but treating me with antibiotics just to be 'extra cautious' in Ob's words.
So next week will be my last week of no OB appointment, then the weekly visits/scans begin.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
I need to get enthused
Some days really drag.. Today is one of them. I am feeling unmotivated to do any of the craft work I have. I am in too much pain to go out and don't wanna spend $ anyhow. The days are starting to feel very long.
Hopefully when dad arrives on the 14th for 3 weeks that will help me feel not so blergh. Though am definately not looking forward to Shannon being away.
Got blood results today from earlier in week, ob says all good. Now just waiting for the 24 hour urine result which should be in tomorrow.
Hopefully when dad arrives on the 14th for 3 weeks that will help me feel not so blergh. Though am definately not looking forward to Shannon being away.
Got blood results today from earlier in week, ob says all good. Now just waiting for the 24 hour urine result which should be in tomorrow.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
ok, so the plan..
So , this morning I put my 24 hour urine collection into pathology. So as long as that result is okay and the bloods I had taken on Monday are okay (I get the results on Friday) then my next ob appointment is not until 25 weeks (1.5 weeks away) This appointment will be general check up and an ultrasound to check dopplers (blood flow to baby) and AFI (amniotic fluid level) then it will be onto weekly appointments at the minimum with all the usual stuff but also with ultrasounds as follows.
26 weeks, growth, dopplers and AFI
27 weeks, dopplers and AFI
28 weeks, growth, dopplers and AFI
29 weeks, dopplers and AFI
30 weeks, growth, dopplers and AFI
31 weeks, dopplers and AFI
32 weeks, growth, dopplers and AFI
then we'll see if I get to 'after that' I guess :)
It was at the growth scan 29-31 weeks with Laci that her growth issues became a concern.. So we will see what is to come..
The other news is that Shannon has been stressing about the amount of work trips he still has to achieve this year. So we made the decision that it is best for him to jam the trips all into just over 3 weeks (still home on weekends) and my dad is coming up to stay with me. This will be from 25-28 weeks. This will reduce everyones stress considerably and Laci just loves her Poppy and can't wait to see him!
Then this will be it for Shannon's travel for the year, he starts 9 weeks leave as at 12th December (I will be just under 34 weeks) unless he needs to stop earlier.
26 weeks, growth, dopplers and AFI
27 weeks, dopplers and AFI
28 weeks, growth, dopplers and AFI
29 weeks, dopplers and AFI
30 weeks, growth, dopplers and AFI
31 weeks, dopplers and AFI
32 weeks, growth, dopplers and AFI
then we'll see if I get to 'after that' I guess :)
It was at the growth scan 29-31 weeks with Laci that her growth issues became a concern.. So we will see what is to come..
The other news is that Shannon has been stressing about the amount of work trips he still has to achieve this year. So we made the decision that it is best for him to jam the trips all into just over 3 weeks (still home on weekends) and my dad is coming up to stay with me. This will be from 25-28 weeks. This will reduce everyones stress considerably and Laci just loves her Poppy and can't wait to see him!
Then this will be it for Shannon's travel for the year, he starts 9 weeks leave as at 12th December (I will be just under 34 weeks) unless he needs to stop earlier.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Things looking good
so far..
Best news, I no longer have placenta previa! Woohoo, well and truly clear of cervix and unlikely will be a prob now, phew!
Second best news, Griffin is measuring right on 50th centile and estimated weight is 560 grams. Woohoo! Piper was only 466 grams at 26.3 weeks when born..
Blood flow (dopplers) and fluid level is all normal.
BUT.. Still hiding his face! So no 3d pic for us. even the standard pic is non too exciting, but hey, we will see his face soon enough!
Will update later with all the tests and plans that were made/discussed today. Just enjoying this moment :)
Best news, I no longer have placenta previa! Woohoo, well and truly clear of cervix and unlikely will be a prob now, phew!
Second best news, Griffin is measuring right on 50th centile and estimated weight is 560 grams. Woohoo! Piper was only 466 grams at 26.3 weeks when born..
Blood flow (dopplers) and fluid level is all normal.
BUT.. Still hiding his face! So no 3d pic for us. even the standard pic is non too exciting, but hey, we will see his face soon enough!
Will update later with all the tests and plans that were made/discussed today. Just enjoying this moment :)
Is it time yet?!
Pretty restless night but the day is here. I just want this scan over already! Please let this be a good experience.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Another week down.. Lots of piccies to share
Well I will 23 weeks tomorrow. Getting closer! I can't believe it is is less than 9 weeks till when I had Laci. And only just over 3 till Piper was born :(
The week was not too exciting but I definately kept busy. Shannon was away for work for this week. Getting back late on Friday night. He is home this week then away a bit in the 2 weeks after that I think.
I got everything for bub except the pram out of layby though which was pretty exciting. We decided to buy a new cradle instead of the old bassinette we had so that was exciting putting together. We also bought some old drawers second hand and have spent the weekend painting them. I think they will go nicely with the jungle theme.
Oh and YES that is his name on the blanket! :)
My cloth nappies also arrived this week. I used these with Laci and found them great. They are from bubblebubs. I think they are too cute!
Laci seems to be growing up so fast these days, took some piccies yesterday :)
I also did a belly shot, starting to fill out now I think.
Today I have been feeling a bit off, just not myself, but this is my usual before scans. I have had such negative experiences at scans in the past and i can't help but feel anxious. Tomorrow we will be checking the placenta (that it is still grade 4 - fully covering cervix) and hopefully seeing bubs face and getting a 3d pic :) I have also asked ob to do quick weight estimate so hopefully that wil happen also.
Won't be in to post till the evening I expect as is an afternoon appointment. Hope I sleep okay tonight :(
The week was not too exciting but I definately kept busy. Shannon was away for work for this week. Getting back late on Friday night. He is home this week then away a bit in the 2 weeks after that I think.
I got everything for bub except the pram out of layby though which was pretty exciting. We decided to buy a new cradle instead of the old bassinette we had so that was exciting putting together. We also bought some old drawers second hand and have spent the weekend painting them. I think they will go nicely with the jungle theme.
Oh and YES that is his name on the blanket! :)
My cloth nappies also arrived this week. I used these with Laci and found them great. They are from bubblebubs. I think they are too cute!
Laci seems to be growing up so fast these days, took some piccies yesterday :)
I also did a belly shot, starting to fill out now I think.
Today I have been feeling a bit off, just not myself, but this is my usual before scans. I have had such negative experiences at scans in the past and i can't help but feel anxious. Tomorrow we will be checking the placenta (that it is still grade 4 - fully covering cervix) and hopefully seeing bubs face and getting a 3d pic :) I have also asked ob to do quick weight estimate so hopefully that wil happen also.
Won't be in to post till the evening I expect as is an afternoon appointment. Hope I sleep okay tonight :(
Monday, September 22, 2008
22 weeks today
and getting some lovely kicks :)
Pelvis is crap crap crap today, the pain really kicked up a notch over the weekend. I did miss my accupuncture and massage last week due to the hospital saga with Laci. New accupuncture booked for this Thursday and my massage therapist is away all week :(
Very quiet day at home today resting, a tad bored but its what is needed.
Only a week till next scan, more bloods and another 24 hour urine. A bit nervous mainly about the urine as this was a huge factor as to why Laci had to be delivered. With Laci I started spilling protein at 8 weeks (was 331 anything over 200 is a worry) at 23 weeks its was 531. It continued to rise until 31 weeks when was over 2500 (machne can only measure up to 2500) This time at 7 weeks it was normal! (under 200) so this one at 23 weeks will be interesting to compare.
Pelvis is crap crap crap today, the pain really kicked up a notch over the weekend. I did miss my accupuncture and massage last week due to the hospital saga with Laci. New accupuncture booked for this Thursday and my massage therapist is away all week :(
Very quiet day at home today resting, a tad bored but its what is needed.
Only a week till next scan, more bloods and another 24 hour urine. A bit nervous mainly about the urine as this was a huge factor as to why Laci had to be delivered. With Laci I started spilling protein at 8 weeks (was 331 anything over 200 is a worry) at 23 weeks its was 531. It continued to rise until 31 weeks when was over 2500 (machne can only measure up to 2500) This time at 7 weeks it was normal! (under 200) so this one at 23 weeks will be interesting to compare.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Our day at the hospital with Laci
Well yesterday was not the day we thought it would be! To explain better I need to go back to Friday last week first..
So on Friday night, Shannon was away for work and not due home till prob 9pm. Laci does tend to play up a bit more when he is away. She is really getting into the story telling and basically well...lies. So that may help explain why the following occurred.
So Laci was in bed for the night on friday, she had been in there for about 15 minutes, so not asleep yet. The phone rang, it was a friend of mine. As soon as I started talking, Laci toddles out, asking who it is etc. She doesn't like the idea of me talking on the phone at all when it is just me at home, boy do we get some performances.. So anyhow I tell her to go back to bed.. A few minutes later, she is out again, "i want..." etc again tell her to go back to bed. A good few minutes pass and I am about to get of the phone and she comes out and says "I put something up my nose" So I tell friend I better go..
I go into her room, now remember she has never done anything like this before. And I say what have you put up your nose? she replies "I don't know". She says it is in her right nostril but refuses to say what it is. I see an plastic princess' crown she got from a party on her bed, crappy piece of plastic that I did notice a few weeks ago had a broken section. I ask "is it a piece from the crown?" she replies "yes" very quickly.. a little too quickly, so much so that I think she is probably just grabbing at my suggestion.
I tell her to lay down and I look up said nostril I see and feel nothing. I say are you sure there is something up there? She says yes, I go get tweezers. She asks what are they for? I tell her to get it out, she asks will it hurt? I say yes it might, I try once or twice, can feel nothing. She then says "mummy stop! there isn't anything up my nose".
I am a little stunned. I then clarify this. "Is there or isn't there something up your nose?" "No there isn't" she replies. I say "so you just lied to me?" she responds 'yes' so I said thats makes me very cranky, goodnight and that is it.
I figure if there truly is something I am sure she will tell me in the morning. I tell Shannon the version of events and he also can't believe the story that she seemed to just make up for attention, but we leave it. She has swimming lessons next morning, no complaints. Nothing mentioned again.
Fast forward to Wednesday morning, so this is now 4.5 days since. When she wakes up I see a red right nostril and it is oozing!!
Shannon sits down with her and asks is there something up your nose? She says yes, again won't say what it is. I figure it must be the piece of plastic crown.
So off to the gp, gp can see something white, but too hard to reach, she tries to no avail. So off to emergency dept. They try with suction (very traumatic) and loops and tweezers. No luck.... So then they say they have to sedate her. We go into the recus room where they inject her with ketamine, she is breathing but totally out of it. They put in a IV and proceed to try and get it out.. no luck! It ends up getting ushed further up.
So then we had to be with her as she came out of that, its not nice! Tongue thrusting, twitching, lip smacking etc.. She is slurry for a while then back to usual self but not at all impressed about iv in her arm.
So then we get seen by the ENT specialist who says we have to go to theatre under a general anaesthetic. It is at about this point that Shannon was no longer coping too well.
So we waited about 2 hours then off to theatre. I went in with her as she went under, again a highly non pleasant experience as she fought and screamed when the gas went on.
A very quick procedure, quite a bit of blood and all over. Within 25 minutes we were in recovery with her and she was happy and talking with the nurses.
So the foreign body? Yes a piece or silver plastic crown, wrapped in white fluff?? When the nurse said white fluff, I looked at Laci, she said "oh that is the bit of band aide I stuck up there the other day cause it was sore" god I was chuckling inside!
And there concluded the day. We got home just before 4pm after leaving the house at 8am. She watched a little cartoons, had a shower, dinner and bed. Had a great sleep and woke to her usual bubbly self this morning. Only complaint was thast arm was a bit sore from the injection of ketamine.
I was a little tired of telling the story you can imagine, cause here I was knowing exactly how long it had been up there! So you can imagaine the assumptions!
Ah kids! Never thought my little girls first theatre experience would be from something jammed up her nose. She was such a good girl all day though, no complaints, just took it in her stride, but am pretty sure (please please) that is has scared her off shoving anything else up there!
So on Friday night, Shannon was away for work and not due home till prob 9pm. Laci does tend to play up a bit more when he is away. She is really getting into the story telling and basically well...lies. So that may help explain why the following occurred.
So Laci was in bed for the night on friday, she had been in there for about 15 minutes, so not asleep yet. The phone rang, it was a friend of mine. As soon as I started talking, Laci toddles out, asking who it is etc. She doesn't like the idea of me talking on the phone at all when it is just me at home, boy do we get some performances.. So anyhow I tell her to go back to bed.. A few minutes later, she is out again, "i want..." etc again tell her to go back to bed. A good few minutes pass and I am about to get of the phone and she comes out and says "I put something up my nose" So I tell friend I better go..
I go into her room, now remember she has never done anything like this before. And I say what have you put up your nose? she replies "I don't know". She says it is in her right nostril but refuses to say what it is. I see an plastic princess' crown she got from a party on her bed, crappy piece of plastic that I did notice a few weeks ago had a broken section. I ask "is it a piece from the crown?" she replies "yes" very quickly.. a little too quickly, so much so that I think she is probably just grabbing at my suggestion.
I tell her to lay down and I look up said nostril I see and feel nothing. I say are you sure there is something up there? She says yes, I go get tweezers. She asks what are they for? I tell her to get it out, she asks will it hurt? I say yes it might, I try once or twice, can feel nothing. She then says "mummy stop! there isn't anything up my nose".
I am a little stunned. I then clarify this. "Is there or isn't there something up your nose?" "No there isn't" she replies. I say "so you just lied to me?" she responds 'yes' so I said thats makes me very cranky, goodnight and that is it.
I figure if there truly is something I am sure she will tell me in the morning. I tell Shannon the version of events and he also can't believe the story that she seemed to just make up for attention, but we leave it. She has swimming lessons next morning, no complaints. Nothing mentioned again.
Fast forward to Wednesday morning, so this is now 4.5 days since. When she wakes up I see a red right nostril and it is oozing!!
Shannon sits down with her and asks is there something up your nose? She says yes, again won't say what it is. I figure it must be the piece of plastic crown.
So off to the gp, gp can see something white, but too hard to reach, she tries to no avail. So off to emergency dept. They try with suction (very traumatic) and loops and tweezers. No luck.... So then they say they have to sedate her. We go into the recus room where they inject her with ketamine, she is breathing but totally out of it. They put in a IV and proceed to try and get it out.. no luck! It ends up getting ushed further up.
So then we had to be with her as she came out of that, its not nice! Tongue thrusting, twitching, lip smacking etc.. She is slurry for a while then back to usual self but not at all impressed about iv in her arm.
So then we get seen by the ENT specialist who says we have to go to theatre under a general anaesthetic. It is at about this point that Shannon was no longer coping too well.
So we waited about 2 hours then off to theatre. I went in with her as she went under, again a highly non pleasant experience as she fought and screamed when the gas went on.
A very quick procedure, quite a bit of blood and all over. Within 25 minutes we were in recovery with her and she was happy and talking with the nurses.
So the foreign body? Yes a piece or silver plastic crown, wrapped in white fluff?? When the nurse said white fluff, I looked at Laci, she said "oh that is the bit of band aide I stuck up there the other day cause it was sore" god I was chuckling inside!
And there concluded the day. We got home just before 4pm after leaving the house at 8am. She watched a little cartoons, had a shower, dinner and bed. Had a great sleep and woke to her usual bubbly self this morning. Only complaint was thast arm was a bit sore from the injection of ketamine.
I was a little tired of telling the story you can imagine, cause here I was knowing exactly how long it had been up there! So you can imagaine the assumptions!
Ah kids! Never thought my little girls first theatre experience would be from something jammed up her nose. She was such a good girl all day though, no complaints, just took it in her stride, but am pretty sure (please please) that is has scared her off shoving anything else up there!
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
What a day, I'm exhausted!
Well the appointment went pretty well, ob is happy with the way that things are at the moment. We had a good chat about how I'm feeling etc which was good. I think now that I am getting closer to the stages where things went wrong with Piper, it is playing on my mind.. I did say to the ob though that I am starting to believe I will probably get to 30 weeks now, just how much further than that remains to be seen. She agreed that it is looking promising so far, but obviously no gaurantees and alot could happen between now and then.
So next appointment is in 2 weeks at 23 weeks. It will be a pretty big appointment. I will have more bloods just to check on things (oh and I also started on extra iron now as haemoglobin is low) and also will do a 24 hour urine, I am a little anxious about this as this was one of the main issues that Laci had to come early and it starting showing preotein from very early, so I won't be able to help but compare. I am also having my repeat scan to hopefully see bubs face for final morphoology checks and also hopefully get a 3d pic. Also will be checking on placenta position again and also growth for bub. Will be good to have some results to hopefully reassure me.
So...
after the appointment I had to pick up Shannon so he could drop his scooter off for a service and he was dropping me home and taking car back to work. We decided to stop for a quick macca's lunch and well okay, that didn't go as planned..
Brief version... supposedly I 'pushed in' in the 'line' when I say line, we were the only ones waiting until 10 seconds before we were served.. So the woman who thought she should be next then proceeded to abuse me. It went on and on.. I couldn't believe it, there were choice words coming out of her mouth I tell ya! And a few personal jabs. I don't deal with confrontation at the best of times so my reaction was minimal, I think I was just stunned that you could seriously lose it over something so trivial..
Now the interesting response from yours truly.. I then say down and starting to sob, I mean really sob and cry. It felt like my whole world was crashing, for a moment I thought, 'so now I can't even venture out of the house!' I just felt so fragile :( I couldn't eat because all I could do was sob and sob. Poor Shannon didn't know what to do, this is so not the way I usually react. I am not a cryer! Eventually I ate a little and we left..
I then had a lovely friend pop over for a 1.5 hours visit which we had previously planned which was really good. But I just feel exhausted now. All that emotion, coming out of nowhere. Guess there is more going on for me than I realised or had let myself acknowledge :(
So next appointment is in 2 weeks at 23 weeks. It will be a pretty big appointment. I will have more bloods just to check on things (oh and I also started on extra iron now as haemoglobin is low) and also will do a 24 hour urine, I am a little anxious about this as this was one of the main issues that Laci had to come early and it starting showing preotein from very early, so I won't be able to help but compare. I am also having my repeat scan to hopefully see bubs face for final morphoology checks and also hopefully get a 3d pic. Also will be checking on placenta position again and also growth for bub. Will be good to have some results to hopefully reassure me.
So...
after the appointment I had to pick up Shannon so he could drop his scooter off for a service and he was dropping me home and taking car back to work. We decided to stop for a quick macca's lunch and well okay, that didn't go as planned..
Brief version... supposedly I 'pushed in' in the 'line' when I say line, we were the only ones waiting until 10 seconds before we were served.. So the woman who thought she should be next then proceeded to abuse me. It went on and on.. I couldn't believe it, there were choice words coming out of her mouth I tell ya! And a few personal jabs. I don't deal with confrontation at the best of times so my reaction was minimal, I think I was just stunned that you could seriously lose it over something so trivial..
Now the interesting response from yours truly.. I then say down and starting to sob, I mean really sob and cry. It felt like my whole world was crashing, for a moment I thought, 'so now I can't even venture out of the house!' I just felt so fragile :( I couldn't eat because all I could do was sob and sob. Poor Shannon didn't know what to do, this is so not the way I usually react. I am not a cryer! Eventually I ate a little and we left..
I then had a lovely friend pop over for a 1.5 hours visit which we had previously planned which was really good. But I just feel exhausted now. All that emotion, coming out of nowhere. Guess there is more going on for me than I realised or had let myself acknowledge :(
21 weeks today
Today I have my 21 week Ob appointment. YAY 21 weeks, getting there! Can't help but wish I was 31 weeks but still 21 weeks is good :) I am on fortnightly appointments until 25 weeks and then it will be weekly. Am noticing that my swelling in feet is increasing now, BP up a little, so will see how the protein check is on the pee today I guess and take from there.
Getting heaps of big kicks and movement now. So cool! He seems to have worked out that night is for sleeping and day is playing, so am pretty happy about that, I only feel the occassional tap at night when I wake for toilet stops etc.
I went through all the last of the baby things this weekend, was fun, got the bassinett out and went through everything to see what we need. Not much! I just want to feel organised as we just don't know what is around the corner.
My pelvis is crap! The groin pain is really gettig me down at times, I can walk only slowly and with a wobble, look like I am 9 months and bub has engaged lol. One good thing is that the sciatic and nerve pain down my leg has pretty much gone and that was what was waking me at night and hurting even when I rest. Now the pelvis pain is worse, but really only on movement or prolonged sitting.
Took some cute photos of Laci in new skirt, looking so grown up, will attempt to post them later this arvo when home again.
Getting heaps of big kicks and movement now. So cool! He seems to have worked out that night is for sleeping and day is playing, so am pretty happy about that, I only feel the occassional tap at night when I wake for toilet stops etc.
I went through all the last of the baby things this weekend, was fun, got the bassinett out and went through everything to see what we need. Not much! I just want to feel organised as we just don't know what is around the corner.
My pelvis is crap! The groin pain is really gettig me down at times, I can walk only slowly and with a wobble, look like I am 9 months and bub has engaged lol. One good thing is that the sciatic and nerve pain down my leg has pretty much gone and that was what was waking me at night and hurting even when I rest. Now the pelvis pain is worse, but really only on movement or prolonged sitting.
Took some cute photos of Laci in new skirt, looking so grown up, will attempt to post them later this arvo when home again.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Photo's
Not much chance hiding it now I think. But eergh my face is looking a little round.. OKay I need to chill, gaining weight is such an adjustment after working so hard to lose it. I just need to keep telling myself that all will be a go when this pregnancy is over, I know how to lose serious weight and I will do it again and yay no more fertility drugs, miscarriages etc to mess with my emotional eating issues! What's important now is being healthy and our bubba boy! And I do feel truly blessed to be getting the chance to do this again.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Good to be home!
Long drive on friday down to Twonsville because of roadworks, took 5 hours and then today on way back was 5 hours again as drizzled rain the whole way. Had a headache most of day which wasn't fun, so am super glad to be home. Checked BP when got home and all good so I would say the headache was just from crappy bed, long days etc
Will update more tomorrow am just stuffed, but the I do have exciting news. Yesterday the first kick from bub was felt on the outside by..... Laci! Was such an awesome moment, seeing her face light up, she felt two big kicks. Now just for Shannon to feel some decent ones :)
Will update more tomorrow am just stuffed, but the I do have exciting news. Yesterday the first kick from bub was felt on the outside by..... Laci! Was such an awesome moment, seeing her face light up, she felt two big kicks. Now just for Shannon to feel some decent ones :)
Friday, September 5, 2008
A busy morning
So we decided to head to Townsville to the inlaws anyhow. It won't be long and we won't want to be doing the drive. It takes about 4-4.5 hours maybe longer with all my pee stops lol.
Shannon had to work this morning so Laci and I are home getting organised, forgot what yo have to do just for a weekend away. Clean up, take out the rubbish, pack bags etc. We are also taking food for the drive to save $$ on buying along the way. I am also taking my body pillow as don't think I could sleep without it :) Thankfully Shannon put his bag in the car this morning as we are picking him up on the way through. I am however thinking I am still going to be up for 2 trips down the stairs with rubbish etc which I was trying to avoid (we live up 2 big flights of stairs). Ah well, pace myself :)
So we will get to Townsville late afternoon/early evening I expect then we will have two days and then head back on Monday. Shannon was lucky that due to all the long hours he has time he can take off as TOIL (Time Off in Liew) QLD health really doesn't like paying overtime so instead you get the time off.. Not too bad, even after this trip he still has 2 days banked and I am sure he will accumulate more.
So 2 hours till we go, Laci still in nightie and watching playschool, I am almost packed. She wants to do our nails before we leave lol so I better get my shower.
Oh yeah I am really excited about being 20 weeks on Monday, yay the 20's are here! Here's hoping I will well and truly see the 30's before I know it :)
Shannon had to work this morning so Laci and I are home getting organised, forgot what yo have to do just for a weekend away. Clean up, take out the rubbish, pack bags etc. We are also taking food for the drive to save $$ on buying along the way. I am also taking my body pillow as don't think I could sleep without it :) Thankfully Shannon put his bag in the car this morning as we are picking him up on the way through. I am however thinking I am still going to be up for 2 trips down the stairs with rubbish etc which I was trying to avoid (we live up 2 big flights of stairs). Ah well, pace myself :)
So we will get to Townsville late afternoon/early evening I expect then we will have two days and then head back on Monday. Shannon was lucky that due to all the long hours he has time he can take off as TOIL (Time Off in Liew) QLD health really doesn't like paying overtime so instead you get the time off.. Not too bad, even after this trip he still has 2 days banked and I am sure he will accumulate more.
So 2 hours till we go, Laci still in nightie and watching playschool, I am almost packed. She wants to do our nails before we leave lol so I better get my shower.
Oh yeah I am really excited about being 20 weeks on Monday, yay the 20's are here! Here's hoping I will well and truly see the 30's before I know it :)
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
A sigh of relief
I found out yesterday that my claim for income protection insurance has been approved. Will still be over a week till the money comes through, but I will get weekly amounts equivilant to 75% of my income. Considering I was only working 3 days a week it is not huge but it is going to make a huge difference especially with ob fees, acupuncture and massage etc. The income protection will cover my until my maternity leave kick in 6 weeks before my due date. I asked about if bub comes earlier but that doesn't affect it. The thanks to QLD gov job I get 14 weeks paid maternity leave which I can take as half pay over 28 weeks. It means we will have some moment coming in until the end of 2009 finiancial year. This is big news for us as in both Pipers and Lacis pregnancies I was unpaid leave from very early on and then when they came early Shannon was also on unpaid for quite some time. It really did add to the stress.
On the night of the ultrasound this week, I had a bit of a freak out when I let it sink in that I have grade 4 placenta previa. I just can't believe I had to get that thrown in on top of everything else.. Anyhow, have decided to keep positive and think that probably in my case it hopefully won't affect me as I don't get very far into the third trimester anyhow and that is when most problems happen. Just hoping I don't get a bleed before 30 weeks because if contractions start then they will want to whip him out due to the condition of my uterus not being able to cope with contractions..
I am starting to feel the heat. Something that usually doesn't bother me too much, over the last couple of days I have needed the air con on at home for a couple of hours otherwise I just feel yuck.
Hmm what else, oh I have gained a grand total of 4 kilos since the pregnancy began. I am pretty happy with that, seems to be in the normal range. I feel like I am eating alot as am hungry every 2 hours or so, but I am making good choices. Feeling a bit blergh about my body image at the moment but am pushing that away. This is only a temporary situation and the health of me and bub is what is important. I certinaly know how to lose weight and am actually excited to be doing that after all this and keeping it off without all the fertility drugs messing with my moods and therefore my comfort eating!
We decided to tell Laci about bub being a boy, well actually I did :) She had been mainly referring to him as a he anyhow, but was a lovely moment. I also decided to tell the inlaws. I figure if we wait for the birth I miss out on the moment and I knew she would be thirlled. And yep she was! Was very cool.
Well off to have bloods done to check my platelets (I have a low platelet issue) and check on the usual stuff as well then its off to acupuncture.
We had planned to drive down to Townsville to inlaws for a long weekend this weekend, not sure if the $$ will stretch, guess we better make a decsion soon seeming its wednesday :)
On the night of the ultrasound this week, I had a bit of a freak out when I let it sink in that I have grade 4 placenta previa. I just can't believe I had to get that thrown in on top of everything else.. Anyhow, have decided to keep positive and think that probably in my case it hopefully won't affect me as I don't get very far into the third trimester anyhow and that is when most problems happen. Just hoping I don't get a bleed before 30 weeks because if contractions start then they will want to whip him out due to the condition of my uterus not being able to cope with contractions..
I am starting to feel the heat. Something that usually doesn't bother me too much, over the last couple of days I have needed the air con on at home for a couple of hours otherwise I just feel yuck.
Hmm what else, oh I have gained a grand total of 4 kilos since the pregnancy began. I am pretty happy with that, seems to be in the normal range. I feel like I am eating alot as am hungry every 2 hours or so, but I am making good choices. Feeling a bit blergh about my body image at the moment but am pushing that away. This is only a temporary situation and the health of me and bub is what is important. I certinaly know how to lose weight and am actually excited to be doing that after all this and keeping it off without all the fertility drugs messing with my moods and therefore my comfort eating!
We decided to tell Laci about bub being a boy, well actually I did :) She had been mainly referring to him as a he anyhow, but was a lovely moment. I also decided to tell the inlaws. I figure if we wait for the birth I miss out on the moment and I knew she would be thirlled. And yep she was! Was very cool.
Well off to have bloods done to check my platelets (I have a low platelet issue) and check on the usual stuff as well then its off to acupuncture.
We had planned to drive down to Townsville to inlaws for a long weekend this weekend, not sure if the $$ will stretch, guess we better make a decsion soon seeming its wednesday :)
Monday, September 1, 2008
Okay so its definately a boy!
Didn't get any other good pics though as he was laying with face facing my back. Having another scan in 4 weeks and will hopefully get good face and 3d pics then. All looks good with him though.
I do have full placenta previa though, completely covering internal os of cervix. Will confirm at next scan and clarify what this means for me (I can't have vaginal delivery anyhow but will prob mean increased risk of bleeding etc). She did say that mine looked like it completely covered the os, so not much chance of it moving as pregnancy progresses.
Ob made a comment or 'slip up' when talking about the rest of pg and said "IF" we make it 27 weeks and has completely freaked shannon out thinking that she is being negative. He said to her "When"! As there is no reason to believe I will go that early again.. AH this is so not not easy :(
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Nothing to report
So yep, nothing of note to report over the last few days which is nice for me! Shannon back home after four days away so that's great. He is having Monday off to come to the 19 week morphology scan. Am looking forward to it, and hoping everything looks normal. Also looking forward to getting some more pics of bub.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Out of the mouth of... Laci
The other night Laci was drawing a picture and she said
"okay so I am drawing daddy, there is his head and there is his belly, now does daddy have a big or small penis?"
I told her she should go ask him (he was in the shower) he was a little surprised when she walked in and said
"daddy do you have a small penis?"
She came back out and she said
"Daddy said we don't talk about the size of his penis, so I am just going to draw his heart in his chest instead"
Oh I still giggle when I think about it :)
"okay so I am drawing daddy, there is his head and there is his belly, now does daddy have a big or small penis?"
I told her she should go ask him (he was in the shower) he was a little surprised when she walked in and said
"daddy do you have a small penis?"
She came back out and she said
"Daddy said we don't talk about the size of his penis, so I am just going to draw his heart in his chest instead"
Oh I still giggle when I think about it :)
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Week 18 ramblings
So lets see whats been hyappening? Yesterday I had my 18 week appt with ob. All is going well with me, BP stable, no protein in urine. She couldn't find bubs heartbeat on doppler so did a quick scan and all was good. The only thing she said was that she said he was all squashed up at the bottom of my uterus and in breech position. She said if he is still in that position for next weeks morphology scan that we may have diffculties getting the pictures we need. Don't know how to get hime to move :) I have been feeling the kicks very low all day so I think he is probably quite comfy down there :)
Yesterday I also had my first accupuncture appointment and will have another tomorrow and take it from there. I also had a follow-up session with the psychologist today and now not going back for 2 weeks. We worked on some relaxation exercises today, a good reminder, I have done this alot in the past but for some reason it had just been pushed aside.
Am pretty exhausted tonight.. I also got a call about my insurance claim and it looks like it may not happen if they prove that this was a pre exsisting condition. I don't think it is, I only had it for that short time in Laci's pregnancy and then all returned to normal. I don't really think that is pre-existing? Have to get more paperwork from ob and take from there. If this doesn't get approved, I guess I will just have to take my maternity leave early.
Yesterday I also had my first accupuncture appointment and will have another tomorrow and take it from there. I also had a follow-up session with the psychologist today and now not going back for 2 weeks. We worked on some relaxation exercises today, a good reminder, I have done this alot in the past but for some reason it had just been pushed aside.
Am pretty exhausted tonight.. I also got a call about my insurance claim and it looks like it may not happen if they prove that this was a pre exsisting condition. I don't think it is, I only had it for that short time in Laci's pregnancy and then all returned to normal. I don't really think that is pre-existing? Have to get more paperwork from ob and take from there. If this doesn't get approved, I guess I will just have to take my maternity leave early.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
My pregnancy issues summary
OK, so I got to thinking that not everyone that reads my blog knows my history when it comes to babies and what we are in for and why.. So I thought I should do a summary, will try to make it brief lol
After 4 longs years TTC we finally fell pregnant in 2003 after injections and insemination (IUI) we were estactic. I have essential hypertension, so basically that means that I have high blood pressure all the time and take medication all the time and have done since I was 19 (1995). My sister also has it and my mother did as did/does most of my mothers 6 siblings. No one had ever had a premature baby but being a nurse and especially one that had worked in NICU/SCN I figured our baby would most likely come a little early. By early though I was thinking like 34 weeks! I also knew there was a possibility of havnig to have a caesarean but was still hopeful for a natural delivery.
I developed hyperemisis (severe morning sickness) from very early on so that was my main concern I guess. I was hospitalised for dehydration a few times and lost lots of weight. My blood pressure (BP) started to rise at 8 weeks and my medication was increased. I stopped worked at 13 weeks as was just too sick with the vomiting. My BP continued to increase steadily. At 20 weeks we had our big scan and were so excited to be having a girl. We were told she was measuring a week behind but that was not unusual. We gave it no more thought. At 24 weeks my ob suggested we have another scan just to check things, in hindsite, he was worried about size after doing an examination on me. I went for the scan and the news was terrible :( At 24 weeks Piper was measuring at approx 21-22 week size. I was transferred to RPA in sydney were we were given the full news. I had placenta insufficiency and Piper had severe growth restriction and was unlikely to make it to a viable size. They were unsure whether the growth and placenta issues were solely from the BP issues or some other underlying condition or clotting disorder.
I was given the option to induce and end the pregnancy or be monitored in hospital to see if she would get to a viable size but was told this was unlikely. They wanted her to be at least 500grams.
So christmas day and news years were spent in hospital, crying and hoping and really being very traumatised as each time I hadn't felt her move we thought that ment she had died inutero which they said was the most likely expected outcome.
At 26 weeks 2 days I had a scan that showed that she had reached the goal of estimated weight of 500 grams but that the placenta was on its last legs :( We were offered the choice on what to do now. We chose to go ahead and give her a chance. The neonatologist gave us only a 20% chance of survival due to her size and a 50% chance of major disability :(
At 26 weeks 3 days I had a classical caesarean. A very traumatic experience as they weren't sure if she would survive the trauma of birth. She did. She weighed a tiny 466 grams.
Piper was ventilated and was pretty stable for 10 days, was gaining weight and taking my breast milk into a tube. She was still ventilated which was to be expected. At day 10 she started to deteriote, by day 14 there was no return :( One lung had fully collapsed and the other partially. We chose to hold her for the first and last time and she passed away in my arms.
Please understand this may all sound not very emotional, but as a nurse I guess it is quite easy for me to write the facts like it was someone else and remain quite detached..
During my pregnancy with Piper my sister had her second daughter at 32 weeks and was very very unwell with eclampsia, her girl made it and my sister wil be having no more :(
Next pregnancy came along much more quickly than we ever dreamed. Piper had died in Jan and by July thanks to more fertility drugs I was pregnant again.
I had had so many blood tests to see if I had any underlying issues that may have caused the placenta problem but nothing was ever found. It was decided that perhaps the problem had been caused by my BP or maybe it was just 'unlucky' I off course was hoping for the latter but was terrified and truly thought my body had failed me and that I was a failure as I couldn't even nurture my unborn baby :(
obviously this was a very very stressful pregnancy, every day seemed like an eternity. I again developed hyperemises but thankfully it stopped at 11 weeks and not the whole pregnancy this time. My blood pressure remained stable until an amazing 28 weeks when my medication was increased. I was scanned regularly and our second daughter Laci, surpassed Pipers size well and truly by 23 weeks gestation. After 30 weeks I started getting large amounts of protein in my urine and it was thought that pre eclampsia was on its way again. I had a growth scan at 29 weeks then again at 31 weeks and the difference in weight was only an estimated 15 grams. So basically she had stopped growing. the placenta was still okay but they thought it was only a matter of time. So at 31 weeks 5 days Laci was delivered by standard caesarean weighing 1638 grams. She did amazingly well, on CPAP for only a couple of days and home fully breastfeeding at equivilant of 35 weeks 3 days.
We decided to take a break from TTC and enjoy our girl..
After a year of fertility treatments including inseminations I finally fell pregnant again and it didn't progress :( Was a blighted ovum and I had a D and C at 8.5 weeks.
Then it was onto IVF, on our 2nd and last attempt (I have crappy ovaries and we were exhausted) I fell pregnant.
So here we are. 18 weeks tomorrow. My blood pressure is still good, in fact I am on half my normal dose of medication I take when not pregnant. This is my 'easy time'. Oh yeah I also hyperemisis again and thankfully it left by 13 weeks. I also have the symphysis pubis thing both times, with Piper only mild from about 20 weeks. With Laci from 18 weeks and not really able to walk from 28 weeks and this time, well yeah off work since 16 weeks, not thinking about whats to come with the pelvis at this stage! I have decided it doesn't affect baby and it causes no long term harm to me, so I am just going to deal with it and ride it out. Only 4 more months max anyhow right?
So basically the consensus from all specialised obstetrician is that the same thing will happen again with this pregnancy, it is just a matter of when. My BP will rise, the protein will increase in my urine and the growth will stop on bub. I will have plenty of bloods, BP checks, urine checks, CTG's, scans etc to watch for this closely. From 25 weeks I am on weekly ob appointments. 36 weeks is the latest I can go to due to the condition of my uterus but my ob and I know that that is a dream. She has made all my appointment up till 32 weeks. 32 weeks is the 1st December. So I am hoping and praying we will be having a December baby and no earlier. I will be having steroids at 27 weeks so if things suddenly changed quickly with me that bub could be out.
I can have a baby here in Cairns at 28 weeks as long as bub weighs over 1kg and no other issues such as growth restriction etc if not it will be Townsville.
Anything over 30 weeks would be awesome but obviously the longer the better. I am fantasising about 33 weeks :)
OH yeah and ob is tying my tubes during the caesarean, we are NOT doing this again.
So if you stuck to this for this long, hope it all made sense. Please please leave me a message if you had any other questions. But I figure as things get closer my ramblings will probably make more sense if you know why I am going on about certain things.
After 4 longs years TTC we finally fell pregnant in 2003 after injections and insemination (IUI) we were estactic. I have essential hypertension, so basically that means that I have high blood pressure all the time and take medication all the time and have done since I was 19 (1995). My sister also has it and my mother did as did/does most of my mothers 6 siblings. No one had ever had a premature baby but being a nurse and especially one that had worked in NICU/SCN I figured our baby would most likely come a little early. By early though I was thinking like 34 weeks! I also knew there was a possibility of havnig to have a caesarean but was still hopeful for a natural delivery.
I developed hyperemisis (severe morning sickness) from very early on so that was my main concern I guess. I was hospitalised for dehydration a few times and lost lots of weight. My blood pressure (BP) started to rise at 8 weeks and my medication was increased. I stopped worked at 13 weeks as was just too sick with the vomiting. My BP continued to increase steadily. At 20 weeks we had our big scan and were so excited to be having a girl. We were told she was measuring a week behind but that was not unusual. We gave it no more thought. At 24 weeks my ob suggested we have another scan just to check things, in hindsite, he was worried about size after doing an examination on me. I went for the scan and the news was terrible :( At 24 weeks Piper was measuring at approx 21-22 week size. I was transferred to RPA in sydney were we were given the full news. I had placenta insufficiency and Piper had severe growth restriction and was unlikely to make it to a viable size. They were unsure whether the growth and placenta issues were solely from the BP issues or some other underlying condition or clotting disorder.
I was given the option to induce and end the pregnancy or be monitored in hospital to see if she would get to a viable size but was told this was unlikely. They wanted her to be at least 500grams.
So christmas day and news years were spent in hospital, crying and hoping and really being very traumatised as each time I hadn't felt her move we thought that ment she had died inutero which they said was the most likely expected outcome.
At 26 weeks 2 days I had a scan that showed that she had reached the goal of estimated weight of 500 grams but that the placenta was on its last legs :( We were offered the choice on what to do now. We chose to go ahead and give her a chance. The neonatologist gave us only a 20% chance of survival due to her size and a 50% chance of major disability :(
At 26 weeks 3 days I had a classical caesarean. A very traumatic experience as they weren't sure if she would survive the trauma of birth. She did. She weighed a tiny 466 grams.
Piper was ventilated and was pretty stable for 10 days, was gaining weight and taking my breast milk into a tube. She was still ventilated which was to be expected. At day 10 she started to deteriote, by day 14 there was no return :( One lung had fully collapsed and the other partially. We chose to hold her for the first and last time and she passed away in my arms.
Please understand this may all sound not very emotional, but as a nurse I guess it is quite easy for me to write the facts like it was someone else and remain quite detached..
During my pregnancy with Piper my sister had her second daughter at 32 weeks and was very very unwell with eclampsia, her girl made it and my sister wil be having no more :(
Next pregnancy came along much more quickly than we ever dreamed. Piper had died in Jan and by July thanks to more fertility drugs I was pregnant again.
I had had so many blood tests to see if I had any underlying issues that may have caused the placenta problem but nothing was ever found. It was decided that perhaps the problem had been caused by my BP or maybe it was just 'unlucky' I off course was hoping for the latter but was terrified and truly thought my body had failed me and that I was a failure as I couldn't even nurture my unborn baby :(
obviously this was a very very stressful pregnancy, every day seemed like an eternity. I again developed hyperemises but thankfully it stopped at 11 weeks and not the whole pregnancy this time. My blood pressure remained stable until an amazing 28 weeks when my medication was increased. I was scanned regularly and our second daughter Laci, surpassed Pipers size well and truly by 23 weeks gestation. After 30 weeks I started getting large amounts of protein in my urine and it was thought that pre eclampsia was on its way again. I had a growth scan at 29 weeks then again at 31 weeks and the difference in weight was only an estimated 15 grams. So basically she had stopped growing. the placenta was still okay but they thought it was only a matter of time. So at 31 weeks 5 days Laci was delivered by standard caesarean weighing 1638 grams. She did amazingly well, on CPAP for only a couple of days and home fully breastfeeding at equivilant of 35 weeks 3 days.
We decided to take a break from TTC and enjoy our girl..
After a year of fertility treatments including inseminations I finally fell pregnant again and it didn't progress :( Was a blighted ovum and I had a D and C at 8.5 weeks.
Then it was onto IVF, on our 2nd and last attempt (I have crappy ovaries and we were exhausted) I fell pregnant.
So here we are. 18 weeks tomorrow. My blood pressure is still good, in fact I am on half my normal dose of medication I take when not pregnant. This is my 'easy time'. Oh yeah I also hyperemisis again and thankfully it left by 13 weeks. I also have the symphysis pubis thing both times, with Piper only mild from about 20 weeks. With Laci from 18 weeks and not really able to walk from 28 weeks and this time, well yeah off work since 16 weeks, not thinking about whats to come with the pelvis at this stage! I have decided it doesn't affect baby and it causes no long term harm to me, so I am just going to deal with it and ride it out. Only 4 more months max anyhow right?
So basically the consensus from all specialised obstetrician is that the same thing will happen again with this pregnancy, it is just a matter of when. My BP will rise, the protein will increase in my urine and the growth will stop on bub. I will have plenty of bloods, BP checks, urine checks, CTG's, scans etc to watch for this closely. From 25 weeks I am on weekly ob appointments. 36 weeks is the latest I can go to due to the condition of my uterus but my ob and I know that that is a dream. She has made all my appointment up till 32 weeks. 32 weeks is the 1st December. So I am hoping and praying we will be having a December baby and no earlier. I will be having steroids at 27 weeks so if things suddenly changed quickly with me that bub could be out.
I can have a baby here in Cairns at 28 weeks as long as bub weighs over 1kg and no other issues such as growth restriction etc if not it will be Townsville.
Anything over 30 weeks would be awesome but obviously the longer the better. I am fantasising about 33 weeks :)
OH yeah and ob is tying my tubes during the caesarean, we are NOT doing this again.
So if you stuck to this for this long, hope it all made sense. Please please leave me a message if you had any other questions. But I figure as things get closer my ramblings will probably make more sense if you know why I am going on about certain things.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Plodding along
Not much to report, which is how I like it :) My belly feels like it is growing by the minute and bubba boy is very very active, I love laying and watching my belly move around :)
Laci had her first swimming lesson this morning, she only had water confidence stuff when she was a baby as after that they stopped having lessons in Weipa when the instructor left. She is very confident in the water maybe a little over confident so it is definately time to learn the moves! Its going to take a while little miss distracto!
Laci had her first swimming lesson this morning, she only had water confidence stuff when she was a baby as after that they stopped having lessons in Weipa when the instructor left. She is very confident in the water maybe a little over confident so it is definately time to learn the moves! Its going to take a while little miss distracto!
Thursday, August 21, 2008
My boy knows how to kick
Boy oh boy bubba boy must be in a weird position today because all he has done is kick my cervix, not real pleasant!
Starting to look forward to the 19 week scan, not long to go, just want that reassurance that all is looking okay and it would be nice to see some boy bits lol
Quiet day again today, had a good talk with my boss, thankfully she was wonderful about me having to finish up work so early.
Shannon home tomorrow night. YAY.
Starting to look forward to the 19 week scan, not long to go, just want that reassurance that all is looking okay and it would be nice to see some boy bits lol
Quiet day again today, had a good talk with my boss, thankfully she was wonderful about me having to finish up work so early.
Shannon home tomorrow night. YAY.
The belly
I think its growing, and maybe am starting to look pregnant now? I certainly know I am, the wiggling that goes on in there at night especially!
Excuse the bed hair and tired face (bad sleep last night)..
So what's the verdict if you saw me down the street would you think I was pregnant (ne honest now!)
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Another day
Well today was a quiet day at home but didn't drag which was nice. I kept myself occupied somehow, I think it also helped that the pain was less being the day after my massage. It sucks with Shannon being away though, two nights is fine, three nights is harder and four or more nights is no fun at all. Tonight is night 3 of 4. Then he will be home for 4 nights and gone for another 3.
Today I managed to lodge all the forms for the income protection insurance claim, hoping hoping it gets approved otherwise the $$ situation is going to be stressful. It will take a couple of weeks to find out.
I did decided today though that the $ just had to stretch to a fortnightly house cleaner, just someone to vaccumn and mop the floors and do the bathrooms, I just can't do it and with Shannon working such long hours it not fair to get him to do more, he already does so much when he is home, waits on me hand and foot and does everything with Laci. I am just not capable of the housework now :( And you know I actually don't mind doing housework, but not in pain! I guess the money I am saving on petrol (and boy thats alot) will counteract that? :)
Today I managed to lodge all the forms for the income protection insurance claim, hoping hoping it gets approved otherwise the $$ situation is going to be stressful. It will take a couple of weeks to find out.
I did decided today though that the $ just had to stretch to a fortnightly house cleaner, just someone to vaccumn and mop the floors and do the bathrooms, I just can't do it and with Shannon working such long hours it not fair to get him to do more, he already does so much when he is home, waits on me hand and foot and does everything with Laci. I am just not capable of the housework now :( And you know I actually don't mind doing housework, but not in pain! I guess the money I am saving on petrol (and boy thats alot) will counteract that? :)
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
A good day
After not a good nights sleep (in alot of pain and then Laci woke 3 times which never happens) I had a good day. It started with my first appointment with a psychologist. It went well, lots of crying but still well. I have one strategy to try for the next week and then when I see her again we will build on it. So glad I took the plunge.
After that I grapped a couple of things for Laci at the clothing sale at Kmart and treated myself to a liesurly macca's lunch.
Then I headed off for my massage. Not the relaxation type the torture type lol. She is great and really gets into the pressure points. I know I will be thankful for the visit tomorrow when the relief comes. I have decided to go weekly for a while and see how that helps.
I also booked in an acupuncture appointment for next week at a lady I have heard good god things about. Hoping it will help with the 'calmness' I am trying to acheive. It certainly did with the last IVF, so its worth giving it a shot I think.
Tomorrow will need to be a quiet day, hoping it will be warm enough for me to get in the pool as last 2 days have been unusually cool for here.
Going to browse the net and eat some choccy then an early night :)
After that I grapped a couple of things for Laci at the clothing sale at Kmart and treated myself to a liesurly macca's lunch.
Then I headed off for my massage. Not the relaxation type the torture type lol. She is great and really gets into the pressure points. I know I will be thankful for the visit tomorrow when the relief comes. I have decided to go weekly for a while and see how that helps.
I also booked in an acupuncture appointment for next week at a lady I have heard good god things about. Hoping it will help with the 'calmness' I am trying to acheive. It certainly did with the last IVF, so its worth giving it a shot I think.
Tomorrow will need to be a quiet day, hoping it will be warm enough for me to get in the pool as last 2 days have been unusually cool for here.
Going to browse the net and eat some choccy then an early night :)
Monday, August 18, 2008
Bored
Okay so this laying around is pretty boring. Promised myself I would take it easy after doing too much over the weekend, but I am going coo-coo! I am going to get out Laci's scrapbook album this week I think and at least do something a little constructive. I think it is worse because Shannon is away all week. Have first counselling appointment tomorrow so that will kill some time lol.
At least its not long till I go pick up my busy girl from daycare :)
At least its not long till I go pick up my busy girl from daycare :)
Thanks for the comments
Thanks for the comments and suggestions it is nice to know I am not talking to myself. You were on the pulse too with the ideas but I think I probably have them covered anyhow, lets see :)
Hot water bottles: Thanks so much for the offer but I have a couple of wheat bags that I use constantly, I find them very soothing, though I was told cold is probably better but I just find the warmth so much nicer.
Massage: Yes I actually have found a great massuese. I have been twice now and am booked in again in a week. I was planning fortnightly but am starting to think weekly will soon be needed. She is great and I am finding good relief especially for the leg/nerve pain
Physio: Yep been there, I didn't find it helped too much last time either, but went along, have some 'core strengthening' exercises that I am doing and also a friend is sending me her support belt.
Exercise: Yeah it probably sounded like I am doing nothing but I am swimming most days and also walk Laci to daycare (although slowly) will continue this as long as I can get up and down our stairs. Its the extended outings that are doing me in.
Looking like a long week this week with Shannon away now till Friday night, thank goodness for the girly to keep me entertained in the mornings and afternoons :)
Hot water bottles: Thanks so much for the offer but I have a couple of wheat bags that I use constantly, I find them very soothing, though I was told cold is probably better but I just find the warmth so much nicer.
Massage: Yes I actually have found a great massuese. I have been twice now and am booked in again in a week. I was planning fortnightly but am starting to think weekly will soon be needed. She is great and I am finding good relief especially for the leg/nerve pain
Physio: Yep been there, I didn't find it helped too much last time either, but went along, have some 'core strengthening' exercises that I am doing and also a friend is sending me her support belt.
Exercise: Yeah it probably sounded like I am doing nothing but I am swimming most days and also walk Laci to daycare (although slowly) will continue this as long as I can get up and down our stairs. Its the extended outings that are doing me in.
Looking like a long week this week with Shannon away now till Friday night, thank goodness for the girly to keep me entertained in the mornings and afternoons :)
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Lounge Lizard
Yep that's me! Looks like the lounge is going to be my regular position for quite some months now. A wonderful friend gave us her old laptop when she upgraded and Shannon set me up last night with wireless broadband on it. I was finding it way too painful to sit upright on the computer chair, so now I can laze here and browse and update, albeit the typing is slow in this postion :)
So, what's new, well besides the pain in my pelvis, my legs, my lower back and the butt lol I now have a new pain on the front upper right hand side of my body, above the baby and hurts with movement, I am assuming it is a pulled muscle from my extreme difficulties at times moving. Yesterday after a quiet week I decided to venture out briefly to the shops to meet a friend who was down from Weipa, I hardly did anything but really suffered last night and today. In all honesty, it is getting me down, I was even eyeing off one of those granny puch thingys with the seat today and a wheelchair for outings even appeals :( I can't believe I am only 17 weeks tomorrow, so early to be in so much pain but also great that for me I am halfway I would say!
Shannon is away from 5am Monday morning till Friday afternoon this week. I expect it will be a long week for me. I am having my first psychologist appointment on Tuesday though, so hopefully that will be good for me.
I expect now that I am pretty much housebound and have this laptop that updates will be more frequent though I can't promise they will too interesting.. I am finding it great just to get it out though.
But if you are out there reading me, please please comment so I know I am not just talking to myself, this is going to be a long road and I think I am going to need more support as the weeks tick by.
So, what's new, well besides the pain in my pelvis, my legs, my lower back and the butt lol I now have a new pain on the front upper right hand side of my body, above the baby and hurts with movement, I am assuming it is a pulled muscle from my extreme difficulties at times moving. Yesterday after a quiet week I decided to venture out briefly to the shops to meet a friend who was down from Weipa, I hardly did anything but really suffered last night and today. In all honesty, it is getting me down, I was even eyeing off one of those granny puch thingys with the seat today and a wheelchair for outings even appeals :( I can't believe I am only 17 weeks tomorrow, so early to be in so much pain but also great that for me I am halfway I would say!
Shannon is away from 5am Monday morning till Friday afternoon this week. I expect it will be a long week for me. I am having my first psychologist appointment on Tuesday though, so hopefully that will be good for me.
I expect now that I am pretty much housebound and have this laptop that updates will be more frequent though I can't promise they will too interesting.. I am finding it great just to get it out though.
But if you are out there reading me, please please comment so I know I am not just talking to myself, this is going to be a long road and I think I am going to need more support as the weeks tick by.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Girly day
Yep its Friday, or as Laci put's it "Girly day". The day has started off pretty slow, we are still in pj's. Laci has been watching cartoons and I have been lazing in bed. I think we will venture down to the pool shortly before the wind gets up and allow Laci to burn off some of that energy cause I really don't think I could manage much else.
Shannon away on day trip to Weipa for work today, left at 5am and won't be home till about 9.30pm, a long day for sure. He is away next week Mon-Fri and the following week Tues-Friday, so I will be gald when thats over. At least with al the travel he gets a travel allowance which will help the $$ situation a little. Shame it takes up to 5 weeks to come through.
Well better get to this girly day
Shannon away on day trip to Weipa for work today, left at 5am and won't be home till about 9.30pm, a long day for sure. He is away next week Mon-Fri and the following week Tues-Friday, so I will be gald when thats over. At least with al the travel he gets a travel allowance which will help the $$ situation a little. Shame it takes up to 5 weeks to come through.
Well better get to this girly day
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Our wedding anniversary
Today is 9 years since we married and 12 years since our first kiss :) I am so glad I found my wonderful hubby. He is stopping at the shops on the way home to pick up ingredients for 'something special' for dinner, he loves cooking, but with working and travelling for work, we don't get the chance to eat anything special very often. I just try and get those veges in and a little variety.
Yesterday I had a pretty easy morning so figured I could probably venture to grab a few groceries, by no means a full shop, only 5 bags or so. I also had to pick up a gift for my neices birthday so it could be posted, but that shop is right next to woolworths so figured I would be fine. Guess not! Oh my, I really can't do much! The drive hurt, walking arond the shops was agony! Pushing the trolley was torture..okay you get the picture. I got to the car and burst into tears :( For someone who isn't a cryer I seem to be doing a good job of showing otherwise, I also sobbed uncontrollably on Monday at my massage, ther massuse is so lovely and she knows my history..
So am thinking it is probably a good idea that A. I am not working at the moment and B. I have made my first appointment to see a pyschologist that is affiliated with my ob. My first apppointment is next Tuesday.
Today I decided I needed to take it super easy. Not much happening here at all. Won't be long and we should have the laptop a friend gave us set up on wireless so can be online when laying on side because even sitting here upright in chair is not comfy..
Okay so enough moaning for now. Bubba boy is getting stronger in there now, not so much rolling more boots, am loving it and I forgot how strong it will get yet.
Yesterday I had a pretty easy morning so figured I could probably venture to grab a few groceries, by no means a full shop, only 5 bags or so. I also had to pick up a gift for my neices birthday so it could be posted, but that shop is right next to woolworths so figured I would be fine. Guess not! Oh my, I really can't do much! The drive hurt, walking arond the shops was agony! Pushing the trolley was torture..okay you get the picture. I got to the car and burst into tears :( For someone who isn't a cryer I seem to be doing a good job of showing otherwise, I also sobbed uncontrollably on Monday at my massage, ther massuse is so lovely and she knows my history..
So am thinking it is probably a good idea that A. I am not working at the moment and B. I have made my first appointment to see a pyschologist that is affiliated with my ob. My first apppointment is next Tuesday.
Today I decided I needed to take it super easy. Not much happening here at all. Won't be long and we should have the laptop a friend gave us set up on wireless so can be online when laying on side because even sitting here upright in chair is not comfy..
Okay so enough moaning for now. Bubba boy is getting stronger in there now, not so much rolling more boots, am loving it and I forgot how strong it will get yet.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Calmness returns
So yesterdays headache soon turned into a migraine, spoke to ob and we decided the high bp was prob from the headache so I took some panadiene and slept for 2.5 hours, when I woke my head was improving and BP back to normal.
So its back to the daily grind with SPD at home. We are keeping Laci in daycare on her 4 days a week at this stage as I really can't do much and it wouldn't be fair to keep her at home with me not being able to do much. She is enjoying daycare and gets to burn off all that energy.
Tomorrow is 12 years since Shannon and I had our first kiss and 9 years since we married :) Not sure whether we will do something tomorrow night or wait till weekend. Wow, where has the time gone? I also can't believe that it also marks 9 years since we first started trying to conceive. I will be so glad to have that part of my life closed.
So its back to the daily grind with SPD at home. We are keeping Laci in daycare on her 4 days a week at this stage as I really can't do much and it wouldn't be fair to keep her at home with me not being able to do much. She is enjoying daycare and gets to burn off all that energy.
Tomorrow is 12 years since Shannon and I had our first kiss and 9 years since we married :) Not sure whether we will do something tomorrow night or wait till weekend. Wow, where has the time gone? I also can't believe that it also marks 9 years since we first started trying to conceive. I will be so glad to have that part of my life closed.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
What else can you throw at me?!
So as of yesterday I am off work because of this stupid SPD that is causing me so much pain. Pain to walk, pain to sit, well just pain all the time :(
I also check my BP twice a day and last night before bed it was up, figured it had been a long day and a bit emotional, so that was probably why. SO this morning I got up and got the gorgeous Laci off to daycare (Shannon out of town for work) when I get back I realise I have a terrible headache, figure a day of rest will help so lay on lounge.. Within an hour head is pounding so took 2 panadiene, an hour later no change..hmm maybe I should check BP again? Yep its even higher.. Not impressed, called ob and spoke to her midwife, she is calling me back but looks like they want me to go in for monitoring, but not drive hmm.. Not an easy one, I live 30 minutes from clinic. She asks 'when is hubby home?' or 'do you have a friend who can drive you in?" of course answers are, hubby is away and we just moved here so have no friends..
Will await decision..
I also check my BP twice a day and last night before bed it was up, figured it had been a long day and a bit emotional, so that was probably why. SO this morning I got up and got the gorgeous Laci off to daycare (Shannon out of town for work) when I get back I realise I have a terrible headache, figure a day of rest will help so lay on lounge.. Within an hour head is pounding so took 2 panadiene, an hour later no change..hmm maybe I should check BP again? Yep its even higher.. Not impressed, called ob and spoke to her midwife, she is calling me back but looks like they want me to go in for monitoring, but not drive hmm.. Not an easy one, I live 30 minutes from clinic. She asks 'when is hubby home?' or 'do you have a friend who can drive you in?" of course answers are, hubby is away and we just moved here so have no friends..
Will await decision..
Saturday, August 9, 2008
I think it's growing
Laci thinks I'm huge already lol
Here is pic from today at almost 16 weeks, so thats 3 weeks since last photo. Do I look pregnant now or still just like I've gained too much weight?
Oh and I also wanted to share another cute pic of my girl we snapped today, she was showing off her new jacket she got from a friend.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Nightmares :(
I have always had vivid dreams when pregnant but boy I hate these nightmares! I think I am starting to get more anxious than I am allowing myself to acknowledge about all this pregnancy stuff. Last night was nightmare number 3 in about a week, all involving the death of either a baby or last night, my gorgeous Laci :( I woke up in such a state and still feel yuck. Just writing this brings back a heartsinking feeling so I will stop now..
So my pelvis in a word is crap. I am in constant pain, getting up from sitting is the worst but the only pain free position is laying on my side with pillow between my knees. The school has agreed to temporarily work out of a ground floor office so that will help a little, but in all honesty I don't know how much longer I will last at work.
Shannon goes away alot for work next week, only here for two days, so I am sure next week will feel long.
Bubby boy is really moving now, I can't believe I can even see my belly move now!
So today is Friday, otherwise known as (if you ask Laci) 'girly day' so I better get to organising some girly fun! She has her heart set on fingernail and toenail painting after I got mine done on Monday, not sure how that will go as I don't think she realises that you have to stay still lol
So my pelvis in a word is crap. I am in constant pain, getting up from sitting is the worst but the only pain free position is laying on my side with pillow between my knees. The school has agreed to temporarily work out of a ground floor office so that will help a little, but in all honesty I don't know how much longer I will last at work.
Shannon goes away alot for work next week, only here for two days, so I am sure next week will feel long.
Bubby boy is really moving now, I can't believe I can even see my belly move now!
So today is Friday, otherwise known as (if you ask Laci) 'girly day' so I better get to organising some girly fun! She has her heart set on fingernail and toenail painting after I got mine done on Monday, not sure how that will go as I don't think she realises that you have to stay still lol
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Are you serious!!??
15 weeks pregnant and I have symphysis pubis dysfunction again (SPD)! The pain is not good. Went and saw my ob yesterday, she did a quick scan to check on bub and cervix and all was good there, bub measuring up to a week ahead! So as suspected it is SPD again. Non too impressed, it didn't start till about 19 weeks with Laci but by 28 weeks I could hardly walk, just shuffle and the pain was terrible.
I am home today from work resting and waiting for physio to open to see when I can get in. We have some decisions to make about work and $$. Not easy at all considering I have only been at my new job for like 5 weeks. Shannon is stressed about it all which isn't helping either. My job involves a long drive up very winding range and then when I am there lots of stairs including 2 big flights just to get to my office and the stairs back and forth to toilet and stairs are the worst. Ob is happy tfor my to leave work now and said will fill out any necessary forms..
Not sure what we will do..
I am home today from work resting and waiting for physio to open to see when I can get in. We have some decisions to make about work and $$. Not easy at all considering I have only been at my new job for like 5 weeks. Shannon is stressed about it all which isn't helping either. My job involves a long drive up very winding range and then when I am there lots of stairs including 2 big flights just to get to my office and the stairs back and forth to toilet and stairs are the worst. Ob is happy tfor my to leave work now and said will fill out any necessary forms..
Not sure what we will do..
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Friday, August 1, 2008
Final CVS results
So I just got the call form Mater Mothers to say that the final results are in and definately no chromosome problems with our bub and yes stil definately a boy lol.
I am starting to get some low pelvis pain, for my last two pregnancies I had symphysis pubis dysfunction and in fact with Laci was in alot of pain and could only shuffle walk from about 28 weeks. Trying not to think about it all just yet especially as my job has lots of stairs even to go the toilet and where we are living at the moment have 2 flights of stairs to get in..
Guessing I will deal with it when the time comes.
Today is as Laci puts it our 'girly day', the day when we just stay home together. I really enjoy fridays, our day to reconnect with each other and gets lots of chatter, kisses and cuddles in.
So better get back to it :)
I am starting to get some low pelvis pain, for my last two pregnancies I had symphysis pubis dysfunction and in fact with Laci was in alot of pain and could only shuffle walk from about 28 weeks. Trying not to think about it all just yet especially as my job has lots of stairs even to go the toilet and where we are living at the moment have 2 flights of stairs to get in..
Guessing I will deal with it when the time comes.
Today is as Laci puts it our 'girly day', the day when we just stay home together. I really enjoy fridays, our day to reconnect with each other and gets lots of chatter, kisses and cuddles in.
So better get back to it :)
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Updates
So today I am 14 weeks 2 days and I think maybe just maybe I am at my 'glowing stage' I have had 3 comments over the last 2 days that I am looking well, happy and relaxed. And you know what? I think I am! This is the best time of pregnancy for me, before the intense monitoring and stress starts at about 24 weeks begins.
I made a big decision this week though, may not seem like it to you all but to me is was big. For my past pregnancies I have always gone through the public system, I guess I fugure I am going to end up at the nearest major hospital for delivery anyhow with a preterm bub that I might as well have my care there.. But this week at my 14 week appointment all the past issues I delt with in Laci's pregnancy came floooding back. The long waits in the crowded waiting rooms, the 5th different registrar since my first visit. Me having to tell my story over and over again every appointment (getting me upset every time) then having to answer the same blooming questions (some of them just showing pure lack of knowledge on their behalf) so that by the end of appointment I feel like nothing has been achieved except re-hashing my history. So this week I lost it! I have had enough! I asked what was involved in going private and it was surprisingly easy!
So today I had my first appointment with my new wonderful ob. She was so compassionate and thorough and we made a solid plan! I feel so good about this decision. I will still deliver via caesarean at the public hospital but she will be the one doing it. Oh its going to be so nice having the same OB through this journey.
She has lovely rooms with two very nice midwives, I just feel so calm when I walk in there whch is completely different when I go to the hospital walking past the Neonatal intensive care every time and not knowing which dr I am going to get this time..
She also is highly skilled in scans and will be doing all her scans in her rooms! Oh bliss! Considering how many scans I will have this is awesome! They even have CTG monitoring there.
So basically at the moment, it is just the planning, my next appointment is not until 18 weeks, then at 19 weeks will be the morphology scan. Then see what happens. I will however be definately be at the obs weekly from 26 weeks with steriods from 27 weeks and then we will take it from there.
I feel really happy that things will be easier for me this time, anything to reduce a little stress hey?
I made a big decision this week though, may not seem like it to you all but to me is was big. For my past pregnancies I have always gone through the public system, I guess I fugure I am going to end up at the nearest major hospital for delivery anyhow with a preterm bub that I might as well have my care there.. But this week at my 14 week appointment all the past issues I delt with in Laci's pregnancy came floooding back. The long waits in the crowded waiting rooms, the 5th different registrar since my first visit. Me having to tell my story over and over again every appointment (getting me upset every time) then having to answer the same blooming questions (some of them just showing pure lack of knowledge on their behalf) so that by the end of appointment I feel like nothing has been achieved except re-hashing my history. So this week I lost it! I have had enough! I asked what was involved in going private and it was surprisingly easy!
So today I had my first appointment with my new wonderful ob. She was so compassionate and thorough and we made a solid plan! I feel so good about this decision. I will still deliver via caesarean at the public hospital but she will be the one doing it. Oh its going to be so nice having the same OB through this journey.
She has lovely rooms with two very nice midwives, I just feel so calm when I walk in there whch is completely different when I go to the hospital walking past the Neonatal intensive care every time and not knowing which dr I am going to get this time..
She also is highly skilled in scans and will be doing all her scans in her rooms! Oh bliss! Considering how many scans I will have this is awesome! They even have CTG monitoring there.
So basically at the moment, it is just the planning, my next appointment is not until 18 weeks, then at 19 weeks will be the morphology scan. Then see what happens. I will however be definately be at the obs weekly from 26 weeks with steriods from 27 weeks and then we will take it from there.
I feel really happy that things will be easier for me this time, anything to reduce a little stress hey?
Friday, July 25, 2008
Okay I'm game!
After taking lots and lots of photos during my pregnancy with Laci, I guess I should continue on in the tradition. Having a few body image issues this time round though after losing all the weight few years back and then regaining quite a bit with all the fertility treatments..
Anyhow, time to embrace this body, its doing an important job!
So yes belly is looking a little weird at the moment.. But here is the first belly shot, taken at 13 weeks, there will be no bare belly shots I tell ya!
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
FAv song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkHTsc9PU2A&feature=related
Anyone have any idea how to share a you tube video?
This is my absolute favourite song at the moment
Anyone have any idea how to share a you tube video?
This is my absolute favourite song at the moment
The bulge
Yes now I can say that I just look 'fat' is a little hard to get my head around aftr losing so much weight in 2006. I had already re gained about 15 kilos with all the fertility stuff and emotionally eating and now I have this big belly. And I don't think I look at all pregnant yet, just rolly! I am in maternity clothes, mostly because they are comfy and my old clothes don't fit and also the little hope that I wil look pregnant soon!
I also wanted to mention that we are not telling family the sex of this bub. My family don't know about this blog, so shouldn't be too hard :) But please no comments on facebook! We have told them with the last two pregnancies and we want this one, our last to be different and for them to have a surprise at the birth.
We are also not telling Laci becuase she would tell the world! lol. However she has decided herself anyhow that he is a boy, so maybe she has some special intuitive powers? :)
I am super tired today, I think I got myslef worked up far more than I thought with the whole CVS experience and now that it is over and settling down, exhaustion has hit..
I never really get that 'second trimester' glow but I am hoping I may just get a little this timew. I am only needing to take one of my tablets most days now for the nausea/vomiting which is a huge improvement on the 2 a day since I think week 8. Hopefully won't be long and the nausea will leave me.
I also wanted to mention that we are not telling family the sex of this bub. My family don't know about this blog, so shouldn't be too hard :) But please no comments on facebook! We have told them with the last two pregnancies and we want this one, our last to be different and for them to have a surprise at the birth.
We are also not telling Laci becuase she would tell the world! lol. However she has decided herself anyhow that he is a boy, so maybe she has some special intuitive powers? :)
I am super tired today, I think I got myslef worked up far more than I thought with the whole CVS experience and now that it is over and settling down, exhaustion has hit..
I never really get that 'second trimester' glow but I am hoping I may just get a little this timew. I am only needing to take one of my tablets most days now for the nausea/vomiting which is a huge improvement on the 2 a day since I think week 8. Hopefully won't be long and the nausea will leave me.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Results are in!
And they are all clear! Yippee we are so relieved. Final results will be through in about 10 days but we are not expecting any change.
The biggest surprise is that after 2 girls we are having a boy! Its still sinking in but we are estactic!
The biggest surprise is that after 2 girls we are having a boy! Its still sinking in but we are estactic!
Saturday, July 19, 2008
All done. Now the wait
Super long day yesterday but the CVS is all done now. I expect the results early next week. Will ring on Monday to find out when as I didn't get to speak to the genetic counsellor.
The CVS was done this time through my cervix instead of abdominally like last time. Was less painful thank goodness. It had to be done that way as I have a fibroid in the way now it seems.
Just taking it easy over the weekend now. A few twinges, but mainly just exhausted.
Bub was so cute, I even saw them sucking its thumb and a little foot with little toes, ooh so gorgeous! Shannon and I are thinking its another girl, but Shannon is hoping boy. But obviously as long as everything is okay we will be estactic!
Here is pic from yesterday :)
The CVS was done this time through my cervix instead of abdominally like last time. Was less painful thank goodness. It had to be done that way as I have a fibroid in the way now it seems.
Just taking it easy over the weekend now. A few twinges, but mainly just exhausted.
Bub was so cute, I even saw them sucking its thumb and a little foot with little toes, ooh so gorgeous! Shannon and I are thinking its another girl, but Shannon is hoping boy. But obviously as long as everything is okay we will be estactic!
Here is pic from yesterday :)
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Further testing
After much discussion and sleepless night, we have decided to do further testing on Sparkle. We will have the CVS like we did for Laci. It wasn't an easy decision I tell ya! This will test for trisomy's, but its mainly the downs syndrome we are concerned about. It will also tell us the sex.
So, it is this Friday, so only 2 more sleeps till it is done. I am hoping will get the results next Monday, but will update over the weekend.
I have to fly to Brisbane and back for it by myself, but I do have a friend collecting me after the procedure which is good. Last time was very painful but I am alot calmer this time, so fingers crossed it all goes super smooth.
So, it is this Friday, so only 2 more sleeps till it is done. I am hoping will get the results next Monday, but will update over the weekend.
I have to fly to Brisbane and back for it by myself, but I do have a friend collecting me after the procedure which is good. Last time was very painful but I am alot calmer this time, so fingers crossed it all goes super smooth.
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