Hospital Update

It's been a crazy day!  Testing, blood pressure, ultrasounds, steroid shots, moving rooms, ella visiting.

It started with my OB appointment this morning- my protein dip was +3, which is high, and the same number the dip was when I was admitted to have Ella.  My OB said I could go home to get a bag, and then I had to go immediately to the hospital for labs, ultrasound and 24 hour urine testing.  I got to the hospital around 11 a.m. and was told I was not allowed to eat or drink in case I needed surgery today.  Once again, I was STARVING all day- I didn't get to eat until after 6 p.m., and all I had in the morning around 8:00 a.m. was a yogurt!

They won't let me leave so I have to spend the night and finish my 24 hour urine testing.  Basically everything is dependent on the results of my 24 hour.  My labs came back ok except for uric acid, which sounds great EXCEPT that when I had Ella, all my labs came back ok as well...except for uric acid!!  My blood pressure was 128 over 70 so we're still ok there- that is actually the ONLY difference so far than when I was hospitalized to have Ella.  I'm just praying that the 24 hour results come back low.  I am finished with the test at 1:45 p.m. tomorrow, but I'm not sure how long it takes to get the results back.  I got my first steroid shot (to mature the baby's lungs) at 12:45 today so I'll get another one tomorrow at the same time.

I'm really really hoping to be allowed to come home tomorrow, but both the nurse and my OB said based on my history, they don't think I'll be able to go home. :(  The good news is that I just found out that they have FREE internet access!!  Last time I was here they only had spotty pay access.  Yay!  This is extra good news because Gary was going to go buy a 3G ipad so I'd have internet access, and now we don't have to spend that money. ;)

We've kept in touch with our NICU nurse from when Ella was there, and she and I texted all afternoon, and then she came to visit me because she was working today.  She made me feel a lot better.  She said 32 weeks is not bad, and that every baby is different so even though we had a rough time with Ella for a while and she was farther along, that doesn't mean we won't have an easier time with this baby.  She also promised to be in the OR with me- she used to only work 2 days a week, but she now works 5 days a week so as long as I don't deliver on a weekend, she'll be there. :)

Ella and Gary came to visit around 4 p.m., and at first, Ella wanted nothing to do with me...I think she was scared of the hospital bed, the thing attached to my belly and arm, the sounds, etc.  She finally warmed up and wanted to cuddle on the bed with me.  Then when they had to leave she said, "mommy come?!"  When Gary said I have to stay here for the baby, she cried- it made my eyes water.  I hate being away from her more than anything.  We did take some photos (excuse her nasty school clothes with paint all over them- they came straight from school)...

I can't believe I'm even posting this photo, but you can sort of see how swollen my face is in this photo- huge nose, squinty eye, just gross...

This was her "pose" when I said we have to smile and pose for the camera!

This was her pouty lip when daddy took the phone to take a photo because she liked when we were taking them ourselves...

Generally I'm feeling ok- pretty much same as I have been.  I'm happy because they finally let me be off monitoring, which means no blood pressure monitor that squeezes your arm off every.single.15.minutes, no heartbeat monitor on my belly, and most importantly, no leg compression machines that beep constantly all.night.long. (those were a nightmare last time).  They will wake me up in the middle of the night to do one blood pressure monitoring, but I guess they won't really have to wake me up since I don't sleep for 1 second when I'm in the hospital.

My biggest fear right now is having another preemie.  Aside from the traumatic NICU stay, having a preemie is just rough.  The projectile vomiting 100 times a day, the developmental delays, just waiting for that smile that comes much later in a preemie is SO stressful.

Why can't my body just work right??????!!!!!!