Baby Update

     February 25, 2017 ranks up there on my list as one of the longest nights EVER!! I'll explain that in a minute...
     Babies are hard! Raising them, anticipating their needs, and for me...even growing them is a challenge! I've been on bedrest for 9 weeks. Nine weeks ago, the whole idea of turning my classroom over to someone else was impossible. So much harder than I thought it would be! And it wasn't because I don't trust the subs or think they will do a bad job. I am a teacher. For the past 18 years I've been helping and nurturing young actors. I was afraid without that major part of me I would be lost. I was afraid I would be missing out, or the kids would like the sub more than me. But honestly, after all of the stress and worry, it's been a relief to be able to turn that major part of my life over to someone else and know I don't have to worry about it right now. My administration and fellow teachers have been so great to handle everything I just left without being able to wrap anything up. With so many other things on my mind, I am happy that school isn't one of them. 

     Nine weeks ago, I didn't realize how this bedrest situation would impact my family, immediate and extended. I didn't realize how demanding my needs would be on my husband and my children. My forgetful pregnancy brain has messed things up more than once over these last couple of months. While it embarrasses me and makes me feel bad, my loving family has been so forgiving! I realized quickly after starting bedrest, I was not going to be able to be the mom I want to be...and it was going to have to be ok. I had to learn to just let things happen as they are going to happen. I've been able to keep my mind pretty busy, but it is a LONG time to be stuck in my bed. 

      So we've settled into a pattern at our house. I've discovered that I can actually engage more with my children and my husband because my time and energy is not split between so many things. My boys say goodbye in the morning and come straight in after school to tell me about their day. I love that! I get to watch them play video games, and legos, and imagination games. I see them helping each other and helping me. It warms my heart when they come in my room to ask if I need anything. Or I "page" J on his phone and he comes running to see what I need. And Rob! He has taken over everything. Cleaning, cooking, taking care of kids AND me, and keeping us in stock of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. He actually learned how to bake them for us and they are GREAT! They don't usually last more than two days. He does all of this while still carrying out the jobs he has going on. And he doesn't complain. Well...at least not to me. 😂 

    So many people have stepped up to make this easier for my kids and Rob and a result, for me too. I have a long list of people to thank for everything they are doing for us. I would list them, but I'm sure I will forget people...you remember...that pregnancy brain I mentioned earlier. But the meals, and the baby gear, the baby clothes, the texts and calls checking on me, transportation of my children. So many wonderful people helping us out! And my family...my family has been so instrumental in keeping us going. My parents and brothers have been like parents to my children by helping them and shuttling them where they need to be. I couldn't do this without them! 

     So back to Friday night...longest night ever...my mom and husband convinced me to go to labor and delivery after three days of generally feeling pretty yucky. I had just been to my OB the day before I started feeling bad and everything seemed fine so I figured I just hadn't slept enough. I've had some good and bad days lately so I didn't think much of it. But contractions started getting stronger and more frequent so we headed in. Test after test was completed. After talking to the high risk doctor and the nurses, it turns out my blood pressure and my blood sugar had both spiraled out of control quickly. I was also dehydrated. The monitors detected something unusual about the baby's heartbeat, so of course I was terrified! All I could think of all night long is "how can this be happening?!?" We made it this far...I couldn't stand the thought of something happening to this baby. I couldn't even close my eyes and try to sleep because I was so scared. The ultrasound looked ok. They couldn't find anything wrong with the baby. It was baffling to everyone there so we worked on stabilizing everything throughout the night and through the next day. Then I had to be observed another night and day because of the shots they had to give me to speed up the growth of the baby and they were afraid my blood sugar would spike. The team of nurses and doctors were amazing and everything stabilized pretty quickly! Contractions stopped, baby's heartbeat regulated and I started feeling better. A thorough ultra sound was completed and he looks great. He is a BIG baby already.  At almost 33 weeks, he is just still too young to be born. They want me to go AT least 3-4 more weeks so he can develop. They gave me shots to help his lungs develop faster as a precaution...that first night, we were all pretty much preparing for an early delivery. I think I might have started to cry when the doctor said I could go home. :) 

     For now, everything is fine! I'm so happy and relieved he is strong and healthy. I am grateful I was able to get help. I am grateful for modern technology and medicine. I am grateful to be home and sleeping in my own bed! It was a rough few days!

     I am now focused on resting, sleeping, and making lists of final preparations for baby. He has a mind of his own and could make an appearance any time now...even though I told him he needs to settle down and keep developing. This has been an adventure! It's been fun trying to guess what his little personality will be like based on his constant crazy movements and "hiding" from the heart monitors. I can only guess we are in for even more adventure in the upcoming weeks!