Thankful... I guess

We had an eventful weekend. My sonogram on Saturday showed no signs of placenta near the cervix. The specialist said that I could be discharged on Sunday after a second sonogram to confirm my safety. Aric and I went into celebration mode. He has missed 15 sonograms, so I suggested that he spend the night on Saturday to see the last one I would have for a while. Sunday morning my doctor called it a miracle and gave me discharge orders. He said to take it easy for one more week and then I could even return to work and finish my pregnancy at no greater risk than any other woman. I was very excited; Krystal's birthday is Tuesday and her party is on Sunday. It had never crossed my mind that I would be home in time. We began packing my room. Gathering my towels, blankets and clothes. Then we had the sonogram. It was taking to long. The specialist was showing me how to distinguish the shades of gray.
Then he turned the color on to trace the blood flow. I saw a large red pocket directly over my cervix. I started to cry. Somehow I had a contraction that had moved a large blood vessel directly over my cervix. I tried to be brave for Krystal, but it was not possible. The doctor used the word "catastrophic" which had my attention through the tears. Krystal and Aric started crying with me. The doctor apologized profusely, but I would not be going home. We went back to my room and did what all mature families do... cried for an hour. Then we took a nap. Logic came later. It would have been much more dangerous for me to have made it home. I was still on bed rest and uterine relaxing medications when this contraction occurred. I felt nothing and would have had no warning, that something was wrong. So in the end I am very thankful to competent doctors who are very cautious with me and my baby. So Sean and I will stay in the hospital for the foreseeable future.

My birthday and 25th week

I had a great birthday. Aric made me a strawberry cake and brought it up with my Dad and Krystal on Tuesday. Wednesday my mom and daddy came up and gave me an aerogarden, then Aric and Krystal came with the seeds and a snuggie ( as seen on TV... I fell for the infomercial). Aric assembled everything and now I am impatiently waiting my first sprouts of basil and tomato. I check regularly even though the seed pods clearly say 4-7 days. Some of my nurses are as excited as I am, asking if they can come see even if they don't have me as a patient. It's fun. My hostess Maria brought me a cake and fruit tray on my birthday as well. It was very nice of her and a good indication of the level of care I am receiving.

Sean Marc and I have had an excellent couple of weeks. I had my glucose test and passed with flying colors. Which means I can still lay in bed and eat bon bons if I want to. My iron test came back at normal levels (11& 34). My doctor was impressed. Its a good thing that I normally have what I call she-woman iron levels, my body is good at making iron. I was glad to see it because I am kinda tired of red meat and raisins. The doctor let me watch Sean's perfectly formed four-chambered heart beat for a couple of minutes on the sonogram Tuesday. If the placenta would just move, I would feel much better. All measurements point to a strong healthy son. I met the Neonatalogist, and did not like him at all. Maybe the topic was what I did not care for. At any rate I told him that I hope to never see him again as he was leaving. They now try to monitor Sean's heart rate twice a day for thirty minutes. this proves difficult for them because he is quite the little mover and very low in my belly. They always seem to catch him during his exercise periods. The nurse last night had to sit at my bedside an hold the monitor to keep him on. When I got here his heart rate was 156 now its closer to 146. They slow down as they grow. Everything is going well and each day is an added blessing.

I will tyr to post more often, thanks for your continued prayers

Tamara and family

party time

Monday was 24 weeks and I was in a great mood. It was made even better by a surprise 24 wk celebration. Katie, Kim and Ryann brought a small cake with 24 candles. It was awesome. There was minor concern about the smoke, but it cleared quickly. My doctor is very supportive of celebrations. He suggests another celebration at 28 weeks. I think he is worried that such a long isolation from my life will depress me. I have always been good at seeing the end goal, thank God. That attitude is very helpful now. I picture myself holding my perfectly healthy son in June.

We made our first milestone :)

Today makes 24 weeks gestation. Sean Marc is doing very well. We cannot test lung functioning unless we do amniocentesis. I'm going to pass on having a large needle inserted into us. I choose to believe that we will be just fine and continue to be pregnant for many weeks to come. The placenta has moved a little to the side. An improvement, but we are not out of danger until it is completely moved. My doctor will arrange for me to have a tour of NICU and meet some Noenatalogists, just in case.

I also received an outfit that I ordered for the baby. It's the first thing I have purchased. The timing of the delivery made me smile. I'm very optomistic now.

Aric and Krystal spent the weekend here in the room with me. We had fun having an almost normal life. We worked on a picture poster for Krystal and Aric did some homework. It was a nice splurge. I'm sure it won't happen very often. The couch could not have been very good on Aric's back. I had a great time.

slow, but getting there

I just figured out how to allow comments and read them. Thank you so much for all of you who have posted and are reading. All the prayers are helping boost my spirits.

Sean weighs a pound and eight ounces now. Less than one week to go to minimum viability. He has been very calm the past few days, but is up and kicking right now. Thanks to the coke that we got in the gift shop tonight. We also picked up a new balloon. I had one from an edible fruit basket that I really enjoyed, so I got another one this evening. I took advantage of my 30 minutes of freedom tonight and Aric had a beautiful bouquet of roses put in my room while we were gone. It was such a nice surprise. The volunteers told me today that I can get a manicure, pedicure and massage in my room if my doctor allows it. I'm going to ask in the morning. It is Krystal and my birthday month and it might be nice to have a day of pampering during spring break to celebrate.

Another good week

hello all

Krystal spent her first night with me in the hospital on Friday. She did very well. She was very calm and we had a great time watching movies and coloring. she slept through my 12 and 6am medication. The bed did get a little crowded, but it was nice spending some alone time with her.

Aric's body finally caved to all his stress and he is very sick right now. He will start an antibiotic today and hopefully feel better in a few days. He still plans on working and going to school today.

Sean Marc and I are doing excellent. We should get a sonogram today, but it does not look like the placenta is going to move. Good thing he is super strong. Today begins 23 weeks, 7 days to viability.