My days have looked pretty much the same these past weeks... Tv, stay in bed, visit with friends, pay bills, coordinate my kids' schedule and read books. Sounds pretty decent, but I tell you that after over 5 weeks, it's very old! My energy level is fading because of the rest. I don't have much responsibility, but I also have no freedom... Haven't ridden in a car since July 11 and I can't even go outside without someone pushing me in a wheel chair. Next time, I'll take these breaks in smaller doses, please!
I am monitored for contractions & heart rate twice a day & there was a little more activity with that today. They raised my dosage of medicine to keep those at a minimum, so the doctors & nurses are watching me a little more closely. I go through phases of accepting the idea that I'll be in the hospital for 3 more weeks, then today happens & I wonder if I'll make it through the weekend. I take comfort in reminding myself that God knows our baby boy's birthday... That HE cares for our son (and for me) more than we do. In terms of medicine I think the doctors are surprised, although glad, that I've made it this far. We are not surprised & feel like it is only because of God that we are expecting for everyone to be healthy! Keep praying!

I made is past August 10!  My next goal is Aug 22. These are just personal goals & there is really nothing within my control that I can do to get there (except rest, I guess), but they help get me through my bed rest. Baby boy "passes" his ultrasound test every time with flying colors- checking amniotic fluid, his diaphragm, lungs and heart. I was anxious to see how much they estimated him to weigh on Friday. We were hoping it was atleast 3lbs which is the average for 30 weeks. They take certain measurements to estimate his weight and it was 3lbs 10oz! I cried of course. I was so unbelievably thankful. Michael said it is tough with me being in the hospital, but this is what we prayed for! God is continuing to show Himself to us throughout this process. we are finally getting to a point where baby boy should be healthy upon delivery (just a little bit "mini") and I am getting so excited to meet him!

I haven't had any additional contraction scares. I am starting to feel really relieved that I have made it so close to 30 weeks!! The doctors are very optimistic about baby's health now that I've made it this far. I love all these analogies the doctors give me. Today the head high risk doctor said " you've got the silver medal by making it to 30 weeks. 32 will be the gold and anything on top of that, will just be icing on the cake!"

The upside of all this is the great visits I've had with family & friends. My cousin Laura even gave me a pedicure!! Here are pics of some of the sweet visitors that I've had...

My mom, Aunt Debbie, Aunt Gloria & cousin Kim

 Allison, Rachel, me, Misty & Lindsey

Jacob and yes, Lucy!!

Kristen & Sarah (who gets the award for travelling the farthest... from Peru!!)



Michael, me, Karen & Matt (who chose to spend his birthday dinner at the hopsital :)

My contractions settled down and the doctors are contiuing to give me a small dose of medicine each day as precaution to prevent more contractions. I have felt good these past couple of days and doctors are going to get me as far along as they can. I made it to August!  That was a personal first goal of mine. My next goal is to make it next Friday (around 30 weeks).

I am starting to get tired of being at Baptist. I know I will be here longer and it will totally be worth it, but part of my heart really wants to be at home with Michael and the boys. Jacob told me the other night that he wished I could be home to cook him dinner. And of course, I wish that too!  I think of everyone, this has been a little harder on Jacob. He's my homebody. He is getting a little tired of going to camps and would be content to be home to draw, write & play legos!!

Thanks you for praying & reaching out!

And that, my friends, is why I'm here!

I woke up at 3:15am today with cramping, It wasn't intense, but it was kept me up so I decided after a few minutes to call the nurse. I was having at times 3 contractions per 10 minutes (probably more like braxton hicks), but with my situation any of them that are consistent, are not my friend. They told me that if they didnt calm, then they would deliver the baby today. They gave me procardia & a bag of fluids which calmed the activity down. I've seen the doctor today who said I would continue with procadia as precaution for a little while. It could have been a side effect of magnesium yesterday, mild dehydration or beginning or pre-term labor. Good news is that I am not having contractions now.
I'm not sure how I would have handled the situation if I'd been home, so I was thankful to have immediate access to nurses & doctors!

NICU

I had an IV of magnesium today. I was so nervouse about it!  I have just been "living" here in Baptist and not needing any extra shots or poking or medicines, so the thought of it made me a little anxious. I had talked to my high risk doctor over the weekend and discussed it being a good time to get the IV and one more steroid shot for baby's lungs. The meds are most effective for a 2 week period and she felt like if we get 2 more weeks of baby staying in utero, that we will be out of the zone of baby boy needing as much extra help. They have said that making it to 28+ weeks is a milestone (I'm approaching 29). That 30 would be better, 32 would be great & by getting to 34 they would expect the health of a full term baby (minus a few pounds)! I feel comfort that we took a proactive step. I began to fear a change occuring and not being able to get the medicine he needs quickly enough (24 hours to take effect). My biggest risk at this point is contractions. I don't have a history of pre-term labor, so we are praying this pregnancy will prove to be the same. The doctors tell me the uterus has an amazing ability to hold even when it's very thin.
I also visited the NICU for the first time this weekend. I wanted to prepare myself as much as I could for what to expect when baby boy is born. Baptist's NICU is amazing!!  Now, I don't have much to compare it to, but the technology in there is unprecidented. The nurse to baby ratio is 2:1 and sometimes 1:1. Although it was hard to imagine our little boy being 3 or 4 lbs with a feeding tube, the success and growth of the babies is trememendous and the staff encouraged me that it won't take too long for little boy Purifoy to get to a size that is comparable to full term babies at his same age. It was hardest for me to swallow that, depending on what gestation he is born, I may not be able to hold him for a while. Touch raises their heart rate and therefore makes their heart and lungs work harder when technically, as a preterm baby, they are not ready to be touched. I'm eating up all this information. It is so intriguing to me. Thank you again for all your prayer and support. I couldn't make it as sanely as I have without you!!

Seeing these make it much easier on me to be at the hospital...

VBS

Lego Camp (Camp Brick)

Sweet CeCes with friends



Bowling with on of our awesome babysitters, Mary Ellen