Ramey Michael- Birth Story and Hospital Stay

This is more for me to remember, than for all of you.  So I am going to be very detailed because I ask my mom every year to tell me my birth story on my birthday and I don’t want to forget a single thing about Ramey's!!!!

Warning!!! A lot of TMI but not as much as there could be  = )

Harry went to work at 2:00 pm.

Mom came over at 4:00 pm.  

Dad was boarding a plane for Minnesota at 4:30 pm.  

At 5:00, I sat up in bed and felt a pop.  I went to the restroom and I was pretty sure my water broke.  If it hadn't broken all the way, I was at least leaking something.  So we called labor and delivery and they said, “Come on in, girl.”  So I called Harry and told him what I thought was going on and he didn’t believe it.  He said he would stay at work until we knew what was going on. 

Mom and I gathered all my things and headed to the hospital.  Meanwhile, Dad was in the air somewhere between Oklahoma and Minnesota.  

Warning TMI:  as soon as I got out of the car my water gushed down my legs and I said to Mom, “It’s happening!”  I stood there in shock and Mom told me to go into the hospital.  I walked up to the counter.  I told the lady at the counter that my water had broken and mom walked in and saw my pants and said, “Oh my gosh!” That is when the nurses actually looked over the counter and saw my pants.  It was pretty embarrassing, but since it was after hours and a Sunday no one had been in the waiting room to see anything. Once the nurses saw my pants, they sprung into action.  No one else was in labor so I had three nurses taking care of me when I got there.  They took me to a room and mom texted dad so when he landed he would turn on his phone and see that my water had broken.  I was kinda of out of it because it was all so crazy that I put my gown on backwards and had to go back and change it.  

They got me checked in and I signed all of the papers and they got my iv started.  Of course my little veins gave them trouble and my first vein blew so they had to do another one.  Mom called Harry and he was trying to find someone to come into the pharmacy so he didn’t have to just shut it down.  Finally someone called him back and came in so he could come to the hospital.  Shortly after that Nini (my aunt) showed up. I wasn’t having any contractions, my luck… I have them for 14 weeks and then nothing!  They checked me and I was a 2-3.  

At 8:00pm they started pitocin to make me have contractions.   They nurse told me to tell her about 30 minutes before I wanted the epidural because the anesthesiologist would have to come in because he wasn’t at the hospital.  I wanted to wait and not get the epidural for awhile, but my mom and Nini really wanted me to get it as soon as I could (which was now.)  Then Liz, my nurse came back in and said that the anesthesiologist was already on his way anyways so I could get it as soon as he got there if I wanted, so I told her okay.  

Well the pitocin started working right after I told her I would take the epidural when he got there.  The contractions would not stop.  I didn’t have 5 seconds between the end of one and the beginning of another.  I was in so much pain and couldn’t breathe or catch my breath between them.  I called Liz and told her and they stopped the pitocin. I laid on my side because Ramey didn’t like the pitocin and his heart rate dropped.  The contractions got a little bit better but were still pretty bad but not as bad.  

They checked me again around 9:30 and I was a 5.  Then the anesthesiologist got there and got me ready for the epidural.  I was pretty nervous but once it was in I felt much better.  While I was getting the epidural I did have a few contractions but nothing like it was before.  After the epidural, I could just feel a little bit of pressure when I would have a contraction, but I was only having one every 15-30 minutes.  I got the shakes pretty bad which sometimes happens, so it made it so I couldn’t sleep because I was shaking so bad.  My blood pressure also dropped so they put some oxygen on me.  I was laying on my side listening to some classical music just trying to relax.  Ramey kept going off of the monitor so they were going to put in an internal monitor, which goes under the skin on the top of his head.  I really didn’t want that.  They had the package open and everything ready when another nurse came in to check to see if she could get him on the monitor and she did, thank goodness.  She said she doesn’t like to use the internal monitor if she doesn’t have to.  I know that is isn’t a big deal, but I really didn’t want a little thing in Ramey’s head, so I was glad that we didn’t have to.  

Meanwhile Katherine and Ryan got to the hospital and so did my best friend since 6^th grade, Katie.

Around 11:30, they came in to check me again but I hadn’t noticed any contractions and if I was having any they weren’t registering on my monitor, and the nurse thought that surely I wasn’t measuring what she thought I was so she brought in other nurse and had her check me.  She said, “How does June 24^th for a birthday sound?”  There was only 30 minutes left in the day!!! None of us could believe it since I had gone from a 5-10 in 2 hours and was at a +2!  Normally it takes one hour per centimeter.  So I was ready to push, they just had to get everything ready and set up and call the doctor.  My doctor was out of town of course, so Dr. Bishop was going to be my doctor.  I had never met her but all of the doctors are Lakeside are great, so I wasn’t worried. 

Rewind to what was going on with Dad.  He got off his plane and immediately called mom.  He was so mad and upset that my water broke as soon as he got on the plane.  There was a flight back but it was booked and he couldn’t get on.  The people for the airline said there were no other options and that he couldn’t get out.  Katherine and Ryan got on the computer and found a flight to Dallas at 7:30pm.  He got booked on that flight and was in Dallas around 10, I think.  There was a 10:30pm flight from Dallas to OKC.  If he couldn’t get on that flight he was going to rent a car and get back as soon as he could.  At this point we thought I would be in labor for quite a while, we had no idea it would go so fast!  The 10:30 flight was booked.  He was going to offer $500-$1000 to someone to get on that flight, but we realized with security and everything that he couldn’t just get on the flight that way.  Dad told them what was going on and he was so upset that Delta offered $200 and 2 vouchers to anyone who would give up their seat.  No one would.  Dad even tried to put money on top of their offer, but they said he couldn’t do it.  Some woman high up in the Delta family heard what was going on and said they would pay $600 and 2 vouchers for anyone who would give up their seat.  Someone said to her that she couldn’t do that and she said, "yes I can!"  So 2 people volunteered and dad got on the flight.  He landed and called mom at 11:45pm and said he was on his way.  At this point we were prepping me to push.  We didn’t want Dad to speed and get in a wreck or a ticket, so Mom just said, “She is progressing, just get here when you can.” 

After Mom got off the phone, Ramey’s heart rate dropped super low, I think it was in the 70’s (it has been 140s) so the nurse started massaging his head.  They were trying to feel if the cord was wrapped around his neck or compressed against his head but couldn’t feel anything.  Since we didn’t know why his heart rate had dropped so much, we had to wait for the doctor to push.  Normally the doctor just sweeps in the last push to catch the baby. 

Ramey’s heart rate went back up once Liz massaged his head for awhile and everything was okay for the time being.

We heard a knock at the door and assumed it was the doctor and said come in.  We heard “Little girl!” which is what my dad calls me and we all yelled, “Stop!”  Remember I was ready to push and everything was hanging out!  Thank goodness there was a curtain drawn and we stopped Dad in time.  They covered me up so Dad could come in and see me before I pushed.  We used this opportunity to let Sissy, Ryan, and Nini come in to since we were still waiting on the doctor.  

At this point it was about 12:05pm, so his birthday would be June 25^th- the day before Harry’s birthday and 2 days after our 5^th anniversary.  Liz said that I would probably only have to push 5 or 6 times!

Dr. Bishop got there and it was time to go.  Dr. Bishop checked me and said I was a 10 but actually at station 0 and not +2.  She thought whenever they had to massage Ramey’s head he got pushed back up.  So I would have to push longer than anticipated.  I pushed for awhile but wasn’t pushing as much as Dr. Bishop wanted or need me to and after each push Ramey’s heart rate would drop.  Normally if the baby’s rate drops it is during the push not afterwards.  The other weird thing is I wasn’t having many contractions at all.  I would have them every 7-10 minutes.  So instead of pushing 3 pushes per contraction, I was doing 4 because we didn’t know when the next contraction would be.   Dr. Bishop told me that I needed to push harder or she would need to help Ramey come out and I really didn’t want her to use the vacuum or forceps. 

Liz grabbed a towel and held on one end and I held on the other.  I would pull as hard as I could on the towel while she did the same thing and push at the same time.  It just gives you something to focus on and really helps.  

It was pretty funny because Mom was telling me to pull (meaning the towel) and Liz was telling me to push.  Katherine said they were so confused in the hallway.  And Harry got so tongue-tied because they were both saying different things that some gibberish came out of his mouth and we all burst out laughing (even the doctor) in the middle of pushing.  Everyone outside the door didn't know what was going on in the room!

Once I had the towel I only pushed about 5 or 6 times, I think.  His head came out and normally you wait for the next contraction which is a a minute or two later, but since mine were so far apart, Dr. Bishop had me push another time and out he came!

He was so purple at first and wasn’t breathing yet.  They put him up on my chest and I really couldn’t believe that he was here.  He was born at 1:03am. He weighed 7 lbs 5 ounces and was 19 inches long.  They took him over to his little area and I guess had to suction out his lungs twice because he was gurgley, I didn’t know this info for a couple of days and glad I didn’t know at the time.  His first apgar score was a 7 and his 2nd was an 8.

Harry took Ramey to the door so Dad, Katherine, Ryan, Nini, and Harry’s Dad could see him.  Then I got to do skin-to-skin (also called- kangaroo care, which I did a huge project on in college).  After we did this for awhile, Harry went with the nursery nurse to give Ramey his first bath.  He wasn’t too happy about it.  Then they came back and we went to sleep… I think.  I was so exhausted, I don’t remember a lot after his bath.

From the time my water broke to delivery it was 8 hours and 3 minutes!  My mom was in labor with me for 21 hours and most first time moms are in labor much longer than I was.  I think God gave me a pretty easy labor and delivery since my pregnancy was so difficult.  I had been so nervous and afraid I would not be able to push Ramey out since I was so weak and exhausted from the 71 days of bed rest!  But I did it!  I couldn’t believe it. 

Since I had Ramey so early in the morning we basically got an extra day at the hospital, three nights.  We were in the same room that I had Ramey until about 3pm that day and then they moved me to a smaller room with a much more comfortable bed.

Katherine was so excited to see her nephew again that she came up at 8:30am on Monday morning.  She was the first person in the family that got to hold him.  We had a ton of visitors while at the hospital and it was great to see everyone love on our little guy.

Everyone who came in the room (ie. nurses, hearing check lady, photographer, etc) said how much hair he has!  I had dark hair but not anywhere near as much as Ramey.  Harry calls it his “money maker,” lol.

Dr. Adair, our pediatrician came every day to see Ramey and check on him.  She said he was perfect!  She did say that he was still losing weight but could lose up to 12 ounces, which would be 10% of his birth weight.  We had an appointment on Friday, the 29^th for his first visit and she would check his weight again then.

My feet started to swell horribly after I had Ramey.  I had at least 4 bags of fluid so that is the main cause.  But since I was on bed rest my feet didn’t swell like normal pregnant ladies, so mine had to make up for all of it in a day.  They hurt so bad and I asked every new shift nurse about them and the doctor but they all said they were fine.  It just really concerned me because I had never seen my feet look anything like that before and I hadn’t read anything about feet swelling after the baby.  

Ramey and I were also suppose to get a massage before leaving the hospital.  On Monday evening I started asking people about it.  On Tuesday, they said that is normally the morning you leave.  So Wednesday morning, I asked the morning shift nurse and she was on top of it!  She went to find out where the lady was and of course she wasn’t there that day!  I just knew this would happen.   But she said I could call and schedule and appointment for free for Ramey and I.  I just wanted my stupid massage!

They took Ramey to get circumcised around 9:00am on Wednesday (7-27-12).  I had cuddled him all morning because I knew it was coming.  I was not happy at all about it but it wasn’t an option for us to not have it done.  They came and got him and brought him back 35-45 minutes later, he was 2^nd in line to go.  They brought him back and the nurse said he did great.  He cried harder having his diaper changed!  (Which he still hates most of the time.)

We were all ready to go around 10:30am, check out was 11:00.  So we called the nurse and Harry loaded up the car.  She came in and cut off all of our bracelets and made sure they all had corresponding numbers, meaning we all belonged to each other!  Then Harry pulled the car around and we put him in his carrier and went outside.  The nurse was so sweet because we asked her to take a picture and then she got all fancy and said, “Oh, now you go over there, and you do this.”  She was as excited as we were, it was precious. 

All of the nurses for me and for Ramey were amazing.  I couldn’t have asked for a better experience there, minus missing my massage, lol.  It was annoying to be woken up at 6:00am to get blood drawn and vitals taken every few hours, but it goes with having a baby at a hospital I guess.  (not that I would ever do a home birth!)

Mom was waiting for us at home, so I called her once we were in the car.  About 5 minutes later she called me back and said, “Were the cleaners suppose to clean today?” because they had just showed up at the house.  Obviously we needed to reschedule and I had completely forgotten it was Wednesday.  They weren’t even upset or anything, they were so excited I had had Ramey since they had seen me on bed rest.


I'll post some pictures later!

More to come later about being at home…..

37 Weeks... thought we were having a baby last night!

On Monday we had our weekly doctors appointment.
I was measuring 1 cm dilated and 60-70% effaced.  I asked the doctor when she thought I would have him and all she said was "You'll still be pregnant next week."  Which I am totally fine with because I want him to cook as long as he needs.
It has been really hard for me to finally say "Okay, I want to have him now" since I have tried so hard for 11 weeks to keep him in with bed rest and all of the medicines and shots.  Plus I'm freaking out that he will be here soon!

I've been slowly coming off bed rest, since my muscles are so weak, so I try to get up and get around the house more, do some chores and things around the house, go out and do things (ie. got some makeup at the mall, got a pedicure, went to Barnes and Noble) but then I come home and take long naps because it wears me out so much.  But it is getting better and I can do a little more each day.
For Father's Day, we went over to Mom and Dad's house and grilled out and watched the Thunder game.  I had to go lay down in Mom and Dad's room because the big recliners in the theater room were making me have contractions every 5-6 minutes.  They got better once I laid down.
Harry had a good Father's Day.  I was going to get up and make him cereal, lol, for breakfast but he beat me up and actually made me blueberry pancakes.  What a sweet hubby!
I got him a board book, Daddy Hugs from Ramey and also got him an International and Domestic Beer of the Month Club for a year.  He always likes to try out new beers or if we are on vacation whatever the local beers are, so I thought it was perfect for him!  I can't wait for him to get the first shipment!

Warning TMI: Yesterday, Tuesday, I thought I might be leaking amniotic fluid.  I wasn't sure and it wasn't all the time, but it was freaking me out.  Then last night as the Thunder game was starting I had a few contractions about 4 minutes apart, so I thought well I'll call Labor and Delivery and see what they say to do.  Of course they told me to come in.

So we grabbed all of my stuff and headed to the hospital.  I had read online that if you are leaking fluid they will probably induce because if you are leaking there is a chance of infection.  I was okay with it because I am full term as of today!

So we got there and they put us in a real room, not the normal non-stress test room I normally go to.  They had me change and the nurse said, "Well if you are going to breastfeed, leave your bra off." And I thought, okay this could really happen!!!  So they did a little swab thing to see if I was leaking an hooked me up to the monitors to see if I was having contractions.  Harry was fine with everything because he was in a big rocking recliner and was watching the game.  But he was freaking out a little bit too.

Well the test came back negative so that was good, I wasn't leaking amniotic fluid but I was having contractions every 2-3 minutes.  They weren't too bad but started to hurt more the longer I was there.  The nurse checked me and just couldn't tell what I was dilated too.  She didn't even want to tell me what she was thinking because she wasn't sure.  She did say that she could feel his head because he was so low.  And she also said she couldn't feel the sack.  She finally told us she thought I was at a 6!  That is when Harry started freaking out!  He said "I didn't shave!"  Because I have been telling him to shave his gross beard for weeks!  So I have a pretty good feeling he will shave tonight!  Anyways,
she went to get another nurse and had her check me.  This nurse said she was really stingy.  She said I was actually a 2, that made me feel better, and said the other nurse was accidentally measuring the outer cervix?  I have no idea what that means, but I am glad the 2nd nurse checked me.  She also said she felt his head and he was really low.
So they wanted to monitor me longer and then would check me again.  A Thunder loss and an hour later, they checked me again.  Still a 2.
She said the doctor said I could go home or be monitored for another hour.  I chose another hour, just to be safe and to see if there was any more change.  The contractions were hurting pretty good but weren't that consistent.  So we waited until midnight and then she checked me again.  Still a 2, so we were allowed to go home.

She said to come home and try to get some sleep and relax.  I am still having some contractions but not many at all.  I am wondering if the monitor that was on my stomach was making me have so many contractions because any time someone touches my stomach or I stand or sit or change positions I have a contraction, so I am thinking the monitor was really upsetting my uterus and making me contract.  I have no idea, but I had never had so many and that close to together.  I have had them 5 or 6 minutes apart for 30 minutes or so, but not 2-3 minutes apart for 3 hours and then just go away.

But today I am feeling fine.  Just alot of pressure since he is so stinkin low!  But I am just glad I made it to 37 weeks!  At one point my goal was just 29 weeks, crazy to imagine!  So glad he will be a full term baby!

Thanks for reading!
Meredith

36 Weeks on Wednesday!

Not much has happened in the last 2 weeks.  I did have a fabulous baby shower on Sunday.  I got to see so many of my great friends and family.  It was fabulous.  I will post pictures on facebook later.  The pictures are on Harry's camera and I don't know where the cord is and he's at work.  Anyways, Ramey is pretty much set on the things he needs.  There were still some essentials that we needed so I made a very detailed list (with pictures) and Mom and Dad went to Target and Babies R Us and got the rest of the things we needed.  I am realizing throughout this pregnancy how Type A and anal I actually am.  I don't like not being able to do things on my own the way I want it done.  That has been one of the hardest parts of this bed rest.  Letting other do everything for me.  But I couldn't have done this without the help of my family and hubby!

I went to the doctor today.  

Two weeks ago I was a fingertip dilated and 10% effaced.  

Today, I am 1 cm dilated and 50% effaced and he is at -2 station.

ON WEDNESDAY, I AM OFF OF MY MEDICINE AND GO OFF OF BED REST!!!!!

At this point if I go into labor they aren't going to stop it or do anything, so he could be here any day, especially since I am going off my medicine.  I have been having a lot of contractions the last 4 days, like every 10-20 minutes but they haven't been too painful.

Now I will be off bed rest because 37 weeks is full term, but I'm still going to take it pretty easy since I have been confined to a bed for 70 days my muscles have really weakened and I get so tired doing nothing, but need to get some of my strength back before the baby is here.  But I do have my priorities straight and have a hair appointment scheduled for Thursday since it is been forever since I've had a color and cut, and I would like my hair to look decent when he does decide to make his appearance.

Since he could be here any day, I finished his baby blanket today, finished writing my thank you cards from my shower and finished reading my 3rd baby book!  My bags are packed for the hospital, his swing is up and running, got my diaper bag and monitor in the mail, and we are good on diapers and wipes!  I feel a lot more prepared for him to come than I did a week ago.

I would like to keep him cookin until 37 weeks or more, but it will be okay if he comes at this point, but keep praying that he stays in a little while longer!  Thank you all of your prayers, kind words and support throughout this whole pregnancy!!!  I have felt very loved!

Meredith

34 Weeks... Yay!

34 weeks.. and Ellie looks pissed, lol

I haven't blogged in awhile but not that much has happened... which is good!
Last Tuesday I had my weekly doctor's appointment.  I was 10% effaced and dilated barely a pinky finger tip.  The doctor was not concerned so I'm not either.
I had an ultrasound on Tuesday.  Ramey is weighing 5 lbs and 4 oz!  My cervix is measuring 2.9.  I asked the ultrasound lady if the cervix can grow from the progesterone shots and she said no.  It only slows down the cervix from shrinking.  So we think that the 3.3 measurement was probably the one that was not very accurate.  She said it is hard to measure and it depends on who is measuring it and how they see it.  But the good news is that is barely under 3. where they want it, and it hasn't gotten shorter than 2.8 which was my measurement a month ago when they started to worry.  So the shots are working and my continued contractions aren't changing my cervix much if it is changing.
Then yesterday, I saw the doctor and she was happy with the 2.9.  I probably won't even have another ultrasound because I have been having them every 2 weeks and that would put me at 36 weeks, which is almost full term.  Also, I probably won't have another fetal fibronectin either because the next time I would need it is next week and that is 35 weeks.  The doctor said at this point we wouldn't do anything different if it came back positive anyways.  So that is exciting!  She said we would stop all of the medicine (procardia every 4 hours- which is fun because I have to set an alarm to wake up at 2:30am and 6:30am to take it) and no more painful progesterone shots in my booty!  Harry feels so bad doing them because the needle is like an inch and a half long and blunt because the medicine is so thick.  I have been sitting on an ice pack before the shot which helps, thanks for the recommendation ladies, but it still hurts.  So the end is coming close and I think I could actually make it full term!  Keep your fingers crossed and praying!

In other bed rest news, my mom thought it would be a good idea to get a shower chair.  I contract when I stand up and especially when I'm standing in the shower, so my dad got me a shower chair.  I feel like such and old woman, but it has been really helpful and I don't dread and get scared to take showers anymore.  But once I am an 80 year old woman I will already have my shower chair and won't need to buy a new one, lol.

My sweet hubby commented the other week, while I was laying in labor and delivery- such good timing on his part, how horrible my toe nails looked.  I had luckily gotten a pedicure the weekend before I was put on bed rest.  Well that was 8 weeks ago... so they were looking pretty rough.  So he said he would paint them!  He was not happy I took a picture, but here is proof of what a fabulous husband I have!!!

My amazing Mom, Dad, and Harry went up to school on a Saturday and then again on Memorial Day and cleaned out my classroom.  It was quite the task!  They had to get a Uhaul and we now have a storage unit!  Since about 3/4 of my classroom is my stuff and about 1/4 belongs to the school, it was a pretty big job!  Mom would call me and describe something and I would tell her if it belonged to me or the school.  Sometimes I would have no clue what she was describing so she would put all of that on a table and take a picture and send it to me and then we would go over it that way.  It was so stressful that I started having more contractions, not fun!  But we got it done.    And it didn't help that a sub was in my room for 7 weeks and I don't know where she put some things or where some of my curriculum was because she didn't know where it came from in the first place.  I am just glad it is done and I turned my keys in.  For those of you that don't know, I am staying home with Ramey.  As of right now, I am on extended leave of absence, which means I can go back to Deer Creek next school year.  I would like to stay home longer but we aren't sure how long I can stay home because of all of Harry's wonderful student loans.  We are hoping I can be home for years, but it is nice to know that I can go back next year if I need to and won't have to re-interview and all of that stuff.
Here is a picture of just my closet to give you a little idea of all of the stuff I have and how messy it got throughout the year!!! But I knew where everything in there was!

Ramey's room is coming together nicely.  I went in there the other day and laid down on the floor with a pillow while Mom organized.  I think everything is where I want it.  Mom has washed and folder or hung up all of his precious little clothes too!  I am a pretty OCD person when it comes to organization, so it wasn't the easiest job for Mom because I had an idea of how I wanted everything.  I ordered some amazing pictures for his room and Mom and Dad went to Hobby Lobby and got some frames and mattes for them (which also wasn't an easy job because they wanted to make sure it was exactly what I wanted).  So they would find a frame and send me a picture and the same with the mattes.  But all of that hard work paid off because they look AMAZING!!!! I will post pictures once his room is done!

I always had a plan to have cleaners come before the baby was here to do a really good cleaning to the house and then a couple times after the baby was here so I didn't have to worry about it.  Well I got an amazing Groupon for 3 2-hour house cleaning and thought that would be perfect.  I went to call last week and all of their numbers were no longer working and their website was no longer a website!  I was thinking "seriously!!! Another Groupon disappointment!!!!" but I emailed them and was refunded the full amount.  Then I just asked for recommendations from my wonderful friends on fb!  Thanks everyone who send me names and numbers!  So yesterday, a team of 3 ladies came over and cleaned my house from top to bottom for 4 hours for $100! I think it was totally worth it!  They cleaned everything including but not limited too (lol): under the stove top (which I didn't even know it could do!), blinds, windows, all cushions off the couch, top of fridge, emptied the trash, made the bed, doors, base boards, and of course all of the normal stuff cleaning companies do!  I was so excited and happy that they came!

Sunday, I have a baby shower!  I'm so excited!  It was going to be at one of my best friend's house, thanks Kali, but we decided to move it to my house so I don't have to get out and can really lounge.  We also thought it would be a good idea for a come and go shower so it will be really low key.  I can't wait!!!

I hope you all have a fabulous week!
Meredith

9 Days and 5 trips to Labor and Delivery

32 Weeks- Day 44 of Bed Rest

I'm 32 weeks and 1 day today.  Today and yesterday were good days but you need to know how the last week has been!!!

Last time I updated I had just had the positive fetal fibronectin and been to Labor and Delivery once.

Last Wednesday, Well I went back the next day to get the 2nd shot to mature Ramey's lungs and when I was there I told them I had been having some cramping, so they wanted to monitor me again.  So I did another non-stress test, and I had a few contractions, but nothing big, so I went home.

Last Thursday, Then that night I woke up at 4:00am and had 6 contractions in an hour.  That is the magic number when you call the doctor.  But since I have had so many they told me to change positions, get up and go to the bathroom, drink a bunch of water, and see what happens the next hour.  Well I fell asleep around 6:00 and hadn't had many that second hour so I felt better.  I woke up around 8:30 and was okay for a little bit but then started having the contractions again, I had 3 in 30 minutes, so I didn't want to wait for the 12 in 2 hours since I had so many that night, so I went ahead and called and they told me to come in and get monitored again.  This time I had a few big ones when I was there, so they decided to up my procardia medicine to from every 8 hours to every 6 hours.  And it has really seemed to help.

Friday, Last week was Teacher Appreciation week and my wonderful kindergarten parents spoiled me even though I wasn't at school.  My homeroom mom brought me lunch and all kinds of presents from the parents.  I got baby clothes, board books, an OU blanket and monogrammed burp cloths from the biggest OSU fans, gift cards, and yummy treats.  One of my moms makes amazing cupcakes that she dips the bottom in some kind of amazing chocolate (so it doesn't have a cupcake liner on the bottom) and brought some to me to have too!

Sunday. Mother's Day!  It was a great day!  Harry made me breakfast in bed (which I get every day since I am in bed all the time, lol) but he made me blueberry pancakes and bacon.  It was delicious.  Then he gave me a card from him and Ellie and one from Ramey.  He scribbled inside because he said that was more realistic than when people write the name and put letters backwards.  He is funny.  And then he got me beautiful flowers and a gorgeous necklace.  What a good hubby and daddy!
Then Mom and Dad came over and they got me flowers too.  Luckily my sweet hubby thought ahead and got a card for me to give to my mom too since I couldn't get out to get her one so I still got to give my mom something and Katherine got her a book from both of us.

 Typical Day of my parents and sister here

Hanging Out

Monday rolled around and I had a doctors appointment.  I went to the doctors appointment and she didn't check my cervix or anything because I was getting an ultrasound on Wednesday and it can tell actual measurements, so she said to just keep doing what I am doing.  I told her I was having some cramping but we thought it was just the stupid ibs problems again.
About an hour or so after that appointment my lower right stomach and right side back were KILLING me.  I was basically writhing in pain it hurt so bad.  I couldn't lay on either side, which is how I am suppose to lay while on bed rest, and couldn't do anything but think about how bad my pain was.  I called Labor and Delivery about 7 and they told me to come in.  They had me give a urine sample like always and hooked me up to the monitors.  It came back that I was pretty dehydrated so they had me drink a ton of water and then decided that they would also give me a bag of iv fluids.  Well I know I have tiny veins but apparently they were nearly invisible.  Two nurses looked for a good 20 minutes until they found one they thought would work okay.  Luckily it worked and they only had to stick me once.  Once I got some fluids I felt a little better.  They also upped my procardia again from every 6 hours to every 4 hours.  Harry got off work at 10:00 so he came up there and Mom still stayed for awhile.  Then my pain level was alot lower, I say it was about an 8 or a 9 when I got there and about a 2 after the fluids.  My side still hurt but not anything like it was.  They basically said I was just dehydrated and that would make my stomach and sides cramp.  So we went home.

About an hour or so after we got home it started hurting again.  Not as bad, maybe a 5, but not good.
I woke up about 3:00am and was writhing in pain again.  I waited an hour to see if it would go away but it didn't, so I called the hospital back and luckily one of the nurses that had helped me when I was there answered.  I told her I was still having alot of pain in my side.  She told me to drink a ton of water and if it wasn't better in 45 minutes to call back.  Well it did get quite a bit better and I fell asleep.

Tuesday, my side was still achy and just didn't feel right but was much better than it had been.  Harry went to work and Mom came over.  Throughout the day my side would feel like it would catch on something and I would get a stab or pain or it would just hurt and hurt for an hour and then go away.  Mom and I were looking online trying to figure out what it could be and I had alot of symptoms of kidney stones.  I have had a kidney infection before and more UTIs and bladder infections than I can count, and Mom has had kidney stones, so it wouldn't be an insane idea.  It also said it is more common for pregnant ladies to get kidney stones than no pregnant ladies and if you eat alot of berries and nuts you could be more prone.  I am eating blueberries, strawberries, soy nuts and peanut butter every day!  So we decided if I had another "spell" we would call labor and delivery again.
Of course it happened again around 5:00 and they said it could be that, but they really thought it was back labor and contractions.  I kept telling them that my uterus was not contracting and getting hard (I think I would know since I have had contractions since 23 weeks!) but they were just sure that is what it was.  So Harry got off at 5:00 so we waited for him to get home and then went up there.
I wasn't dehydrated this time because Mom was making me drink so much water all day I thought I was going to get water poisoning.  They hooked me up and saw that I wasn't really having any contractions.    So I told them when my back was hurting, the monitor wasn't showing anything, so I think they realized it wasn't contractions, which I had been telling them.
They thought it could possibly be kidney stones so they gave me a shot of demerol to help with the pain.  It made me very dizzy, faint and nauseous, but it worked.  My pain went from an 8 to a 1.  Since I was scheduled for an ultrasound in the morning they added to it and wanted them to check my kidneys.  They said I could stay overnight and they could watch me or I could go home with some medicine and to come back if it got worse.  So I opted for home because I thought there was no way I could sleep at the hospital.  So they gave me some lortab for the pain and Harry asked for a prescription of phenergan gel since I got so nauseous with the demerol.  And we came home.
I took the lortab and went to bed and slept great.

Wednesday morning we went to the doctor for the ultrasound.  I hadn't had any lortab since 2:30am and my side still felt fine, which was good.  They looked at little Ramey and he is measuring 33 weeks and 4.7lbs.  Everything about him looks great.  They checked my cervix and it has GROWN from a 2.8 to a 3.3.  So the progestrone shots are working great.  Harry gave me one on Tuesday and did a great job too!  They also didn't see any kidney stones but I do have a mild case of hydronephrosis.  This is the simplest explanation I found: very common and almost always is on the right side because genetically our uterus's typically tilt towards the left.  Over 50% of pregnant women get it and only rarely is any surgical action taken to correct it (ie a stint being placed in the ureter that is being pushed on by the uterus). It like a hose with running water in it being stepped on where it slows the flow of the urine.


I am glad they found something because I was thinking I was crazy because they just didn't know what it was.  But the rest of the day Wednesday and all of today, I have felt fine.  I also found that it said it comes and goes with pain, but I still have the lortab so I am good to go!  I obviously won't take it if I don't need it, but tylenol did nothing for the pain.

Here are some baby Ramey pictures!

 Looking from below up

Well I wrote more than a novel.  Have a great day!!!
Thanks for reading!

Not the best news....

Tomorrow I will be 31 weeks.  Today I had my regular every 2 week appointment.  I'm still having contractions and the doctor checked my cervix and said it was still "high and closed" as far as she could tell.  I have another ultrasound in 2 weeks to check exactly how thick or thin it is.  But she wanted to do another fetal fibronectin test to see if the chemical was present that would suggest that I could have the baby in 2 weeks.  

The test is good for 2 weeks and the past 3 that I have had have all come back negative.  Well of course, this one came back positive.  So the doctor called me, which was scary enough because it wasn't one of the nurses, and she told me to take a deep breath and told me the test was positive and she wanted me to come into labor and delivery so they could monitor my contractions for awhile and give me a couple of shots.  She wanted me to get a progesterone shot to help my cervix not shorten any more. I will receive this shot every week until 36 weeks (I believe) and she said that Harry could give it to me because he can give shots.  And another shot (a steroid) to help mature Ramey's lungs in case he is here early.  I have to get another one of these shots tomorrow.

So Mom and I went up to labor and delivery and I was monitored for about an hour.  I didn't have any contractions (of course I had some when I got home, but not many and not regular at all.while I was there) and got the 2 shots.  And they hurt!  The progesterone shot is really thick so they can't use the sharpest needle because it would take too long for me to get the medicine so they have to use a bigger, basically blunter needle, and it still took forever for it to go in.  And they gave me one in each hip, so my hips are sore.  And they sent me home.  I go back tomorrow for the 2nd steroid shot to mature those little lungs.

I did some research on the fetal fibronectin test and found this information on babycenter.com

The fetal fibronectin (fFN) test can't tell you for sure that you are in labor, but it can tell you that you're not. This is useful because in the early stages of preterm labor, it's very difficult to tell if a woman really is in labor based on her symptoms and a pelvic exam.

A negative result on the fFN test means it's highly unlikely that you'll give birth in the next week or two, which can set your mind at ease and allow your practitioner to hold off on treatments that may not be needed. 

A positive result, on the other hand, is not as useful. It means you're at a higher risk of giving birth early, but it doesn't guarantee that you're about to give birth or that you'll deliver early at all, so it won't help your practitioner decide how to manage your situation.

One website said your chances of having the baby in the next 2 weeks is 3 in 10 and another said 1 in 6, so all prayers for this baby to stay in as long as possible would be GREATLY appreciated!!!  Some people still go full-term with positive tests.

In other news, at the doctors office I did have a small panic attack and this was pre-fetal fibronectin test results.  I have always had a high heart rate. I actually went an saw a cardiologist at the end of March just to check everything out because my heart rate was so high the first time I went into labor and delivery that the machine would not stop beeping and they had to turn it off.  So Dad talked to one of his doctors, remember my dad sells pacemakers, and the doctor saw me just to check everything out.  I had an echo and ultrasound on my heart and everything is perfect, I just have a fast rate.

Anyways, today my rate was 156, my normal pre-pregnant is normally 90-100.  So the doctor was concerned today and we got it down to 120 then 113 once I calmed down but then I got dizzy and had to lay down because I was starting to really worry about it.  So the doctor gave me a number for a doctor to see about my anxiety.  I have always had little panic attacks about certain things and she is afraid if I don't get it under control now I will have post-pardum depression.  I was in the process of setting up an appointment when the doctor called and told me to come back to labor and delivery.  So needless to say, this hasn't been the best day.

Yesterday was rough too because all of my 22 precious kindergarten babies were getting their awards at school.  As of last week I was planning on going, but then was put back on very strict bed rest after my ultrasound.  I cried when I found out I couldn't go.  I miss those little kids so much it is crazy.  This is the best part of the year and I don't get to be there to see how huge their brains have grown.

In other news, Wednesday my team had a baby shower for me.  Well actually, the teachers brought presents to school and one of my team members brought them to me.  I really wanted to see everyone and thank them in person, but that wasn't in the cards.  Thank you wonderful Deer Creek Elementary teachers!  I love you and miss you all!

Mom and Dad went to Babies R Us and got me some essentials if this baby boy is here early, which is a definite possibility, so I am feeling a little bit better if he is here early because I have some of the things I need now.  I ordered a changing pad and bassinet and they are suppose to be here Wednesday and Thursday.  

Harry has been running all over too trying to get things for the baby room too.  But being a great hubby, he won't just buy something, he will find what he thinks I want and send me a picture before he buys anything.  And it is good thing he does because it normally takes a few tries before he gets the right idea.  And he surprises me with delicious treats when he leaves work.  I'm very blessed to have such a kind and caring hubby.

My sweet sister has finals this week but has been coming over for study breaks and is texting me throughout the day so I don't get too bored.  She is also looking for houses with her hubby, so she stops by for bathroom breaks when they are out driving around Edmond, lol.  She wanted me to mention this.

One of my very best and sweetest friends brought her precious little one over the other day with lunch and kept me company for awhile too.  And brought me some of Everett's old clothes for little Ramey to wear!  Thank you BF!

  

And of course, Ellie has been keeping me company.  That big thing to the right of her head is my belly.  She likes to lay right on top of it or under it and Ramey kicks her repeatedly but she never moves.  She loves her Mommy and doesn't like that she can't lay directly on top of me. 

Ellie with pregnant belly.

Ellie pre-pregnant cuddling.  She is laying the whole length of my body, lol.

That is all for now.  I'll update you if anything else happens!  Thanks for reading!

Meredith

Back to Strict Bed Rest...

Here are some "sneak peek" pictures from the materity pictures that the amazing 

Shannon Foster of www.photojunky.com took on Friday.

Well I had been taken off "strict" bed rest and could "putter around the house" and go out to eat occasionally, which I never actually did, and could go to my baby classes and take maternity pictures.  Well I had an ultrasound today to check my cervix and see how Ramey is growing and my cervix has shortened to 2.8 cm, they want it between 3-5cm, so I'm back to strict bed rest.  It isn't that much different than what I have been doing anyways, Mom doesn't like me walking around the house or doing anything for myself when she is here, but the whole idea of it is frustrating.  And I was going to go to my kids award ceremony on Monday morning, but now I can't.  It makes me so sad I can't see them again before the year is out.
Other things we learned from the ultrasound... Ramey is a big little boy.  He weighs 3.9 lbs and is measuring 10 days big putting him at 31 weeks and 3 days when I should be 30 weeks.  However, I know the day I ovulated even though doctor use the last period, that puts him about 3 days ahead of where I think he should be.
But he was being a stinker and was VERY low and we couldn't see his face or measure his head or my cervix the "normal" ultrasound way, so they had to do it the "fun" way.  But we still didn't get to see his face at all.  But the tech said it did look like he had some hair!  The only picture we got was a thumbs up.  This little boy is going to trouble, just like his Daddy!

For those of you that didn't see my facebook on Saturday, here is a little story for you....
Alright people I had to yell at someone on the phone today, this is only the 2nd time in my life I have had to do this. First, Do NOT go to Salon 9309 at Penn and Britton. 
So I have been on bed rest for 27 days and had a Groupon that was expiring for a facial on Monday so I made an appointment and mom drove me there. We thought a facial would be okay since I would just be laying there and relaxing. Well, I got there and they had double booked the appointment. They had my name and number down wrong but my groupon number correct. They called this imaginary person and she said that she hasn't made an appointment so they booked someone else instead. Well I show up and they just automatically give the appointment to the other person even though I made the appointment first and someone else had obviously made an appointment because they still had the groupon number. So mom brings me home, I was crying because I was so excited about actually getting out of the house for something other than a doctor's appointment. I had been looking forward to this for 2 weeks! So mom called and bitched them out and the lady who was suppose to do the facial called me back later. After alot of "it isn't my fault you wrote down the wrong name AND number you should have known someone was coming for an appointment" she was not apologetic at all and I told her that I would have to arrange for a driver again and she said, "Well if that doesn't work, would you like a refund from groupon?" and I said "yes because I don't want to come back to your salon." And I asked what if groupon doesn't give me a refund and she said then I could still use the money on it but would have to pay the difference since it would be after the expiration date. I told her she was crazy and that I didn't do anything wrong and if they didn't refund, I would not be paying any extra and the groupon would still apply for the same services. She then got tired of me and realized I wasn't backing down and finally said, Ok fine! I have already emailed groupon and hope that I get my refund because I will not be going back to Salon 9309 and none of you should either!!!
Update: Groupon did refund my money and this salon isn't going to get a penny from me!

On Sunday, Mom and Dad came over and put up the trees that are going in the nursery.  Now these trees seemed like a great idea when I found them on Etsy.  However, they came from China and came with directions in Chinese.  There were some directions in English but they didn't make any sense at all so we basically used our 3 brains and the pictures.  It was like a huge puzzle.  There was 26 different pieces for 3 trees all mixed up and we had to label the parts ourselves using the pictures because they weren't already labeled on the actual tree just the directions.  The trees still aren't done, we still need to add about 6 more branches and all of the leaves, so I am not going to post all of the pictures yet because I want you to see the finished product.  So far they look amazing and better than I thought they would!

But here is a sneak peek!

Harry and I had our Caring for Your Baby class on Monday.  I actually already knew alot of the stuff since I have been reading the baby books, so that made me feel better, but I still learned some good info.  I still need some practice on swaddling though, I've never been good at it, but I'm sure I will have plenty of practice once the little guy is here.

I had asked for recommendations on pediatricians earlier and had gotten a list of preferred ones from my doctor.  Well, I have decided to go with my old pediatrician, Dr. Adair.  She was my doctor from age 1 or 2 until I was 21.  She basically had to kick me out because I loved her so much, I didn't want to go to anyone else.  She was even invited to our wedding (and didn't come) but sent a gift!
I had thought about using her for Ramey before and then like 4 people suggested her and various people in her practice, so I decided that I really want to use her and I am so excited she will be taking care of my baby like she took such good care of me.  Plus it is close and all of the other doctors there are great too, some of them saw me when I was little too!

I got up to take a shower and Ellie stole my spot!

I think that is it for now!  Have a great day!