Day one - Hospital bed rest and my attempting to blog

So here we go!! I was admitted to Boone Hospital Center on Sunday, August 28th, 2011 with premature rupture of membrane. In other words my water had broken. It didn't seem like this was possible, but the test was positive and so began our journey. We left Kirksville at about 10 am and arrived shortly after 11. Kevin made sure we got here fast, and to be honest it didn’t seem that he was driving that fast. We were supposed to go to church with his grandparents that morning, but Baby Powell had other plans.

After being led to my room the nurse hooked me up to the fetal monitor for baby's hear rate and then another monitor to track any contractions. They started an IV and begin giving me antibiotics, just in case of infection. The next thing was shot one of two of cortisone. This was to help speed up the maturation of baby's lungs; the second shot was the next day at the same time. After a couple hours the nurse came back and said that the monitor was picking up some contractions. YIKES!! I wasn't feeling anything so geez does that make you nervous... So then they started me on magnesium through the IV to stop the contractions. It just kept getting more and more scary!!

Kevin parents got t here shortly after we did and have been great throughout this adventure. My parents were en route and would be here at about 6 or 7pm. I was so anxious for them to get there as there is nothing more comforting than one’s own mom!!

My Dr. was not on call so we wouldn't see her until the next day sometime. This also made me uneasy, but the on call Dr. was reassuring in his assessment of our situation. We also had a neonatal Dr. come speak to us about what could possible transpire and how things would be handled. He made us feel a little more at ease, but we still weren't sure what was happening or going to happen.

Monday Suggest 29th, 2011 HAPPY BIRTHDAY KEVIN!!

So we made it through the night without any changes. Baby didn't come and contractions did not increase. Dr. came in and said they would be doing an ultrasound later that day to check baby and fluid levels. Basically sit tight!! Good news was the magnesium was working and contractions had stopped and fluid wasn't really leaking and no more spotting. They came later that afternoon and completed the ultrasound and the fluid level was normal, 12. Whew! That was a relief for sure. I was put on a liquid diet since they started the magnesium, boo!! I had some visitors come in Kelsey, Lauren, and Hannah and d they brought Hot Box Cookies. I unfortunately didn’t get to have one for a couple days due to the liquid diet. Then Roxanne came to visit as well. So refreshing and encouraging seeing happy kind faces!! THANKS

Tuesday, August 30th, 2011

Dr. was early in the morning to say that everything was looking great. Ultrasound looked very good and monitor strip readings were really good. Looks like baby is going to wait like it had been told and we may be here awhile. She also informed us that they would be keeping me until delivery - hospital bed rest. So good news on baby not so good news about having to stay here. Kevin headed back with his mom to Kirksville so that he could work the rest of the week, which was sad to let him go but necessary. Fortunately my mom could stay the rest of the week with me and take care of me!! I feel so lucky to have a mom like I do!! They moved me down from labor and delivery to the postpartum floor. This was a very long night! I was having some trouble taking deep breaths and being comfortable breathing. I had a chest pain right in the middle of my chest. We called the nurse down and she called the Dr.y to see what she wanted to do. She ordered and EKG and CT scan. The EKG was normal and about 4 hours later they took me for the CT scan. I'd never had one so I was quite nervous. They injected a dye into my IV so they could see if there were any clots in my lungs. This made me feel warm all over, strange feeling. Then when it was done I nearly immediately got sick to my stomach. Talk about exhaustion... They really couldn't do anything to make me comfortable that night. The next morning when the Dr. came in she said all the test results were normal, so that was good news - no clots! I told her that when I sat up or stood up the pain was gone. She concluded that it was heartburn and prescribed some medicine to help with that. Later that day I also got a GI cocktail, this eventually did the trick and took the pain away. It wasn't very tasty and took some time to kick in, but it was worth it. I got another cocktail the next afternoon and heartburn has been gone since, knock on wood!



Mom fed me and helped me out of bed and got me whatever I needed!! When she retires from teaching she has a def. future in nursing if she wants!! Great bedside manner. We watched movies, caught up on soap operas, and just enjoyed the time the two of us had together. She had had a pretty draining week the week before as her mother, my grandmother, Marie Redfearn, passed away the previous Friday. Talk about emotionally draining - I don't know how she was able to do it!! Super mom. I hope I am as good a mother to my baby as she has been to me for the past 29 years and counting!! I can't imagine life without her!! I love you mom!

On Friday evening Kevin and his folks came back down. It was nice to have him back!! His presence is just so comforting and he is going to be a great daddy!! He didn't exactly feed me like mom had; more just pulled the tray to my head and let me shovel it in... He can't help it! He did bring me my candy cane pillow which has been a lifesaver!

On Saturday I had several visitors, so nice!! Brittany, Taylor, and Ashley came with flowers and peaches. Which were delicious!! It was nice to see some smiling faces! Then later that evening Chelsea, Anna, Jacob, and Justin came by and visited - very uplifting as my parents had left about an hour before and it was very hard to see them leave. It was just a comfort to have them close. They'll be back soon! It literally was what the doctor had ordered to have some new visitors!! Thanks

Sunday I got to shower again! Boy did that feel good!! Other than that we spent the day relaxing and watching the CUBS!!! Monday Kevin's folks went back to Kirksville and Kevin eventually did too. This was probably the hardest day! We began the day with a wheelchair ride!! First time out of the room!! Kevin took us outside and we found a nice warm spot in the sun and out of the breeze. IT FELT SO GOOD, the fresh air and sunlight!! A lot of fear and uncertainty running through my head and not having my rock with me made it that much more scary. I know it wasn't easy for him to leave either. I hope this baby can sense how loved it is by its family, especially its parents!! I miss Kevin every day that he isn't here but I know I am being the best mom I can be by resting and following Dr.'s orders.

Each day has gotten just a little bit easier to be here, I think that it is mostly due to the continued great news the Dr. gives us. Yesterday we had another ultrasound and received some 3D pictures of BP. I got to go on a wheelchair ride to the ultrasound and every day out of this room is a huge gain! The little one aced its first test with an 8/8 on the biophysical exam. Not sure what all the criteria is, but way to go!!

Today the Dr. said our goals is 34 weeks, at that time they will do a couple of tests to see how baby is and if things are good then we will charge ahead and push toward 37 weeks. She thinks we are going to make it and that baby is doing great and going to stay put - as it is still grounded! :-) This makes laying in bed a lot easier to take as I know that is making BP stronger! I had another visitor today. Mary came and brought BP a tiger and me some magazines to read. It was nice to visit with her and very sweet of her to come down!!

I'd like to thank everyone who has sent an e-card; your kind thoughts and even humor have been enlightening. It is a little thing that goes a long way!! Also, thank you to those of you who have