a wild week

It has been the wildest of weeks for me.

I've been wanting to blog so I can remember what's going on, but literally haven't had any time. Right now I address you from my hospital room at Utah Valley… I'm back for the 4th time this week! And I have all the time in the world all the sudden, so here we go.

It all started last Tuesday, 1 week ago today. Baby had been moving great up until Monday night, but then I stopped feeling him kick. Nothing during that evening or the next morning, so I called my doctor. They had me drink orange juice and lay on my left side and count kicks, but he still didn't really respond. So they sent me to labor and delivery to be monitored. I was a bit of a mess. I was there for about 4 hours and in the middle of it, baby started kicking and moving and everything was ok, so I got to go home. Breathed a sigh of relief.

2 days later, I went to my doctor for my weekly non stress test. In most pregnancies, they don't even do regular non stress tests, but for higher risk pregnancies they do it once a week. Baby didn't pass it, so they sent me up to labor and delivery again to be monitored. In order to pass a non stress test, the baby's heartbeat needs to show good variability and it needs to have 2 accelerations every 20 minutes that go up by 15 beats for 15 seconds. This wasn't happening… so they kept me there overnight to monitor long term. In the midst of this, they also monitor my contractions, and they seemed concerned over how many I was having. None of them were painful, but they were frequent. They checked to see if I was dilated, and I wasn't. I had another ultrasound, and baby was still measuring pretty well but his stomach measurements had dropped to 2.5 weeks behind. 

So, they decided at this point they were going to give me the shots that will develop his lungs, in case he comes early, and sent me home. I went up to Idaho for a day for my baby shower (which was so fun and I loved seeing everyone who came!) I got some really cute stuff that we've been trying to get organized. My mother in law has done most of the decorations and bedding/etc. for baby's room, and I think it's so adorable. I picked out the fabric and she sewed the sheets/bedskirt/window valance, etc. 

We still have a ton of bags and things to clear out of the room, but here's a little taste :) 

Anyway, when I got back from Idaho I had to go back to the hospital and have a test, and baby was doing alright so they let me go home for the night. But they told me they wanted to see me back Tuesday for another non stress test. 

So this morning I showed up for my test, and I was a little nervous because my belly had been ridiculously tight the last 24 hours. Not painful, but so tight I could hardly walk around. And I stopped feeling him move again. So they hooked me up to the monitors and baby was non responsive once again, meaning his heart rate just wasn't spiking up like they want to see. In fact, I had a contraction where his heartbeat spiked down, and that got them nervous. They went to have my high risk doctor, the neonatologist, come take a look, and she came in and basically told me I needed to go right up to labor and delivery and if that happened anymore, baby was coming today via emergency c-section. She called the surgeon to let him know this baby might be coming soon also. 

At this point, I got really scared. The doctors kept saying they wanted him to stay in as long as possible, so that his gastroschisis surgery would go better. It's a lot easier to put bowel back into a larger baby apparently. But, they also are feeling like something may be putting him in distress, and he may need to come sooner. So they're watching the monitors, my contractions, and his movements to assess what to do. Right now I'm having a contraction every 2-3 minutes, but so far baby's heartbeat is responding alright to them. So, I still could deliver today, but most likely they will just keep watching and unless they see something really alarming, I will get to go home again tomorrow. I feel the contractions, but they still aren't painful. 

So there's the scoop! I am stressed out and on the verge of tears at any moment, and yet at the same time feeling calm and alright about everything. Taylor has been at the hospital most of the day with me and gave me a blessing that helped calm me down a lot. And my sister and her husband came for a visit, which was so nice to just take my mind off things for awhile. The doctors are acting like either way, this baby is probably going to be coming earlier than anticipated.. it's just a matter of how early. I am hoping for 2-3 more weeks, but that almost seems like too wishful thinking.

Whenever he comes, he will sure be loved. And Taylor and I really appreciate everyone's prayers and encouragement. It's amazing how much you can love a little life inside you that you've never met. I feel so grateful that I was able to get pregnant and even though this has not been the easiest pregnancy, I'm so glad it's mine. 

In the meantime, I've ordered a car seat and a diaper bag, and the last big purchase I need to make is a dresser/changing table for his room. And then we'll pretty much be ready! I can't wait to meet you baby, but please, how bout a few more weeks!