Week 33

Well, the past two weeks have been anything but uneventful!!  I have offically become a regular at the hospital, but if it keeps my babies in a little longer...that is where I will go!!  We saw Dr. Carter at my week 32 apointmant.  Still not dilated any and did another FFN test which was negative again.  Woo Hoo!!  That should get us safely to 34 weeks.  The following Saturday, which was Oct. 22nd, Alison got engaged and sent me to the hospital because I had 20 contractions within one hour!!  I was already remonitoring when she came by because I had to many contractions the first hour and as you can tell me, Emma, & Evan got a little too excited.  They just monitored me for a while and things seemed to settle down.  Dr. Forrest did check me again & still wasn't dilated any!  So, we came home fairly quickly and Justin still managed to get in his deer hunting for the day!!  My 33 week appointment was the next Thursday, the 27th, with Dr. Forerest...who I am really starting to LOVE!!  She told us it was fabulous that we had made it to 33 weeks and that we could breathe a lot easier now.  They don't worry as much about long term birth defects once a baby reaches 33 weeks.  We definitely decided on a c-section.  No need to chance a natural birth that ends up in a c-section anyway.  We will schedule that at my 34 weeks appointment, which is this Wednesday, Nov.2nd. We also have an ultrasound scheduled for Wednesday to check their growth!!  Back to last week though.  On Saturday, Oct. 29th, I woke up feeling like I was having contractions, so I decided to monitor earlier than normal.  I had 8 in that hour and they don't want me having more than 5, so I had to remonitor!  The second time I only had 3...so they said I was okay.  The contractions still seemed to be coming all afternoon, so I just decided to remonitor myself.  This time I only had 5 but they sent me on to the hospital to be checked anyway.  Hints why I feel like a regular at the hospital now!! :)  They had to give me a shot to stop the contractions and it worked for a little while but they started back up too quickly.  Dr. Erickson was on call.  He came and checked me and I still haven't dilated any so they gave me another shot for the contractions and it worked better this time.  He wanted to do anotherr FFN test.  Dr. Forest told me at my 33 week appointment that they wouldn't  repeat this test anymore because the likelihood of me going into labor within the next few weeks was very high anyway.  But, Dr. Erickson went ahead and it did come back positive. We weren't surprised.  So, they decide to give me a 2nd steroid shot to make sure the babies lungs are as developed as possible, should they come within the next two weeks.  We got to come home Sunday night, after the 2nd dose of the steroid shot and that brings us up to date!!  Here it is Monday morning and we have almost made it to 34 weeks. Woo Hoo!!  I will update again Wednesday after the ultrasound!!  Let's hope Emma & Evan are growing and are still measuring right on track or ahead would be nice!  Until next time...  

Week 31

Well, we have made it to week 31!!  So, whats been happening over the past two weeks???  Lots of stuff!!   We saw Dr. Forest for my week 30 check-up.  She was awesome! We did another FFN test which came back NEGATIVE again...Woo Hoo!!  She scheduled me an ultrasound and also set me up for home monitoring for the contractions!  She did more at that appointment than any of the others for the past 4 weeks.  My cervix was still closed and even though it was very soft, she said she could still feel a little thickness.  She could also feel Evan's head!  I panicked and quickly asked if he was coming and as she laughed she said No!  So now we are monitoring contractions from home.  Everyday, I will have to hook myself up for an hour at the time twice a day and this machine monitors me.  Then I have to send the report to a nurse that will review it.  I also have to take my blood pressure and send that once a day too.  They will be calling everyday to check on me.  This has so far, not been the experience I was expecting.  We have had a trip to the hospital and lots of calls to the doctor's office because I am having so many contractions!!  Thankfully they aren't painful yet and aren't strong enough to make me start dilating!  I am now taking my procardia every 4 hours and three of the six times I take it each day...I have to take 2 pills!!  As for my 31 week ultrasound!  Both babies are head down.  Still haven't decided on delivery yet though!  Both babies were measuring 31 weeks, which was right on track.  Evan weighs 3lb 15oz and Emma weighs 3lb 10oz.  Almost 4 lbs each!! :)  On Thursday..the day after my ultrasound and dr. appointment, I felt horrible all day.  At 4:30, I started throwing up and it just got worse!  Ended up going to the hospital because I was getting dehydrated and had to stay until Saturday, so I could stay on an IV.  We think this all stemed from acid reflux...which I am now on medicine for and it is helping tremendously!!  Plus, I had a bladder infection.  Sunday, we had our "Bare Bottom Babies" shower with Justin's family and it was GREAT!!  We got lots of diapers & wipes!!  Tuesday rolled around and I started cramping like you wouldn't believe!  I got real worried because this is a sure sign of labor!  Mind you we were 1 day away from 32 weeks!  Ended up back at the hospital and found out I had a bad UTI.  Apparently it didn't get cleared up from when I was in the hospital previously even though I was on antibiotics while there.  Dr. Dixon checked me and my cervix is still closed.  We changed over to 32 weeks today and go for my regular appointment tomorrow!  We will update again next week.  Still hoping for at least two more weeks before they come!!  We can do it!  God has definitely been on our side here lately and we just know He is watching over me & these babies!!  My new favorite verse has become John 14:14..."Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it".  We are just asking that He gives us two healthy babies in His timing, a safe delivery, & no NICU!!  Now we are just trusting in His promise and awaiting the arrival of our little miracles as we continue on in Our Faithful Journey!!

Week 29

Well, after a brief hospital stay, a quick trip back to the hospital & numerous doctor's visits...we are still here!!  The past 4 weeks have been quite the trying time!!  We went from moderate bed rest to permanent bedrest with only being able to get up for 5 minutes at a time.  Last time I updated I had gotten a positive FFN test and was given the steroid shots.   At week 26 weeks 6 days, I went for another cervical length ultrasound.  My cervix had shortened to 1.5 cm.  Dr. Carter sent me to the hospital for monitoring.  Good thing he did because I was having contractions and didn't even know it.  So, they started me on medicine ad kept me over night for more monitoring.  The next day, I had another ultrasound to see how big the babies were. At this point I was exactly 27 weeks.  Evan measured 29 weeks and weighed 2.8 lbs.  Emma measured 28 weeks and weighed a little over 2 lbs.  My cervix was still closed and both babies were still high.  They sent me home with a recheck that following Friday...2 days later. Dr. Beaudrot wouldn't check me on Fiday because of all that had been done earlier in the week.  So, he scheduled me an appointment with Dr. Carter for the next Wednesday.  Early that Tuesday morning, the contractions seemed to be coming quite often, so Dr. Forest wanted me to go to the hospital again.  They got my contractions stopped and told me to start taking the medicine every 4 hours instead of every 6. They also repeated the FFN test and it came back NEGATIVE!!!  That was a huge relief because that meant labor was highly unlikely for 2 weeks.  Since I was 27 weeks, 6 days...that would almost take us to 30 weeks.  Since then, I have had 2 more doctor's appointmets.  Cervix is still closed and babies are still high!  We are  just hoping it stays that way for about 5 more weeks!!  :)  I did get to have one of my showers.  Katie, Alison, Lauren, Shelia, Meg & Angela hosted it at Lauren's house.  I had to lay on the couch the whole time...but I was there!!  We got lots of good things including my favorite..the bath tub!! I didn't get to take any pictures but Angela did, so I hope she will make me copies.  So, for now, we are staying at mommas and taking it easy!! Both babies are very active and are wiggling around as I type!!  They are such precious miracles that we can't wait to meet!!  Well...we can wait a few more weeks...but we are very excited about seeing them!! Until next time...