32 weeks

With all this bedrest due to my stent, I was starting to worry about not having enough documentation of being pregnant. (Not that I'll ever really want to remember this experience) But for scrapbooking purposes, I made JC take a picture of me last week, so I have the belly on camera.

A quick update: My 2nd glucose test came back negative, which is great news! One less thing to worry about. I visited the doctor again a few days ago. She says the baby is still doing great and promises me she won't let me go past 39 weeks. I, of course, am still praying persistently that she will induce at 37 weeks. She did say that I should expect this same level of pain (maybe a little worse) for a month after delivery. Yuck.

I have an appointment on Friday with yet another new urologist. The first group was not in our network, so we had to switch. The 2nd group was awful and at the worst hospital ever (see posting from Feb. 5th). So, hopefully this new doctor will work out. He's in our network and at St. Vincent's Women's, where I'll eventually be delivering. At this appointment, we will be talking to him about what happens after I deliver...level of pain expected, when stent will be removed, etc...

I haven't been able to go anywhere, except the doctors office. And that is even alot for my body to handle. So, I'm really looking forward to next Sunday. JC's mom and sister are throwing a baby shower at my house and invited his family and my family. I can't wait to see everyone and I won't even have to leave the comforts of my heating pad and recliner.

Ultrasound #2 from Feb. 1st

While I was in the hospital, we had another ultrasound. This is the baby at 29 weeks. The doctor said he was measuring at 30 weeks and 2 days. Maybe that means he'll come early :) You can see his profile in one picture and his big foot in the other. Clearly he takes after his 6'5" father with the big feet...not me! His weight at this point was 3 lbs. 6 oz. Still tiny, but big enough to be making quite a commotion in my tummy. He likes to move, espcially when I play the Backstreet Boys for him. Ha! Ha!

Here's a baby foot!



This is his head looking up. You can see his arm at the top of the picture too.

Puma and Adidas

My cats have been so funny since I've been home the past couple of months. They never leave my side, even if I just walk to another room for 30 seconds. I've been laying on my recliner or couch for the majority of each day and at least 1, if not both of them are usually curled up in my lap or at my feet. Sometimes they even try to lay right on the baby. I guess they want him to recognize their purr's when he comes out. They make me feel so much better! Here they are, cuddling with each other on my legs.

Grandma Shower

My mom has the coolest friends! They threw her a surprise "Grandma" shower, since this will be her first grandbaby. They gave her a bunch of presents that she can keep at her house. When I come to visit, she'll be all prepared! Check out the pictures!

Are you kidding me?

Just got back from the OB again. I failed my glucose test, so I have to go back tomorrow and take it again. The last time they had to prick me in 6 places in my hands, arms, and even feet before they could get any blood. (Apparently I have "sluggish" veins) If I fail the test again, I'll have to go through a 3 hour test to determine if I have gestational diabetes. Let's hope for the best because I'm not sure I could handle anything else.

I also found out today that my iron levels are too low and I'm anemic. Again, the baby is doing great and getting all the nutrients he needs. But I'm having trouble eating and I'm losing blood from the stent. So in addition to all the other pills I am taking, I got another precription for some horse pills today. They're huge! The ironic thing is that last summer when I started taking prenatal vitamins I asked for another alternative because I can't swallow pills easily. They gave me chewable kids vitamins. HA! Now I'm swallowing about 15 pills a day!

I visited a chiropracter earlier this week. She can't help my kidney, but is working on the muscles around my spine, lower back, and hips. We've also been in contact with some acupuncturists. (I'll try anything at this point). However, they don't really want to take me on because the spots that could help my kidney could also induce labor.

So, I'm out of options. The OB says she'll try and induce me as early as possible depending on if my body cooperates. But from now until delivery day, I can either stay home and deal with the pain or go to the hospital and get on a morphine pump. Obviously it's easier on everyone if I can stay home, but some days are pretty hard.

Prayers please

Last week was the worst week of this whole experience. It's a really long story, but here's the semi-short version. I didn't think it could get worse. I had my stent removed last Monday at Clarian North. After another week of excrutiating pain and IV meds, the stent was put back in on Friday. If you are looking for a compassionate urologist and nurses who will listen to you, then I would NOT recommend this hospital. Almost every nurse and doctor I saw seemed condescending and rude.

Anyway, I've been back home since Saturday. This time the stent does not seem to be helping. I'm in much more pain than I was last time. It's pretty unbearable and the Vicodin doesn't help much. We're not sure what to do next. I still have 6-10 weeks of this pregnancy left. Many people have been praying for us, which I so appreciate. I've listed some specific prayers below.


PRAYERS for Baby
1. that our baby continues to be healthy (he's 3 lbs 6 oz and a week ahead of schedule)
2. that he won't be addicted to any pain medication when he's born
3. that he won't have any long term physical or mental issues from the meds i'm on

PRAYERS for Sara
1. that i can find a lasting solution to lessen the pain (even if it doesn't go away completely) to make it through the remainder of pregnancy... 6-10 more weeks
2. that my OB will induce me at 36 or 37 weeks
3. that JC and I can make a good decision about what the next step is....back to hospital, alternative options, different medication, different doctors, etc...
4. that I can keep my faith strong, learn the lessons God wants to teach me and learn to rely on Him to get me through each day.
5. for the anxiety I'm dealing with on top of the pain
6. once the baby is born, that my body will return to normal QUICKLY, and I'll be able to get off the medicine easily, so I can concentrate on the joys of having a newborn.