Thursday, August 20, 2009
Nursery, almost finished
This is the nursery. It's a little hard to see, but her bed has a striped skirt and a funky flower bumper - all in pink, orange, brown & tan. His also has a striped bed skirt, funky circles on the bumper - all in blue, orange, brown & tan. To my right, as I take the picture is a tall bookshelf for lots of family pictures and a super-comfy brown leather rocker-recliner. We still need to do a little work on it - new rug, valance, pictures. But all the essentials are done and the room is stocked and ready to go for the kids!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
hospital bed rest round 2
On Monday, Aug 17th, I went in for a regular weekly check up with my perinatologist and I had major de ja vue. He looked at all the kids (vital organs et al) and said they are growing just perfectly. He was about to let me out the door when I reminded him to check my cervix. Well, he did, and, as he did, he and the nurse hmm'd and haa'd and rechecked then hmm'd and haa'd some more. After a few minutes I, not knowing the actual results they were inspecting, said, "Just go on and send me back to the hospital."
As it ended up, on Monday my cervix was measuring 1/2 to 1 cm (remember, it should be closer to 3 cm). More worrisome to the dr was the fact that I was funneling, which can speed up the cervix-shrinking pace. The good news is I'm not at all dialeted. As with before, these are the problems that can be kept under control (usually) with good behavior and medicine. We also now know that my contractions have increased, and my uterus is even more "irritable", both of which lead to a shrinking cervix.
Now I'm back at Willis Knighton Pierremont Hospital for observation and strict bedrest. Looks like I may be here till the kids arrive, which hopefully will be 5 more weeks (I am currently 30 weeks as of tomorrow, and full term for twins is 37 weeks). One thing to note is that I will not be at this same hospital for the delivery, I'll be going to Willis Knighton South. So as long as I'm here that's a good sign the kids are staying put!
In addition to my bed rest, they have kept me on vistiril (anti-histamine and smooth muscle relaxer to calm contractions), upped my terbutaline (the anti-contraction medicine) and now added Pro-Cardia (blood pressure med that also calms contractions, though my blood pressure is on the low end of normal). It's so interesting to me all the different meds and how multi-functional they are! I had a follow-up visit today, we remeasured and there's no more funneling and I'm back up to 2 cm... oh the roller coaster! I did fail my FFN test (see previous hospital post for explanation) so there is still some concern and reason to keep me here for a while.
I am grateful to be here in the hospital - first of all, this is helping to ensure that my kids stay healthy and grow stronger. Also, I'm a much better patient here than at home, even with lots of help. I know Mark misses me at home but he also has a major sense of relief considering I'm under constant care. Did I mention that I'm on the sixth floor in the corner suite? My room is great - I have 2 full walls of windows overlooking all of Shreveport, down Youree drive to downtown and all the trees in the neighborhoods in between, then I've got a view of the tree tops and sky off to the east. Yesterday a huge storm blew through and I had a birds-eye-view of the whole thing. Very pretty! To top it off my room is huge, very comfortable for visitors. All-in-all, this is a good thing I'm here.
We're staying positive about everything (especially because feeling down about it would only make things worse!). And cosidering how far we've made it, we know that this is just a drop in the bucket. Finally, please know I always welcome visitors and emails - because, as you all know, I am a social creature and I've got to stay connected to the world somehow!!!!
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Totally cute doctor I found at the hospital... I'd like to carry his babies some day!!!!
That was fast! 
As it ended up, on Monday my cervix was measuring 1/2 to 1 cm (remember, it should be closer to 3 cm). More worrisome to the dr was the fact that I was funneling, which can speed up the cervix-shrinking pace. The good news is I'm not at all dialeted. As with before, these are the problems that can be kept under control (usually) with good behavior and medicine. We also now know that my contractions have increased, and my uterus is even more "irritable", both of which lead to a shrinking cervix.
Now I'm back at Willis Knighton Pierremont Hospital for observation and strict bedrest. Looks like I may be here till the kids arrive, which hopefully will be 5 more weeks (I am currently 30 weeks as of tomorrow, and full term for twins is 37 weeks). One thing to note is that I will not be at this same hospital for the delivery, I'll be going to Willis Knighton South. So as long as I'm here that's a good sign the kids are staying put!
In addition to my bed rest, they have kept me on vistiril (anti-histamine and smooth muscle relaxer to calm contractions), upped my terbutaline (the anti-contraction medicine) and now added Pro-Cardia (blood pressure med that also calms contractions, though my blood pressure is on the low end of normal). It's so interesting to me all the different meds and how multi-functional they are! I had a follow-up visit today, we remeasured and there's no more funneling and I'm back up to 2 cm... oh the roller coaster! I did fail my FFN test (see previous hospital post for explanation) so there is still some concern and reason to keep me here for a while.
I am grateful to be here in the hospital - first of all, this is helping to ensure that my kids stay healthy and grow stronger. Also, I'm a much better patient here than at home, even with lots of help. I know Mark misses me at home but he also has a major sense of relief considering I'm under constant care. Did I mention that I'm on the sixth floor in the corner suite? My room is great - I have 2 full walls of windows overlooking all of Shreveport, down Youree drive to downtown and all the trees in the neighborhoods in between, then I've got a view of the tree tops and sky off to the east. Yesterday a huge storm blew through and I had a birds-eye-view of the whole thing. Very pretty! To top it off my room is huge, very comfortable for visitors. All-in-all, this is a good thing I'm here.
We're staying positive about everything (especially because feeling down about it would only make things worse!). And cosidering how far we've made it, we know that this is just a drop in the bucket. Finally, please know I always welcome visitors and emails - because, as you all know, I am a social creature and I've got to stay connected to the world somehow!!!!
------------------------------------------------------------------
Totally cute doctor I found at the hospital... I'd like to carry his babies some day!!!!
That was fast! 
Monday, August 10, 2009
8-10-09 dr update
I just wanted to let you know that I saw the multiples specialist today (my Perinatologist, Dr Briery) and he had a great report!
My cervix is thickening back up at a great rate (2.2 cm)!!! The kids are measuring perfectly for size and continue to have excellent functional levels. My bed rest a the few meds I'm taking are really helping out. I'm still not in the totally safe zone but I'm much closer than I was a week ago.
Thanks for all your support and help! I'll keep you posted as we continue to make progress!
My cervix is thickening back up at a great rate (2.2 cm)!!! The kids are measuring perfectly for size and continue to have excellent functional levels. My bed rest a the few meds I'm taking are really helping out. I'm still not in the totally safe zone but I'm much closer than I was a week ago.
Thanks for all your support and help! I'll keep you posted as we continue to make progress!
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