I love hearing about and seeing the pictures of the vacation I missed! For those who hadn't heard, on the day before the vacation I decided that I wasn't feeling right so I wanted my doctor to check me out and give me the "all clear" before I left for that 12 hour drive. Of course, my doctor wasn't in his office that day and the nurse there told me that I would have to go into the hospital to be monitored and checked. I really didn't want to deal with the hospital but knew something wasn't right so I felt a strong urge to get checked out. Lo and behold, the nurse said 3cm dilated and 80% effaced. She said I would spend the duration of my pregnancy in the hospital- so obviously my Tennessee vacation was out. Very scary and disappointing news! I was given Brethine to stop the contractions and IV fluids to hydrate me. They also gave me two steroid shots to develop the baby's lungs in case he/she decided to come early. My doctor only kept me overnight and discharged me the next day (over the phone, because he had forgotten about me) because my contractions were under control. We went home and got a good night's sleep and I was fine until later in the next day. I went back in to the hospital with contractions at 2:30 in the morning. They kept me until Sunday afternoon and sent me home again. I saw my doctor first thing Monday morning and he put me on a Brethine drip at home. I'm on modified bed rest. The Brethine drip is with a home health service that is also monitoring my contractions. It's all very high-tech! I refill the medicine in the pump about once a day. A nurse came out on Tuesday and gave us about a 30 minute lesson. It was very overwhelming, but we're managing fine. Joey will change out my IV tonight so we'll see how that goes. I put a sensor around my stomach twice a day for an hour to monitor my contractions and then put it in a machine that's hooked to the phone line and send the data, much like a fax. The service calls me right back and lets me know how many contractions I had. Then they can adjust the dose in my pump accordingly. I'm 31 weeks along now. Samuel was born at 36 weeks. I'm hoping to make it at least that far. I'm getting a lot of help from Joey's mom and my mom and other family members and friends. Samuel is being well taken care of!
As far as Tennessee goes, we would listen to the reports from those who called about activities going on and Joey and I both would say "they need us there," to direct hikes and manage bonfires and fishing expeditions. We heard they got lost looking for Laurel Falls and we both said "we wouldn't have gotten lost." It's easy to say such things when you're sitting in another state. Joey couldn't believe there wasn't a bonfire every night. He's an Eagle Scout and loves the outdoors. His friends used to tease him when we would go camping because they said he was always messing with the fire. He had to poke it or fool with it continuosly. We'll be on the next family vacation with our two little babies in tow!
Too bad you missed the vacation, but good thing you listened to your body. I hope the next few weeks go well and you (and the baby) can hang in there a few more weeks. Carol
We did miss you, but I would have given Joey competition for that fire tending. I was the one who started the fire, but Scott C. got it going good with lighter fluid. Our neighbors weren't happy with us. They looked out the windows with scowls on their faces. It didn't help that David and Scott C had a high-pitched whistling match going on. My marshmallows were melted already, and now I know they were chewed through by some small, toothy animal. I just discovered that my bagels also had a hole chewed through the bag and a couple of bites missing from one of them.
When I get the chance, I'd like to go back to the Smoky Mountains and this time, I'd tube or take a raft down the springs one of those days, and I'd like to go to the Cherokee reservation and watch the re-enactment at night that tells the story of the events leading to and during the "Trail of Tears". I'd also like to take another hike - this time a longer one.
Julia said tubing was alot of fun, despite the fact that her tube took off without her as soon as they hit some rocky, white waters. Shelby was caught downstream by Amy and her friends. David pulled Julia up onto his tube, and had to help Patrick get back on his, though Patrick seemed to be enjoying the struggle and was waving David off at first.
I couldn't do that and Laurel Falls this trip. We went seperate ways for that.
Angela,I'm so glad you stayed back. When I was pregnant with the twins, I was at my cabin when I had a scare at 31 weeks. The cabin is only 4 hours away, but scary enough that I had Eric speed me all the way back to the hospital in Mpls. Thankfully, it turned out to be a false alarm.
Jessy (Daniel's wife) always says if we could have combined our pregnancies, we would be the most perfect pregnant woman. I carry them well, but it's the delivery that I have a problem with. She doesn't carry them well (Mairin born at 31 weeks and Maeve at 34 weeks), but she's back running a marathon within an hour of having them.
Hang in there. I know it seems like a lot of work now with the IV and bedrest, but the end result is so worth it. Don't you agree?! Take care, I'll be sending my hearty baby carrying vibes to you.