28 Weeks: Eggplant Week

Here's my week, in pictures:

 

 

Ah, bedrest...

 

I did get up today, though, for another doctor's appointment. And Mom, who was here to chauffeur me, snapped this (belly pic!):

 

 

What do I do while on bedrest? Some normal things - paying bills, balancing the budget, making grocery lists, catching up on emails, etc. - just from the couch. Online Christmas shopping is taking up a good amount of time. Then there are phone calls and texts and visits. I also do a lot of reading and a lot of online research about everything baby-related.

 

I watch very little TV, though I admit to the occasional randomYouTube video. I've watched quite a few episodes of "A Baby Story," yep. Um, and yeah...kind of also watched one about bride-kidnapping in Eastern Europe (disturbing)...aaaaand also one about a 1,000-pound woman in Texas who was accused of murder. (Did I mention random?)

 

But anyway...about Baby:

 

Baby is the size of an: Eggplant. About 2.5 pounds and 15-16 inches.

 

Development: She's measuring right on track, which is awesome. Her lungs continue to develop, and she's gaining a little more fat, too. Every week is so precious to me now, and I'm thankful to have made 28 weeks. My next goal is 30 (and then we'll go from there!).

Movement: I could feel her having the hiccups a few nights ago - I haven't felt that before, and it was hilarious.

Weight gain: Erm...well, the doctor's scales this morning said I'm up two pounds (in one week? huh...). So total weight gain now is 12 pounds.

Maternity clothes: My new uniform is pretty much tights with comfortable shirts and slippers. Um, y'all? Confession time: I totally have become one of "those" girls who wear tights as pants. Yep. Not just with long shirts...with ANY shirt I dang well want to. Guilty. I tell myself it's justifiable as long as I'm not wearing them out in public. It's just. So. Comfy.

Sleep: So-so. Bedrest has me sore and achy...and I'm up about every two hours for bathroom trips, taking meds, etc. But when I'm asleep, it's decent. Lots of crazy vivid dreams.

Aversions/Cravings: Not really. I find myself alternating between not wanting to eat anything at all, thanks to heartburn and nausea and whatnot, and wanting to eat anything I can find, just out of boredom (not a great idea).

Symptoms: Contractions continue, though the Procardia seems to be keeping them fairly sporadic (none of that scary every-three-minutes stuff).

I miss: Eating meals and drinking water while sitting up. Doing those things lying down or reclined...hard and sometimes messy. (Ask Alex about finding banana in the carpet...um...yeah...)

I feel: Sore. Tired of being on my back. BUT very, very thankful that Sylvie is still "baking," and hopeful that, Lord willing, she'll stay put for quite a few more weeks.

Looking forward to: Thanksgiving! We'll be doing it here at our apartment, since I can't travel, and even though I can't take part in the cooking, I'm really looking forward to having everyone here, watching the Macy's parade and the football game, and this:

Yup. Gonna happen, no doubt.

Daddy Papi moment: Alex is doing so much these days. Besides working incredibly hard, as he always does, he's also taken over a lot of daily household tasks. Thankfully my, my mom has been awesome, helping with the deeper cleaning (scrubbing the bathroom, dusting, etc.), and folks from church have been SO sweetly providing meals here and there. But Alex still is doing all the day-to-day things like loading and unloading the dishwasher, laundry, vacuuming, taking out the trash, making his work lunches, and cooking the occasional dinner (hey, grilled cheese sandwiches count!). Add to that waiting on me - bringing me a cup of water or my meds, turning on a lamp for me, finding my phone charger, etc. He's a busy guy...and I'm grateful for him.

Bedrest Grocery Shopping (Y'all, this is awesome!)

Now, let me preface this by saying that, yeah, I have multiple people fully capable of picking up groceries for me. Alex is willing enough...though the idea of him adrift in the aisles of Kroger, no clue where to find a packet of ranch dressing mix or a can of Rotel tomatoes, kind of makes me question the feasibility of that option.

Still, there's my mom, or any number of friends who have offered.

But...what can I say? Novelty and curiosity got the best of me this week, and I decided to try out something new: Peapod grocery delivery. For those of you not familiar, it's a grocery service that...well, delivers. You go on the website, load up your cart with the items you want, check out, select a delivery time, and - voila - your groceries show up at your door via a delivery dude. And his truck.

I'd heard of this but never given it serious thought because I figured it'd be limited and expensive. But here are a few things that surprised me:

(1) The selection is good. Each item I searched for turned up several options at different price points (along with pictures...I like pictures). "Canned pumpkin" brought up half a dozen options, "pie filling" brought up both Comstock and the Peapod brand in several flavors, etc.

There wasn't anything on my list (including some non-food items like shampoo, dental floss, and toilet cleaner) that I couldn't find.

(2) The prices are actually really reasonable  - definitely comparable to the grocery store. I paid exactly what I normally would for chicken, milk, canned goods, bread, Lean Cuisines, etc. And Peapod also has its own generic line of products, so things that I normally buy store brand, I still was able to. Score.

(3) There IS a delivery fee of $9.95 and a gas surcharge of about $1.00. But a quick Internet search turned up a coupon code for $15 off my order, and I also got a $2 discount for scheduling delivery during a time when the Peapod truck would already be in my area. This offset the delivery fee and then some. Double score.

(4) Delivery is fast. I made my order late Monday night, and was able to schedule delivery for Tuesday.

(5) Peapod takes coupons! In fact, they will double manufacturer's coupons 99 cents and under. You just give your coupons to the delivery guy, in an envelope with your order number written on it, and they credit your account afterward. (For the record, I didn't do this, but supposedly it works well.)

(6) The website (and the mobile app) are really easy to use. And you can sign up for mobile updates, which is helpful. The delivery window I signed up for was 4:30-9:30 p.m., but I got a text early in the afternoon, saying that my delivery time would be more specifically between 6:30 and 8:30, and then I got another text at 8:00 saying that my delivery guy was stuck in traffic but that my delivery was next on his route and should arrive shortly. And it did. Evidence:

(7) Our delivery guy was extremely friendly and brought everything right into the kitchen for us. Definitely a plus.

Seriously, y'all, this may become my standard method of grocery shopping while on bedrest...and maybe after baby comes, too. Highly, highly recommend it!

27 Weeks: Third Trimester! (And Bedrest Continues...)

It's hard to believe I've finally reached trimester #3! To celebrate, I think now is a good time to announce that Baby Girl (drumroll, please)...oficially has a name!

 

We weren't originally planning to make it public pre-birth, but with the possibility of an early arrival always in the back (well, often the front) of our minds, we wanted to go ahead and "introduce" her to everyone. So, everyone, meet Sylvia Rose Mendoza.

 

 

The pic was taken this morning at my doctor's appointment. I had a physical cervical check and meeting with the doc, as well as an ultrasound to check amniotic fluid levels - because apparently one of the drugs they gave me in the hospital last week can cause a drop in fluid levels. Greaaat. That would've been nice to know at the time. Anyway, thankfully, everything looked great. Sylvie was squirming around like crazy, running from the ultrasound tech and generally just being energetic.

I'll just throw in there, too, that it was SOOOOO nice to get out of the apartment, even if it was for an OB appointment. Just putting on shoes, getting to step out into the autumn air and see the sunshine, and walking to and from the car, was incredibly refreshing. Of course, as soon as we got home, it was back on the couch, on my back, for me. But, hey, I'll take what I can get!

 

Baby is the size of a: Rutabaga (yes, we're sticking with the ugly "fruits" for now, apparently).

 

 

She weighs about two pounds and is about 14 inches long.

 

Development: Every week is precious for her development now. So many changes are taking place, particularly with her brain and lungs. Keep growing, girl!

 

Symptoms: Bedrest symptoms already are eclipsing regular pregnancy symptoms. The most noticeable are the sore muscles (my back!) and nausea and heartburn. Thankfully, the drug I'm on (Procardia) doesn't seem to have any major side effects to add to the mix.
 

Movement: She moves SO much! It makes me feel like she's saying, "Hey, Mom, don't worry - I'm just fine in here (and let me kick you in the ribs to prove it)." She's getting big enough now, too, that I can tell she has a favorite side of my belly, where she likes to nestle in. It's crazy to feel and SEE it. Alex can even see it sometimes, when one side sort of bumps up...I end up with a funny, lopsided looking stomach when it happens.
 

Weight gain: According to the doctor's scales today, I haven't gained or lost anything since I last was weighed, three weeks ago (so total weight gain is still at ten pounds). Hard to believe, since my belly is getting bigger, but...huh. Doc wasn't overly concerned, anyway, since Baby Girl looks great, but she did say we'll keep an eye on things. Considering that I'm on bedrest, I have no idea what to expect.
 

Maternity clothes: This has changed a bit. Even though I have to lie down all day, I do try to get out of pajamas and into "real" clothes every morning (along with putting on some makeup - it makes me feel more human). But the cute maternity clothes - the skinny jeans and dresses and scarves and boots and whatnot - have been traded in for mostly leggings, comfortable t-shirts/sweatshirts, and slippers. Since I can only be up for a few minutes at a time, it has to be pretty minimal.
 

Sleep: I wake up almost every hour now to pee. The doctor instructed me to drink TONS of water to help relax The Evil Uterus. It does seem to help...but peeing is my new hobby.
 

I miss: So many things. Exercise. Seeing the leaves changing and being out in the autumn air. Grocery shopping and cooking. Christmas shopping. Wearing boots and scarves and feeling cute-pregnant. Being at church on Sundays. Not worrying about my baby so much. But I know this is temporary...there will be plenty of all those things in the future.
 

I feel: It's a roller coaster. Some days (or hours) I'm very positive, keeping a right perspective and realizing that this is temporary, and that the Lord has chosen this for me for His purposes, and I really feel a sense of joy and trusting Him. Other times, I'm in full breakdown mode, the I-can't-do-bedrest-one-more-day mode. And there's always the lingering fear of baby coming far too early, and all the "what ifs" that come along with that. But, overall, I think I'm feeling okay. Everyone's care and support certainly is helping - you guys are the best!

26 Weeks: Hospital Stay and House Arrest

How's this for a 26-week bump pic?

 

This was my "uniform" for the last week...stylish, no? It's the uniform of a resident of the high-risk wing of the maternity unit at Community North Hospital. Obviously, it's been an interesting week, to say the least. 

I stopped by my OB's office after work last Wednesday, the 6th, for a quick cervical length ultrasound. The idea was to make sure everything still looked good after the threatened pre-preterm labor scare two weeks ago (see here). Long story short, it didn't...and I was told that I wasn't going anywhere, but was being admitted to the hospital immediately. My cervix was shortened significantly and beginning to funnel, and I was (without realizing it this time) having regular, though painless, contractions about 4 minutes apart. Talk about immediate panic.

I could give the long play-by-play of the ensuing week, but it would be...well...long. And full of long, hard-to-pronounce drug names (magnesium sulfate, nifedipine, indomethacin, nubain, phenargan...). And descriptions of the side effects of those drugs (ugh). And lots of scary moments. And seemingly endless hours of clock and monitor watching.

The condensed version is, I was in the hospital for almost a full week, on multiple drugs, each of which worked to slow my contractions for a while, only to stop working eventually. I was also flat on my back and hooked up to an IV and monitors the entire time. It was...I don't even know how to describe it. Grueling? Overwhelming? Terrifying? Exhausting? All of the above, and then some.

 

Here was my "I'm officially here and not going anywhere" bracelet (and IV port...lovely):

 

 

What I stared at all week...contractions on monitor:

 

 



Counting the hours...

 

My (awesome) nurses put their names on the dry-erase board each shift...helpful, since I went through probably about a gazillion different nurses over the week:

 

 

The "man cave," where Alex lived/slept all week:

 

 

Strict hospital bedrest is no joke. I wasn't even allowed to sit up - I was flat on my back, even for meals, only allowed to get up to go to the bathroom...and that was an event in itself, since I was hooked up to multiple monitors and and an IV pole, and was crazy dizzy from the drugs at certain points. I spent the hours watching the monitors, Googling the various drugs I was receiving, and clicking through the TV channels, trying to distract myself. Oh, and answering text messages from the multiple people who were telling me they were praying for me and baby (sososo thankful for each of you!).

 

I'm incredibly grateful that, after finally finding a drug that stabilized my contractions and monitoring me for about 24 hours after that, the doctor sent me home yesterday evening (Tuesday the 12th). Praise God! I've never been so happy to see the inside of my apartment before.

 

I'm now home, on house arrest...that is, very slightly modified full bedrest - meaning I have to stay lying down or reclined (in my glider chair!) all day but can get up here and there to go to the bathroom, shower, or get a glass of water. No work. No travel (even for the holidays) except to and from the doctor's office every week. Just me and the couch becoming one...for the next three months (if the Lord allows me to carry this baby that long...and I pray He does). And I'm still on drugs around the clock, though thankfully in pill form, and with no major side effects so far.

 

I'm still nervous, always scared when I feel contractions (which I do from time to time, especially when it's getting close to time for my next pill). I have no certainty that I won't wind up back in the hospital. Baby girl is doing well so far (she's weathered everything beautifully), but she definitely is at risk, and what my body will do in the days to come is uncertain. At 26 weeks, she's far too small to be leaving the womb just yet - far too small. But I'm doing everything I can (or can't, I should say, since what I'm doing is really trying NOT to do anything) to keep her safe and sound for as long as possible. Mostly praying.

 

Bedrest, I know, is going to be challenging. Very challenging. It overwhelms me to think of doing this for weeks and even months to come. But I'm doing my best to take it one day at a time. And I know many of you are praying, and will be pitching in with meals, cleaning, and visits...and I'm so grateful!

 

More updates to come! Love to you all.

25 Weeks: Astronaut Baby

 

Baby is the size of a: Cauliflower. Over a foot long now, and weighing about a pound and a half. She's gained several ounces just since last week.

 

Development: According to the baby development websites, she now has a developed sense of equilibrium and can tell up from down. How that works when you're floating, astronaut-like, in a sac of amniotic fluid, I have no idea. I kind of assumed she felt more like this:

 



But...meh...what do I know?

Movement: She learned a new game this past week; it's called "Kick Mom in the Bladder." I've heard pregnant women mention this, but, let me tell you, you have NO idea what it feels like until...well, you've felt it. It's like an instantaneous THUNKohcrapi'mgonnawetmyself followed by a just as instantaneous Wait, no, I'm good...incredibly annoying, to be honest. I think she's doing it on purpose, the little punk.

Weight gain: Drumroll, please...according to my weigh-in at the doctor's office, I'm up two pounds since my last appointment four weeks ago. That makes a grand total of ten pounds so far!

Maternity clothes: A mix. Yesterday, for instance, was entirely regular clothes, but today is maternity clothes.

Sleep: I've discovered that this 100% depends on the temperature of our apartment. The colder it is, the better I sleep. (Sorry, Alex.)

Aversions/Cravings: Nah, not really.

Symptoms: I don't know if this counts as a symptom, per say, but some day-to-day tasks definitely are getting harder. Putting on socks, or picking up a paper that fell under my desk, for instance...dang, dude. Not as easy as it used to be. And I'm noticing that when I hug people, Baby "hugs" them first - the belly is out there!

I miss: Being able to sneeze without it KILLING my abs.

I feel: Tired, but generally pretty decent. After last week's craziness (see the previous post), things have more or less returned to normal, and I'm thankful for that.

Looking forward to: Getting to the third trimester. It officially starts at 26.6 weeks, so I'm just shy of two weeks out. Wow.

Daddy Papi moment:  Several evenings now, Alex has taken it upon himself to (without being asked) do all the dishes in the sink, including scrubbing out the cruddy Crockpot (I love my Crockpot but hatehatehate cleaning it). Husband poiiiiiiints.