MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2008
Week 28!
Friday was "the big day." It was the first milestone that we had been aiming for- 4 and a half weeks. It's the goal I kept in mind from day one. Randy and I talked about it every day. Whenever I got discouraged about how much longer we had here, he would help bring the focus back and help me remember short term goals are what we need to think about and week 28 was the first one.
I knew we would make it, there was never any doubt.
The Dr.'s would come in everyday and just explain how much better things would get once we hit 28 and also how the survival of the babies increases tremendously as well as long term disabilities etc decreasing. I also had hopes of things changing a bit as the Dr.'s had said for 2 weeks that at 28 weeks they planned to take my IV out which meant no more magnesium among other changes.
The day before I turned 28 weeks (8/28) I was very anxious, good and bad anxious. I was extremely excited that we had made it that far, that we could actually realize an accomplished goal, and all the possible privileges that may come along with reaching the milestone. I was also anxious about being taken off Mag as the first go around was NOT successful. Due to all the anxiety I was feeling I did have to get a shot of turbutaline that afternoon.
Along came the "big day" and they took my IV out bright and early at 7:00Am. That IV had in for 9 days which is twice as long as any of my other ones and they normally leave it in for 7 at the most but my doctor was trying to eek out a few more days because she knew it was coming out and she didn't want to have poke me again to get a new IV for just a day or two. They started me on a new oral medicine to help with contractions, which at first didn't seem to have any effect so about an hour later I had to have another one of those shots. Off and on all day I was contracting more than usual but for the most part each hour was under the allotted "maximum" number of contractions I could have (8).
One of the privileges of getting off mag was that I no longer had a fluid restriction, so as soon as the IV came out my nurse asked if I wanted to have my water jug filled up (previously I was only allowed to have a 1/4 of the mug each hour). Of course I said yes and I have been able to drink as much as I want, when I want since. Another small thing that is taken for granted but to me was the biggest deal!
Later that afternoon, Randy (who stayed with me all day because it was our special milestone) gave me a sponge bath and for the first time my nurse let me take off my TOCO (contraction monitor) and for the first time in 4 1/2/ weeks I was COMPLETELY free of any wires or tubes!!! Immediately after my bath we seized the moment with no monitor on my belly to take a quick picture of 28 weeks. Because I lay in bed so much I didn’t really know what my belly looked like or how big it had gotten. Or in my case, how mush smaller. :/
That night to celebrate our milestone my mother-in-law brought my favorite food to the hospital for dinner. King Crab Legs (which I hadn't had my whole pregnancy) and Filet Mignon along with my favorite green beans and a loaded bake potato! Yum!
I don't know if it was the excitement of the dinner, or if it was because it was the first day off Mag but soon after dinner I had to have another shot...
... It has now been almost 4 full days and I am still off the mag which has been amazing! Although I have had 4 shots in these 4 days, it has sort of been a whole new world for a couple of reasons:
1. Bedside Commode privileges- no bed pan!
2. No fluid restriction
3. I can wear whatever I want because no IV, blood draws, way less assements... Which means I had Randy go home and get my favorite shirt of his to wear.
4. And the best perk of 28 weeks was that they let me take a sit-down shower!!!!!!! While it was a non-luxurious shower, I sat on a special bench in the shower and I could only take about 5 minutes. Just in and out. This meant I got to walk to the bathroom (which I haven't done for 5 weeks) and while its only 10 feet away it felt SO good to be able to get out of bed and walk! My feet and legs were all tingly bc I hadn't walked in over a month. I will never again take for granted the little things like taking a shower. The hot water and being able to wash my hair and body at the same time was awesome.
Finally, since we have reached 28 weeks, they are now monitoring the babies heart beats for 20 minutes at a time and today after our monitoring our nurse made a comment that our babies hearts looked/sounded great and that they were very mature. When we asked what that meant she said that their heart rhythms were monitoring more like a baby that was 32 weeks than 28. That was just good to hear because we want any advantage possible for our little bundles of joy!
All of the little privileges that we have been able to enjoy recently have been such a blessing and we continue to praise God for each day and we continue to place or focus on him.
As always we thank you and continue to ask for your prayers, they are obviously being heard!
Love,
Megan and Randy + 2
Randy feeding me my breakfast bc I wasn't allowed to sit up. I had to wear sunglasses bc the light hurt my eyes bc of the mag drip I was on for a month.
28 weeks along (tiny due to muscle atrophy and loosing weight while on bed rest) :( Smaller than I was before I was admitted at 23 weeks!
Immediately after my sponge bath we seized the moment with no monitor on my belly to take a quick picture of 28 weeks. First time with out ANY tubes or wires in/on me!
Before this I got all my flui from my IV, I was only allowed a couple sips of water every few hours. FOR A MONTH!
Mom mom who kept me company much of the time.
My 2nd hair washing. Such an ordeal.
28 weeks celebration dinner that my Mother In Law made!
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