Hi everybody, this is Emma! I am a very happy girl now that I am not in the hospital, and off bedrest. I am going to clean and pack, celebrate Independence Day tomorrow, go on walks, prepare for Gabe to come, and it will all be wonderful. So, here's a sum up of what happened:
We were originally going down to Salt Lake to meet with the doctor to get acquainted and make a plan for delivery. They gave me an ultrasound when I first got there, and found that my amniotic fluid was very low. I already knew this, and it was the main reason why the specialist at EIRMC had put me on bedrest. They wanted to check things out and do some tests though, so they admitted me to the hospital. It was so weird. They had me put on the hospital gown, and hooked me up to a whole bunch of stuff. Then some research nurses came in and said they were researching the causes of Gastroschisis (which is the name of the birth defect that the baby has). I agreed to help, so they drew some blood, and unhooked me from all of the monitoring equipment so I could give them a urine sample. They then hooked me back up and then just asked a bunch of questions. I felt like I was in that room hooked up to the machines for three or four hours, but apparently, it was just one. I got a shot of steroids so the baby could grow faster (because I'll be delivering early). It was not pleasant. Then they had to do a test to see if I was leaking amniotic fluid, which, luckily, I was not. Then I got a wheelchair ride over to my actual room. They came in to check vitals every once and I while, and usually at the same time, they would listen to the baby's heartbeat. I had a hard time getting to sleep Friday night. The bed was hard, and the pillows were like plastic rocks. It was one of those automatic inflatable beds, so every time I moved, it would roar at me as in inflated or deflated. It was so loud. I didn't get to sleep until about 2, and they woke me up to check vitals around 4:30. I did not go back to sleep. They did another non-stress test that morning, and the nurse was really happy with the results. They brought me lunch, and gave me my second dose of steroids. Then the nurse told me that they were going to let me go home. Yay! We waited a while for them to get the paperwork all set, and told me I did not have to be on bedrest anymore. I signed a couple of things, and got dressed, and we headed back to Rexburg.
So, I was really only in the hospital for a little over 24 hours. It was not ideal. We had originally planned to go visit Becky and Travis and the twins after my appointment, so we missed out on dinner. As unpleasant as the hospital stay was, I am incredibly happy with the results. Now I can actually enjoy a little bit of summer! I still have a zillion doctors appointments, because they want to keep a close watch on Gabe and I, but I can do other things too, so it's happy. As of right now, We have 2 appointments each week with our regular doctor in Rexburg. Then we have an appointment scheduled for the 11th in Idaho Falls, then there is another appointment in a couple of weeks in Utah, so there will be a lot of doctors visits. The doctor in Salt Lake said he wanted me in Salt Lake to stay until the baby came when I was around 33 or 34 weeks along. That also happens to be finals week, and the week before finals. ugh. (I am off-track, but Evan is taking classes right now.) I will be 33 weeks along on the 13th this month, so it's coming up fast. They may just want me to stay in Utah when I go for my appointment in 2 weeks. I don't know. I will probably know more definite plans after my appointment this Tuesday. Anyway, that's kind of what's going on in our life. Oh I forgot, to add on to all of that we're moving! Oh geez. This month is going to be crazy. I didn't forget a picture. This is what I look like now. :)
Evan thinks Gabe grew overnight. (It must be the steroids.) Anyway. I am in a great mood, and incredibly happy to be off bedrest. Hopefully, everything will go well with Gabe this month. Love you all!
-Emma
