Please forgive the horrible appearance but this past week has been rough.
Last Tuesday, (while still on at-home bedrest) I began to experience a lot of left side and back pain. I had a kidney stone in November and the pain felt very familiar to me. I called my doctor to touch base with her. She advised me to go into the hospital since I am being watched so closely for preterm labor. I reluctantly went and did as she said. I still haven't returned home! They immediately admitted me to labor and delivery where I spent the next few days. They began treating me for a kidney stone (though a rare x-ray for being pregnant didn't offically show one) and closely watching the preterm labor. What they quickly discovered was that I was contracting very regularly and was in a great deal of pain. My doctor changed my contraction medication but it didn't seem to make a difference. Last night, she was called in to review the status of my contractions again and to check my cervix. Unfortunately, I am 50% effaced and dilated between a 1 and 2. :( I was devastated and scared. I was at ETMC but she told me that considering the significant change, I would have to be immediately transported to Mother Francis in case delivery was imminent and they had the NICU. It was fast, furious and completely overwhelming. Jaime was in Hallsville coaching a soccer game. Luckily, my parents were there to help me stay calm...or atleast try. They changed my medicine again to something called magnesium sulfate.This is the last drug they can give me in hopes of slowing down the contractions and they can only give it to me for a 24 hour span. This medicine is of the devil! It immediately made me feel awful. I felt a very warm sensation start in the core of my stomach and before I knew it, my whole body literally felt like it was on fire. My parents fanned me and placed cold rags all over me but it didn't make much difference. I laid on that bed burning, contracting and scared....waiting on an ambulance to take me over to Mother Francis. The ambulance finally came and the ride was short but not fun. Luckily the two paramedics were nice guys and made me feel as comfortable as possible. I was grateful for that. I am now at TMF and trying to settle in, getting to know a whole new environment and set of nurses. I am still on the magnesium through tomorrow morning and then we will proceed to the next step. I assume my doctor will make her rounds in the morning and we will know more then. So far, Brooklyn seems to be tolerating things well (as I listen to her sweet little heartbeat now). She has received steroid shots to help mature her lungs at a faster rate, just in case. If she was to be born preterm, we've taken all precautions up to this point to make sure her arrival is as smooth and safe as possible. But everything is still up in the air. I have NO idea what is going to happen and can't plan anything. That stresses me to no end. My prayer is that God shows himself in a mighty way through this all! Thanks for all the support, prayers, gifts and help that has been offered. Our world is completely turned up-side down right now, so all things are appreciated.
Till we know more....
