....well I had my appointment today....boy hind-sight is 20/20 had I realized last week when picking to come on Tue or Thur - that Tue would be following a holiday where the Dr's office was closed - I would have NEVER picked today of all days!!!! It was so full!!! Every chair and about 5 others standing. I had to wait almost 2 hours before getting called back and never before has my entire visit taken over an hour!
Anyway, she has a brand new ultrasound machine - the latest in technology... so today's measurements of the babies were quite a bit different than last weeks. Last week A= 6lb 1oz where as today she measured only 5lb 6oz.....? Last week, B=5lb 1oz where as today he was only 4lb 13oz... still the machine can be "off" give or take 14 ounces either way... so still either machine could be right... it is all an estimate anyway.
As of today each Tuesday is when my weeks turn one more... I am exactly 36 weeks and on national average babies at this week weigh an "almost 6lbs" so really they are not too far off for being twins. ;) Baby A's heart rate was 149 and Baby B's heart rate was 137 but much louder to hear :) which, by the way, is the BEST SOUND IN THE WORLD!!!
The Dr. called us on Saturday at home to discuss pushing us back from Sat the 9th to Monday the 11th b/c of no availability of an anesthesiologist on the weekends at either hospital... I wasn't able to make it to the phone in time - so all of this was left on voice mail and of course I tried calling the office back but got their voice mail...
So today at the top of the list of things to discuss - of about 8 topics - was all about the 11th! I don't think I can make it until the 11th and even if I could - I would not want to!! My MIL and GMIL are arriving by plane on the 6th and the whole time we had been planning on the 7th... but if I didn't even go into the hospital until the 11th that would mean they would be here for 5 days twiddling thumbs and then I stay for 2-3 days in hospital, come home and 3 days later on the 17th they fly back to KY!!! I need them to help with the babies longer than 3 days!!! Helllloooooo??!@?!@
She said that the two local hospitals never schedule any "planned surgeries" for Monday's - like open heart, ect.... so for baby's the best possible time for a planned C-section would be a Monday. We are still hoping for a V-delivery but she wants to have the room and staff on hand for "just in case" something comes up and I need it. So I asked her about moving it up a week instead of Mon. the 11th how about this coming Monday the 4th? Technically it is only 1 day before I turn 37 weeks which she said I could deliver at 37 weeks...
Plus too, come on like I am gonna be able to hold off until the 11th last week I was 3 cm and lost my m-plug on Friday....
So after the ultrasound, and seeing their positions, and then her "checking me" I am dilated between 4 and 5cm today... she laughed and said, "Every detail in my case was so favorable that it wasn't even funny... almost hard to believe b/c everything was so good...." and that she agreed that we could do it on Monday the 4th. But I have to arrive there at 4am to get it started early so the babies are born early in the day and it doesn't push her too far back in her appointments for the rest of the day... and that is "if" I don't have them on my own before Monday...
That means the babies will be here on or before only SIX MORE DAYS!!!! eeeek! I am excited and anxious and ready! David on the other hand, got all nervous acting when she said "this Monday" he said he actually got hot and felt faint LOL :D He was like, Woah, I am not ready... he's not ready? what does he have to get ready? LOL He was thinking of his work duties at his job and getting them all lined up before the end of this week so he could take off work...
So I am crossing my fingers and legs and hoping for a Monday delivery!!! :)
I gotta take it easy and not take any risks of going into Labor before Monday or David will totally faint! LOL ;) So lots of resting sitting here by the puter or laying on the sofa until then.
Hopefully the next news entry will be from David and he will have photos to share with all of you!!! :)
Love from TX, ~Bonnie
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Wed, May 23, 2007
It’s just now 5:22pm, but I just got home from my day to the doctor – then picking up Nora and visiting with Heidi and then by the grocery...
WE GOT GREAT NEWS TODAY – Dr. Oliver was very pleased with the ultrasound and said there appears to be no indication or evidence of the babies being affected by my exposure to Fifth Disease!!! Praise the Lord!!!
Their weights are fantastic – Olivia now weighs 6 lb 1 oz and Paul Thomas is 5 lb and I forget the ounces – but Olivia is the largest, which is what we want..... and also she (Baby A) has turned and is head down!!! So it may be possible to do natural delivery after all. All of our prayers have been answered it seems!
After the ultrasound I changed rooms and was told to get undressed... when Dr. Oliver came in she said she had just arranged for us to have an appointment at the Medical Center in Pt. Arthur on Saturday June 9th b/c she wanted to make sure she would be able to be there and that their prenatal unit is level 3 where as in Orange they are only level 1.
But then after she performed the exam.... She said she "didn’t know"... I am already dilated 3 cm so it is possible I may not make it until June 9th! We will have to wait and see what happens.
The plans are to go to the hospital in Orange if I go into labor day or night on my own – otherwise if I can make it until the 9th – to show up at the Medical Center at 8am that morning. So we really don't know what to expect at this point.
Last time with Nora, I was already dilated 3 cm on a Tuesday and she was born the following Wednesday.......so that is a little scary....to think that it could happen that fast....and has put is into panic mode almost.
I think tonight when David gets home from work he will be in the mood to finally help me with the baby’s room!!! Yeaaaaa! Dr. Oliver said to go ahead and pre-register with both hospitals this week and not wait until closer till June – so that is also another indication that it may be soon.
So, we’ll see – I do hope to make it until the 9th though even though for me I will be miserable until then – but it will give the baby’s lungs more time to develop and be able to function properly. I would hate to have to be discharged before they can come home with me.
I had David give me all of his phone numbers and I gave them to Heidi and want to give them to a few other frineds just incase anything were to happen during the day time while he was at work we would have a way to contact him. None of these do I know by memory so I wrote them all down and put in my wallet too.
It would be my luck that my cell phone battery would be dead at the time I needed it the most… Well after picking up Nora, I went to Kroger and bought frozen lasagna for dinner so I better go get it started. I left all the doors open to the van and Nora sleeping – didn’t feel like lifting her out. I just don't have the entergy... may try and take a nap during the 60 minutes it takes for the food to cook.
The last two nights for me have been worse than normal – no sleep – heartburn so bad it has made me vomit....and then with that another mess to clean up off the floor b/c I can’t control my bladder when I am vomiting at 4:30am!
Hey, but on the bright side Heidi’s father-in-law had a walker he let me borrow today so now getting to the bathroom 4 times in the middle of the night may not be as painful for me as it has been!! That will come in so handy the next two weeks - Just wish I had thought of this about a month ago!
For everyone in KY reading this please share the news along that all is OK with the babies concerning the Fifth Disease. We are so greatful for all of your prayers - God is so GOOD!
Love from TX, ~Bonnie
WE GOT GREAT NEWS TODAY – Dr. Oliver was very pleased with the ultrasound and said there appears to be no indication or evidence of the babies being affected by my exposure to Fifth Disease!!! Praise the Lord!!!
Their weights are fantastic – Olivia now weighs 6 lb 1 oz and Paul Thomas is 5 lb and I forget the ounces – but Olivia is the largest, which is what we want..... and also she (Baby A) has turned and is head down!!! So it may be possible to do natural delivery after all. All of our prayers have been answered it seems!
After the ultrasound I changed rooms and was told to get undressed... when Dr. Oliver came in she said she had just arranged for us to have an appointment at the Medical Center in Pt. Arthur on Saturday June 9th b/c she wanted to make sure she would be able to be there and that their prenatal unit is level 3 where as in Orange they are only level 1.
But then after she performed the exam.... She said she "didn’t know"... I am already dilated 3 cm so it is possible I may not make it until June 9th! We will have to wait and see what happens.
The plans are to go to the hospital in Orange if I go into labor day or night on my own – otherwise if I can make it until the 9th – to show up at the Medical Center at 8am that morning. So we really don't know what to expect at this point.
Last time with Nora, I was already dilated 3 cm on a Tuesday and she was born the following Wednesday.......so that is a little scary....to think that it could happen that fast....and has put is into panic mode almost.
I think tonight when David gets home from work he will be in the mood to finally help me with the baby’s room!!! Yeaaaaa! Dr. Oliver said to go ahead and pre-register with both hospitals this week and not wait until closer till June – so that is also another indication that it may be soon.
So, we’ll see – I do hope to make it until the 9th though even though for me I will be miserable until then – but it will give the baby’s lungs more time to develop and be able to function properly. I would hate to have to be discharged before they can come home with me.
I had David give me all of his phone numbers and I gave them to Heidi and want to give them to a few other frineds just incase anything were to happen during the day time while he was at work we would have a way to contact him. None of these do I know by memory so I wrote them all down and put in my wallet too.
It would be my luck that my cell phone battery would be dead at the time I needed it the most… Well after picking up Nora, I went to Kroger and bought frozen lasagna for dinner so I better go get it started. I left all the doors open to the van and Nora sleeping – didn’t feel like lifting her out. I just don't have the entergy... may try and take a nap during the 60 minutes it takes for the food to cook.
The last two nights for me have been worse than normal – no sleep – heartburn so bad it has made me vomit....and then with that another mess to clean up off the floor b/c I can’t control my bladder when I am vomiting at 4:30am!
Hey, but on the bright side Heidi’s father-in-law had a walker he let me borrow today so now getting to the bathroom 4 times in the middle of the night may not be as painful for me as it has been!! That will come in so handy the next two weeks - Just wish I had thought of this about a month ago!
For everyone in KY reading this please share the news along that all is OK with the babies concerning the Fifth Disease. We are so greatful for all of your prayers - God is so GOOD!
Love from TX, ~Bonnie
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Thu, May 17, 2007
Well the waiting game continues - still another week before we go back to Dr. Oliver and she will do another ultrasound on the twins. Only this time she said she would be paying extra attention to the babies' chest cavity sizes so see if they are abnormaly large or not.
I know that there are tons of people praying for us - our family and friends, my new ACTS sisters from church are prayign, and even some of my quilter friends and people I have never met before are all praying for out twins. Each day when I check the email there are several emails of prayers. This is SO comforting and I would not have this peace that I now have if I didn't have these prayers being said for us.
Waiting is never easy but this time it hasn't been as bad as I had thought. I know that God is in control and that everything is going to be ok with the babies. They are still very active which is reassuring :) It feels like an earthquake going on inside me in the evenings when I get still.
However, baby boy is constantly in my rib cage at night time - making sleeping nearly impossible!!! I keep telling myself only a few more weeks... only a few more weeks... :) Actually from today it is only 21 days until June 7th. That is the date we have set as the target C-section date.
David bought his mom and Grandma Reliford - or rather Grandma Sublett now... she recently remarried. Boy that sounds strange! LOL :) They will be arriving on Wednesday June 6th.
Nora's weekly playgroup has plans to go to Houston on Thursday the 7th of June to visit "Ole McDonald's Petting Zoo/Farm" so my friend Heidi will be taking Nora on the trip and we (David, the Grandmas and I) will be at the hospital hopefully delivering the twins. :)
I am trying hard to get everything that needs to get done - DONE but feeling overwhelmed b/c there is STILL SOOOOOO MUCH TO DO and so little time!!! We still haven't set up the nursery yet!
Also we have some shopping left to do for furniture. Nora needs a new "white" dresser for her room to match her bed and dollhouse/bookcase - and then we are moving her current dresser into the nursery and the twins already have so many clotehs that I know I am going to need to buy a chest to go in there too.
I am making a spreadsheet of contacts to take to the hospital... and also an email list so David will know who to send photos to. I don't know if he will make any updates here b/c he has NEVER uploaded anything to this website before....
Well, I will run for now - maybe tonight after Nora is in bed, I can get new photos uploaded for all of you to see :)
Love from TX, Bonnie
I know that there are tons of people praying for us - our family and friends, my new ACTS sisters from church are prayign, and even some of my quilter friends and people I have never met before are all praying for out twins. Each day when I check the email there are several emails of prayers. This is SO comforting and I would not have this peace that I now have if I didn't have these prayers being said for us.
Waiting is never easy but this time it hasn't been as bad as I had thought. I know that God is in control and that everything is going to be ok with the babies. They are still very active which is reassuring :) It feels like an earthquake going on inside me in the evenings when I get still.
However, baby boy is constantly in my rib cage at night time - making sleeping nearly impossible!!! I keep telling myself only a few more weeks... only a few more weeks... :) Actually from today it is only 21 days until June 7th. That is the date we have set as the target C-section date.
David bought his mom and Grandma Reliford - or rather Grandma Sublett now... she recently remarried. Boy that sounds strange! LOL :) They will be arriving on Wednesday June 6th.
Nora's weekly playgroup has plans to go to Houston on Thursday the 7th of June to visit "Ole McDonald's Petting Zoo/Farm" so my friend Heidi will be taking Nora on the trip and we (David, the Grandmas and I) will be at the hospital hopefully delivering the twins. :)
I am trying hard to get everything that needs to get done - DONE but feeling overwhelmed b/c there is STILL SOOOOOO MUCH TO DO and so little time!!! We still haven't set up the nursery yet!
Also we have some shopping left to do for furniture. Nora needs a new "white" dresser for her room to match her bed and dollhouse/bookcase - and then we are moving her current dresser into the nursery and the twins already have so many clotehs that I know I am going to need to buy a chest to go in there too.
I am making a spreadsheet of contacts to take to the hospital... and also an email list so David will know who to send photos to. I don't know if he will make any updates here b/c he has NEVER uploaded anything to this website before....
Well, I will run for now - maybe tonight after Nora is in bed, I can get new photos uploaded for all of you to see :)
Love from TX, Bonnie
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Tue, May 8, 2007
Well I just got off the phone with the nurse. She said they DO in fact have the test results but that she can't give me the results only Dr. Oliver can... and that she would not have a chance to review them until after she finishes seeing all of her patients today - that Dr. Oliver would call me tomorrow = Wednesday!
It's been almost a week! urgh! Well... I keep tellimg myself that no news is good news right? and if they were bad the nurse would have seen it and got the Dr's attention... right? ~Bonnie
It's been almost a week! urgh! Well... I keep tellimg myself that no news is good news right? and if they were bad the nurse would have seen it and got the Dr's attention... right? ~Bonnie
Friday, May 4, 2007
Fri, May 4, 2007
Today, Dr. Oliver's office didn't open until 1pm so I called and they told me to just come on in. I did the blood work and hope to knwo something Monday. I will keep you posted. ~Bonnie
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Thu, May 3, 2007
Dear family and friends, we ask you to pray for us – especially our unborn twins ASAP!
Today it was brought to my attention that both Nora and I have defiantly been exposed to a viral illness called “Fifth Disease”. It is also known as “slapped cheek disease” because of the distinctive rash that some people develop on the face. Now, before I go any further rest assured Nora is OK and will be OK – we are just waiting for her to break out with the rash in the next few days and then get over this.
We attend both Story Time and our weekly playgroup with the same 10 kids each week. Last Wednesday my friend Melanie and her two boys came to my home after Story Time so we could cut fabric out for her quilt. Later that night, the boys mom called me asking if there was any way that her 1 year old could have gotten into any chemicals while they were at my home b/c Levi had a large bright red rash all across his face that night. – No, all of my stuff was locked behind child proof locks.
While I was at the ACTS retreat, David said that Nora began getting runny nose and week feeling on Saturday… at that time we just figured it must be allergies since it is that time of year right? He said that she had not had any fever at all. On Sunday – my return home from the retreat I immediately knew Nora was sick and not feeling like herself b/c she didn’t react to seeing me like I had anticipated all weekend. During church, David said she was very lethargic and tired. He thought it may have had something to do with the candle light service the night before and staying up later than her usual bed time. Nora didn’t even go up for a children bulletin at the end of Mass – which she loves to do!!! After mass was over when I got to see her she didn’t want to even look at me, much less come to me. Very not herself!
Every day this week Nora’s nose has continued to run but no fever so no need to call the doctor I thought… we even went to Story Time Wednesday. However, last night she began coughing a lot – again I am thinking allergies… drainage… today more coughing but it cleared up after she at breakfast but her nose has been runny again all day. Thinking maybe it would be best to stay home today and not go to playgroup I called Lisa the hostess to tell her… – but she asked if she had fever and I said no – so she assured me it would all be ok and to go ahead and come. So we did.
We were 30 minutes late getting there and our friend Melanie (Levi’s mom) had already told everyone of her experience last week of his face breaking out and then her taking him to the Doctor before I arrived – so when I got there Lisa quietly pulled me into another room to explain….she told me that Melanie took Levi to the Dr. last Thursday about his rash he got on his face and that he was diagnosed as having Fifth Disease and then showed me two sheets she had printed out from WebMD explaining what the “fifth disease” is and how harmful it can be to unborn babies.
=========================
Taken from WebMD: Fifth disease, is much more common in children than adults and mostly spread by coughs and sneezes. Generally, people can spread the fifth disease only when flu like symptoms are present and before a rash develops. The incubation period – the time from exposure to the virus until symptoms develop – is 4 to 20 days. Initial symptoms usually resemble a mild flue (generally without fever), sometimes followed by a bright red rash on the face and later a lace-like rash on the body. The rash usually fades within 2 to 5 days. After the rash appears the child is no longer contagious and can return to school or daycare. http://children.webmd.com/tc/Fifth-Disease-Topic-Overview
Also Lisa gave me a page about Pregnancy Complications from the fifth disease which I will cut and paste at the bottom of this message.
Well since Levi was diagnosed, there is no doubt that Nora has been exposed b/c we are so close to them and participating in the same weekly activities. Since Levi is 1 and teething they never thought anything about his runny nose the days before his break out…..that’s the bad thing of this virus – children have no idea they are exposed until after the fact!
So today I called my Dr’s office and talked to the nurse who later called me back to tell me that Dr. Oliver herself would be calling me this evening after she was done seeing patients.
When Dr. Oliver called this evening, I told her of our friend’s child having it and our close interaction with him… and she told me to have little to no contact with Nora for the time being. Little did she know that Nora was lying across my shoulder sleeping and breathing her “sick-smell” breath on my face at that very moment of the phone call!
I am to go in for blood work tomorrow (5/4) and unfortunately will not know anything until Monday as their lab pick ups on Friday are late afternoon and don’t allow for same day results.
She said if we learn Monday it is positive we will go from there… but didn’t go into any details she said she would tell me about it at that time but not to worry for now. Also she said even with a negative result I will have to go back in 3 weeks for a second test b/c incubation period if from 4 to 20 days.
We will keep everyone updated as soon as we know more. Until then, your prayers for Olivia Maelee and Paul Thomas are appreciated more than you know!
Your sister in Christ, Bonnie
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise: Pregnancy complications from fifth disease For women who have not previously had fifth disease, contracting the illness during pregnancy can increase the risk for certain complications. Pregnant women who have been exposed to the illness should contact their health professional right away. A very small number of pregnant women who get fifth disease will have a miscarriage. I
n extremely rare cases, the infection can cause a condition called fetal hydrops, in which the fetus develops life-threatening anemia and severe swelling throughout the body. The mother and fetus should be closely monitored with fetal ultrasounds to detect this condition. When fetal hydrops is detected, the fetus may be treated with blood transfusions while in the uterus, although this is not usually necessary. Some babies born to mothers who were infected with fifth disease during pregnancy may also be treated with blood transfusions. Fetal parvovirus B19 infections do not cause birth defects.
Today it was brought to my attention that both Nora and I have defiantly been exposed to a viral illness called “Fifth Disease”. It is also known as “slapped cheek disease” because of the distinctive rash that some people develop on the face. Now, before I go any further rest assured Nora is OK and will be OK – we are just waiting for her to break out with the rash in the next few days and then get over this.
We attend both Story Time and our weekly playgroup with the same 10 kids each week. Last Wednesday my friend Melanie and her two boys came to my home after Story Time so we could cut fabric out for her quilt. Later that night, the boys mom called me asking if there was any way that her 1 year old could have gotten into any chemicals while they were at my home b/c Levi had a large bright red rash all across his face that night. – No, all of my stuff was locked behind child proof locks.
While I was at the ACTS retreat, David said that Nora began getting runny nose and week feeling on Saturday… at that time we just figured it must be allergies since it is that time of year right? He said that she had not had any fever at all. On Sunday – my return home from the retreat I immediately knew Nora was sick and not feeling like herself b/c she didn’t react to seeing me like I had anticipated all weekend. During church, David said she was very lethargic and tired. He thought it may have had something to do with the candle light service the night before and staying up later than her usual bed time. Nora didn’t even go up for a children bulletin at the end of Mass – which she loves to do!!! After mass was over when I got to see her she didn’t want to even look at me, much less come to me. Very not herself!
Every day this week Nora’s nose has continued to run but no fever so no need to call the doctor I thought… we even went to Story Time Wednesday. However, last night she began coughing a lot – again I am thinking allergies… drainage… today more coughing but it cleared up after she at breakfast but her nose has been runny again all day. Thinking maybe it would be best to stay home today and not go to playgroup I called Lisa the hostess to tell her… – but she asked if she had fever and I said no – so she assured me it would all be ok and to go ahead and come. So we did.
We were 30 minutes late getting there and our friend Melanie (Levi’s mom) had already told everyone of her experience last week of his face breaking out and then her taking him to the Doctor before I arrived – so when I got there Lisa quietly pulled me into another room to explain….she told me that Melanie took Levi to the Dr. last Thursday about his rash he got on his face and that he was diagnosed as having Fifth Disease and then showed me two sheets she had printed out from WebMD explaining what the “fifth disease” is and how harmful it can be to unborn babies.
=========================
Taken from WebMD: Fifth disease, is much more common in children than adults and mostly spread by coughs and sneezes. Generally, people can spread the fifth disease only when flu like symptoms are present and before a rash develops. The incubation period – the time from exposure to the virus until symptoms develop – is 4 to 20 days. Initial symptoms usually resemble a mild flue (generally without fever), sometimes followed by a bright red rash on the face and later a lace-like rash on the body. The rash usually fades within 2 to 5 days. After the rash appears the child is no longer contagious and can return to school or daycare. http://children.webmd.com/tc/Fifth-Disease-Topic-Overview
Also Lisa gave me a page about Pregnancy Complications from the fifth disease which I will cut and paste at the bottom of this message.
Well since Levi was diagnosed, there is no doubt that Nora has been exposed b/c we are so close to them and participating in the same weekly activities. Since Levi is 1 and teething they never thought anything about his runny nose the days before his break out…..that’s the bad thing of this virus – children have no idea they are exposed until after the fact!
So today I called my Dr’s office and talked to the nurse who later called me back to tell me that Dr. Oliver herself would be calling me this evening after she was done seeing patients.
When Dr. Oliver called this evening, I told her of our friend’s child having it and our close interaction with him… and she told me to have little to no contact with Nora for the time being. Little did she know that Nora was lying across my shoulder sleeping and breathing her “sick-smell” breath on my face at that very moment of the phone call!
I am to go in for blood work tomorrow (5/4) and unfortunately will not know anything until Monday as their lab pick ups on Friday are late afternoon and don’t allow for same day results.
She said if we learn Monday it is positive we will go from there… but didn’t go into any details she said she would tell me about it at that time but not to worry for now. Also she said even with a negative result I will have to go back in 3 weeks for a second test b/c incubation period if from 4 to 20 days.
We will keep everyone updated as soon as we know more. Until then, your prayers for Olivia Maelee and Paul Thomas are appreciated more than you know!
Your sister in Christ, Bonnie
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise: Pregnancy complications from fifth disease For women who have not previously had fifth disease, contracting the illness during pregnancy can increase the risk for certain complications. Pregnant women who have been exposed to the illness should contact their health professional right away. A very small number of pregnant women who get fifth disease will have a miscarriage. I
n extremely rare cases, the infection can cause a condition called fetal hydrops, in which the fetus develops life-threatening anemia and severe swelling throughout the body. The mother and fetus should be closely monitored with fetal ultrasounds to detect this condition. When fetal hydrops is detected, the fetus may be treated with blood transfusions while in the uterus, although this is not usually necessary. Some babies born to mothers who were infected with fifth disease during pregnancy may also be treated with blood transfusions. Fetal parvovirus B19 infections do not cause birth defects.
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