Well...I wasn't expecting that...

A week ago I had a list made for Mike and I of things I wanted to accomplish by this weekend so we could have my (favorite) Aunt and Uncle stay with us, while other company was in staying at my parents. A week ago, I was getting caught up on my laundry...done and folded. A week ago I was cheering on my girls in a baseball game waiting to go out to dinner with our family to celebrate a belated birthday for Mike and Mother's Day for me....

What I wasn't expecting, was, at dinner falling over in pain and begging my family to finish. I had this pain that started as a low back pain and ended up a stabbing pain in the right side of my back. Mike was sure I had a kidney stone ( I think he was wishing it so I could feel how he did last month) By the time we got home I was curled up in bed with chills and on the phone with my doctor. When they didn't return the call in 30 minutes, Mike took me over to the hospital and the labor and deliver unit.

After observing me in triage (and getting me some demerol), they admitted me for observation and sent Mike home to get some rest. That started a big snowball effect over the next few days. First, they discovered that the bladder infection I have had since I have been pregnant moved to my right kidney. Second, that infection had become so bad that the cough I have had for over a month had turned into pneumonia, and I was only breathing at about 85% of room air, so they put me on oxygen. My OB at that hospital became nervous with these two combined and me being pregnant, so I was sent by ambulance over to UT where they deal with high risk pregnancies, as well as premies, if they would have to deliver me.

At UT, they found that my hemoglobin and platelets were low...my platelets were 80,000...normal is 200,000-300,000....and so I needed a blood transfusion. The transfusion actually helped me to feel better, and for the first time in days, I was able to move my legs in and out of bed instead of asking Mike to do it for me...that is to go to the bathroom, the only thing I was allowed to get up to do. (at this point it is Saturday, and I am begging for a shower but they said no) Oh, did I mention my blood pressure hovered aound 80/40?

Oh, here is one of my favorite parts...I tried to explain to one of the doctors how my body was achy from being in bed all day, and because I wasn't breathing well, my neck hurt from sleeping (if you want to call it that) sitting up. Next thing I know, I am on respiratory isolation because I may have swine flu. So, they tested me for influenza A and B and told me it would take 3 days for my swine flu test to come back. Later, they told me I was negative for both, and that you have to test positive for A in order to have swine flu.

By Sunday, they weaned me off oxygen to give me a chance at getting a shower...and I passed! I sat in the shower for over 30 minutes...it never felt so good. By Monday, my first morning by myself because Mike had to go back to work, I was starting to feel a bit more human...but the doctor who wanted me tested for the swine flu came to check on me. He told me my chest x rays were "unimpressive" to him. I asked him what that meant, and he said "well yout pneumonia wasn't as bad as I thought" I said that was a good thing...He also said "and I can't believe you don't have the flu, we are just WAITING for our first case of swine flu here"...sorry to disappoint you, dr....and then I made the mistake of trying to explain to him how my body is still tired and achy from being in a bed and sleeping sitting up....next thing I know...I am back on repriatory isolation, and infection control says it will take 2 weeks for my swine flu test to be conclusive....

Tuesday, I learned to keep my mouth shut, and when asked by both my doctors if I wanted to go home I said "YES!" I have been on about 5 different antibiotics, and who knows what other kind of medicine...but I am home, with 3 different antibiotics....so good to be home...

And the baby? We had an ultrasound and biophysical profile done on Friday and he scored 8 out of 8...and 2 other ultrasounds since then. He is looking great. I don't know how all this medication will affect him, I pray it won't. I thanked God every day I was in the hospital that I was pregnant for another day.

So, hopefully, he will hang out in me about 10 more weeks, and will be a healthy boy when I get to meet him...and my kidney's will behave....

Monday Memory...

Oh, this would have been such perfect timing last Monday if I had remembered to blog this...but I didn't so...a week late here is my first Monday Memory, thanks to Smallworld.

20 years ago this month I was finishing up my freshman year of high school. I was 15 years old. My sister Beth, and I were good friends, and I was in love with New Kids on the Block. So, when I found out they were coming in concert on, gasp, a school night, I begged Beth to take me and my parents to let me go.

This was also a time when I was a good scapegoat for Beth. She was grounded a lot but was allowed to "go out" if it involved taking me somewhere. So, I got to spend a lot of time with her Senior friends that year because she was taking "me out" and then we would go out with them. And so, she agreed to take me and also brought along her friend Nichole.

I remember it was May 4, 1989, a Thursday night. I had gone to Ross to find the perfect outfit for the concert...a Debbie Gibson style skirt with leggings and hat and some green shirt to go along with it. I remember the arena, the Bob Carr, which was small compared to the arenas they would sing at even a year later. I remember Joe singing "Please Don't Go Girl" and thinking he was oh so dreamy. It was a really fun night (though Nichole really hated it) and the start of a three year long obsession for me.

What sticks out in my mind the most about this night was coming home and Beth, Nichole, and I trying to figure out the "Right Stuff" dance. They both had some final to study for, but we stayed up trying to figure out those "fancy dance moves" If you know the dance, you know....it really isn't that hard or that fancy....

I went on to see them about five more times in concert....skipping school to meet them, and not...meeting three of them at the airport, and getting after show passes to party with them, only to be denied access because my friend and I weren't 18...hmmmm...

Elisa...

My little 5 year old....she lights up a room...and my life...


I love when she comes to say good morning to me and then kisses me and my belly before asking "can I watch my movie shows now?"
I love conversations with her...she knows so much being the youngest and learning from the older two. Usually when I am frustrated with Caleb and Bekah for not listening to what I have just read them she will chime in, "I know what a bayonet is mommy."

So, here are three awesome Elisa conversations that I had to blog about from the past week...I don't want to forget them...she is too precious...

I was fixing her hair one morning and she says, "Mommy, did you know that God knows how many hairs are on my head?" I said," yes" She said, "how many do you think a hundred million trillion? I bet if I am real quiet God will whisper it in my ear."
I said "God does talk to us....I don't know if we will know how many hairs are on our head or not, but He does talk to us in our hearts and through his word..."
She said, "I talk to him too. Like the time I got in trouble with you and had to go to my room. I set the timer to brush my teeth and then I didn't. I lied to you mommy, so I went to my room and talked to God and asked Him to forgive me."

The other day Caleb and Elisa were talking about clouds, Elisa said "Caleb told me clouds were made out of water droplets, is that true? Because I thought they were made out of fluff."

And last night:
I should preface this by saying she is pumped about the baby, and my ever growing belly....she loves to hug it, kiss it, and talk to the baby.
So, last night before se went to bed, she lifts up my shirt for her to do all of that and she giggled that my belly button is starting to be an "outsie" and she said, "wow Mommy, how big is he now? Have you been reading your books?" I said, "the books say he is about 15 inches." And showed her how big that was.
She said "wow, so he goes from the top to the bottom...oh, and all the way over here too." (and she pointed to my ever growing "love handles"
I said, "nope, that is just all the extra cushion he needs."

My friend Leigh recently told me her daughter Beccah wants to have a little girl like Elisa when she grows up...I think we all need a little Elisa in our lives...