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....