I come upon these by random and each time I cannot get them out of my mind. I fall to my knees and pray for these families and wish there were something I could do to help...I feel all I can do is spread the word to pray for them because that is the most powerful thing any of us can do.
I sat here and read this story from the beginning and I'm heart broken for this little girl, for her family and her mother. I just cannot imagine.
Pleae pray!
Good report today. Brody is measuring 6-7 days ahead and weighed in at 5 1/2 pounds. He's extremely low(really?) and was practicing his breathing a lot today. He's facing my spine so we couldn't get any pics of his face. They said he's locked and ready to roll, so is his momma!
They hooked me up to the NST monitors and a couple of my contractions were off the chart but they aren't in a pattern close enough so they still aren't changing my cervix and she's closed tight. I had a few choice words for her today:) Although she has shortened to 2.4 cm.
Dr. B said we will talk about going off the meds and bed rest next Thursday, which in my opinion means I'm going off. She said taking the Procardia this week is really up to me so I think I'm going to take it as needed for pain. I'm really hoping to get my contractions in a pattern this week. Right now they are 5-6 minutes apart, they need to be 2-3 minutes for a couple of hours before they will start working on my cervix. Dr. B said that she feels good where Brody is and that if he were to be born he'd most likely have 0 problems and be able to go home with me, no time in the NICU. So we've won the battle thus far! Yipppeeee. We will also be talking about switching to heparin next week so that I can have the epidural if and when I go into labor.
Til next time!
LeAnn
PS: Daddy is so ready to meet you Brody! He's like a kid the night before Christmas and cannot wait to see you!!!!
I wish I could hit the fast forward button...ha! I know I'll look back on these days and ask myself what was I thinking not liking bed rest
It's cold outside and the dogs and I haven't moved from the living room. Go figure the dogs are on the bed and I'm on the couch :)
I have a torrible cough, I have no clue where I got it, maybe the docs office but I think I'm scaring poor Brody because I'm coughing so much and he's been jumpy.
Its suppose to get icy outside so everyone be careful! Nana is making roast and mashed potatoes and bringing it over tonight, yummy!!!!!!!
Oh and my charger stopped working, we have a Sony and it's making a very low cricket sound and the lights not on nor will it charge, what's up with that?
I found this blog a week or so ago and every day I go to it for updates. I don't know this family but oh how I have prayed for them over the past week. It's amazing to see what God can do and how he works, weaving his strength and miracles throughout so many lives.
******Baby Shower Pictures are in the previous post below!*****
Whooohoooo, we made it to 34 weeks! This is a huge week for Brody’s lung development. He is now producing enough surfactant on his own to be able to properly breathe if he were born. Now we are just waiting for him to put on a little more weight so that he wouldn’t run out of energy to do everything he would need to do outside the womb.
Lord give me strength: I really try not to complain a lot on my blog, I think it’s a downer when you go to read updates and all they do is complain and whine but I’m really having a hard time these past couple of days and could use some prayers. It all started on Friday night when we were going to meet my parents for dinner. (Yes I know I’m on bed rest but the thing I’ve learned the past couple of weeks is that it doesn’t matter if I’m at home in bed or out-I’m going to contract. So I’ve given myself permission to go and enjoy good grub when the opportunity arises) On the way to dinner I was having excruciating pains in my lower abdomen. To me they felt like severe gas pains and so I thought that’s what they were. It was to the point that I was in tears at the dinner table. At the same time I was having these “gas” pains I was also feeling my regular contractions that I was having. Long story short after trying to walk around and drink something to relieve the pain I ended up at the hospital. My “gas” pains weren’t gas at all they were strong contractions. So they started an IV to get me good and hydrated and gave me two rounds of turb to stop them. My cervix hasn’t changed…still closed tight.
They sent me home and I’m still having the contractions and cramping. I feel like my body just can’t take anymore and is giving out on me, it literally feels like I’ve done a million plus sit-ups. I’m so frustrated because they won’t induce this early but at the same time my cervix isn’t changing so they are left with sending me home. They give me the turb to calm my contractions so that I’m not completely miserable but until I start dilating I’m stuck.
I’m trying to do what is best for Brody. I know the longer he is in there the better and I’m trying to suck it up and deal with this but I’m just so tired. My back is killing me, my stomach is so tired and still contracting, I have all this pressure from Brody’s head being so low and at times my stomach muscles are so tired I can barely get out of bed to go get a drink or go to the ladies room…I’m just at the end of my rope and need it to be extended just a little longer.
I feel like if I’m having to go through all these contractions we should go ahead and take me off the bed rest and Procardia and see if they will get stronger and actually change my cervix!
On top of all this I have a cold with a major scratchy throat…anyone know how to get rid of that?
Here’s Brody’s Development this week:
Besides looking like a newborn at 34 weeks of pregnancy, your baby is acting like a newborn as well. His eyes open when he’s awake and close when he is sleeping. His sleeping cycles are the same now as they will be when he is born. He has learned to blink and can see better when a bright light is shined on your stomach. He recognizes voice and sound patterns from the outside world and is most comforted by the sound of your voice.
He weighs about 5 pounds now and is about 18 inches long. His fingernails have reached the end of his fingertips at week 34 of pregnancy and he may even scratch his face before he is born. His fat layers are growing every week to fill up that wrinkly skin and he may have already turned into the head down position for labor. Your baby’s central nervous system is still maturing, and his lungs are almost fully ready to breathe air. If your baby is born this week, he has a 99% chance of survival outside of the womb, pretty darn good odds.
4 more weeks at the most! I can do it!!!
34weeks:
Til next time,
LeAnn
Our appointment was at 1:30 and we left the office at 5:00...oh the price to pay for a really good doc!
Brody's doing great and weighed in at 5lbs, he gained almost a whole pound in 1 week! He's measuring 6 days ahead.
Mom is doing good as well. She didn't check my cervix this week but hopefully she will next week to see if I've dilated any.
Nothing new to report other than Brody's growth. I go back next Thursday for another biophysical profile and nonstress test. She said we will definitely induce at 38 weeks if I don't go on my own before then. I'll be done with bed rest in 2 weeks!!!!
Today marks 6 weeks on bed rest! Cannot believe it. Seems so long but at the same time it's gone by pretty quickly.
I keep trying to upload pictures from the shower but blogger takes forever just to upload 1 picture..I think they are having technical difficulties!!
This is what I've accomplished since being on bed rest:
- 6 weeks ago Brody only weighed 2 pounds today he is 4 1/2 pounds
- Brody was only 14 inches long and now he's 18 inches!
- 6 weeks ago Brody immune system was not ready and now its producing its own antibodies
- 6 weeks ago Brody couldn't taste and now he can, yummy....
- Brody can now control his own body temperature
A lot can happen in 6 weeks. Hard to believe that in another 6 weeks Brody should/better be here with us!
Sonic Ice Rocks My Socks Off!!!!!! 
We asked poppy to drop off some ice on Sunday before the baby shower so he got several bags of the good stuff from sonic. I've been eating it ever since and I think I'm addicted. It's the best
And a big Happy Birthday to Aunt Marcy! Hope you have a great one
Love,
LeAnn
I know I said I would update with pics of the shower and I meant to Sunday evening but was so worn out that I wasn't able to update. I'm trying to arrange all the pics in a cute scrapblog but it's coming around slower than I thought.
Last night I had severe contractions. So painful I was coming off the bed and barely able to breath through them and they were coming about every 5-6 minutes. My poor husband, I'd want him to rub my back because it would help relieve some pressure but at the same time I was in so much pain I didn't want anyone touching me. He kept telling me to call the doc but just the thought of getting dressed and walking was too much, let alone lay on that uncomfortable bed at maternal observation. This lasted for about 2 1/2 hours until I could take the Procardia again. Once I got the meds back in me they eased up and I was able to relax but today I feel like I've had a full body workout and can barely move I'm so sore from all the contractions.
I'm pretty sure as soon as I get the all clear to go off the Procardia and I get up and do stuff around the house I will go into labor. I'm going to go ahead and make my prediction: I think I will go into labor and have Brody on Friday, February 6th. Why I think this: I go to the doctor every Thursday and on February 5th I will be 35 weeks and 4 days, close enough to 36 weeks that Dr. B will probably take me off the Procardia and bedrest. Knowing me I will go running around after the doc appointment just because I will have that freedom and this will probably get my contractions going, I think it will take 24 hours to get the Procardia out of my system and that puts us at Feb. 6th. If this theory doesn't work I will be begging for a 37 week induction, which would put us at Feb. 16th(or that week) You like my theories? :) What do y'all think?
I promise to update with pics on the great shower I had this weekend sometime this week.
Til then,
LeAnn
Brody's 33 week development:
This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds and has passed the 17-inch mark. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead. These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.
Mommy update:
This week was a really good one. I cannot believe it but I think I've "popped" again. I'm also starting to notice a little swelling in my face and feet but I think that has a lot to do with not moving around and all the medicine I'm on. I think this week is definitely the week where I've felt the most "pregnant". Everything is now a job and its getting harder and harder to waddle around. Sleep is no longer because I cannot get comfortable and the heartburn is absolutely the craziest thing...who would have thunk it:) I'd rather give myself a shot than deal with this heartburn. My new favorite thing right now is Juicy Juice Apple Juice but it kills me with the heartburn(kid you not the other morning I had half the bottle b/c I was craving it so much!) and ice water, I cannot get enough of it! I'm definitely ready for Brody to be here!!
Here's the 33 week belly pic(whoa!):
PS: I've been feeling ALOT of pressure and can really feel that his head is low...I wouldn't be surprised if "something" is going on!!
Stay tuned for the baby shower update
LeAnn
******I started this post yesterday but got interrupted it continues regarding today's appointment at the bottom******
Just thought I would update with what's going on since my visit to L&D.
I'm pretty sure the Procardia is no longer working or by body just isn't responding to it anymore. Once I got home from the hospital on Tuesday I started having the stronger contractions again. This of course frustrated the you know what out of me. I took a nice long bath to really try and relax the uterus and it seemed to help.
Wednesday started out good and I stayed in bed pretty much the entire day but as soon as I would get up to get something to eat/drink or go to the bathroom I would start having the contractions again. I called the doc and I'm now on the max allowed dosage of Procardia in a 24 hour period, this means I have to take it ever 3 hours. The first hour or 2 hours are good but that last hour I pretty much contract until I can get the Procardia in me again. She also said that Friday we will be talking about steroids to help with lung development and my only next stop is the hospital.
Today has been a little calmer and the uterus isn't as ticked off but again as soon as I get up to go to the bathroom I will have a contraction. I'm hopeful that the 3 hour Procardia will do the trick now that its been in my system for 24 hours.
I'm pretty down right now. I'm nervous about what's going on, I'm crampy from all the contractions and just down right frustrated with the whole situation. I think this anxiety/frustration stems from what's going to happen tomorrow. I see it going 2 ways: I think if my cervix hasn't changed she will tell me to go home, stay in bed and keep doing what I've been doing for another week. If my cervix has thinned out more or started to dilate I think she will put me in the hospital so that I can get on terb or mag and get the steroid shots to help with the lungs. I REALLY don't want to go into the hospital. I guess only time will tell.
If anyone knows me they know that bed rest is not my cup of tea. I'm a very active person and I have been in bed now for 4 weeks and 1 day. I can handle the bed rest but it's harder to handle the bed rest AND contractions. It makes you start saying things like why am I freaking sitting in bed all this time when I'm just gonna contract! I hate being stuck in this gray area. I feel like it needs to tilt either way but something needs to change, either my body needs to chill out and not contract or it needs to go into full labor so we can do something about it! I'm tired of the in between crap. I know each day is better for Brody and I pray everyday that he stays in there longer so that he can get stronger...I'm doing what's best for my son right now...but damn does it have to be so hard?
I'll update tomorrow after the doc appt.
Til then!
LeAnn
This has to be the most frustrating pregnancy ever! Monday night I had a really bad night with a lot of pubic bone pain and contractions that were pretty strong and intense. I had noticed throughout the day on Monday that my contractions were getting stronger and more painful but I just chalked it up to being nothing. Well Monday night I could barely get out of bed without being in severe pain. I slept through it as best I could and called the doctor on Tuesday. It was the after lunch when I finally talked to the nurse and Dr. B was out for delivery so she wanted me to go into the hospital to get checked.
Long story short: The contractions I was having where double in intensity from last time I was in L&D(3 weeks ago), they checked me and I'm 50% effaced, not dilated and she could feel Brody's head. I don't know about y'all but this freaked me out. She said he was sitting right on my pubic bone and she tried to push him back up but he came back down...what the heck...you can feel my kids head...is he suppose to be that low? They did a fFn test and it came back negative so we have 10 more days! They sent me home on taking the Procardia every 4 hours now instead of every 5 to see how I do and I go to the doctor on Friday. I will know more then.
I've never leaned on the Lord as much as I am right now...I've turned to him but I literally feel like he's carrying me as of right now.
Til next time,
LeAnn
Thanks to Nana's hard work the nursery is really coming along. She's worked the past 4 days straight on Brody's bedding and all that is left is hemming the curtains to the proper length, getting the windown seat that I ordered, getting something above the changer(I think Mandy's gonna do that for me :) having Poppy & B build a shelf up above the dresser and then organizing a few things. I don't think the pics do it justice, it looks way better in person:
This is the piggy bank Roddy and Leah got Brody, isn't it the cutest thing ever!
31 Week Belly Shot
Well it's 2009! This year marks a very exciting one for us and we can't wait to get this show on the road. It will be a life changing year but definitely for the better. We said good bye to the last year without children and are very anxious to see what this year brings.
31 weeks, can you believe it. I only have 49 more days...49! That's crazy to me. Brody will be here before you know it. It's funny because people will ask me when are you due and they probably think I look dumbfounded because I say well I really don't know, my due date is March 8th but I'm going to be induced 2 weeks early but that's only if he makes it that far because I'm on bed rest and contracting. They probably think...sorry for asking :)
Brody has definitely run out of room in there and can no longer kick me like before. He rolls and stretches more instead of kicks and flips. I'm having an awful time with heart burn at night when I lay down. I don't know what to do to help it because Tums really doesn't touch this stuff. Getting comfortable is also a challenge at bedtime. I don't know if it's because I'm getting bigger or because I'm in this bed so much but its throwing my schedule way off. I go to bed really late and sleep in late as well.
Modified bed rest is going ok. It definitely helps mentally to get out of the house but it also causes me to have more contractions. So I've tried to lay low and take it easy. I know if I get out too much I'm going to pay for it later with having uncomfortable contractions. I'm very anxious for Fridays appointment because I really want to check on Brody's growth. We haven't seen him in 3 weeks and she didn't schedule an u/s for this appointment so I might not be able to see him but I'm definitely asking for one for next appointment. I'd also like for her to check my cervical length to make sure it isn't shortening. I know she'll take another fFn test. I feel like the contractions are getting stronger which is at times frightening. But I'm not sure if this is because my uterus is getting bigger or what. I'm trying to trust my body and let it tell me if I need to call in or not. I was having a bad hour a few nights ago so I started to time them and in one hour I had 11 contractions :( Yikes!! Luckily they calmed down after I went ahead and took my medicine early.
Here's Brody's 31 week development:
This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.
Til next time,
LeAnn
