Thursday, January 29, 2009

Tuesday

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!

34 Week Doc update

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!!!!

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Tick...Tock...Tick...Tock

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?

Monday, January 26, 2009

God is so good!

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.

Sunday, January 25, 2009

34 Weeks - Lord Give Me Strength



******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

Baby Shower Pics

The best hostesses ever!

The table was too cute!
Jolie was worn out! She decided to try out Brody's bed:

We had a great turn out of family and friends:






I cannot thank everyone enough for all the great gifts:






It was an awesome day filled with love and laughter! Brody is very blessed and I thank everyone from the bottom of my heart.
Love,
LeAnn

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Doc Update

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!!!!

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Bed rest for 6 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!

Favorite Thing!

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

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

I'll get to it

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

Sunday, January 18, 2009

33 Weeks

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

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

What I'm Doing...

******I started this post yesterday but got interrupted it continues regarding today's appointment at the bottom******


Counting my contractions, isn't that what most prego women do during the day? Oh right....I forgot, I'm a abnormal! So I'm sitting here counting my contractions because I noticed I was having quite a few. Since 1:55 I've had 11 and it's now 2:30...what's sad is that I'm not even worried about them. I've been dealing with this for so long it just seems like its part of my day. I'm downing a ton of water right now and I took my Procardia at 2:00 so I will give it a few more hours and then if they haven't stopped I will go on in to my home away from home but I have a doc appointment in the morning so I'm trying to hold off. Think if I drink all this in the next hour or so it will help?

I did talk to my nurse this morning because we've had some changes in my Procardia. I'm having the side effects again of the racing heart rate(my pulse sometimes gets up to 120), headache, nausea, jittery, etc...for about an hour after I take the medicine. So I decided yesterday that I would try and take it every 4 hours to help with the side effects but of course this is the cause for increased contractions so I'm back to the every 3 hours until I can talk to Dr. B tomorrow about it(she was out today).

Today marks 5 weeks on bed rest! Cannot believe it. I cannot even go into my bedroom anymore. I think the straight 4 weeks did me in but we have now moved into the living room with the guest bed right in the middle. I love this bed, always have. Our bed is extremely firm and I can no longer get comfy on it. I think with the windows in the living room it's really helped me mentally. This week has been a lot better than last week as well. It's going by faster and I seem less depressed. I was in some sort of funk last week with a lot of stress and anxiety but after literally crying all day Friday I am much better now.

Mandy and Shirley stopped by last night to hang up some things they got me in the nursery. Mandy found these pics a few weeks ago and made this memo board for me, isn't it beautiful. It really completes the changing table area and I absolutely love it! Thanks so much y'all for everything you've been doing! You are the best Mando.
Barb also stopped by to hang the completed curtains. The room is really looking complete and awesome. I'm so happy with the way everything turned out...Barb did an awesome job on making all the bedding.
*********************************************************
So here it is Thursday and I'm home from my doc's appointment. I ended up in the hospital again yesterday from 3pm to 7:30pm because as I started counting my contractions I found I had 15 contractions in 1 hour, they were coming regularly every 3-4 minutes. Once we got to the hospital I was pretty uncomfortable and they were getting intense. All in all they gave me 2 rounds of terb which slowed them down quite a bit but they would come back after an hour. They couldn't give me the 3rd round because my heart rate was too high. I ended up going home even with contractions because we knew I had a doc appt in the morning and my cervix was still closed so there wasn't much they could do for me.

I had a pretty ok night, I contracted through out but was able to sleep some. This morning I had an ultrasound and doc appointment. Brody is measuring 1 week ahead and his big noggin is measuring 2 weeks ahead. He weighs a little over 4 lbs and doing good. We didn't get very good pics because he's face down and extremely low. The dark circle in the middle is his eye and there's a little hand next to his cheek. My fluid level is great and my cervix is still measuring 3 cm which amazed both the doc and I.
Now to the decisions: The put me on the nonstress test and sure enough I was still having contractions every 5 minutes or so. Dr. B says I win, hands down, the award of most contractions without going into labor. She said she's never had a patient have so many contractions and not end up delivering. I'm not sure if this is a good thing or bad thing?! We are both extremely frustrated and don't know what else to try. We decided to go ahead with the steroids to develop Brody's lungs, just in case I go into labor. It's a shot in the hip that I had today and then I go back in tomorrow for the other one. It takes 24-48 hours to take full effect on Brody and then it peeks in 1 week and starts wearing off in 14 days. So that will cover us to the 34 week goal.
I cannot take the Procardia every 3 hours because of the side effects so we agreed to start taking it every 5-6 hours. She said I could go completely off but she wasn't to comfortable about that because she thinks I'll go into labor. She mentioned that I could get a terbutaline drip placed in my abdomen that would give me terb continuously but I hated that idea and we quickly threw that out. At 36 weeks we are going off everything, meds and Procardia and will stop trying to stop the labor and let me have the baby if that's what my body is going to do.
It's a hairy situation because if you remember I'm on lovenox(blood thinners) for the Factor V. I cannot have an epidural for 48 hours after my last shot but she doesn't want me to go on the heparin yet because I guess it doesn't work as well as the lovenox(I'm not exactly sure why she isn't switching me, all she said was that I don't want you to form a clot). I'm sure it doesn't help that I'm on bed rest because that slows down the blood flow and can cause clots. So we are in a delicate spot right now because if I go into labor I'll be doing this natural, which is kinda scary but what choice do I have.
I go back in tomorrow for my 2nd steroid shot and then I go back next Thursday for another biophysical ultrasound and to get checked. It's day by day here at the McCollough household.
Have a good one!
LeAnn

Sunday, January 11, 2009

32 Weeks


Brody's development at 32 weeks:

By week 32, your baby weighs nearly 4 pounds! The crown-to-rump length of your baby is approximately 11.7 inches and the total length is about 18.9 inches. Sleeping boy, the baby sleeps 90-95% of the day, and sometimes experiences REM sleep, an indication of dreaming. The wrinkles in your baby's face are disappearing and fat is still being deposited throughout the baby's body. The body growth slows down from now on.
I highly doubt Brody sleeps that much and if he is asleep he moves around a lot while sleeping! This weekend definitely went better than the week as I had people in and out. I went over to Mandy's last night to have dinner and a movie and it was a great change of scenery just laying on her couch. She even let me experience a little piece of heaven called the back and body pillow, OMG it's awesome.

Today has been the most painful as far as the pressure and pubic bone pain I've been experiencing. I literally had B massage that area and could feel Brody move up a little which relieved some pressure. I have also started to ask for some help getting up because the pain can be so uncomfortable. I really do think Brody has found the door out and is knocking on it! Today I've also had a lot of contractions but not too many of the heavy duty ones so I haven't worried about it. Just trying to take it one day at a time.
13 more days until our goal of 34 weeks...come on Brody we can do it!

I need to thank my parents for all the help they have been giving us around the house. My mom has come over every weekend and cleaned our house.

Our family as been great as well. Everyone has been checking in and seeing if we need anything and we really appreciate it. Aunt Margaret send me a card with the cutest little items in it almost daily and I love checking the mail now :) Had a good talk with my grandma and cousin Katy about maybe going over to my parents house during this week and they would swing by and keep me company.

And of course my loving husband who has absolutely been my rock throughout all this. I honestly don't think I could go through this without him. He helps me get through each day and gives me strength when I have absolutely none. I love you babe!
Til next time,
LeAnn





Friday, January 9, 2009

Doc Update

Well I'm back home from the doctor. I feel much better after having a long chat with Dr. B and here is what's going on:

-My cervix is still closed tight!!! I'm almost completely effaced(thinned out) which I'm not sure if that means a whole lot.
-Brody's head is VERY low and she can feel it, she said to expect a cone head as he's been hitting my pubic bone for awhile now but that can be molded and fixed right after he is born.
-She thinks that once I do go into labor it probably won't be very long as most first because I'm pretty much doing all the work now, I'm already thinned and he's already dropped and down there.
-Sunday I'll be 32 weeks and she really wants me to get to 34 weeks. At this point we will have some decisions to make but more than likely she will give me the steroids to boost his lung development and take me off the Procardia considering it's not doing much good now. At that point I could go into labor within a day or two or I could hang tight and make it to term, we just don't know how my body will respond.
-The only reason I should go into the hospital between now and 34 weeks is if my contractions get so strong that I'm in pain and can't take it any longer or if they just won't stop.
Here's a picture of effacement and dilation so those who aren't sure what I mean when I say I'm almost completely effaced:

I go back next Thursday for a stress test, an ultrasound to check his growth and development and to check on my cervix.

So I have 16 more days until she said we can really breath easy and start letting nature take it's course. Each day he stays in there is one less day he will have to be in the NICU if he has to go in there at all.

Thanks for everyones thoughts and prayers...keep them coming!
LeAnn

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Update

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

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Complete frustration

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

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Nursery Pics

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

31 Weeks - Happy New Year's

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