Good Morning!

I wanted to do a quick update on the doctor's visit/test. I was off on Friday and stayed home yesterday, so I'm sorry I didn't post sooner. I KNOW everyone was saying prayers for us because my test came back normal and was actually lower, by A LOT, than the last test!! I know it was God that did it, as even my doctor was almost certain that I had preeclampsia. We still aren't out of the woods, though, as my blood pressure has continued to be high and I am on my way to the doctor in just about 30 minutes. He will assess what he wants to do now that we don't have the preeclampsia and how to get my blood pressure back under control. The best news is that Emmie is still in there kicking like crazy and doesn't seem affected by this (at least I can't tell if she is)!! I will be back to let everyone know what happens after this appointment and where we are going from here!! I hope you all have a great rest of the day and week and thank you again for all your prayers, Paul, Emmie and I really appreciate them, they help get us through!!

Testing

Everyone has asked me how my visit went. I was trying to wait until this afternoon or tomorrow to post anything because I will have a better idea as to what to tell evryone. It's a long story, so I'll try my best to condense it as much as possible. Basically, my doctor is extremely concerned that I may be or have already developed preeclampsia. If you don't know what that is, you can Google it for the medical explanation. It is a potentially fatal condition (to mother and baby) that is only present in pregnant women and can only be "cured" by delivery of the baby. People with Chronic High Blood Pressure (Me) before pregnancy are more susceptable to getting it than others, it affects about 5-8% of pregnancies. So, this is exactly why I've been seeing a high risk doctor and he is very good at what he does. He has been in this field of medicine for over 20 years and he says he "just knows" what signs to look for...swelling of the face (not just normal pregnancy swelling, sudden swelling in just the face), your blood pressure becoming a roller coaster and not able to be controlled any with medicine, suddenly gaining alot of weight (4 pounds or more in a week) and a certain level of protein in the urine (sorry for TMI). So Tuesday when I went, he said the first thing he noticed was the swelling I've recently started having in my face and I had gained 3 pounds in 4 days, since I was there last Thursday, which isn't normal even WITH eating ice cream!! LOL Also, over the last two weeks, since I had been having my blood pressure going back up and they had been adding more medicine, it wasn't helping, it has been going up and down. Lastly, on my last 24 hour urine sample (I've had to do a few due to this concern over the course of my pregnancy) about 3.5 weeks ago, the protein was above normal, not by a lot, but more than it should be. There is a certain level of protein they look for and when it gets to that level, that's when he will "flag" it as preeclampsia. Well, he had me do another 24 hour test yesterday and I am going this morning to turn it in. They will test it in 4-5 hours and are going to do their best to have an answer by late this afternoon. So, here is what will happen from there...IF my protein level is in the preeclampsia range, he will put me in the hospital immediatly, meaning tonight, and begin steroid shots for Emmie's lungs to begin developing more rapidly (as she will probably be coming earlier than expected). I will have to stay in the hospital until Emmie is born. They will just monitor me very closely and watch for when my blood pressure gets to a point where they have to deliver. Second case is my sample isn't quite in that range yet, we will have to go back to see him Monday or so and he will deicide on adjusting my medication AND what else we can do to keep my blood pressure under control....in his words, bedrest. So, he kept telling us he definitely thinks it is a high possibility I will or have developed preeclamsia and from this point on, it will just be something we are watching for extremely closely. Whether that is in the hospital or at home. That is the whole story, sorry for how long it is, but I couldn't shorten it much more without leaving out important parts!! Keep us in your prayers that Emmie will be okay through all of this and so will Paul and I. He is having just as hard a time as I am with dealing with all the stress of it!

Another Round.....

So, I am heading back to my HR doctor this afternoon for I'm sure another round of pills! This is my third visit in 2 weeks. As I posted earlier (I think), they started adding more dosages (on Wednesday, the 30th) because my blood pressure was going up again. Well, I've went again last Thursday and now I am going back today because the new dosage and a half (3 x a day) hasn't really had much of an effect to lowering it. All it has done is give me more dizziness and light-headedness. The doctor wants to have a lengthy discussion with both Paul and I at today's appointment to re-look at everything and go over all the details as to what's going on, that's what he said on the phone earlier. I am just praying everyday that I do not have to go on bedrest. Mainly because the more time I have to take off work before Emmie comes, the less time I get to spend with her after she gets here!! I can only take a maximum of 16 weeks off and I still have 8 weeks to go, which would only leave 8 weeks after to spend with her. We are planning on me staying home with her until the first of the year, which is about 12 weeks, so IF I had to go on bedrest, I just really want to make it 4 more weeks and then I will be okay with it. Anyway, just keep us in your prayers and I will keep you updated on what is going on.

Now We Wait!!

Hey everyone!! I finally took some pictures of the nursery. It is 95% done, just have a couple of finishing touches I want to finish it out. I still have to get a pink rug, a white shelf with coat hooks (to hang her little Strausburg bring home dress) and a few 8x10 light pink picture frames to hang by her crib for a couple of black and white photos when she gets here! Oh, and also the changing pad and two baskets (that match her bedding) for the top of the dresser! And yes, I know, minor details, but that's the engineer in me, I want it exactly the way I pictured it!! LOL After all, I know that won't last long after she gets here (having everything JUST how you want it:) So, I might as well perfect it while I can!! My friends at work are throwing me a shower this Friday, so I am super excited!! It's nice to know that even though most of my family and long-time good friends aren't close by, I still have so many people here who care about me and my family!! My mom and Ellie (Nikki's 7-year old and my beautiful niece) are driving up to come to the shower!! So, I am going to have a great weekend!! BTW...in the pictures, the gorgeous hanging artwork with Emmie's monogram over the dresser is my talented sister's work! She made this for Emmie and gave it to me when I came home for July 4, I LOVE it!! Also, the picture of the pretty pink lamp is what Ellie bought for Emmie when they came up here in June. I have to tell you this story, it will make you cry!! A few weeks before they came up, Ellie had begun earning money from anyone and everyone doing chores like mopping Mi-Mi's floors, picking up sticks outside, etc. She got $1 for every chore. She also saved up all of her allowance just so she could buy Emmie something special from her. She earned $70 and spent every single penny on Emmie when she came up here!! That lamp is probably the most sentimental thing I have in Emmie's room just because I know that little 7 year old worked so hard and saved everything she had to buy that lamp for her new cousin!! She is probably as excited or even more than anybody about Emmie coming!! I still am amazed at how unselfish she is and how sweet it was for her to come up with doing that all on her own!! She is my sweet little Ellie-bug!!

Happy Friday!!

Hey everyone!! Just wanted to put a quick update on Emmie and myself. I had to go to my H.R. Doctor yesterday and surprise, surprise, another dosage was added!! That brings the grand total to......18 pills a day!! Anyway, he says that as long as Emmie is growing and I don't start showing any signs of preeclampsia, that they will just continue to add more dosages until the delivery, if necessary. I am almost maxed out on this second medicine, which means next time they will have to add a third kind of medicine, but he continues to reassure me it is fine for Emmie and does not affect her at all. Which, of course, I still worry about her!! But, I'm not complaining, I just have to keep praying and trusting that God is watching both of us and it will be okay. I will start my twice weekly tests in 2.5 weeks, which will really be a great way they start watching Emmie and making sure she is okay with everything!! I know she will be, as she is already stubborn and headstrong, just like her momma :) She already doesn't like when I mess with her and "interrupt" her play sessions by putting my hand on my belly! As soon as I touch where she is kicking, she stops as long as my hand stays there, and I swear, as soon as I take my hand off, she starts right back up again!! She is already a mess!! Doesn't surprise me, I'm sure it won't surprise any of you either!! LOL Well, I hope everyone has a great weekend!!

Update

Everyone keeps asking about my recent doctor visit, Emmie's growth, my blood pressure, etc. So I thought I would update everyone at once. I went last Wednesday to my high-risk doctor for another growth ultrasound (which is where Emmie's head shot came from). She is growing perfect, as the doctor says, she weighs about 2 lbs. 9 oz and is in the 36% for her age. He said she was a little bit smaller, but her growth was still right on target. They kinda expect her to be smaller with my high blood pressure, which is why I have the growth ultrasounds every 4 weeks.
My blood pressure was going back up a little, so he added another dosage of the 2nd medicine I am already taking. So, now I am up to 5 pills, 3 x day for the blood pressure (yes, 15 total). In 3 weeks, I will begin my testing twice a week every week until Emmie gets here. One is called a biophysical test, which "tests" her (she actually get points and a score) to see if her movements are as often and as "big" as they should be and the other is a non-stress test. That way they can make sure she is continuing to grow and doesn't begin to "stall" in her growth towards the end. Everything is going good overall and we just pray everyday that we can maintain the blood pressure and Emmie can grow as long as possible before coming out to meet everyone!!

First Day

So, after days and weeks of everyone telling me I HAVE to get a blog before Emmie gets here, here I go! I am trying to learn how to create this page, so it may change alot over the next few weeks until I get it "just right". So, if you are reading this, just be patient with me, as I am trying to get it up and running hopefully by the time Emmie gets here!! LOL I would love to hear from everyone!!