DAY FIVE

January 1st, 2011

Another eventful night here in the hospital. I was on continuous monitoring = NO SLEEP for me and Micah.

 My new "BFF" Dr. Suarez, the Doctor on call this morning, let me come off continuous monitoring around 10:30am so I was able to finally get a good snooze in. I am now just being monitored every 4 hours for about an hour each time. This type of monitoring is sooooo much better than being tied down by all those wires and dealing with the alarms, the poking and prodding and the limited bathroom break. 

We had one last surprise visit last night, just in the nick of time. I was on a verge of a mini meltdown when Heidi our "Fairy Dog Mother" dropped by with a New Years Eve goody basket. Heidi takes care of IVY and SUGAR when we are out of town, or in this case, living in the hospital. She is a lifesaver, not to mention a good friend. She brought us blowers, bubbles, poppers, a hat and crown, sparkling cider and snacks. Thanks Heidi your the BEST!!!

Not much action during the day today....Micah went home for most of the day for a well deserved break, a nap and some laundry. Here are some more highlights from the day:

"Pizza Party" for Rose Bowl and Fiesta Bowl watching

An exciting game of Scrabble - Micah kicked my butt!

Some of you have asked for "belly pics" - sorry for those that get grossed out easily!

 GOOD NIGHT and I hope everyone had a great first day of 2011!

DAY FOUR

December 31st, 2010

Happy New Years Eve everyone! Another unpredictable night here at the hospital. We were in the middle of our night time monitoring and the babies to took several decelerations in their heart rates. The Doctor on call decided to put me on monitoring all night to keep an eye on things. So I received an IV and started the "real" bed restriction. - being stuck on the monitors in bed with minimal bathroom trips. We had a few decelerations throughout the night and early morning, therefore not much sleep for me and Micah.

Took a "field trip" to the Doctors office this morning to check out the restriction number and unfortunately it only went down from 3.5 to 3.4, but we did discover why there was some much action last night. Baby boy decided to make a major move all the way back to head down position.

Spent most of the time in bed, no rides today...did get to sit in a rocking chair for a bit. My mom visited for a while and now Micah and I are looking forward to take-out Mexican and watching the ball drop from room 235!

My how New Years Eve plans have changed over the year! Hope you all have a safe time ringing in 2011!

Throwing up my Day 4 sign with some sausage like fingers

 

 

 

 

Today's breakfast - Micah was sweet enough to get breakfast tacos

Coming back from a "field trip". (Micah thought it needed to be captured). I

 am sure Nurse

 Kim thinks we are nuts!

DAY THREE

December 30th, 2010

Had a rough night last night, not really great rest, long monitoring time, nose bleeds....yadda yadda. Did get some relief around 1:00am with a little treat called "Ambien" - my new best friend. Before anyone goes and gets their panties in wad, the Doctor said it is perfectly ok for the babies. No side effects, just a "momma to be" that can maybe get some much needed shut eye on this (did I mention) uncomfortable bed!

Enough complaining about the bed...i promise, Micah went to Target and bought a egg crate to fit on the hospital bed, adios"waffle weave" bed. I am keeping my fingers crossed that it will help...

Went on another "field trip" today - otherwise known as a wheelchair ride to the Doctor's office. Things were looking even better today. The number that we are focusing went down from a 3.9 to a 3.5 - really making good progress  - grow baby boy grow!!!

So the plan to slip the nurse a $20 spot to take me on a "joy ride" around the hospital or at least a little more fresh air then the 3.2 minutes it takes to go across the street to the Doctors office was foiled. Nurse Jamie, who I had really buttered up over the past few days was off today and Nurse Kim was not falling for it. She budged a little and let me grab a Decaf Caramel Machiatto from the Starbucks stand that is right by the elevators on the way back to my "home away from home". I was grateful....its a start....will have to work on Kim the rest of the day :)

Meanwhile, I have been so blessed to have wonderful visitors that have brought me so many great little gifts to pass the time. Also, their wonderful conversations really help pass the time. THANK YOU to all that have dropped by, it really means the world to me and my sanity!

a pashmina to brighten up my IV stand

Callie and I took a trip...preggers pushing preggers.

Shhh....she also brought some NYE contraband, don't tell! (not pictured in- case my doctor is a blog stalker)

snacks

plenty of trash mags to pass the time

some great lavender lotion to keep
smelling nice after my "one shower a day"

Some new books courtesy of Micah. I am really excited to read for pleasure again. I haven't done that in a while

DAY TWO

December 29th, 2010

First night in the hospital was an adventure, trying to manipulate the wonderful "waffle weave" bed to try to get comfortable while navigating all sorts of wires and monitors. I think we have started to get the hang of it and the only solution we have really found is to be still....very very still.

I have to be monitored every 8 hours for almost a full hour, so it really isn't as bad as having to be hooked up 24 hours a day. Down side is one of the monitoring times starts at 5:00am and it depends on how cooperative the babies are being as to how long I have stay on the monitors. Both babies, especially Baby Girl thinks it is hilarious to run from the monitors, hit or kick them out of the way and be generally non cooperative. A preview of what is to come I'm afraid!

A lot of people have asked how restrictive is "hospitilized bed rest"? The level I am currently on includes:
1. Bathroom privelege - a.k.a  - I don't have to use a bed pan or have a catheter - "allelluhia"
2. One shower a day - a.k.a  - I don't have to have Micah or one of the friendly nurses sponge bath me  - "praise the Lord"
3. I am allowed one wheel-chair trip a day on the unit, meaning just around the Labor and Delivery Floor, not to any of the other floors (again something about that crazed Flight Risk look i must portray to the staff)
4. The nurse wheels me across the street to the Doctor's office once a day so they can conduct the Doppler Scan which checks the level of restriction in the cord. The nurse and I call this a field trip and I look forward to this little bit of fresh air. The appointment is pretty quick and then its back to the old bed again. I think I have built up a nice rapport with my day nurse, I might try slipping her a $20 spot tomorrow to make the "field trip" a little longer - maybe I nice trip by the gift shop or the cafeteria. I will let you know how it turns out...

Meanwhile..pics from DAY TWO and some other views from my bed:

very very unattractive photo, but shows an accurate view how unpleasant things were at the time :)

View of the wonderful TV/VCR combo...tried to hook up a DVD player, no luck

Micah's bedroom set up. He opted for the aerobed we had from home over the "waffle weave" mattress, don't know why? So sweet, he has slept here each night.  I have told him told him a million times to go home and get some good sleep, but he insists. He is the best hubby and father I could of ever asked for!

 

Very pretty flower arrangement I received to brighten my day!!!

 Results at the end of Day 2 looked good. I went from a 6.9 down to a 3.9 (without getting too technical, this is the number that we want to see drop, meaning less restrictive flow to the Baby) so dropped by half. The rest and the steriods are definitely helping!!!

 

Someone told me today that for everyday ONE day I keep the babies in the womb it is THREE less days they stay in the NICU. This will be my mantra from here on out. It is so important for me and Micah to keep them in as long as possible at whatever means possible, even if it means brown gravy hospital food (FYI - Micah loves it...really he does) and REALLY uncomfortable beds. 

DAY ONE

This blog was created purely for my entertainment and relief from boredom while on "hospitalized bed rest". I hope I can get a few giggles and provide a little entertainment or at least some insight on what it is like living in a hospital room while pregnant with twins!


December 28th, 2010:

We went into the Doctor for a regular check up and Growth Scan Ultrasound. The Doctor noticed that Baby "B" which is the boy had not grown much since the last ultrasound. Baby "A", which is the girl is weighing at 3.12 lbs and Baby "B" is only 2.6 lbs. The Doctor did a little more research and realized that the blood flow from the placenta to the umbilical cord to the baby is restricted and not allowing the appropriate amount of nutrition and blood flow to the baby. It was a whirlwind after that and next thing you know we were walking across the street to get checked into the hospital. I tried to convince the Doctor that I should probably go home first and get some things together, like some clean pj's, toothbrush, etc....She nicely told me that would not be happening and that Micah would take care of all that. I think she considered me a "flight risk" and she was probably right.

This picture was taken right before we entered the double doors to the Labor and Delivery Ward. I think the look on my face is the "Flight Risk" look the Doctor was picking up on!