Luck of Gladstone Gander

My brother's nickname is Unca...for Unca Scrooge. For obvious reasons if you know him.
I have always been lucky...and more and more recently my brother has been calling me Gladstone Gander. If you know anything about the comics, you know this is fitting. :)

I think I have channeled all of my Gladstone Gander luck for a while.
Here I will tell you why- please bear with me, it is a little long.....but worth reading.

I went in Thursday (4/21/11) for a scheduled monthly ob appt. ultrasound.
Got the US first, and I pretty much knew something was up immediately. The tech wasn't chipper and talkative. After 20 seconds and seeing her brow furrowed she said. "Have you been contracting?"
Me: a little, I have had a stomach bug.
Her: I have to stop right now- your cervix is funneling and need to talk to Michelle (nurse practitioner) to see if she needs to do anything. Like right now.

Okay, maybe there was more, but idk. That was the gist of it.

Apparently my cervix was 0.6cm..to give you an idea, normal is 3.5-4.5 cm

Like basically nothing. Nada. A push away from a toilet birth, and a likely demise seeing as I was 24weeks 4 days at the time. Viability for a baby is called 24 weeks, meaning that is the point they will intubate and try to resuscitate a birth, but that is still really really young.

I was instructed to go straight to the high risk doctors office at first, and then they told me to just go to Labor and Delivery at the hospital after they talked to the doctor. I was instructed to not push on my abd, try to poop, push or anything like that. The told me that I would being 'getting a stitch' put in to close up my cervix.

I got to the hospital around 400/415 and got admitted and all that good stuff. IV started, labs drawn etc. I tried to cope with it in my way- humor. Lance did wonderfully and handled it all well. I called my friend Kristie and she was wonderful and went by our house and got clothes for Lance and stuff so he could leave and go to work straight from the hospital the next morning if I was still there.

We are blessed to have her as a friend. She stayed with Lance while I was back in surgery, and and stayed until I got out of recovery and into my room for the night. I know she helped keep Lance calm while he was waiting. I am so thankful for her.

They wheeled me away to surgery, and I got a spinal. The process of of getting one was not bad at all. They had my legs hoisted up and hanging from basically hooks. I will forever have an image of my cherry red toenails peeking out from drapes where my legs were being hung like two huge hamhocks in a meat locker. I remember thinking those are MY legs...I can't wiggle my toes. How the heck did they get them UP there. Then I got the giggles. I think the staff thought I was nuts. LOL.

I was totally with it during the procedure. They tugged and pulled and managed to close me up with a McDonald's cerclage. This stitch will stay in place until I am 36 weeks (second week in July)

It was pretty much done in about 20 minutes, but as per usual the set up and then the clean up and getting me to recovery took longer. Here is the deal...after they were done, they got my legs and put them back down on the stretcher....then I tried to move. Obviously I couldn't. I don't know if it was that, but if it was the fluid shift after putting my legs down...but I kinda freaked out. I was trying to move and couldn't. Basically I KNEW it was stupid, but I had a full blown anxiety attack. I just had to work through it, and it got better when I was distracted.

I had another small one in recovery wen the nurse was asking me if I could move my foot, and I tried to. It was the NOT being able to move that freaked me out. Once Lance and Kristie could come back and distract me it was better.

I was pretty quickly moved back up to the Labor and Delivery dept. where the plan was to watch me until I could walk/go pee/my pain was under control and I wasn't having contractions. I started having pretty yucky contractions when I got the feeling back in my legs and I had a morphine PCA pump (thank you Jesus), and they gave me a few doses of turbutiline.

That turbutiline was crazy. It would stop/slow my contractions, but boy howdy did it make me shake like I had a palsy. It was crazy!!!!!!

Lance had to get up and go to work since he was on call for the weekend and ALL of his practice partners were out of town. Murphy's Law huh? Luckily my friend Kathy came that morning before Lance had to go into work and sat with me until my Mom could get here.

I had called Mom the night before as soon as I found out I WAS going to have to have surgery. I called her at work, and her boss answered the phone. I know it is busy if the doctor answers the phone- normally I just say never mind. But when he told me "Lynda is busy, can I take a message?" I said "no, this is Laura I really need to talk to her" He just said "oh" and set down the phone. Within 5 seconds my mom was on the phone. :)

All I had time to say was "Now, don't freak out- we are all okay. I am in the hospital and have to have surgery to stitch me up. Can you come down tomorrow?" "Yes" she said, that is really all I remember.....she said I told her which hospital I was at, etc. etc....but I don't remember that. I guess stress really does make you forget stuff.

I got a clear liquid breakfast- and I have to tell you that was the best beef broth EVER. LOL. The italian ice was yummy also! :) considering I came out of surgery starving...I was ready for food in the am. :)

Anyways, Lance went off to work in the AM and my mom got there around 1pm or so.

We just hung out while I pushed the marker button to show my contractions, and they got farther and farther apart. I ended up getting two total shots of turbutiline to help with the contractions. I also kept pushing the morphine PCA pump. LOL. Hey, no sense being in pain....plus pain was causing more contractions and we didn't want that!

They were aiming for a 23 hour observation so that meant I was shooting to get out of there by 4pm. it worked out well b/c by 3 or so I wasn't having any contractions and the pain was well controlled without the morphine. They had started me on oral pain meds that worked smashingly.

I got wheeled out at 4pm on the DOT so they didnt' have to change me over to an admission, and it was easier on the insurance. Just fine with me.

Mom and I came home and chilled. I got on the TV to show her the BBC America channel and how they always have Law and Order UK on there....and discovered that it is a Doctor Who marathon weekend b/c the new season started last night.

Mom was ecstatic b/c she doesn't get BBC America in Alabama. SO, we recorded all of them and have been watching them. I have introduced her to the JOY of DVR and fastforwarding through commercials. LOVE IT!!!!

We are currently watching the season finale from last season...and the next episode will be last night's season premier of Doctor Who in America. :) WOOO HOOOO!!!!

So here we are hanging out. I am doing really good, just a little bored. LOL. I can't sit up too long or I get some pain, but I can sit up a longer today than I could yesterday. Little by little.

We are beyond blessed, and I guess it is hitting me more now that it is over and done with. I suppose I wouldn't let myself think too much about the gravity of the situation before the surgery. I didn't Google funneling, and I asked Lance not to- or at least not tell me all the info if he did. Sometimes knowledge is power...sometimes ignorance is bliss.

I am very lucky that we got this ultrasound. I have had no problems up till now, so it was really just a whim that my doc did it. I am lucky I was still 24 weeks- this is generally the cut off for cerclages. Any later and I would probably have been on complete bed rest in the hospital until delievery.

We are lucky that nothing happened when I was on the many plane rides I took recently.

We are lucky nothing happened IN the Bahamas.

Our doctor said that if this wasn't caught she believed I would have delivered in the next few days....more than likely when I strained doing something- obviously most likely on the toilet. If this were to have happened there is a HIGH likelihood the baby wouldn't have made it being born so early out of the hospital.

I keep having all these thoughts come into my head to be thankful for....how lucky and blessed we are that this was caught since I really wasn't having real symptoms.

The baby has always been really really low. Even at 24 weeks, I only really felt it move right behind my pubic bone and a smidge above. The heart tones were always found extremely low. I never felt much any higher. I carried really low, but my uterus could be felt in the right spot above my belly button. I felt like was waddling b/c my legs wouldn't walk right- perhaps it is b/c the baby was so low? I don't know, but that makes sense.

I had some contractions, but they weren't painful, and were textbook braxton hicks- so I didn't worry about them.

I had no bleeding. There really was nothing that would have told me this was going to happen.

I thank GOD that this was caught.

Currently the baby is testing out new real estate around and above my belly button. (s)He is more active now, and I swear it kicked my stomach earlier. It is almost like feeling it move for the first time!

Everyday is a blessing, and I am going to TRY to thank God for every pain I have from here on out. I am blessed to be able to still have the pain. The still have the aches. Each jab to my kidneys tells me I am still a Mommy to be.

I am telling our story b/c I believe in the power of prayer. I believe in support. I want the information to be out there so people know what can happen. I have always been open with my health history, as long as it didn't make others feel uncomfortable. I don't think silence is the answer, but rather respect. This being said, that is why you haven't really seen me talk about this on Facebook. Please respect that fact also- I don't think Facebook is the place to be sharing total intimate details. You can ask how I am doing, etc...and I may mention it on there in the future- but just not right now.

I have many friends dealing with infertility and loss right now, and I don't want to bombard their news feed with my story. I can't control what others put on facebook, but I CAN control what I put on mine.

"WHY are you putting it on a public blog?" you might ask? Well, b/c I want to document my story. I want my family and loved ones to know. I also don't want to have to tell the story 500 times. I am aware that this is public, but it isn't freaking Facebook.

I hope you respect that even if you don't understand it.

Any questions, email me. Seriously- I am not doing anything...but the pain pills do make me groggy.

LOVE TO ALL

Predictions.

Seems like everyone I meet has a prediction as to the sex of this toddler I am gestating. (I really think I will give birth to a toddler at the rate I am growing)

I thought that I should start keeping track of the predictions- and WHY exactly they think this way b/c sometimes it is really comical!

Here we go

Tell me your predictions and I will add them> I know I have had a lot more, but I can't remember right now.
<3 style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);" size="5">Team Blue

1. Beth (sister)- just because
2. Tonya (eye brow waxer/tinter)- She said it is b/c I was carrying low and my hips were getting wider. (GEE THANKS FOR NOTICING)
3. Laura- (cleaner lady) Boy b/c I am carrying HIGH (?) and I didn't have morning sickness.
4. Kathy from Lance's work- since there are two girls and one boy being born from people at the office.
5. Jimmy B- "intuition"...pending belly pics. ((KEEP DREAMING!))
   

Team Pink

1. Lance- b/c everyone else is having boys, and the baby was trying to hide it's face during the ultrasound on 3/24/10
   
2. Sarah (neice)- No reason
3. Mom- no reason
4. Terrell AKA 'Doc' at the Nissan dealership- b/c when he told me to put out my hands straight in front of me, I did with my palms facing out. (?!?)
5. Cousin Lori- "just a feeling"
   

The Awe

Yesterday was our 4th ultrasound, but it was the first one where it actually LOOKED like a baby, and not some random weird growth.
It is the the first time I 'felt' pregnant. I have been FEELING pregnant with some of the symptoms- bloating, tiredness, etc....but seeing a blob on the screen is different than seeing a face, fingers, the individual vertebrea of the human being you are nurturing with your body.

We saw the doctor, and she was able to get the heartbeat the with handheld doppler without a problem. She wasn't going to get an ultrasound, and I think she really saw the disappointment on our faces. I said that I thought we were going to be getting the NT scan that visit, but that was okay- we understood. Then she started asking if I have ever had any issues with my cervix, etc. I have had to have some cauterization, but no LEEP or anything like that. She said to wait a minute and she would check with the US tech too see about 'taking a look'. :)

Turned out the US(ultrasound) tech was in the office next door getting her eye exam b/c she had a while between patients. We TOTALLY didn't mind waiting on her- so about 45 mintues later she came and got us. OMG- can I say I LOVE HER? Lets go ahead and get that out there now.

The last time I have had to have US was at my OB/GYN in Anniston, Al and that was diagnostic for my endo. That tech was NOT NICE. I have friends that went to the same doctor and pretty much all of them didn't like her. She was not happy to see the babies, could care less, and hardly told you a thing. (with the exception of one friend who had one good experience during an ice storm...well as far as I know anyways)

Ms Wendy is awesome. She did the trans vaginal view first, and Special K wasn't cooperating with a good position to measure stuff. She tried for around 5 minutes, but no such luck. The cool thing is that she let us video tape the US. Many practitioners will not let you- pretty much for liability reasons. She was totally open to it, and encouraging. Towards the end even making sure we got the heartbeat on video. Comical b/c we got the home hand held Doppler b/c I am neurotic and listen to the heartbeat everyday.

Anyhoo- she moved on the the belly ultrasound to try and get a better view...but no such luck on the NT scan part. I didn't care really- it is not like finding out there was abnormality would change anything about our having this child, but I think knowledge is power. An ounce of preparedness is worth a pound of scrambling at the last minute (Like my twist on the old quote?)
So this super sweet Tech spent the next twelve minutes measuring a good bit and just showing us our sweet little baby. The video of the belly US was 12 minutes. WHO in the world gets around 17 minutes of ULTRASOUND?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Oh- and did I mention that she is STEELERS FAN?!?!?!?!?! YAY!

The little kiddo was sitting straight up with it's little bum sitting right on my cervix. Just chilling. From the profile it looked like he was sucking his thumb.

***DISCLAIMER**** We are not finding out what we are having. If I say Him/his/her/hers it is just b/c it is weird saying "it". I automatically say him/his b/c it seems like baby boys are the only things being born these days, and I am used to saying his/him in referring to babies in the womb. LOL.

Anyhoo- when we got the frontal face view you could tell the hands were mostly up on either side of his/her head. I said that was b/c he was constantly ready to cover his ears after all the screaming he heard last Sunday at the Steeler v Jets Game. I did some serious screaming that game...as did 66,661 other people in that stadium. LOL. Either that or he is trying to give the universal sign for "TOUCHDOWN!!!!" LOL.

The whole experience was crazy. Just seeing how much Special K has grown in 4 quick weeks. The 'crown to rump' length is 6.09 centimeters (I think), which is just about the height of a dollar bill (the short side obviously).

That is really about all I have to update for now.

now I will grace you all with some pictures. :)

check out that little bitty brain forming! Aww. Hand up for the STEEELRS!!!!!


Mommy, Daddy- PLEASE calm it with the screaming!! I can't hear what is going on in the game!
GO STEELERS!!!!

Out and Open

I created quite the stir on Facebook this past week with the uploading of this picture:


After waiting for 11.5 weeks we felt safe to tell more people. Our hesitation is b/c we just wanted to be sure...we didn't want to have to 'untell' people. I personally am pretty superstitious about stuff, so we waited.

So we know all that story....so how about how we found out?

Well, we had an inkling that I was pregnant for various reasons- but I did NOT think I was pregnant that was month. We went up to see my sister for Thanksgiving, and the night before I we left (at 530am) I slept only 2 hours and on the plane I started to get a migraine. Smelling the Jet fuel, no coffee, no breakfast. Then I started to get sick to my stomach. I was miserable the whole flight until I fell asleep and got a small nap in- then I felt mostly better.. Lance was convinced I was pregnant, but I got even more "NO, I AM NOT!!!!" I could totally write it all off b/c of sleep deprivation, migraine, etc. etc.

The next day was Thanksgiving, and I was so short of breath. It was so crazy. I couldn't even walk up stairs without having to stop. I had myself convinced I was getting pneumonia. I used to get sick all the time when I flew- so pneumonia sounded like the only reason. LOL- but Lance was convinced I was PG.

The day after T-Day was 12 days post ovulation, so I took a test. I couldn't wait anymore- I HAD TO KNOW! OMG. It was so cool. Just a super super faint line- but definitely a line.

It is very hard to see here, but it was there in real life. :)

I first went and told Lance. He said that he knew by the look on my face coming out of the bathroom. I don't have to say a word to communicate to him. <3 I told Lance, and then I went down and told my sister second. I took the test down and showed her. I didn't get the squeals immediately that I thought I would get...but I should have known. My poor sister didn't have her glasses on and she hadn't had a sip of her morning coffee. I showed her the stick
B: "what does this mean?!?!?"
L: I took a pregnancy test....look at it
B *holding away from face a good 8 inches* I can't read it, what does it mean?
L: There are two lines!!!!
B: Oh my...two lines...what does it mean- it has been 9 years since I did any of this!!!!
L: I am pregnant
Beth: AAAHHHH!!!!!!!
Then the giggle happy crying hug fest I was expecting happened. We didn't tell the kids, but I am pretty sure my smartie pants niece knew something was up b/c I wasn't drinking....and Auntie Laura always drinks wine with Mommy. :)



Took another test the next day and it was getting darker-dark enough to show up strong!!! YAY! After we got home I got two blood tests 48 hours apart and they were great numbers.The first day which was 16 dpo (days post ovulation) was 311, and the second 18dpo was 678 (I think)

Then I went in when I was 6 and 7 weeks to the doctor to get ultrasounds, and there was one little being in there. I had another US at 8 weeks b/c I have a super cool doctor. :) I am blessed.
The 8 week US was very cool b/c we could see it wiggle a little bit. Nothing it to great of detail, but definite movement. :) (obviously I haven't felt anything yet- and won't for a few more months)


It is too stinking cool. SO, today I am 12weeks 4days and due 8/7/2011 (of we all know that is a suggestion to the baby LOL) I STILL can't believe it at times. I haven't had ANY other sickness than that migraine on the plane. NO morning sickness. Just being tired, and short of breath- but the SOB got better around 9 weeks or so. I am starting to get SOB again, but that is to be expected. The only real issue I have is WEIGHT GAIN!! LOL. I look around 5 months pregnant- not 3. LOL. The past few nights I have had horrific heartburn at night- so I have had to watch what I eat. Blah.


We are waiting to find out what we have until delivery. Could be a puppy, kitten , or llama at this point. LOL.

So for those of you that are still out there following me occasionally, and I SERIOUSLY going to try and update this more often. Be sure and comment and let me know you have read it...encourage me if you want to see more updates from me. Sometimes it is hard to keep posting if you think no one is reading.

Love to all!

PS My sister has dubbed the baby "Special K" I am kinda partial to "Kinglet". Tee hee. I called Christi's baby "Kicklet", and I thought that was hysterical.
What nicknames do you like?