Last week, Monday & Tuesday, I wasn’t really feeling all that well. I blamed it on the pregnancy but thinking it was all fairly normal. I went to work on Wednesday and just didn’t feel right but couldn’t really put my finger on why. I decided to call my doctor. I told them about my odd symptoms and they thought it would be best to come in for a quick check-up. So, I headed to their office. They did their normal routine tests on me and the doctor came in and did an internal (not so pleasant). The look on her face and the “oh boy” that came out of her mouth didn’t sound so good. She looked up at me and said, “You are 3 centimeters dilated and 90 percent effaced.” For those of you who do not know what this means, it means, I should be 40 weeks pregnant, not 33 weeks. She then told me I should get right over to the hospital. I semi-panicked in disbelief and almost fell over getting dressed.

I got myself together, jumped into my car and headed over to the hospital, in labor. I even parked on the very top floor of the parking garage, got into the elevator and walked the whole way through the hospital to labor and delivery. What did I know? In the meantime, I was frantically trying to reach Eric, not knowing what was going on. I must have called everyone’s number in my cell phone at that point.

I picked up the phone at labor and delivery and they immediately let me in and stuck me in a room on a bed and started to monitor me. They asked me all kinds of questions about delivering and I’m laying there thinking, “I’m not having this baby yet!”. I had no idea. Eric finally arrived and my contractions were being monitored. Maybe I’m an idiot but I had no idea that I was even having contractions. I realized it when they pointed them out on the machine to me. I said, “Oh, is that what those are?” Well, my contractions were 2 to 3 min. apart. So, folks, I was really in labor!

They admitted me soon after monitoring me for a half hour or so and started a “Magnesium Sulfate” IV. They told me it wouldn’t be so “pleasant” but little did I really know…

After the first big dose, or Eric’s new favorite word, “bolus”, I felt like I was going to pass out. He had to stand over me and continuously fan me. Then, they gave me another “bolus” a little while later and I started vomiting. The vomiting continued for the majority of that day and night and well into the next day. Keep in mind, I had nothing to eat except ice chips. I was on a liquid IV diet. The vomit was NOT a pretty sight. That part, I do remember. I’m sure Eric has a pretty vivid memory of it too. Stomach acid is meant to stay in your stomach. Take my word for it.

So, I spent Wednesday, Thursday and Friday barely able to move, unable to focus on anything at all because of blurred vision and unable to eat anything except ice chips. It was up there on my list of one of the most uncomfortable times of my life. But, it was all for a good cause…to keep this little baby healthy. The one who “thought” it was time to come out. Silly little girl.

Friday night, a woman from an outside (outside of the hospital, that is) company came in to introduce me to my new medication. One that I would “surely love”. I call her my “Avon” lady because she came in all dressed up and explaining everything to me in that Avon sales lady sort of way. I was still pretty doped up on this Magnesium though so my stress-level was sky high. She proceeded to show me and my mother-in-law how the little needle just gets stuck right in my leg, just as easy as pie! This woman does not know my fear of needles, obviously. She said, “It’s just like a little thumbtack, see?” as she stuck it into my thigh. Now, I don’t usually go around sticking thumtacks into myself so I wasn’t pleased at this point. To make a long story short, she gave us our little book and packet and was on her way and I was going to feel like a new person the next morning.

I woke up Saturday morning and really felt great for the first time in about 3 or so days. The Magnesum was discontinued and I had my little thumbtack IV pump in my leg, shooting medication into me that makes me shake and my heart pound. It’s great. Well, It’s a lot better than the other stuff I guess.

At this point, the contractions have really slowed to maybe one or two per hour. They wanted to monitor me for another 24 hours to make sure the pump was going to suffice. This brings us to Sunday and time to go home. Thank God. Not another day in the hospital. I was happy about this but pretty apprehensive about coming home, knowing I’d want to do everything I normally do and knowing that I’m not allowed. I’m on complete bedrest now. That is, I’m allowed on my couch. I’m allowed to go to the bathroom. I’m allowed to go upstairs to go to bed and to come downstairs in the morning. That’s it, ya’ll. Goal: keep baby in at least another week or two. Last night when I went to bed, I wasn’t so sure this would be a possibility but today for some reason, I’m feeling a little more optimistic about it and think I could quite possibly carry her to term. Only time will tell I suppose. I’d at least like to hold off having her until after my mom arrives this Friday.

My mother-in-law, God bless her, took this week off of work to care for me. I’d probably still be in the hospital if there wasn’t someone here that would watch over me. For the first day, so far so good. I think it will be alright. Still very hard for me not to just get up and grab a snack from the kitchen though. I’m pretty independent.

Well, that’s my story. I will have PLENTY of time to blog these days, so I may bore you all with bedrest stories or whatever else I can think of. Hope everyone out there is doing well and thanks to those of you who came to visit and call and send messages and prayers our way. Truly got us through those yucky days that we had.