Our Doctor's Visit & Nursery Update

We just got home from my first outing since bedrest began.  We had a doctor appointment this morning, and I had a little extra time out.  My car had to have some work done, so I went with Daniel to take the car and get a rental before our appointment this morning.  All was going well, until I felt carsick on the way there.  I thought I was going to be okay, but then the office we sat in for a few minutes was really hot and stuffy, so that sent me over the edge.  So, by 7:45 this morning, I had puked for the first time in over a week.  Great start to my "outing," huh?

After leaving the car dealership, we went straight to the doctor.  It started out normal...weight, urine test, and blood pressure.  It's been 2 1/2 weeks since our last visit at the office, and believe it or not, I have lost a pound.  That brings us back down to 7 pounds gained overall.  Daniel and I both were surprised, but it is what it is.  I guess that the couple of days I was really sick in the hospital really took a toll.  The urine test and blood pressure were both good, so that's good news.

They took us back to a room, and checked Bentley's heart rate, which was fabulous.  It was about 145 bpm, which is right about what it was in the hospital.  They asked if I had any changes, and I explained that my contractions were about the same, but I had a lot of cramping yesterday.  She decided to do another ultrasound of my cervix to check for changes before checking me.  They found that the length of my cervix had decreased.  The first time they checked it weeks ago, it was at 3.8 cm, then 2 1/2 weeks ago it was at 3.5 cm.  While at the hospital it was just over 3 cm, and today it barely measured 2 cm.  The length of the cervix is supposed to be at least 2.5 cm, and until today, we were doing good with that.  They are little concerned that my cervix is shortening, but they also said some people go for weeks measuring less than 1 cm. 

After doing the ultrasound, the doctor measured my belly, which measured about 29 weeks.  She's not concerned, though, because Bentley measured 30 weeks last week on the ultrasound.  She also checked my cervix for dilation, and it doesn't seem that anything has changed.  So, I'm still at 2 cm dilated.  Finally, she did a Fetal Fibronectin test, which tests for the possibility of preterm labor.  If negative, there is a 99% chance that I will not go into labor in the next 2 weeks.  If positive, I could be one of about 30% of women who do go into labor within the next 2 weeks.  We will get the results of that later this afternoon.  She said that there is a chance that, if the test if positive, I might have to go back into the hospital for observation and monitoring.  We'll see.  We are really hoping for a negative.

As I've been typing, I got a call from my doctor.  She said that based on the exam and ultrasound, I need to continue bedrest, continue procardia meds, and resume progesterone meds.  All these things combined will give Bentley the best chance at staying in my belly for as long as possible.  Then, she followed all this up by telling me that my Fetal Fibronectin test came back positive.  While it would be better to get a negative, the test is one sided in that the positive only means there is a "chance" that Bentley could come in the next 2 weeks.  It doesn't necessarily mean he will.  I guess we'll see.

So, overall, the news if okay.  No more dilation is a really good thing, and I think that the main thing they look at, so at least that part of the visit went our way.  Now, you haven't had a belly shot in a while, so here's our latest pics.  


Here is Bentley at 30 weeks and 4 days.



Here's the two of us.  This is the first time in a week that I've worn something besides sweats or PJ's.  Enjoy!!

Now that you're all updated on Bentley's progress.  Check out our progress with the nursery.  I've been an observer during the whole process, but here's what he have so far.


Here are Russ, Cyndel and Daniel painting the dreaded dark blue.  Here, they are working on the first coat of paint.




Daniel is still working on the first coat.  Getting ready for his BABY BOY!!




Cyndel got the fabulous job of edging (NOT), and Russ took over that later.




This might have been the last coat.  After one coat of primer and three coats of paint, I think we lost count.



Ahhhh....Almost finished!!

 The painting was an all day affair, but I am so thankful for my wonderful husband and our best friends (and family) Russ and Cyndel for their help.  It looks wonderful now, and and I'm so excited to see my little man in that lovely room. 

We had the room trimmed with a chair rail and crown molding, as well.  As a matter of fact, the trim guys were there hanging trim while we were on our way to the hospital almost two weeks ago.  We painted the trim before it was hung.  We figured it would be a lot easier to touch up the paint rather than trying to paint all of it up on the wall.  That was a good move.

As far as the furniture goes, Daniel and Russ moved everything into the room while I was in the hospital, and we've since moved things around to what we think is the best set up.  The only think missing is the nightstand, and we're not really sure of when it will come in.  Daniel touched up the trim and wall paint yesterday and got everything set back up, so here's the nursery so far.



The nightstand will go beside the chair, and you can barely see the dresser, but we'll have better pics when it's all put together and finalized.  Right now, we are dealing with what we have.



Here's a different view of the chair, chest, and crib.

You may have noticed the box sitting in the crib.  That's Bentley's bedding, and we can't wait to put it on the bed, but we have to have a mattress first.  As soon as we get more of the room put together, I'll post more pics, but for now, this is all you get! 

Now that you've been updated on Bentley's progress and his room, I guess I'm out of news.  Just keep praying for us, and know that we are so grateful for the friends and family that are taking care of us!

Baby Shower Dilemma

First of all...we're still at home!  No baby, no labor, no hospital.  I'm still having contractions, but they don't seem to be changing anything.  We go to the doctor Monday morning, so we'll see how everything is going then, I suppose. 

Ahhhh....think of me Monday morning at about 7:45.  That will be my first time to leave home since last Monday.  I guess my doctor's visits will become my new "outings."  I'll probably wear something cute and maternity since it doesn't look like I'm going to get to wear my cute clothes anytime soon. 

Bedrest is going okay.  Daniel brings me my coffee (decaf, that is) and juice in the mornings, and I eat breakfast in bed.  Then, I usually get up and get my shower/bath.  That whole process takes at least 1 1/2 hours.  I guess my inactivity exhausts me.  I feel kind of like you do after being sick for a while.  It takes a few days to get all your energy and strength back.  It doesn't seem like this is getting any better though.  Oh well...I usually shower, lay down, do my make-up in bed, lay down, dry my hair, lay down, etc.  It's quite a process.  After finishing all that, I make my one trip down the stairs for the day and plant myself on the couch.  The only times I'm up and about are for potty breaks and periodic trips to the fridge.  Overall, it's going okay.  This is certainly not how I'd like to spend my pregnancy, but I'll do what I have to for Bentley!  I told Daniel that if we make it to a point where I am not on bedrest anymore (36 weeks or so), I'll be doing jumping jacks to get my baby here! 

Now...for the baby shower dilemma.  Did you know that there is no baby shower etiquette for when to have a shower when you're in my position?  We have changed dates, changed minds, thought about every scenario, and we've ended up back at the original shower date we started with.  April 3rd is the magical day!!  I figure, whether Bentley is born by then or not, he probably will not be at home yet.  Also, I'll be about 35 1/2 weeks along, so maybe (just maybe) I'll be off bedrest or will at least be granted a couple of hours to attend my own shower.  We'll see how it goes.  Cyndel and I spent quite a while looking at shower invitations while I was in the hospital, and I had one picked out from Tiny Prints Big Impressions.  The more I looked at it, though, the less I liked it.  So, I spent LOTS more time looking at every site I could find, and finally found a great website that prints all kinds of things (not just invitations).  VistaPrint has tons of cute options and much better prices.  So, after lots of searching...here's what I found that I fell in love with.



Isn't this precious!  We don't really have a theme in Bentley's nursery, so I didn't want the invitation to insinuate a theme that could be mistaken for his room.  So, as a note...his room is not done in birds!  Ha! Ha!

Now, we just have to wait for my "baby bird" to arrive!  I am so excited.  The nursery is getting closer to being ready, but I'm about to have to try my hand at online shopping to finish off the decor shopping.  That's what really kind of stinks about staying home all the time.  I don't get to go shopping for baby stuff.  It's a good thing we registered before all this started.  Poor Daniel would have flipped out if he'd been doing all that without me.  I think I would have flipped out too!

Well, that's the latest.  I don't think anything has changed, I'm okay, and Bentley is hanging in there.  Keep us in your prayers...we still need them!

We are Home!!!

Ahhh....it feels good to be in my own house for the first time in a week.  I can sit on my own couch, sleep in my own bed, and snuggle with my puppy.  I was having major withdrawals from Porsche...so bad that Russ and Cyndel brought her to the hospital on Saturday, and I got to see her during my "wheelchair privileges." 

Everyone has been so sweet to think about us, pray for us, and visit us in the hospital.  We really do appreciate everything that everyone has done.  Now, all that rest will continue as I have been assigned bedrest for the rest of my pregnancy.  This is "true" bedrest.  I am only allowed to be up and about for showers and potty time.  This is going to be extremely hard for me, but I'll do anything for my baby boy.

Speaking of my sweet baby Bentley...they did an ultrasound yesterday to check his position and measurements, and everything was good.  Though I have dilated to 2 cm and am 60% effaced, my cervix still measures 3 cm long, and anything over 2.5 is good.  At least we have some good news about my changing cervix.  Also, Bentley is head down and pushing hard on my cervix.  They have suspected he's been head down for weeks, but now it's confirmed.  The ultrasound tech had a hard time getting my measurements for the pressure of Bentley pushing down.  I suppose that's why I feel like he's falling out every time I stand up.  I've decided he just doesn't have enough room.  I know lots of thin people have babies, but my body is just not cut out for this.  Oh well...it's a little late to decide that now!  Back to Bentley's measurements...he measured between 29 weeks 3 days and 30 weeks 2 days for all his measurements (belly, head, legs, etc.), so he is right on track.  Overall, he measured 29 weeks 4 days, which is one day larger than he was at the time.  He is in the 46% compared to other babies his age, and he weighs right at 3 pounds.  That's bigger than I expected, but I can definitely tell I've grown in the last week.  There's no telling what kind of weight the two of us will gain over these next weeks of laying around with no activity.  Oh well!

Finally, I'll post nursery updates soon.  My sweet husband and our best friends (Russ and Cyndel) have painted the nursery, had trim installed, put together the crib and set up the nursery with what we have right now.  As I type this, I haven't seen it yet.  The nursery is upstairs, and I haven't made it that far since I got home.  I am thrilled to see it, and I am excited for my little boy to spend time in there.  He needs to wait a while, though.  I'll spend my time "resting" and planning for the nursery while everyone else gets to put it together. 

I suppose that's all the news I have for now, but keep us in your prayers.  We need them right now, and we are so grateful for the kindness everyone has shown.  I never dreamed I would be in this position, but it is quite humbling.  Everything seems to come pretty easy most of the time, but this is a reminder that I am not in control.  God is in control, and He knows what's best for me and my family.  Something wonderful will come of this, and we are keeping a positive outlook.  I cannot change things that I have no control over, so I will not fret over them.  Rather, I'll leave it in God's hands and simply roll with the punches.

Again, we thank you so, so much!  Lots of love!!

Hospital Stay Update

Well...I'm finally among the living again!  I guess I'll start from the beginning, so bare with me.

I was about to walk out the door to go to school on Tuesday morning at about 7:15, but I thought I'd make a bathroom stop before leaving.  I noticed a bit of spotting, so I told Daniel, called the doctor, and that's where our LONG week started.  The doctor advised me to go to the hospital to Labor & Delivery so they could put me on the monitors and check to see if I'd had any changes since my last doctor visit. 

We arrived at the hospital at about 8:15 where I was immediately put on the monitors for Bentley's heart rate and my contractions.  The nurse checked me, and said I was dilated about 1 1/2 cm.  This was a little nerve racking.  Daniel and I both were thinking, "This really could be it."  They decided to start terbutaline (which is the same medicine they gave me when all this started a few weeks ago), and they would go ahead and administer the steroid shots needed to help develop Bentley's lungs in case he makes an early arrival.

After three shots of terbutaline, the contractions had subsided, and I had the first dose of steroids by 10:00 AM.  We were in the clear for a bit.  Everything had calmed down, and we thought we'd be going home the following day.  THEN...at about 3:30 PM the contractions started again.  The doctor decided to start Magnesium Sulfate treatment to stop the contractions, which I can now say is possibly the most miserable thing I've ever been through. 

While getting Magnesium Sulfate, I had to have a catheter, wear the beautiful support hose on my calves along with the inflatable leggings to prevent blood clots, and all of this went along with the two monitors on my belly, my IV, and the oxygen sensor on my finger.  By the way...did I mention that all of this would take place through the night.  I knew that sleep was not in my near future. 

When they started the Mag treatment, they warned me that I may feel a heat wave going through my body.  That was an understatement.  I felt like me arm was on fire where the meds were going in, and I felt like my blood was boiling.  My visitors were standing around fanning me with menus, and I had the air turned down to the lowest setting.  Everyone that came to visit was covered up with blankets and wearing jackets while I was feeling like I was laying on a heating pad.  After about half an hour, the worst had passed...now I just had to attempt to get comfortable with complete bed rest and the tubes and wires coming in and out of me. 

By bedtime, I had come to the conclusion that I was absolutely not going to be able to sleep at all.  They offered me Ambien, which I didn't want to take, but I figured I really needed to sleep.  So...I took the Ambien and attempted to go to sleep.  That didn't go so well.  Every time time I rolled over or moved I woke up and the room was spinning.  That made me sick, so my wonderful husband then had to play nurse and empty my puke buckets all night and morning.  I may have slept about 3 hours all night, and I was so groggy from the Mag and the Ambien that I couldn't even function.  I started to worry that something was really wrong when I couldn't see straight.  I asked my nurse, "Do my eyes look normal?"  She said they did and asked me why I was asking.  I told her, "I see three of you, and I don't know which one is real."  Also, I couldn't lift my arms and legs, and I couldn't pick items up off my table.  She ran blood tests and found that I was "Magged Out."  I had all the Magnesium Sulfate my body could handle, and guess what...I was still having contractions. 

The doctor came in to check me, and I had dilated to 2 cm and was 60% effaced.  It was right at time for my last dose of steroids for Bentley's lungs, and after consulting with a specialist from UAB, my doctor decided that none of the options we were trying seemed to be working, so we would let nature take it's course.  Bentley is 29 weeks, and though he'll need support if he's born now, he can be born healthy and his outcome looks very positive. 

I am feeling almost normal.  The Mag is out of my system, so I feel a lot better from that, but now I'm battling the "blah syndrome."  There is only so much you can do while sitting in bed.  I have been able to shower and put on a little make-up, so I am feeling a lot better since that. We will be in the hospital until Monday (at least), and then the doctor will decide if she feels it's safe for me to continue bed rest at home.  From now on, though, I am on true bed rest...shower and bathroom privileges are then only things that get me out of bed. 

So far, Bentley has decided to stay put.  All the steroids have had a chance to take affect, so now we wait.  I could go into full labor tonight, or I could go full-term.  Either way, it's out of our hands.  God gets to decide our fate, so we are leaving it in His hands.  There are lots of people praying for us, and we are so grateful.  Please continue to pray!

Introducing.....Bentley Daniel Bowling

Daniel and I went to the doctor today for the glucose test, 4D ultrasound, and a check-up to see if I get to go back to work.  Overall, here's the results:

• I've gained 2 more pounds, bringing the grand total to 8 pounds!
• My blood pressure was good at 102/60.
• I passed the glucose test, so no meds or special diet.
• My hemoglobin was borderline normal/low, so they went ahead and prescribed iron pills.
• My cervix has not changed since last week, so with a little coaxing and a promise to "take it easy" at work, my doctor cleared me to go back.  She said she'd see me back in 2 weeks for another ultrasound of my cervix to make sure that being up and about does not cause any thinning or dilation. 
• Because the contractions are still happening, she's prescribed me another medication to try, so we'll see how it goes.
• Finally, I have the cutest and most photogenic baby on the planet (in the womb, that is)!

Take a look!!

This was one of the first pictures she got of Bentley.  The moment of "seeing" my baby for the first time was amazing!



He's got his eyebrows scrunched up...he got that from his Mommy!



He still looks a little concerned right here.



All concern is gone.  Check out that smile!!!  By the way...those are his Daddy's lips!



This one is precious.  I love his little nose.

He wanted to make sure we know he's a BOY!!



Pucker up!!



He opened and closed his mouth throughout the ultrasound.

CHEEEEEESE!!!

Here's my Daddy's lips again!

Check out the 5 little toes...you can see his tongue here, too!



Here's a sweet profile shot (kind of).

Well, I hope you enjoyed meeting Bentley!  He was a mover and a shaker during the entire ultrasound, so we decided the glucose drink must have gotten to him.  Overall, he was very cooperative, and we are very pleased with the pictures we got. 

Keep us in your prayers as we return to work tomorrow.  Getting up early should be interesting.  (That's one thing I am NOT excited about!)  Hopefully, all will go well, and I'll be able to work until he decides to make his appearance, which we hope is not for at least 10 more weeks!

Daniel and I went to Target last week to register for "baby stuff," and I suspect we'll go to Babies R' Us this weekend, so we're getting really excited.  It's neat to imagine what it will all be like when our house is full of baby stuff and Bentley is here.  I'm so excited...I can't stand it!  Keep checking the blog for nursery updates.  It's painted, and the trim should be going up this week.  Also, the crib is in, so we'll get it soon.  I'll post some pictures as we start putting it together