Rough week

This week has been particularly trying for me.  Sunday during church I began having contractions/cramping which continued throughout the day.  When I timed them, they ranged from 7 to 13 min apart.  Monday afternoon I had more of the same, although it seemed a little more constant and I wasn't able to time them well.  By Tuesday I was getting concerned and decided to call.  I had the news that my fetal fibronectin test was negative, so I was hesitant to call, but they ended up sending me to labor and delivery.  When I got there my contractions were 4-5 min apart.  Everything seemed to check out ok, my ultrasound showed shortening to 2.0cm but it was closed.  When I left the hospital my contractions were 2 min apart, but with no cervical change I decided to go home with the permission of my doctor.  So wednesday I called again because the cramping/contractions only let up for 2 hours overnight and into the morning.  I got sent in again.  Everything checked out ok.  The doctor reassured me that it was perfectly ok to call and we should be checking if something doesn't feel right.  The procardia doesn't seem to be helping me with these contractions, but the doctor said she has no intention of discontinuing it until I hit 36 weeks.  She did further restrict my activities and wants me to do as little as possible.  This is going to be a huge challenge for me....

I will hit 30 weeks on Sunday!  I will be very happy to have made it that far.  Stephen reminded me that he was perfectly content with how our family was before the pregnancy, and that he did not want to go through all of this again.  I know he is stressed about all the complications that I've had - I didn't even call him when I went to the hospital yesterday.  He hasn't been to a single doctor appt with me this pregnancy and refused to attend any of the labor classes that I wanted to go to (my first pregnancy we only made it to the first one, then Nathan came that week).  So I'm not exactly feeling supported.  He is stepping up with caring for Nathan though, cooking and cleaning up the kitchen.  He had to go grocery shopping once - which was nervewracking for me - I like to be in control of that stuff.

Job update - I emailed today since I hadn't heard anything.  They emailed back and said there was a mix up with one of the resume's and the final candidate will interview today.  Determination will be made today or tomorrow.  I was asked if I would be interested in adjunct if I were not the chosen candidate - he said he forgot to ask that during my interview.  Hoping that isn't a sign that I didn't get it.

Positive news

Yesterday's doctor appts went very well.  I started off at the hospital for a cervical length check.  Improved from 2.3cm to 2.7cm with no funneling!  Then I went to the lab to drink the bottle of orange glucose solution for my gestational diabetes test.  During my 1 hour wait, I saw my OB who did a manual check of my cervix and a fetal fibronectin test.  I was able to get a prescription for a Z-pac for my sinus cold, so hopefully that will knock it out!  I'll find out the results of the fetal fibronectin today.  Negative results mean there is a 98% chance of not going into labor within the next 7 days, positive results are 33% chance that you will go into labor.  So the negative result is a more accurate determinant.  So far, all of mine have come back negative.  Assuming that this one is negative as well, I'll see the doctor again in 2 weeks and have another ultrasound, fetal fibronectin - but at that point I will be 30 weeks!!!  My good friend said she is going to bring me a cake when I hit it, so I'm really looking forward to that :)  I've been craving sweets again like crazy but have been refraining since I had a 9lb weight gain in a 2 week period.  This checkup I only gained 1 lb over a 16 day period, so I was relieved.

Nathan update - we are still working on the potty training for pooping.  He actually did a great job earlier in the week and went poop on the potty with some coaxing.  We praised and rewarded him like crazy.  Since then, he has been resisting again.  Last night he was running in circles and we knew it was time since it had been quite a few days - but he refused to let it out despite spending nearly an hour on the potty.  At bedtime, he comes out of his room "Guess what - I pooped in my pants." 

Job update - should hear something today or early next week :)

New Car!

Yesterday after dropping Nathan off at preschool, I went out to the dealership to see a few of the vehicles that I'd been looking at.  I ended up being able to get the discount from my Uncle and drove home a new 2012 Buick Enclave :)  It has a ton of bells and whistle that are going to take me a while to figure out.  I absolutely love it so far!  Bad thing is that I spent the majority of my day at the dealer trying to get everything squared away - I wasn't expecting that I would be actually buying the vehicle yesterday.  So early that morning I had filled up my gas tank in the Taurus (total waste of money) and I hadn't cleaned out the car at all.  On top of that it was freezing cold outside and snowing, so I was out bending and lifting way too much.  I did have the foresight to bring my medication with me, so I could take that on time.  By the time I left the dealership at 2pm, I was having some pretty good contractions - and I hadn't eaten since the morning.  Contractions continued pretty strong all evening - I was really getting concerned, but tried to convince myself that everything would be ok.  Today I've had a few, and feeling more low pressure.  I hope that all the extra activity didn't adversely affect my cervix - but will find out tomorrow morning at 9am.  I did get home from the dealership only to realize that I left my garage door opener in the Taurus.  Luckily for me, the dealer was nice enough to send a runner out to bring it to me.  Also  had a glitch in the seat adjustment, poor Nathan got his little legs smashed when the seat automatically went back and reclined before I could do anything to stop it.  Stephen fixed that setting as soon as he got home.  Nathan just kept saying "don't hurt me with the seat Momma"  the whole ride home and kept his feet out to the side....I felt so bad!

28 and 1

Well, tomorrow I will have carried this baby 2 weeks further than my first pregnancy - woohoo!!!  We're getting there :)  I am noticing that I'm getting more contractions as the time nears to take my procardia.  Once I take it, they subside within an hour.  Hoping that it isn't having an adverse affect on my cervix.  I'll find out on Thursday.

I caught a cold from Nathan.  So far it's staying in my sinuses, but boy am I miserable.  I'm so stuffed up and with it being winter, the air is so dry that I am coughing.  I haven't slept for more than 2 hours in the past 2 nights between having to pee every 15 minutes, unable to breathe, and being generally uncomfortable all night long.  Hopefully this cold will only last a few days or so.  Definitely not fun being sick and pregnant!
Nathan seems to be feeling a bit better today, but we can run the humidifier in his room all night long.  My husband made us chicken noodle soup for dinner last night, which was really nice.

I've been doing quite a bit of research online for a new vehicle.  I really want to get it taken care of before months end.  New vehicle prices are out of control expensive - not looking forward to having a car payment again.  I haven't had one since 2008!  A new car is a must-have though before the baby gets here.  My AC compressor in my Taurus broke in early fall, and there is no way that I'm going to drive that car anymore when warmer weather hits.  The boys would roast!  My Uncle is retired from GM, so I'm praying that he can get me the discount in order to get what I want at an affordable price.

I'm anxious to hear at the end of the week whether or not I am offered the faculty position.  Still hopeful that it will all work out :)

Hospital stay

Tuesday night I began having contractions (which felt like severe menstrual cramps) around 9pm.  They repeated approximately every 5 minutes.  At 9:35pm I decided to call the doctor.  I was sent to labor and delivery to be checked out.  When I got there, they put me on a monitor and my contractions were every 2 minutes.  I had 2 nurses check my cervix -  one told me I was a fingertip dilated, the other said that I wasn't dilated but had no thickness left to my cervix.  Talk about feeling panicked!  Doctor was called and I was given 20mg of Procardia to slow/stop the contractions.  I was also sent down for an ultrasound to check cervical length.  Fortunately, the ultrasound showed my cervix at 2.3cm and closed - which isn't great, but at least I wasn't in danger of imminent delivery.  My contractions however didn't stop, so I was given another dose of Procardia an hour after the 1st dose.  The medicine definitely decreased the intensity for a while, but I was still having them until around 3am.  I was told that I had to stay overnight to be monitored.  I was extremely uncomfortable the entire night and barely slept.  By 8:30 the next morning I wasn't feeling any contractions, although the monitor showed a few sporadically.  I was sent home with more restrictions on my activities and a prescription for procardia to be taken every 6 hrs.

Since coming home yesterday morning I have had a few contractions, but nothing regular.  The procardia makes me feel pretty lousy, I've had a headache that won't go away..  I'm having difficulty sleeping as well.  The good news is that I can still take Nathan back and forth as long as I'm seated if he is at an activity.  Stephen made dinner last night and cleaned the kitchen completely afterward, which was really nice.

I did hear from the college regarding the position that I interviewed for - they have a few more candidates and will be making their decision next Friday the 22nd.  I'm still hopeful that I get it, although stressed about how I would make it work during this pregnancy.  Gotta give this one up to God and see what he comes up with for me :)

Contractions

This morning was the first time I had more than 4 contractions in an hour.  I was in church and had at least 5 during the mass.  Nothing terribly painful - just the tightening and pressure.  I then had to stop at the grocery store because Nathan was out of milk and had a couple more.  Since I returned home, I've only had a few, but am definitely feeling uncomfortable.  I'm hoping to be able to take it easy the rest of the day....

Insurance update:  Finally received a call!!  The rep stated that they put the gap exception in place for the local hospital here with the NICU and my maternal fetal medicine specialist.  What a relief.  Now I know that if anything happens, I don't have to worry about trying to coordinate anything.

I'm really excited that I've made it to 27 weeks today :)  Hoping for no complications this week and that I'm able to make it to 28! 

No snow

Pregnancy update:  fetal fibronectin test done on tuesday came back negative.  Cervical ultrasound showed shortening again, back to 2.7cm, but no funneling.  Not sure what the doctor is going to do, 2.7cm is where I was at week 22-23.  My next appt isn't until Feb 21st, so maybe she'll order another test next week.  I've been feeling the same, get occasional cramping and contractions.

Job update:  had my interview for faculty position today.  Luckily the snow stayed away this afternoon so I didn't have to worry so much about the drive.  The interview process went well.  I had to do a teaching demonstration first for the panel of 6 people, and then they took turns asking me questions.  When I left, the Associate Dean told me that it went really well.  Now the only issue will be if they want to hire a  pregnant lady who is expecting to give birth anytime within the next 13 weeks.  They have 2 other prospective hires to interview next week, so I should hear either next Friday or early the following week.  I know they want someone to start for spring semester, which would begin April 1st.  I'd have a lot to think about and would need permission from my doctor in order to begin working somewhere else.  Would also eliminate the possibility of short term disability/long term disability for the remainder of the pregnancy and after the baby is born.

On an unrelated note -I blasted my big toe about a week ago when I kicked Nathan's toy plane by accident.  The darn thing has been bugging me, but today I noticed that it is all red and swollen, and the toenail is black/blue.  Not sure if I need to go get it looked at.  I sure hope it isn't infected somehow - that would really stink!  I had to ice the stupid thing last night because it was throbbing so much.  Unbelievable how such pain can come from such a little body part.

Insurance update:  Looks like they reprocessed my claim from maternal fetal medicine in December and have sent out an additional payment.  This, despite the fact that they denied my appeal.  So something must have happened, but  nobody has contacted me to let me know.  I tried to call today but nobody ever answered the line once I was transferred....go figure.

So for the next week, I'm going to take it easy.  Hopefully my cervix will remain at the current length so this baby will keep baking.  The progesterone shots are becoming more painful each week, I'll be glad when those are done!

26 and 2

Today was the day in my first pregnancy that I had Nathan.  As of right now, I've carried this baby 3.5 hours longer :)  Every additional day I have after this is a blessing!  I saw the doctor today.  She ran another fetal fibronectin and I will have a cervical length ultrasound on Thursday morning.  I'll continue to go in for weekly progesterone shots until week 36, and next doctor appt isn't until the 21st,  I'll do my glucose testing that day as well.  I gained 9 lbs since my last visit 2 1/2 weeks ago.  Doctor said not to be too concerned since I've grown so much.  I need to lay off the sweets!!

My short term disability appears to be approved until April 11th.  So I don't have to go through any more paperwork or headaches until then.  At that point, I guess I'll have to pray that long-term disability gets approved.  I should be around 35-36 weeks by then if we can make it!

I prepped my presentation for thursday's interview.  I'm going to go over it a few more times to make sure I have it down.  Hopefully I won't be so nervous that I screw it up.  Wondering if they are going to make me go through the entire thing - I would think it would be quite boring for them to sit through since it takes a couple of hours.  We'll see...

Still no word from the insurance company regarding the gap exception.  I sent yet another email....my only option would be to go to Flint to deliver if I wanted to stay in-network.  Yeah, like that is going to happen...who wants to drive 45 minutes when an appropriate hospital is within 20 minutes of your house?