Blueberry Pancakes and Bleed #3

Just like her mother, Carlee loves pancakes. Of course my Dad cooks the best pancakes, but according to Carlee's heartbeat and activity level this morning, the hospital's weren't bad. She enjoys showing off for the nurses. They keep telling me that her heartbeat looks better than some babies at 32 weeks, so that is great news. Mom and I both did some work this morning and early afternoon. We both have our computers setup and if she needs to call a client, she steps into her office, aka, the bathroom. This afternoon mom took a break from working and went to a Creative Stitches store and bought me the cutest needlepoint project. It is a picture of a baby carriage in pink and sage green. It is perfect and will look great in the nursery once I have it finished. Hopefully, I will have 5-6 weeks to complete it. As soon as she brought it back, I started working on it, but didn't get very far when my placenta decided to have its 3rd bleed. I guess it thought my day wasn't exciting enough. Luckily, just like the last 2, the bleeding stopped on its own. They immediately hooked me up to the monitors to check Carlee's heartbeat and see if I was having any contractions, and just like always, she was doing great; completely oblivious to what was going on around her and no contractions. An hour later, everything was back to normal. My good friend, Brynn, came bearing dinner from Mi Cocina! It was so good. Mom and I definitely enjoyed not having hospital food for the 3rd time today. Another friend, Lauren (one of my college roommates), and her mom, also came to visit. And they brought cupcakes. Mi Co and cupcakes...what a perfect meal! It was very nice to have the company, especially after that little scare. Everyone just left and I'm calling it a day. Hopefully, it will be a quite evening. Sweet dreams!

Love,
Susan

28 weeks and 2 days!

We had a good day today. I have not had any bleeding in the last 48 hours! The doctor said that since I was behaving myself that I could go on a 30 minute wheelchair ride each day. So mom took me on a tour of the hospital. It was nice to get out of the room for a little bit. It was a pretty gloomy day outside, but those are the best days for laying in bed. Other than that, I don't really have any exciting news, but that is good. It's funny to say, but I hope the next several weeks are very uneventful. Dinner from "cafe del hospital" is here so I better eat while it is semi-warm. I know you are all so jealous!

Love,
Susan

Our New Home...For Now

If you want to hear God laugh tell him your plans. Even with having placenta previa, I had full intentions of making it to 37 weeks and having a c-section scheduled and Carlee's arrival date on the calendar, but we were thrown for a loop Thursday morning. I woke up at 1am gushing blood and told Craig (in the calmest tone), "I'm going to call the doctor now." I talked to the doctor almost immediately and we came straight to the hospital. The dr. had already called the hospital labor and delivery floor so they were ready and waiting for me. From 2am until 8:30am, I was just hooked up to monitors so they could keep watch on Carlee's heartbeat. Then finally around 8:30am I got to see the High Risk Pregnancy doctor and had a sonogram. Carlee looked great, now weighing about 2.5 lbs and just happy as can be. The doctor confirmed that I not only have complete placenta previa, but I have multiple placentas and they are completely surrounding the baby, so definitely c-section. He explained that anytime my cervix expands my placenta will start to bleed. Luckily, it stopped bleeding on its own, otherwise, we would have delivered her immediately. Later that morning they got me settled into a nice large private room. My regular ob doctor came in to see me and said that I would be here for at least 48 hours, possibly up to a week, if and only if I went a full 48 hours with no bleeding. She said that even if I did go home I would have to be on complete bed rest. Bed and bathroom only! They gave me a couple steroid shots to help Carlee's lung develop in case they end up having to deliver her early. Everything went well Friday and then this morning and again at 1am I started gushing blood again. They immediately took me to the L&D room and hooked me back up to monitors and started an IV. Carlee once again was just as happy as could be. Fortunately, the bleeding stopped on its own and at 10am they moved me back to my regular room, but the doctor said that I wasn't going home. This was now my permanent home until baby arrives. At this point, I am on pure bed rest and just need to take it easy so Miss Carlee can develop as much as possible. The goal is to at least get to 32-34 weeks. Obviously, if I could get to 37 weeks, which would be the furthest they would let me go, that would be a miracle, but the doctors said that is not realistic. Every single day that she stays in my belly is beneficial to her development and we are just praying (and ask for your prayers) that we get to 29 weeks, then 30 weeks, then 31 weeks, then 32 weeks, etc....Currently, I am at 28 weeks.

I am surprisingly calm and in good spirits. Craig seems to be worrying enough for the both of us. My parents are both here of course and mom is staying until the baby is born and I'm sure several weeks afterwards. We have had the most amazing love and support from all of our friends and family and I am truly convinced that this situation is in God's hands and He is taking great care of all of us. I know I don't have to ask, but if everyone would please continue to pray for us we would greatly appreciate it. We look forward to holding our little girl soon (but not too soon)!!!

Lots of love and many thanks for the continued prayers and support,

Susan

27 week Baby Bump

Nursery in Progress

The nursery is coming along. It was hard to take good pictures with the mirror. It kept reflecting on everything, but I love it! It adds a lot to the room. We got the dresser a few weeks ago - thanks to Craig's parents! I also found some great pictures at Hobby Lobby and had them framed. I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted for the walls, but I saw these little ballerina girls and thought they were just precious and the colors were perfect. I also ordered custom painted letters to spell Carlee and will hang those above the crib. Hopefully, I will get those in a few weeks! The bedding should be complete by the first weekend in May. I can't wait to see it!!!! It is going to be perfect.

I am now in my 3rd trimester and still feeling great! Although finding things to wear has become a lot more challenging. I put on a non-maternity top yesterday and it came to my belly button. It was funny! Our weekends are very hectic from now until the middle of June (with baby showers, weddings, birthing classes, etc...). Carlee will be here before we know it. My next appointment is April 29th. I will have a sonogram to see if my placenta (sorry to any guys reading this) has moved any. Currently, I have complete placenta previa. If it does not move in the next several weeks then we will schedule a c-section around my 37th week, which would be June 27th!!! That is so close! Carlee is just moving around like crazy these days. I am starting to feel when she rolls over. It is so amazing! According to Baby Center, she weighs almost 2 lbs now and is opening and closing her eyes. I just can't wait to meet her! Lately, I've started having very vivd dreams about what she looks like, so it will be fun to see if they were accurate at all. Well that's about it for now.

With lots of love, Susan