Maternity pics

Although I'm feeling pretty big with this pregnancy and don't usually like taking photos, I did want some taken to remember this moment. My sisters had taken our engagement photos just around town years ago, so I had asked them to take some maternity ones for us this time. My sister, Kim, was flying to Korea for her spring break the day we decided to take photos, so I asked my future cousin (so excited her and Billy recently/finally got engaged!), Linda, to help my other sister, Huong, take photos of us. 

We had planned on taking them Sunday, March 15th, and although I guess I should have been resting more instead of walking around Hermann Park taking photos that evening, I'm glad we did them. I didn't get a chance to edit any of them, but Linda edited a few. Here are some of my favorites. 

Thank you sister and Linda for these great photos! 

Sunshine

One week down, 6+ weeks to go!! 

Thankfully the first week wasn't so bad. 

On Thursday last week, we moved to another room. Wednesday night, our nurse mentioned that if I was getting tired of this view, let her know and we can change rooms. She said that night would be a good night to do it since it was a little slow. I asked for a room with a couch, she had two options, and took Ryan to go check them out. The room he picked wasn't cleaned until Thursday morning, but I'm glad we moved. The room is slightly bigger, has more windows/light, a better view, and the couch is a lot more comfortable for Ryan to sleep on instead of a pull out chair. 

I got a little sad this weekend being stuck in my room for so long. When Ryan needed to leave to take care of Lily or get things at home, I instantly became sad and a little jealous that I couldn't go with him. I'm sure I'll feel like this on and off the rest of my time here. 

I had mentioned feeling a little sad to the doctor on Monday, and she said I could go outside (in a wheelchair) for 30 minutes each day. I was really excited that she suggested this! I stare outside but have not been outside in a week, only up and down the halls on my floor. I waited until Ryan came to see me during his break and had him take me outside. It felt weird, exciting, and just what I needed to lift my spirits up a bit. Belem came to visit me that day and joined us for my first outing. We just parked in the sun and chatted for a while before I had to go back in. It is something small, but that little time outside gives me something to look forward to each day. 

Once a week on Monday or Tuesday, I have new bloodwork drawn and I see MFM again for an ultrasound to check on the baby. After I have these appointments, I am sort of done for the week. Everyday my doctor comes to visit, my blood pressure continues to be monitored around every 4-5 hours, and baby gets monitored twice a day. Blood work and ultrasound continue to look normal this week. 👍

Ryan was able to set up some things at home last week. He would go home during the day for a few hours and we'd Skype so he can show me what he is working on or if I wanted it a certain way. He got a lot done last week, so we aren't as unprepared as I thought we would be I guess. Baby boy's nursery is starting to come together, and I'm loving how it looks. Ryan is back at work this week. We're still trying to figure out a schedule that works best for us. 

Grateful for our family and sweet friends who come visit to help pass the time. I think we've had someone come visit everyday and it's been really nice.

I'll update again soon with some maternity pictures we were able to take the evening before we were re-admitted.

Extended stay

We went back to see my doctor on Monday and she felt my blood pressure was still on the high side. Her gut was telling her to put be back in the hospital for observation instead of being home on bed rest since she felt that things could possibly change quickly and didn't want to run the risk. 

I had thought about packing a bag just in case, but I think I was partially in denial and being hopeful that we'd be going home after our follow up. 

That didn't happen. Had to calm myself back down again from their office after I had a non stress test and then headed back to the hospital. 

The plan is for us to be in the hospital for continued monitoring until baby boy arrives. We had some lab work done, met with maternal fetal medicine for a more detailed ultrasound, and had a consult with a neonatologist. Everyone is in agreement that I have mild preeclampsia and that we're thankful I don't have any other symptoms other than the high blood pressure at this point.

It was nice to see our baby boy again even though he doesn't cooperate very much and moves constantly. Our ultrasound lasted over 1.5 hours because they couldn't get all the views and images they needed to with all the movement.

Since the doctors are in agreement that I have mild preeclampsia, the goal is to deliver at 37 weeks. If things worsen and I or baby begin to show additional signs of things going bad, the goal is to get to 34 weeks and then deliver. Of course, if things go bad really fast very soon, he may come before then.

Right now, all we can do is just rest in our room, let them continue to monitor us, and pray things stay calm until as long as possible.

So if you need us, we'll be in the hospital until he gets to come home with us. Things are becoming more and more real, scary, exciting, and overwhelming. I miss the freedom to go outside even though we're only on day 3, and I miss my Lily so very much!! Ryan has been going back and forth to take care of her  for now, Gary has been helping, but I want to hug and play with my fur baby.

I'm so thankful Ryan is on spring break this week and is able to be with me in the hospital. He'll have to go back to work next week, but again, pray that things stay calm so we will just develop a temporary routine until he comes and hopefully finish out most of this semester.

Even though we're in the hospital, I couldn't go to the newborn class we had signed up for but Ryan went to the class for us last night. I'm glad one of us will now what to do!

Time for more rest. Hopefully a lack of update until next week is a good thing. Until then, here is a profile of our baby boy.

No known cause

We had an eventful way to end this week. I was feeling fine for most of this week, but got really dizzy pretty fast Wednesday afternoon. I thought maybe it was because I didn't have anything to eat in over 4 hours, so I tried to heat something up quickly and eat. 

I also thought, maybe I needed some sugar or something, so I had some Dr. Pepper with my meal. I could walk, but slowly and preferred to lean against something rather than on my own at this point. I didn't really feel that much better after, and decided to take a nap hoping some sleep would make it go away. 

I took my blood pressure (yes, I have a machine) before I ate and after my nap. Both measurements were higher than what I was use to seeing. I did feel much better after my nap though and didn't think too much else about it. 

We had an appointment for a check up and ultrasound the next day, Thursday and I'd just mention it then. 

Ryan met me at the doctor's since we both were coming from work. We had our ultrasound first and everything with baby boy is looking good. He weighs about 3.5 lbs now. He is always moving and never wants to give us a good look at his face. My fibroids have not grown much since our last ultrasound so happy about that as well. 

After our ultrasound, a nurse came in to  take my vitals and I had mentioned my higher bp reading the day before. When she took my bp in the office it was even higher, much higher. She went to speak with my doctor right away, then came back with a monitor to look at my bp, heart rate, and oxygen levels. Doctor came in after another reading and told me that she needed to admit me from her office and to have me monitored for the next 24 hours. I knew the tears were creeping up at that point.

Then she went in to talk about why and the risks and what possible outcomes they could mean. Of course hearing these things aren't easy and did not make me feel better. Blood pressure continued to rise, and I broke down. Just hearing that we might possibly have to deliver (of course this is if a lot of things happened or became worse) terrified me. I just kept thinking that from the ultrasound a few minutes ago, he is only 3.5 lbs and can't come out now. He isn't ready. We aren't ready. 

They gave us some time to allow me to calm down and then we made our way over to the OB emergency area of the hospital. Checked in (also completed our preregistration for when he does come)  and tried to get settled into our room. Our doctor came by not too long later and said the baby still looks good and my blood pressure has started to go down which was good news. We started off getting readings every 15 mins, moved to 30 mins, 2 hours, 4 hours, and then a few times per nurse shift. They also had a baby monitor on me to watch his heart rate, any contractions, and movements. They also wanted to test my blood and a 24 hr urine collection. Urine sample in the doctor's office was negative for protein and blood work came back normal. My potassium was barely within or just outside the normal range and I was given some potassium in the morning. 

Ryan went home to get stuff since we didn't plan on spending the night going into our appointment and feed Lily. Thankfully, Gary was able to watch Lily that night for us. We just rested when we could and got a glimpse of how it would be to stay in the hospital. Although I have spent a lot of time in a hospital, from working or from being with my parents, I have never been a patient before. Being stuck in bed all day is no fun. My doctor came by again early in the morning to talk to us about the blood work and what her initial plan is. She felt pretty sure we'd be going home that night but will have to wait on more data to confirm. 

We basically just had to wait until I was done with my 24 hour urine collection and then the results from lab once they finished processing it to decide if we could go home or make a different plan. They were looking for confirmation of preeclampsia and after about 2.5-3 hours after my sample was done, we finally got word that I do have preeclampsia, but the level of protein wasn't high enough that we had to stay in the hospital. We were quickly discharged since the nurse knew I was all packed, dressed, and ready to get out. We took the iv out and didn't apply enough pressure which caused me to squirt some blood on the floor and my jeans right before we walked out the door of our room and had to call a nurse back. Got the bleeding under control, drove home, snuggled with Lily, took a much needed shower, and rested. We both slept well that night.

Time to take it easy (which I need to be reminded to do), watch my blood pressure and sodium levels, and pray pray pray that baby boy continues to hold out

When we found out about my fibroids, I had asked why they develop, and the response was no known cause but it is common. When I asked about the cause of my high blood pressure and why preeclampsia occurs, we again were replied with no known cause and it occurs in 5-8/10% of pregnancies. I thought I was having a pretty easy pregnancy, until these no known causes things start showing up. If there are any more, someone please warn me about them now.

We have a follow up appointment on Monday, and we'll know more then. Back to the hospital tonight for a maternity tour, even though we got a good preview this week. I'll update when we know more. Until then, baby boy better stay put

Here is a picture of baby and me at 29 weeks, a few days before we went in to the hospital.

Baby Newman's Baby Shower

My sisters, Huong & Kim, and my bffs, Kim, Marisa, & Leigh Anne threw Ryan and I am awesome co-ed shower at Saint Arnold's this past weekend. We had so much fun and loved everything they did for us. We are so lucky that baby Newman has such amazing aunties who love him this much already. Ryan and I had mentioned that we would love a Wes Anderson type themed shower a long time ago, and there were Wes Anderson touches all throughout the shower. They kept everything a secret from us. We didn't know where the shower was going to be until we received the invitation in the mail and didn't get to know anything else until we showed up that day. Marisa's husband, Bryson, drew the Houston skyline that was on our invitation, which we might try to incorporate into baby Newman's nursery, we'll see how that turns out. It was fun walking in and seeing everything from the signs, tent, photo booth, naked cake, all the food, the brewery itself, and of course open bar.

A special thank you to Stover and Jonathan for flying in that weekend to spend some time with us! I still can't believe yall flew in. Baby Newman has some amazing uncles too.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to these aunties for hosting this shower for us and to all of our friends and family who came to celebrate with us. We loved it! (Thanks Greens for the photos!)