35 weeks down, 35 days to go & Neighborhood Shower

What a weekend! I was at home, resting all weekend with no work! I can't tell you the last time I didn't have to work at all on a weekend and could just sit around....almost a year.

Sunday was so much fun. I had my neighborhood/bookclub baby shower. It was such a beautiful event! Another neighbor, Harper, is also pregnant and due about 1 month after me, so we had a combined shower. It was awesome! There were balloons, flowers, dinner, dessert, presents, and cute party favors. Because it was my bookclub members, the theme throughout the shower was books. Every person included a children's book with their gift and there were bookmarks for party favors! I got some great books! We are so blessed to have such wonderful friends here in Atlanta that make us feel like family. There were 10 guests present. I will include pics soon - I was really bad at taking any myself so I'll wait until I get some sent from others. We played a couple of games that were really cute. The hostess was my neighbor who is a midwife, Sara. She actually had a doppler there and guests had to guess what our babies' heartrates were, as well as our belly measurements. When Sarah checked my tummy she said, "You have really dropped!" Not sure what this means as far as when baby will actually come, but I feel like she's definitely getting ready. What a great night!

Tonight Derek is taking the cars to get the carseat placement checked at the local fire department. Tomorrow I have a doctor's appointment to find out what happened Friday with my heart (yes mom....Derek is driving me). Derek and I are also going to a prospective pediatrician's "meet & greet" tomorrow night. We were recommended a pediatric group by a doctor I work with who takes his daughters to this group, www.childrenswellnesscenter. You can check them out online if you want. I guess the thing to do in Atlanta is to meet and "interview" your perspective pediatrician before choosing. So....we are going to do this Tuesday at 5pm. Looking forward to it!

Minor setback

Well, today I'm home from work. I got sent home yesterday (Friday) after having an episode of "SVT." Supraventricular tachycardia is a condition when the heart beat gets >150 beats a minute. This is purely an "electrical problem" in the heart. It is can be caused by drugs/caffeine, exercise, dehydration, genetics, or simply a freak episode of the heart misfiring. It's hard to explain when you are not familiar with how the heart functions. Basically, your heart beats according to electrical impulses. My electrical impulses somehow got "off" and the misfiring told my heart to beat way too fast.

This happened when I was sitting at a computer, 1 hour into work. I have not had caffeine the entire pregnancy, I drink 2-3 liters of water a day, and didn't even have any patients I was caring for yet. I simply felt a "shaky feeling" in my chest and started sweating. I went into a room and put myself on the heart monitor, to find my heart beat was 186 beats/minute - almost 3 times my regular rate. I got up to go tell someone, but didn't make it to the nurses station because I was so light-headed. A nurse saw me and came into the room I was in to ask if I was ok. I said, "I think I'm in SVT. Can you go get Fred?" (Fred is aka Dr. Watkins). Dr. Fred came in, took one look at me, took my pulse in my carotid (on my neck..you couldn't even feel a pulse anywhere else it was so thready) and said, "_ _ _ _ .....you are really in SVT!"

Long story short - it took about 20 minutes to get my heart to stop beating so fast. You basically have to "reset" the electrical impulse. This is easily done with a medicine called Adenosine. I refused this medicine. My OB was not aware of what was happening, no baby monitor was hooked up - I was not about ready to let them put medicine to restart my heart in my body that might affect the baby. So....Fred did a "carotid massage", poured ice on my head, made me bear down, reposition....all kinds of tricks. Eventually, it worked. I was so grateful.....for my wonderful coworkers who helped/panicked!, Fred for taking care of me and not leaving my side, and everyone else. I think I really freaked out some people I work with....this never happens to anyone my age.

Dr. Fred then called my OB to let him know what happened. He said I needed to go home and rest, and if it happened again, I was going to be admitted. I'm going to have to see a cardiologist for followup, as well as my OB this week. Who knows if it's the pregnancy that caused this to happen, genetics, or a freak thing. They'll probably get me on a Holter Monitor I'll have to wear to monitor my heart. I'm praying this was purely a 1-time incident. However, the OB says if it happens once, it's probably going to happen again - usually during or after labor. There are ways to correct this - ablation surgery or daily medicine, but hopefully this will never happen again so I won't have to even think about it!

Don't be alarmed or anything....I'M OK! The BABY IS OK! This had no effect on baby - since I was only in this heart rhythm for about 20-25 minutes. It can cause problems if you are in it for too long - because it causes the blood to leave the placenta and go to the brain. Let's just hope to goodness it doesn't happen again and I don't have to be admitted! This baby needs to keep cooking for a while longer still!

I'll update you Monday on this situation. On a lighter, happier note....I have the neighborhood shower tomorrow! I am so excited! This will be the last baby shower I have:( We have been so blessed with so much support!

Work Baby Shower & Dr Visit

What a day! This is going to be a long blog. I'll start at the top.....

I had my 2-week appointment with my original doctor today. I told him about the concern of the previous doctor at my previous visit about my weight gain. His response, "Who cares?! You look great, vitals and measurements are all fine, and you haven't gained that much total to be concerned about." He proceeded to tell me that if he could ever get pregnant, he'd get ice cream everyday and gain way more weight than I have. He said he thought baby was fine and everything looked wonderful. I told him about all the pain I was having in my pelvic area. He said he suspected baby was making her way down and I was dilated because I stand on my feet for so long at work. Said it was totally normal for me to feel this way - yes... a bit early, but that doesn't mean I'm going into labor tomorrow, either. I go again in 2 more weeks, then it's every week. Can't wait! The end is near! I have a gut feeling I won't make it to due date. Any bets?

After my doctor's appointment I had my work baby shower. How much fun! It was so lovely. My girlfriends from work hosted a beautiful gathering at a local restaurant. There were appetizers, flowers, balloons, dessert, the whole bit! It was awesome and really made me feel special. It is so nice to have friends here. I was sad none of my family was there - but everyone who came really made me feel special. There were about 15-20 people who came in and out throughout the event. Derek was happy so many people came. And yes....Derek did stop in and meet some of my coworkers for the first time. I think he thinks healthcare workers are kind of crazy - and maybe he's right! Even if they are crazy - I love em! Here's a few pics.....

Me, Dr. Dearie, Sally (looking happy), and Sherry

Sally, Sherry, and Kristin laughing it up!

Flowers and some of the table decorations.

Of course, I love the Halloween gear!

Janice, Erin, and Emilee (also expecting!)

Mrs. Heather Dearie (just had a little one!), Mrs. Mary Watkins, Dr. Watkins, and Dr. Dearie

Fred, Kim, and my hubby!

The hostesses!!! Sherry and Kristin, you gals rock - what a great shower! Thanks a mil!

Kristin and her girls made this diaper cake!

So... I have another shower on Sunday! Yes, my neighbor girlfriends/"bookclub" are hosting a little get-together. I am so blessed! I have the day off work. Derek and I are taking a baptism class (it's only an hour long....whew!) in the afternoon. I am taking a few Sundays off over the next month. I think it will be good for baby if I don't work as many three 12-hour shifts in a row the last 6 weeks. I do want to keep her in there for as long as possible!

6 weeks....come on already!

Well, everyone says the last trimester goes slow. SERIOUSLY DRAGGING! I can't believe how slow the days go by. I worked all this weekend - it is getting harder and harder. I feel like she is seriously about to fall out sometimes when I've been standing for hours! I can no longer wear my wedding band - fingers are too swollen. A friend from work gave me her old belly support band, which has really helped.

I have such mixed emotions right now. Yes, I'm starting to panic a little (so my husband tells me). I have my bag packed for the hospital and lists made out. I am so scared of going into labor early. I feel fine all week long, it's really only when I'm at work that I get nervous - mostly because of the contractions, back pain, and pelvic pressure I feel. I keep telling myself: "Just _ weeks and you're full term." This week I was saying to myself, "Just 3 more weekends and you're full term." Of course, that's counting 37 weeks as full term. Next weekend I have Sunday off so I'm only there for two 12-hour shifts, thank goodness!

Not much other news, either. I'm going to post some pics of the house. I have put up Halloween and fall decorations (again, panic mode....what if I go into labor and don't get this done beforehand???!!!). I'm looking forward to my work shower that is on Wednesday - I'll for sure post some pics after.

Have a good week!

Wild Dreams

Well, everyone says pregnancy can trigger some crazy dreams. I've always been a dreamer - I'm usually able to remember my dreams and actually dream more nights than not. Pregnancy has intensified my dreams even more than before.

So....last night after talking to my mom about how her cousin's daughter delivered early - around 33 weeks, and realizing about last week in my pregnancy was when my other friend delivered her baby - it occurred to me I'm at the same point in my pregnancy when a lot of people do have preterm babies. I have less than 50 days go to. However, I get very worried about delivering early. Mostly because of work. Work is intense - being an ER nurse and on my feet for 12 hours. Not only am I on my feet, but I'm pushing stretchers, "boosting" 250lb people up in bed, rarely getting even a bathroom/lunch break, and around more flu victims (or those who think they need to come to the ER for a simple fever and cold) than you can imagine. This is the job I've had for a few years and am used to, but things are different when you're carrying a person around in your belly. I was actually doing fine until the last two weeks. The last 2 weeks have been especially tough. I've been getting Braxton-Hicks contractions every couple hours. I have had no swelling of my feet, which is good. And the back pain is so much better - thank you neighbor chiro Jason! I also carry a mask in my pocket and put it on when I go into any patient's room who has fever, cough, cold, etc. complaints.

Back to the original post - crazy dreams. Last night I dreamt I had gone into labor early. It was in the middle of the night and Derek was out of town. I tried calling him and couldn't get wake him up with my phone calls. Then, my doctor was not answering my calls. I couldn't drive to the hospital because of the pain. I won't give more details because it scares me, but you can imagine. Total nightmare. I woke up before it got too scary, thank goodness. Now, this would never happen because: 1. I would call the hotel Derek was staying at and have them beat down his door, 2. I work in the ER....I can get my doctor's home and cell number if I had to, 3. Once again, I work at the ER....it is open 24/7....I could always call there or a friend from there if I had an emergency and somebody would surely be at my house in an instant (no ambulances, of course!). With all this being said, I should feel better. However, I still have a fear of going into labor too early. So, on my days off, I'm taking it easy with my feet up and relaxing.

This week, I plan on packing a bag for the hospital, looking at "going home outfits" for baby, decorating the house for fall/Halloween, back adjustments (chiro), and resting. I am finishing up getting ready for baby...."nesting" if you will!

Big baby??!!

Well, the doctor's appointment was good and bad. Good because everything is going well with baby and I met one of the other wonderful doctors in the practice. I really liked him a lot - he was very detailed and spent a lot of time with me. HOWEVER.....I had a 5 pound weight gain in 2 weeks. He is concerned about this. He said that's a lot of weight for me to gain, especially since I feel like I eat less now (more often, but less, my diet has not changed, and my weight gain previously has been so steady. He measured me and I heard 2 phrases I never want to hear, "C-section" and "10-lb baby." He said not to get worried just yet, but if I have another large weight gain in 2 weeks, I will need an ultrasound to see just how big this baby really is. I'm trying not to panic. I just hope it's my weight that went up in the scale, not baby's. Either way, baby is healthy, which is most important. I DO NOT want a c-section, but God has His own way of determining what will happen - it's out of my hands. My weight is still within normal weight gain, my blood pressure was 102/50, and my glucose was 77. All of this is excellent and shows that there are so far no medical complications.

I also went to the chiropractor for the first time yesterday for an adjustment. Wow, what a difference. It was like I had stretched for hours after. I felt great. One of the doctor's there also showed me some stretches to do to help with birthing. My left hip has been giving me some problems and it was adjusted, too. Immediately after the adjustment I could tell a difference. They said it will help align my pelvis for birth. I go again next week.

Liz

Olympic Trials

Well, I've been up since 4am. Apparently, I've been hosting a gymnastics tournament in my belly. Honestly, I don't know if she's tumbling and trying to land her floor routine or thinking she's iceskating and trying to land her triple-sow-cow.....but this is crazy. So, around 6am I can't take it anymore and decide to get up. Of course, this is obviously what she wanted: the minute I get up and move, she stops. We have a very, very active baby on our hands here.

I have a doctor's appointment at 10am. I'll leave a post and let everyone who checks this know how it goes. It is with one of the partners in the practice I see - not my regular doctor. Then, this afternoon I have a chiro appointment for my sciatica. Tons of fun!