26 weeks 1 day - 98 days to go
I am finally home! Dr Bruce, my specialist did an ultrasound Friday morning and found that my fluid had jumped to 14 cm (normal is 5 to 20) from the previous 10. It is still to early to see growth in the baby but since 2x daily heartbeat tests are always amazing and my blood pressure was totally in check WITHOUT meds, they sent me home to continue my bed rest here!
Ric picked up Isabel from school and surprised her with me being in MY bed not the hospital. Boy was she a sight for sore eyes! I was able to see her everyday but to see her light up because I was home was just priceless. We will still be going in for 2x weekly ultrasounds and check ups but for now, everything is stable.
So here I am at home being a good girl so my little Elora Grace can grow into a big beautiful healthy baby girl :)
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
I have been lax in posting even though I have had plenty of time on my hands. On Nov 3rd we went in for our 24 weeks check up and were worried to find that my amniotic fluid had dropped to 8.5. Dr Jick put me on bed rest for the week and sent me to a specialist for a second opinion. We saw Dr Samuel Bruce the following day and Elora was diagnosed with IUGR Intrauterine Growth Restriction. In other words she has entered survival mode but we are not sure why. I was then put on sever bed rest, added some blood pressure medicine and followed up with Dr Jick on Thursday.
Dr Jick gave us the scary news that Elora might have to come out early if her amniotic fluid doesn't improve and she doesn't grow. We went home scared but optimistic. As long as I had extreme bed rest and drank TONS of fluid she would just get better. We arrive the Monday for a checkup to be told that her amniotic fluid had dropped to 7.5 and I was being admitted to Huntington Hospital. They were going to have Dr Bruce look at her again and hopefully would make it to Friday before a c-section was needed.
At Huntington they did a heart beat test on her for an hour where they clock her heart beat. She REALLY does not like to be monitored and kicked the monitor repeatedly. She wore herself out for the hour and was quiet when Dr Bruce came in. He did another ultrasound and found 10cm of fluid and that she was growth-restricted but not the level Dr Jick saw on his scans. For once we received some positive information. I was given my first course of steroid shots to help develop her lungs just in case she was going to be arriving early (4 doses are needed, 1 ever 12 hours).
Tuesday arrived and I see Dr. Jick. He is optimistic with her and my progress and tell s me that I might get out in a week or 2 to finish my bed rest at home or I could be here for the duration, it depends on Elora's fluid and growth. Each heartbeat test done is a trail (I get 2 a day) because she HATES to be monitored. She either kicks the monitor the ENTIRE time and squirms and hides so the test takes 1 1/2 hours instead of one. Last night, going on 36 hours of no sleep (hospitals are really not a place for rest) the nurse had to hold the monitor on her the entire 1.5 hours because she kept on falling of the monitor from her antics! Luckily once we finally finished at 11pm I was given a sleeping aide and Elora and I slept for a blessed 5 hours!!! before we had to be checked on again.
So here I am Wednesday morning, one more day to go before I get another ultrasound to see her growth and my fluid level. I am cautiously optimistic, I have to be with the roller coaster ride we have been on!
I promise to post more often now that I have gotten the hard post our of the way.
Dr Jick gave us the scary news that Elora might have to come out early if her amniotic fluid doesn't improve and she doesn't grow. We went home scared but optimistic. As long as I had extreme bed rest and drank TONS of fluid she would just get better. We arrive the Monday for a checkup to be told that her amniotic fluid had dropped to 7.5 and I was being admitted to Huntington Hospital. They were going to have Dr Bruce look at her again and hopefully would make it to Friday before a c-section was needed.
At Huntington they did a heart beat test on her for an hour where they clock her heart beat. She REALLY does not like to be monitored and kicked the monitor repeatedly. She wore herself out for the hour and was quiet when Dr Bruce came in. He did another ultrasound and found 10cm of fluid and that she was growth-restricted but not the level Dr Jick saw on his scans. For once we received some positive information. I was given my first course of steroid shots to help develop her lungs just in case she was going to be arriving early (4 doses are needed, 1 ever 12 hours).
Tuesday arrived and I see Dr. Jick. He is optimistic with her and my progress and tell s me that I might get out in a week or 2 to finish my bed rest at home or I could be here for the duration, it depends on Elora's fluid and growth. Each heartbeat test done is a trail (I get 2 a day) because she HATES to be monitored. She either kicks the monitor the ENTIRE time and squirms and hides so the test takes 1 1/2 hours instead of one. Last night, going on 36 hours of no sleep (hospitals are really not a place for rest) the nurse had to hold the monitor on her the entire 1.5 hours because she kept on falling of the monitor from her antics! Luckily once we finally finished at 11pm I was given a sleeping aide and Elora and I slept for a blessed 5 hours!!! before we had to be checked on again.
So here I am Wednesday morning, one more day to go before I get another ultrasound to see her growth and my fluid level. I am cautiously optimistic, I have to be with the roller coaster ride we have been on!
I promise to post more often now that I have gotten the hard post our of the way.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Base Anyone?
24 weeks pregnant today!
I was working listening to some No Doubt when I felt her thumping me. On a whim I took my computer speaker and placed it at my belly, wow did she start moving. Heather caught me chuckling at my desk and so the experiment moved to her desk and we tried Classical, no go. I then figured it had to be the drums. We put on some Bon Jovi which she liked. I then played so techno with alot of base and she started rolling!
I was working listening to some No Doubt when I felt her thumping me. On a whim I took my computer speaker and placed it at my belly, wow did she start moving. Heather caught me chuckling at my desk and so the experiment moved to her desk and we tried Classical, no go. I then figured it had to be the drums. We put on some Bon Jovi which she liked. I then played so techno with alot of base and she started rolling!
Monday, October 13, 2008
Black & Blue
We'll little Elora is making sure her presence is felt. She loves to roll and do somersaults! Her favorite active is to karate chop my bladder which sends me running to the bathroom! Her daddy especially found this funny last night when she did it twice in an hour!
Friday, October 3, 2008
It's a girl!
We are 100% sure it's a girl. My parents went with me to the ultrasound office in Glendale. They sat on a comfy black leather couch in front of a huge flat screen tv. They turn on the ultrasound and not only has she move from head down to pointing up, but she is looking straight at the ultrasound wand with her legs wide open! So we can be pretty sure we are having a little girl!
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Nyah Nyah Nyah Nyah
That is was this baby was saying today! We went in for our 20 week appt and ultrasound and thankfully he/she is no longer breach. Unfortunately the baby was facing my right hip, sitting indian-syle or more pc "lotus position" with the umbilical cord running thru its legs. It is bound and determined to keep its' gender a secret. We'll this mom has been waiting patiently (we'll as patiently as I am able) to find out what it is and I am not waiting anymore. I have scheduled a 3D ultrasound tonight at an office in Glendale where they guarantee you the gender! Ha!
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Movement
I finally felt the baby! I thought I felt him/her a few weeks ago but based on my doctor's exam, he was no where near where the movement was felt.
Today, he/she didn't give me a flutter like a butterfly, he KICKED ME! It was soooo cool. Isabel was not active at all in the womb, but definitely made up for it later. This one seems to be always bouncing around in the ultrasounds and now enjoys kicking my stomach.
As of yesterday I have also been banned from pickles or should I say I was told to watch my salt intake. Poor Ric :)
Today, he/she didn't give me a flutter like a butterfly, he KICKED ME! It was soooo cool. Isabel was not active at all in the womb, but definitely made up for it later. This one seems to be always bouncing around in the ultrasounds and now enjoys kicking my stomach.
As of yesterday I have also been banned from pickles or should I say I was told to watch my salt intake. Poor Ric :)
Friday, September 12, 2008
A Pickle Story
Ric insisted I post the pickle story, so enjoy!
A couple of days ago I decided to go to the market after getting Isabel from school. Suffice it to say, Isabel HATES shopping of any kind. By the time I arrived home I was overwhelmed, hormonal, frustrated and practically in tears. Ric picked that unfortunate time to call me as I am struggling with the groceries into the house. He then asks if everything is ok, well you can image the earful he got. After I finished my 5 minute tirade and was starting to cry, he responded " I am hurrying home I will be there as quickly as I can."
He carefully walks into the kitchen 10 minutes later.....
I am at the kitchen counter as calm as can be with a kosher dill pickle jar in my hands. I think at that point I am on pickle number 4. I tell him, it's all ok now, I have my pickles!
A bit of background is that I am really not supposed to have pickles because of the salt and my pregnancy induced high-blood pressure.
Needless to say Ric said I could have as many pickles as I wanted :)
Hope you enjoyed one of the many hormonal episodes that Ric has endured during this pregnancy.
Last Hurdle Crossed
September 11, 2008 17 weeks Pregnant, 161 Days to go
This pregnancy has been very trying and very scary. As soon as we make it past one hurdle we then have more time to wait and another hurdle to go.
First, do we have a heartbeat? We made it to week 8.
Do we still have a heartbeat and is the baby growing properly? We made it to week 12.
Do we still have a heartbeat and is the baby a candidate for Down Syndrome? We made it to week 16.
Did we pass the AFP (Alpha Fetal Protein) test which tests for other birth defects and Down Syndrome. WE MADE IT!!!
The last 2 hurdles are for me and not the baby. If my blood pressure continues to stay high then we are looking at modified bed rest in the next 4-8 weeks.
The last hurdle is the gestational diabetes test which I passed with flying colors last time.
So now I wonder if I will be able to stay calm thru all the cramping (those pesky round ligament pains) and body aches and actually start to enjoy this pregnancy. Part of me says that my worries are behind me and part of me believes that I will worry until my precious baby is in my arms.
Time will tell.
This pregnancy has been very trying and very scary. As soon as we make it past one hurdle we then have more time to wait and another hurdle to go.
First, do we have a heartbeat? We made it to week 8.
Do we still have a heartbeat and is the baby growing properly? We made it to week 12.
Do we still have a heartbeat and is the baby a candidate for Down Syndrome? We made it to week 16.
Did we pass the AFP (Alpha Fetal Protein) test which tests for other birth defects and Down Syndrome. WE MADE IT!!!
The last 2 hurdles are for me and not the baby. If my blood pressure continues to stay high then we are looking at modified bed rest in the next 4-8 weeks.
The last hurdle is the gestational diabetes test which I passed with flying colors last time.
So now I wonder if I will be able to stay calm thru all the cramping (those pesky round ligament pains) and body aches and actually start to enjoy this pregnancy. Part of me says that my worries are behind me and part of me believes that I will worry until my precious baby is in my arms.
Time will tell.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Really Pregnant
September 11, 2008
We'll I finally feel pregnant.
Went on vacation with the family and suddenly my regular pants did not fit, and I mean by an inch! I think the baby must have switched positions because I had room to spare a couple of days ago.
We'll Heather and I went out for some emergency shopping and I am fully outfitted! I promise to post a picture soon, which for me is REALLY hard because I already feel HUGE!
We'll I finally feel pregnant.
Went on vacation with the family and suddenly my regular pants did not fit, and I mean by an inch! I think the baby must have switched positions because I had room to spare a couple of days ago.
We'll Heather and I went out for some emergency shopping and I am fully outfitted! I promise to post a picture soon, which for me is REALLY hard because I already feel HUGE!
Still don't know the sex of the baby
15 weeks 6 DaysBaby Mejia decided to keep his/her legs closed on the ultrasound. He/She has been breach from the beginning so we are hoping he/she will move before our next appointment in October. Boy am I tired of the he/ she stuff...
Saturday, August 30, 2008
This is a bit for me and mostly for my unborn child. I feel like he is going to get the short end of the stick. For Isabel I made this beautiful scrapbook and even kept a journal for her. This kid will be lucky to get a picture at the hospital. I work full-time, have a husband and a 6 year-old daughter who keeps me on my toes.
So this is for you Junior. I want you to know just how much you are wanted and loved. We went thru so much heartbreak to have you and in 5 1/2 short months you will be here.
So this is for you Junior. I want you to know just how much you are wanted and loved. We went thru so much heartbreak to have you and in 5 1/2 short months you will be here.
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