This Dear Life: Status Quo

Well, baby brother and I are down 1 week and a few days of our hospital stay. We are so thankful and encouraged by all the outpouring of love and prayers we have received throughout our first week here.

The weekend was mostly uneventful and that is just what we needed it to be! My BP has stabilized and I have had normal to low readings since Saturday with no erratic elevations (they check my BP hourly during the day and every 4 hours during the night). It appears the BP medicine they have me on is now working around the clock which is great news. We pray this pattern of good and controlled BP continues. My labs have remained clear of any issues which is also great news. So at this point we are just happy to basically be status quo. I have pushed back and asked the doctors many times if I could rest at home versus here in the hospital, however they have not backed down from my current plan of care. They feel it's necessary to have me here in this controlled environment with medical care near by at all times should something change with mine or baby's health. What can I say, I am persistent and will continue to try and ask the right questions to the doctors. It's my opinion that we are our own biggest advocates and I would rather ask than not ask.

Baby brother is doing fabulously! We monitor him twice daily, once in the morning and once in the evening to see how his little heart and movements are doing. And although he likes to kick up a storm during our regular checks, its such a sweet sound to hear his little heart beating away. I have also had 3 ultrasounds since being admitted to check on his growth, movements, fluid levels etc. Each time he has scored an 8 out of 8. He even went ahead and did us a favor and flipped from a breech position (on Friday 9/23) to his current head down position as of yesterday morning (Monday 9/26). His position doesn't mean much since I will be having a repeat c section, however its still good to know that he is getting himself ready. Interestingly: Beau was breech until 37 weeks, when I went in to my 38 week appointment, he had flipped. So I guess I have late flippers, ha.

Blake and Beau are doing well and visit mommy daily. Beau is getting spoiled with all the extra attention that the grandparents have given him. Mimi has stayed over at our house a few nights to help Blake out and I know both of my boys appreciate some of the home cooking. I am usually the cook and so this is a great help. My parents watched Beau overnight on Friday night so that Blake could stay for a while with me at the hospital. Friday was our dating anniversary so we had take out and hung out in the hospital room. And Saturday, the doctor approved me for wheelchair time in which I get to leave my room for about 30 minutes a day (this is so HUGE to me!) I hadn't been outside in a week so I cherish this time to break away from the 4 walls I stare at all day long. Sunday, Beau got to take a ride with me and he loved it but I think I loved it more. Spending time with him is the highlight of my day.

We continue to ask for prayers and specifically ask that I remain healthy enough to surpass the planned 34 week delivery date. I pray the doctors will allow baby brother to grow and develop as long as possible before they force delivery. For the time being we will try to patiently wait and then cross that obstacle when it arrives however we believe it might be possible to surpass the 34 week mark if I remain stable. For all who are interested, 34 weeks is Saturday 10/8.

Below are some pictures of life lately: