My pregnancy story

This is my pregnancy story.

When Joe and I first found out I was pregnant, we were ecstatic.  We hadn't planned it, but it was perfect. We couldn't wait to meet her. We already loved her so much.

The first trimester went great. Only symptoms I had was a little lower back pain and fatigue. I was hospitalized for a few days due to a kidney infection, but baby stayed healthy through it.

The second trimester started out great too.

I still worked, but was slowly losing energy. My kidney doctor told he didn't want me working once I hit my 3rd trimester. That bummed me out a bit, but I was determined to make the best of it. I had all these plans for the birth of our little girl. I would deliver full term and have a natural birth.

Boy,  was I wrong!

One day I had an appointment with my kidney doctor. The assistant checked my blood pressure and it was very high. I thought the guy didn't know what he was doing, but when another nurse checked it and it was still high, I was confused.

Then I thought it was because I had just gotten off work, drank a big apple cider and was excited about the new apartment we just got. The doctor prescribed me with blood pressure medicine, but I didn't even pick them up, because I thought they were silly and that I didn't need them.  

But I decided to keep an eye on my blood pressure just in case.

A week it was still very high, and I noticed my feet were swelling, and I was out of breath all the time and I gained 15 pounds in 2 weeks, so I decided to call my obgyn. She told me to go to the hospital right away. We drove down to regular hospital and they immediately hook me up to magnesium and proceeded to send me to my high risk hospital. I stayed there for 5 nights, and everyday I kept asking to go home and they kept saying no. Finally, the head obgyn doctor came by and told them to release me, but with strict orders to become a couch potato and no work and to take my meds how she wanted me to and to call in my blood pressure results everyday. For 5 days I did as she told me. I was excited to be home, but the drugs made me tired all the time. My blood pressure was still on  the high side but not as bad as it could be.

On Saturday the 10th,  in the middle of the day I took it again,  and it was higher than ever. Very frustrating. A nurse told me to come in, but I was stubborn and refused. But I kept monitoring it all night. At midnight, I woke up and couldn't get back to sleep. I couldn't relax. I had been dreaming about my blood pressure and the hospital and that's what woke me. Looking back, I think God woke me up to warn me. I decided to take my blood pressure and it was in the high 170s. I woke up my husband, and we decided to take more medicine and check it for another hour. It refused to go down. So we decided to drive to the hospital right away. They hooked me up to magnesium again ( awful stuff) and took my blood.

My blood platelets were low. Too low.  For another 11 hours they kept monitoring me and keeping an eye on my blood. Normal platelet count is in the 100 thousands. Mine was ½ that. They kept decreasing to a dangerous level. Finally at 2:30 they said they would have to deliver my baby. I was devastated. It was too early. 13 weeks too early. I later found out that my life was in danger unless I had delivered. They told me they had to put me under because an epidural would be too dangerous.  I was scared to death because I dreaded c-sections. Plus they were doing a classical one, which means my next pregnancy will have to be a c-section too.  I was scared to go under.

An hour later, they wheeled me back and got me all hooked up. They put a mask on me, and last thing I remembered was asking how long it took for the drug to take effect, right when the nurse was adding it to my iv. Less than a minute later the drug hit me,  because the next thing I remember was waking up and seeing Joe's face, and him telling me we had a beautiful baby girl. I was told later that during surgery I had to have 2 blood transfusions. I also had 2 more when I was awake. One that day, and another the next day. That's how much blood I lost. Scary huh? But I'm alive, thanks to God. I learned that God doesn't do things exactly how you expect them to go, but i wouldn't have it any other way. God gave us a beautiful strong girl. And even though Sophia has to spend 3 months in NICU, I know God will take care of her and she'll grow big and strong. She's already such a fighter and super sassy and feisty. She'll go far. 

Missing my babies.

Yesterday was originally my last day at work. Little did I know that last Wednesday a week ago would actually be my last day. If I had known I would have taken extra time to say farewell and given all my babies one last hug and kiss.

They were all such sweet babies, with different personalities.

Kennedy, 11 months old and the happiest baby you'd ever meet in your life.  Always smiling and exploring. Loves to imitate noises and words.

Nolan 11 months, our little man. Just learning to walk and curious about everything. Always wants to go outside and play. Big giggler, and a sweetheart. Loves hugs.

Pierce our little 10 month old happy cuddle bug.  Loves playing with baby dolls and can't get enough of the bouncy chair. Very sweet girl with the cutest dimples.

9 month old Eleanor, loves playing. She is so happy. Loves laughing at people and things. Loves music and dancing. Doesn't cry unless she's hungry or tired.

Mackenzie, our sweet 5 month old. Loves talking and cooing and being talked to. Loves to observe others and discovering toys to shake.

Evelyn, 7 months old, loves to eat. Loves her pacifier, and loves to move around everywhere. Loves diaper time.

Nico, 10 months, loves stroller rides and being held.  Loves to laugh with Eleanor.

I miss all my babies so much. I also miss my dear co-workers.  Ms. Ayu and Ms.  Kathy taught me so much, and what a blast we all had. Even though this job was the shortest job I've had, it was still the best and most rewarding one.  I hope to see you all again soon! 

Bed rest woes

I have not written anything in a long time, but today I felt like I needed to write. As some of you may know, I was hospitalized for 5 days for high blood pressure recently. It would have been longer, but we (my husband and I) begged for my release. So they let me go, but with strict orders that I become a couch potato. So essentially bed rest.

Up until that point I had been working, and doing chores and cooking, so to hear that was pretty disappointing.

When I got home however, I realized even the most basic task wore me out.

How did I get here? How did I get to the point of absolutely no energy?  Before I felt invincible. I didn't think anything bad like this could happen to me. Sure I have a bad kidney, but it never felt bad. I thought I was supergirl. But apparently I'm not. Preeclampsia is very common for pregnant women who have a polycystic kidney.

More than likely I will have a premature delivery. I pray I can make it to 35 weeks. And to do that, I've got to take it easy.

But it's still hard. I feel so guilty that Joe has to work all day and then come home and clean house and make dinner. It makes me feel so useless. He doesn't mind.  He says my only job is cooking the baby. But it's not fair to him at all. I'm the house wife. I'm supposed to clean and cook.

I just pray that God can help me through this. That he gives me patience. I really shouldn't complain. Some people would jump at the chance of being lazy. God will deliver me. I pray that he heals my body in order that I can deliver our baby girl healthy and safely.