Scared

We've a scary past few days!  Here's a recap on all that happened:

Over the weekend, I was having elevated blood pressure readings, difficulty breathing, and frequent/constant headaches.  On Sunday, I checked my blood pressure prior to working a 12-hr shift and it read 133/103.  During the shift, one of my friends checked my BP & it was normal.  By the time I got home, it was 155/100.  I knew I had an appointment the next morning, so I didn't head to the hospital at this time.  At my appointment on Monday, my BP was 129/96 and there was protein in my urine.  My doctor was concerned and sent me to Medical City to have a full preeclampsia workup.  Preeclampsia is when a pregnant woman develops high bp and protein in the urine after the 20th week (late 2nd or 3rd trimester) of pregnancy.  You can read up on it at http://www.pennmedicine.org/health_info/pregnancy/000200.htm.

At the hospital on Monday, my BPs were back to normal, but the OB hospitalist was really concerned about my brisk reflexes & headaches not relieved with Tylenol.  She threatened to deliver Cason that night if my headaches didn't resolve.  I started a 24-hr urine collection to check how much protein I put out in a whole day.  Almost all of my BPs were good on Tuesday and my urine test came back ok, so I was sent home on modified bed rest that evening.  This means I can do little things like go to the mailbox, take short car rides, etc, but nothing that requires exertion. Mostly, I hang out on the couch.

Last night, I feared that Cason was trying to come into this world early because I had the absolute worst Braxton Hicks contractions to date.  This continued for about 2 hours, but thankfully my prayers were heard.  If he had come last night, we wouldn't be able to have surgery for at least 2 more weeks and would probably have to keep him going with lots of breathing assistance.  More complications added to his already complicated young life. We really need to keep this kiddo in place for at least 4 more weeks to give him the best chance during his open heart surgery. 

My family and friends have been and are continuing to be amazing throughout all of this.  My wonderful parents have prepared a bunch of our favorite meals & froze them, so that all we have to do is pop them in the oven or microwave.  Brian, my bro, has been so helpful with Coyt.  My dear friend, Amy, is organizing a support group to help us out where needed.  I have received so many wonderful Facebook comments, emails, texts, & phone calls.  Your continued prayers are the greatest gift of all.  Thank you each and every one of you!!

Whoa Baby!

I'm 32 weeks & 3 days pregnant, and boy howdy do I feel it!  You wanna know why I am extremly uncomfortable this pregnancy??  Why my belly is so huge that it looks like I am ready to pop any day now??  No, there aren't multiples in here, but I do get asked that frequently.  It's because my baby is BIG, BIG, BIG!  According to both the books Your Pregnancy Week by Week and What to Expect When You're Expecting, it says my baby should weigh almost 4 pounds this week.  Well, Cason didn't get that memo because my maternal-fetal doctor is weighing him in at 5lbs 5oz.  And I'm at the stage where he will be gaining half a pound a week.  Let me do the math....if I were to deliver at full term he would be over 9 pounds.  Let me remind you that I am a small person!  Thankfully, we are going to induce almost 2 weeks early, so he should only be around 8lbs 5oz.  That's bigger that Coyt who was delivered exactly 2 weeks early and around 7lbs 9 oz.  OUCH!

Not only did I visit my perinatologist (aka maternal-fetal doc) today, but also the pediatric cardiologist.  And yesterday, I went to the OB.  It seems that Cason's heart is progressing as expected in a fetus with HLHS, but THANKFULLY there are no other complications arising at this time.  While getting my fetal echocardiogram (sono of the baby's heart) completed, there was a camera crew filming for a documentary on HLHS.  I'm really excited about being able to share our story with other parents of HLHS children. 

So we are about 90% sure that we will schedule for delivery of Cason on Thursday, January 12, 2012.  This day would be early enough that hopefully Cason won't come on his own, but late enough that he is well developed.  Also, this day would set up perfectly for Dr. Mendeloff to perform surgery at 4 days of life on Monday, January 16th.  My OB, perinatologist, & pediatric cardiologist are all on board with this, but we will have to wait and see what the other docs at Medical City think.  Too many people to make decisions!!  Call me superstitious, but I refuse to have this little guy on Friday the 13th.  I hope they don't try to push for that day:oP

Well, that's my update for now!  I will try to post as soon as we have more information.  Again, thank you for all your kind words and your prayers for our family!