Wednesday, December 16, 2009

more drama for her mama

Apparently Keith and I purchased some of the tainted hamburger meat sold by Safeway a few months ago, but since we buy it in bulk when its on sale and freeze it until we need it, the thought never seemed to cross our minds that when the recall was sent out that it would actually apply to us. Big mistake for this post #1 (Keep track here people).

I decided to be a good wife and bake lasagna for dinner on Sunday night. This way, there would be plenty for dinner plus leftovers and I already know that it is a food that Luke will consume, so even more bonus points for me, right? No. Oh, heavens no. Both Keith and I began to feel sick on Monday morning around 10am, but because we were both at work and weren't able to contact each other, I thought I just felt off from being pregnant and stressed and all the other fun stuff that goes into the last week of school before Christmas Break. And I don't think the running around at Faculty Follies practice that morning helped my cause either. Needless to say, the pregnant lady in me thought that eating would solve my tummy dilemma and I ate another entire portion of lasagna for lunch(Big mistake #2). By 1:15 I was miserable and had to leave work.

I barely made it home before the fireworks began. I'm not going to give the juicy details, but I have a picture taken today, 3 days after this all started and my eyes still look like this.

All the little red dots are broken blood vessels. Now imagine those on my eyes too and my eyelashes are covering the same dots underneath my eyes. That was some forceful vomit that happened. Enough said.

Monday night was miserable. I couldn't get comfortable and I kept waking up with what I thought were those pesky Braxton-Hicks contractions and stomach pains which I attributed to the bad food. Turns out they were real contractions that were waking me up from a dead sleep. Instead of calling the doctor because I didn't want to wake him or bother him (Big mistake #3, if you're still counting), I decided to not tell Keith and tough it out. I never really had had regular contractions with Luke because I was induced and the pitocin at the time sent my labor from 0 to 100 in no time flat once it worked. I had no clue that what I was experiencing were real contractions.

By 4am, I was convinced that I wasn't going to go into to work on Tuesday so I called the sub line to request a sub and tried to get some sleep on the couch. My "Braxton-Hicks" contractions are probably 5-6 minutes apart by this time, but I'm so tired and nauseous, I don't really care. When 6am rolls around, I convince Keith I'm fine to go into school to make my sub plans and as I'm pulling out of the driveway, I had two contractions 4 minutes apart. For some reason, when the thought rolled through my head at that point "this isn't a really good idea" I totally didn't listen because I was so intent on completing those plans (Big mistake #4).

As my contractions continued to come 4ish minutes apart the entire drive in, I knew I had to make it quick at the school so I could call the doctor. Part of me looks back now after all is said and done and thinks, why had I not called the doctor already? Duh, Katie. Get with the program. Half and hour later with sub plans done and secretary notified, I put the call into the doctor's answering service. By the time I hear back 20 minutes later, I'm already home and he tells me to head to the hospital so they can check me out because I'm probably just dehydrated from all of the fun I'd had the night before. As I waited for Keith to come home from work (poor guy didn't really understand what was going on at the time because I didn't want him to worry-Big mistake #5), my contractions start to come 2 to 3 minutes apart. Not good.

Keith gets home, we head to the hospital, and we have to check in at the E.R. Lucky me, because I'm pregnant, I got to wear a sweet mask in the E.R. while waiting for transport services due the Swine flu. *side rant commencing: Who makes a pregnant woman who is already nauseous and disgusting and can hardly breathe wear a mask to protect her from some flu she's already been vaccinated for?!? I get it was for my health and safety, but I thought I wasn't going to survive that part of the ordeal from lack of oxygen.* We get up to L&D and the nurse asks me a million questions about my health history, gets me ready to be hooked up to an IV to start getting fluids in me, and at the end decides to check me to see if I've dilated at all. Apparently she didn't think my contractions were that special before, but when she looked at me and said "That's disappointing," her mind had been changed. I was already 3.5cm dilated and she had to call the doctor.

I ended up being admitted to the hospital overnight and put on some wicked medication that blurs your vision and relaxes all the muscles in your body. It thankfully stopped the contractions and our sweet girl is still cooking in there for the time being, but my doctor said he be excited if we made it another 3.5-4 weeks. Keith and I decided our goal is at least 2 weeks since she'll be 36 weeks at that point and be at a much lower risk for complications.

Like I said, the medication they gave me was some crazy stuff and since I had to be on a fairly high dosage to slow things down quickly, I thought about some random things during my brief stay there. For instance, although I do remember some of the really important things the Neonatologist came to talk to us about, I basically remember thinking it was somehow funny he was wearing a Bengals jersey. Some people take mini-vacations before their child is to be born. We actually did that this time-at Hotel de la Mercy Gilbert. Most expensive vacation ever, but worth every penny. My parents had been begging to keep Luke overnight. I know that it was at our house, but at least Grandma had the chance; maybe Pop Pop won't have to work next time. I make some really stupid and not smart decisions. I really put my child's life in danger by thinking that I had to get stuff ready at work (although in my defense after the lack of sleep and food in my body at the time, I can't really be held responsible). I learned what a real contraction feels like and when it is time to hightail my rear to the hospital.

Most importantly, my sassy girl is doing fine, still growing away in the ever-ginormous belly, and is back to kicking the bejesus out of her mother. All is right in the world again.

9 comments:

Traci Tenkely said...

Omigosh Katie! I am so glad you and the sassy one are okay. Note to self, you are your best monitor. Listen up!

Tara said...

So glad that everything is okay! That sounds scary. I can't believe it's almost time to meet your little girl!

Kyle said...

You poor thing! I'm so glad everything is ok and you are feeling better...despite the broken blood vessels in your eyes. Tell that sweet baby girl to stay inside as long as possible (although I'm sure you'd be ready anytime now!)

Belinda said...

Wow, what an ordeal!! You poor thing! I'm happy to hear everything is ok. Do you have to be on bed rest for the rest of your pregnancy?

Jessi said...

Oh no!! Glad you are on the mend! (and glad you ended up going to the dr. Scary things can happen while waiting it out silly girl!)

Stefanie said...

Only a teacher would still feel like that and go to work and get the sub plans ready....I am glad you and your baby girl are ok!!

Heather said...

Drama indeed! I too am oh so glad everyone is okay and that you now know :) Hang in there! XoXo

Kristi @ Lolly Jane said...

oh dear! i am glad you & baby (and keith & luke!) are okay!!! that is so scary :/

be careful!! xo

Jo Blum said...

Katie, I am so glad you are feeling better. You poor thing!