This was a long week and for as many times that I thought about writing this, I just couldn't do it. I was far too scared to. I went Tuesday for my regular checkup with Dr. A. I told him that I was starting to have some swelling in my feet, which I didn't have with Nathaniel. Well, unfortunately, when they checked my BP, it was high. Combine that with the swelling and it gets scary. The swelling wasn't limited to my feet, as I had thought it was, but went pretty much up to my knees. He started talking about steroids to help the baby's lung development and hospitalization. I was told I would be on bedrest until Veronica is born. I burst into tears and told him I couldn't do that because we would lose our house. Dr. A. gave me a hug and said that he wasn't taking that lightly but there were other things I had to consider.
He told me that if I didn't, chances were good that not only would I lose Veronica, but Pat and Nathaniel as well... as in I would die. It definitely didn't make me stop crying, but it certainly does put things into perspective. I swore to always protect Nathaniel from whatever I could, and if that means sitting here for the next 3 months, then that's what I have to do.
I called in to work Tuesday night and told them I would be out the rest of the week, because at that point we were still hoping that the high BP reading was a fluke.
I had to go back in Wednesday morning for another BP check. It was 136/90. Much too high. I was sent to the lab for blood work and a 24 hour urine catch (to see if there was protein in my pee- and indicator of pre-E) and to the readiology department for a BPP to see how well Veronica is developing. I was also given a prescription for high blood pressure medication.
SO I went to the radiology department first, because that's usually the longest wait. I was right. I was there for about an hour total, but Veronica was moving and rolling all around, as usual. The tech said that everything was looking good, and showed me her foot, toes and one of her hands, which she said were huge with very long fingers. I wish I would've remembered to ask how big she was, and how much she weighed.
Next to the lab to have my blood drawn. I guess there's some level of chemicals that they can check for in the blood to see if your turning pre-eclamptic. Same with the pee.
After that, I got to leave. I drove to school, to say goodbye to my class and to let the boss know what was going to happen. When I got there, he had just opened his email (I emailed him the night before because I didn't want to talk about it. Well, more like I couldn't talk about it.) So I told him I'd be gone for the rest of the year. Then I went to say goodbye to my class.
I never expected the response I got from them. (Well, ok, most of them anyway.) They were separated. the boys were in the classroom with the sub they hate, and when I told them I wouldn't be back, one said "Ok, bye." but the rest were genuinely upset. While I was gathering some stuff from my desk, they made me a little poster and they all signed it. It was quite sweet. Then I headed to the library to say good bye to the girls. I told them and they started sobbing. I mean like opening weeping. I was so touched, but I told them that they could visit me in the fall and find me on facebook to get updates as to how I am doing. (By the time I got home, I had two friend requests. I am now up to 5.) I was really surprised at their reactions.
After that, it was on to Walgreens to get my meds and then home. I got a chance to nap for about 45 minutes, and then I had to go get Nathaniel. I talked with the director of his school about what options I have for reducing our tuition. She was very willing to work with us, and for that I am truly grateful. I can't keep him home, because there's no way that I could actually rest then. I want him to go to school so that he has normality and consistency, and will still have his friends and teachers. So she offered us 9 am to 2:30 pm for five days, which will save us about $100 a week. This way I can still rest and he can still have school.
Thursday I stayed in the chair pretty much all day, but the meds I am taking for the BP make me so doggone tired. I napped quite a bit, and then woke up to take my pee to the hospital. (I had inadvertently made asparagus for dinner Wednesday night, too bad for the person that opened up that jug!)
Friday morning, I dropped Nathaniel off at school adn went back in to the doctor. My blood pressure was high again, but my pee was negative for urine, which I was hoping meant that I could go home instead of being admitted to the hospital. I went into the room to wait for the doc and wait I did. They let me sit for a half hour. Then Dr. A. came in and took my BP again. 125/75. I knew then that I would be allowed to go back home to bedrest. My pee catch was negative for proteins and my blood work was fine. I told him that we had been able to work out some things financially so that I could stay at home, and I told him that I would do whatever I needed to in order to avoid being stuck in prison... I mean the hospital. (There would be no one to take care of Nathaniel.)
So now, I am at home hoping to make it 69 more days before Veronica is born. That would take me to 35 weeks. She would still be very early, but I'd rather then than earlier. 35 weeks would be June 1st. I would much rather go longer, but I will take what I am given. I want to make it to at least 30 weeks if possible. I don't want to have a micropreemie (she only weighs at most a pound and a half). I know that God won't give us more than we can handle, but I am just trying to process all this that's going on now. God willing, we make it to mid June or the end of it without incident.
So now, we wait.
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