Bubbles
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The verdict for Dillen, after a slew of tests and xrays and hours at the doctors office, was a pulled back muscle - maybe strained. So, she was given the ALL clear (but has to take it a little bit easier)! Whew. I took her to school after the appointments yesterday and then Roxy and I went to the airport to get Sean. It was SOOOO nice to give him a big hug! Two weeks is just too long... Sean, Roxy and I all went to Dillen's school to pick her up and it was so sweet to see Dillen so excited to see her daddy. We then walked over to the Kindergarten classrooms where Sean played with Roxy on the playground while I was a volunteer mom in the Daisy Troop meeting with Dillen.
And if you think THAT is enough of a day for an 8 1/2 month pregnant gal... well the day only got even more crazy.
I started to feel, what I thought, were Braxton Hicks contractions. But by around 8:30PM, I was starting to get a little more concerned. They were strong, and coming on every 15-20 minutes and lasting about 30-45 seconds. I never had Braxton Hicks with the girls but I didn't think they were supposed to be this strong. I made a few phone calls (my mom, the neighbor, Sean's mom) and packed a bag - just in case. Around 9:00PM, I called the after-hours doctor since everything that I was reading online made it sound like I was in labor. The doctor told us to get to the hospital. Soooo... more phone calls were made and Sean and I found ourselves bolting up the 5 freeway on our way to the hospital - me in contractions every 10 minutes the whole way. And I have NEVER felt Piper so active!! It felt as though she was swimming in there. All appendages were moving like she wanted out. I could see my tummy rolling and the sensation was, well, bizarre.
When we arrived at the hospital, and as we were walking to the ER door, I had to stop and lean over because I was hit with a strong one.
How any woman goes through natural childbirth and survives is beyond me. Thank goodness for c sections!! ;)
Anyway, we checked in and headed up to Labor and Delivery. I stripped down, peed in a cup, put on the gown, was attached to heart monitors (Piper sounded so good) and waited to find out the next steps. Sean was positive Piper was coming out. He felt my tummy as I was on "hold" in the parking lot and said, "It's a done deal. She's coming out!"
Well, being 35 weeks pregnant (one day shy of 36), it's just too early. So, I was given Tributaline to stop the contractions. Not so much fun. That stuff made my hands shake and my heart race. But it did calm my uterus and made me feel somewhat normal again within a short period of time.
The on call doctor came in and said, "Well, nothing is happening in here tonight, so you are free to go!"
Yay! 2:30AM and we were walking out the door...
It's funny. As much as I have been saying "I'm done!" and "I want her out!," I am glad she is still safe inside.
And this gives Piper her story... both Dillen and Roxy had dramatic entrances into the world. Piper couldn't come without SOME drama!
Dillen fell on the playground at school yesterday and, though the office never called, they did send a note home with her at the end of the day saying she had to visit the nurse and was given an ice pack. Well, she seemed in good spirits though a little sore. Throughout the day, I would get more pieces of the story as to how it happened. She was running with her friend Alexis, tripped over a ball, landed on her rib cage and rolled into the fence and hit her back. I thought, 'Yeah, I'd probably be pretty sore, too." Still, she wanted to go to karate so we went. She was doing fine until she had to jump and then she stopped. She came out to the lobby and we put some ice on it. She wanted to go back in because she knew she was going to test for her next stripe - she was given permission by her instructor to do only what didn't hurt. She seemed alright last night but did say she was sore. So, I gave her some Tylenol pain reliever and sent her off to bed. It took a long time for her to get comfortable...
At 2AM she woke up crying and complaining that her back really hurt. Here was the call: Do I get the girls in the car and take them to the emergency room - no husband and 8 1/2 months pregnant? I evaluated Dillen by seeing what she could and could not do, listened to her breathing and had her take a few deep breaths to see if that hurt anywhere. She said the breathing didn't hurt but that she couldn't bend over and her rib was really hurting. So, I gave her some more Tylenol and held her in bed until she fell back to sleep.
I was now up. Wide awake. Worried. Checking on her every 15 minutes to see if her breathing had changed.
I also did a LOT of internet searching. Though it could be a pulled ligament, every site said to see the doctor and to take it seriously since little kids so rarely complain of back pain and it could mean more internal injuries... and if I dug even deeper into the information provided - death! Gotta love the internet.
Needless to say, I never fell back asleep.
I left messages: The absence line for school; the Daisy Troop leader (I am supposed to volunteer in the classroom today); and for Sean (who is coming home today!! and I am supposed to pick him up at the airport by 12:00).
Fortunately, when Dillen woke up, she was able to get out of bed without complaining and even got herself dressed. She is still complaining that it hurts so I am taking the girls to the doctor's office this morning.
And I am taking that note with me!! Proof this didn't even happen on my watch! I thought these sorts of things were supposed to happen to boys! ;)
I had my 35 week appointment this morning (after Roxy and I dropped Dillen off at school) and all went great! I love my OB/GYN and wouldn't trade her for the world but I am starting to dread the drive (about 45 minutes to an hour depending on which office she is in and how much traffic there is). I am delivering up in Orange County at the same hospital where both Dillen and Roxy were born. It's a wonderful place and I want a similar birth experience since my first two were so positive.
We heard Piper's heartbeat and it was strong! She also moved twice when my doctor was trying to hone in on her heart (not surprising as she moves a lot these days - mostly stretching). And my belly size is still on track. AND I haven't gained a pound since my last visit two weeks ago (perhaps it showed up this way since I hadn't yet eaten breakfast).
So. I am at 168 lbs. - I will have to gain another 15 pounds in the next three weeks to catch up to where I was with both Dillen and Roxy. But it's strange. My body is carrying differently this time. I don't see the weight gain ALL over like I did with Dillen and Roxy. My behind is definitely a bit bigger and I am puffy, but I have mostly gained it in my belly this time. My fingers (and toes, legs and eyes) are crossed that this means the weight will fall off as quickly as it did with Roxy (within 4 or 5 months)! I am determined. ;)
After Roxy and I picked up Dillen from school we went to Henry's for a quick restock - I do NOT like that place (and wonder why I ever go back). The isles are too small, the food selections are minimal and most people think you shouldn't be there for more then a small basketful of items (at least this is how I take it since I get "looks" when I get to the check out and have a cart full). It wasn't the easiest of trips to the grocery store as the girls were amped (Dillen from school and Roxy from getting her Dillen back) and I was exhausted. Ah well. I THINK I got something for dinner.
Does Calgon still exist?
Trying to survive on 3-4 hours of sleep per night; waking the girls up at 7AM; fixing breakfast (and making sure they eat it); getting both dressed with hair done; brushing their teeth; finding shoes (and matching socks); trying to find something to wear that still fits me; not forgetting the already packed lunch box in the fridge; getting them in the car and getting Dillen to school in time to play for a bit on the playground; walking Dillen to her classroom and sometimes carrying Roxy back to the car; grocery shopping; laundry (laundry and more laundry); trash; cleaning the house (vacuuming, dusting, disinfecting, etc.); gym class; karate classes; swim lessons; Room Parent meeting and responsibilities; Daisy Troop; killing 1,000 ants crawling all over the outside trash; feeding and keeping fish in both salt water tanks alive; feeding the cats and cleaning out the litter box; feeding the bearded dragon and cleaning out the terrarium; helping Dillen find the perfect item for share day; playing with Roxy; library and story time; making lunch for Roxy; trying to figure out how to handle a 2 year old that just snuck and drank half of my iced Venti vanilla latte; outdoor park play time; dealing with my facebook/Scramble addiction; answering emails; returning phone calls; booking appointments with doctors, hair stylist (!), car, etc.; updating blog; picking Dillen up from school (so chaotic and usually with Roxy asleep on my shoulder); getting through Dillen's daily 5-10 minute sobbing meltdowns; finding something to keep the girls occupied until dinnertime (crafts, reading, play, movie, whatever!); fixing dinner and making sure they eat it; finding pajamas; bath time/shower time; snuggle time and "what was your favorite part of the day" time; brushing their teeth; getting them off to bed; etc., etc., etc...
All this while Sean is gone on a business trip for two weeks and I am over 8 months pregnant.
I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...
Roxy still can't quite figure out how to say "girl." She has said "dullah" ever since she could talk. Here was a fun moment between us a little while back.
She loves to sing many songs but this one has become one of her favorites since mastering it. ;)
I am beginning to wonder if CPS is going to come knocking on our door...
On Saturday, Roxy and Dillen were playing the "let's spin in circles until we get dizzy" game and in the middle of spinning Roxy stopped suddenly and grabbed her left leg and started crying hard - crocodile tears and all. Though Sean and I were watching them (and laughing at their goofiness), neither of us saw what Roxy did. She just stopped. She didn't run into anything, she didn't fall down, nothing. So we were a little baffled. Sean went over to her and picked her up and gave her to me. She was obviously in a lot of pain saying, "It hurts!" over and over again.
I will admit that I am Mrs. Paranoid and Mrs. Let's Go To The Hospital Right Now kind of mom. I wouldn't say I am a hypochondriac, but I do worry quickly and like to seek help immediately when either of my kids is hurt. And with Roxy's Nurse's Elbow... well, I tend to worry about her even more.
But once we got Roxy to settle down a little bit (enough for her to talk), she was able to point to the main place of pain which seemed to be her hamstring on her left leg. Ah hah!! She must have pulled something (strained, sprained?). So, I got online and started Googling "toddler pulled muscle." Though rare, it does happen and most sites suggested a pain reliever and ice. Surprisingly, Roxy sat very calmly on an ice pack several times on Saturday and, not surprisingly, enjoyed taking the bubble gum flavored Tylenol.
Though she wasn't walking normally by the end of the day, she was walking. And I did massage the area a few times that day which she said felt good (it felt pretty tight).
Well...
At 4AM on Sunday, I was sitting in the rocking chair surfing the internet when Little Miss walked out to see what I was up to. Though I was horrified to see her up at such an early hour (yes, I am equally horrified that I, too, am up at such an early hour), I was happy to see her walking without a limp. She smiled and then asked for her water bottle. I told her it was on her bed so she went to go get it - RAN to go get it. I just listened to the quick patter of her feet and was relieved to hear no cries out in pain. UNFORTUNATELY, on her run back to me, she stopped mid stride, grabbed her left leg and started crying... again saying, "It hurts!!"
deep sigh
I gave her some Tylenol, put her on the ice pack and snuggled her back to sleep.
When we woke up she refused to walk. She wasn't crying but she didn't even want to try walking. So, I called our friend and neighbor who is an ER doctor at the children's hospital and she said, "Hmm. That sounds like a perfect story for a spiral fracture." NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! This means that Roxy may be in a cast and...
Sean was scheduled to leave on Monday for TWO weeks on a business trip!!
We drove Roxy to the ER and she went through a battery of tests. The nurse and doctor both agreed it wasn't broken since she was walking on it (she followed a few directions but it wasn't until she was enticed with some princess stickers that she agreed to walk a little bit). She wasn't even whimpering when she walked.
The decision was made not to xray = NO cast!!
By the time we got home, she was running, jumping and spinning again. I tried desperately to keep her calm, stable and rested but... well... we are talking about Roxy! She's a little spit-fire. I would have to tie her down to keep her from being the rambunctious self she is and I don't think CPS would think that the appropriate way of handling the situation. I would remind her NOT to run but she would stop and say, "But I'm alright! I all better!"
It's now Tuesday and all still seems well. She's a good little actress so I am having to figure out her truthfulness to her very dramatic play. Not so easy...
But thank goodness she is not in a cast. I am not sure how I would have carried her around for two weeks having just
FOUR WEEKS AND 2 1/2 DAYS LEFT TO GO!!!! :)
I am 33 weeks and 2 days today and had a check up with my doctor. Roxy came with me while Dillen was in school. It was great to hear Piper's very strong heartbeat and to be told that she has turned and is now facing down (not that this matters since we are scheduled for a c-section, but it does show that she is getting ready, too).
AND
Dr. Cvar measured my belly (laying down) and said that it is average size for where I am in the pregnancy. Take THAT all you "Huge, Big, and House" commenters! Lol. I think I just look bigger because I am 5'2" with a shorter torso. There's really just no where for my babies to go but OUT.
AND
I am right where I was weight-wise with both Dillen and Roxy.
Drat.
Here are recent comments I have received in the past 2-3 months (and I still have 5 weeks to go).
Things I wish I did NOT hear:
"Oh my God, you're a HOUSE!"
"Are you sure there's only one in there?"
"Do you think you will make it to the end?"
"She could come any day."
"Wow! You're HUUUUGE!!"
"You look like that lady did from that Jon and Kate Plus 8 show!"
"Wow. You're pregnant again?? Wasn't two enough?" (Seriously.)
"Awww. Look at you... you poor thing."
Things that have been NICE to hear:
"You look radiantly beautiful."
"6 more weeks? You're so close - on the home stretch!"
"Your belly is flawlessly pretty."
"You're all belly! I couldn't even tell you were pregnant from the back. Really!"
"You aren't even puffy! I was so puffy when I was pregnant. Your face looks completely normal."
"Hey there sexy!" (This one from my husband.)