Day Two: 23 weeks and 1 day

Day Two: 23 weeks and 1 day.

It was weird waking up this morning in a hospital bed and it's very difficult to be on this side of things. I had a rough start to the morning as I started to spot blood. I felt an overwhelming aloneness as I was in fact alone. Tears started flowing as I told Bill to come as quickly as possible because I needed his support. There will be many days like this but the unknown is always scary.

Thankful for the wonderful nursing staff who told me that "spotting" happens and it could mean cervical changes or nothing at all. IV antibiotics continued today, second dose of steroids was given and I'm on bedrest. No shower privileges or wheel chair privileges at this time. Talked to neonatologist today and she gave us our outcomes at St. David's and what to expect if we delivered in the next couple of days. Every day we stay pregnant our chances of survival go up 3%!

Rachel and Charles drove down late Friday night to help Bill with the kids this weekend. They got a stomach bug so they weren't able to visit with me on Saturday but Bill brought Emma down to help decorate my room and bring some items. Rachel made me daily hospital bags with all sorts of goodies in them. I didn't want to start my Day 1 bag until I made it to the hospital. So today Emma and I got to open our first bag together. We had fun!

Word of Encouragement:

For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

            Jeremiah 29:11

Day One: 23 weeks and 0 days-Admission day to St. David's Women's Center of Texas

Friday September 4th 2015

St. David's Women's Center of Texas

It was a slow start Friday morning for me knowing that I was leaving our home, my babies and my husband for an unknown time. It was a blessed day knowing we had made it to 23 weeks with ruptured amniotic fluid and we were going to give this baby girl a chance at life. I still struggled with leaving my family. The night before was bittersweet, I cried with Emma and she brushed away my tears. My four year old daughter was so strong for me and reminded me that daddy said, "we would visit you lots in the hospital". We left for the hospital an hour late...

I think Emma grasped the idea that I wasn't coming home once we arrived at the hospital but Trey is to young. We arrived and after some confusion I was admitted to the Antepartum unit room 13.  IV's were started, IM steroid were given to help with lung development, IV ampicillin and oral Azithromycin to help prevent infections and blood drawn. Pelvic exam was down again and everything looked good. Another ultrasound was down and baby looked happy and health but my AFI was down again to 1.3. It was a pretty hectic day as we spoke to the MFM, hospitalist, nurses and having both kids there.

Note: When we first arrived we were put in a small observation room and Emma informed Bill and I that it wasn't going to be big enough and there was no room for decorating...I just love her! Trey pushed the call button 3 times, broke the bed, found the red code button, pulled a part out of my mini refrigerator and ran down the hall screaming....I'll miss that crazy boy!

Emma told me I was strong.

 My handsome man Friday morning 

Emma cuddling in my new room

To my family and friends

Every day is hard and I appreciate all the prayers, messages, calls and texts.

I have found this journey to be extremely emotional and very draining not only for myself but also for Bill. Its been very difficult for me to talk on the phone or really discuss at all what is going on. It doesn't feel real at times.

As I would love to hear all my friends and families love and support over the phone I keep finding myself crying and unable to talk about it. Being able to text daily updates and write this blog has been very therapeutic for me.

We Pray every day for Abby Rose to get bigger and stronger...

Back to Austin

September 1st, 2015 

The drive was great. Bill got us home safely and kids pretty much slept the whole time. A blessing in it's self. Weird coming home to our house with no dogs but I was happy to be home. 

Mark and Cara were driving behind us to help Bill and I make it to Friday. Bill and I decided it was best for him to finish his work week as long as we had help as we both knew a lot of unexpected days were ahead of us. I was so thankful for all their help. Cara and Mark cleaned, cooked, took care of the  kids and even took Trey to his doctor's appointment. Where Trey is finally getting bigger. No more weight checks or concerns on his growth. Such great news for this momma. 

Next few days I rested, drank a lot of water and I prayed for Friday morning to come. I had no fever or contractions. 

Good Morning Dallas

September 1st, 2015

It was a late night arriving into Dallas but we were happily greeted by Mark at 2 in the morning. Cara and Mark were so kind and let us stay in their master bedroom AND let me tell you how comfortable their bed was after spending 3 nights in a hospital bed.

Not a lot of sleep but I was so happy to see my babies in the morning. It was so nice knowing that while I was in the hospital in Omaha my kids were so well taken care of, safe, happy and being loved on by all our wonderful family.

We didn't stay long in Dallas as Bill and I decided it was best for us to get back to Austin as soon as possible just in case something came up. We were all tired, emotional but fever and contraction free. We just had to make it till Friday to give this little girl a chance.

See ya later Omaha

August 31st, 2015

Another positive day. We got news that we may be able to leave Omaha today after seeing the MFM. We were scheduled for an ultra sound of baby before meeting with the specialist to talk about options and progress.

I was nervous for the ultra sound as I had lost a lot of amniotic fluid on Saturday and Sunday. We were informed that it is a good thing that the fluid continues to come as this is a positive sign that baby's kidneys are working well and reproducing amniotic fluid. Even a little amniotic fluid can help the baby develop their lungs. A lot of complications with low amniotic fluid but we are most concerned with infection, onset of labor and stress on baby. 

Ultrasound went well. Heart rate was in the 150's, baby was practice breathing, measuring right on due date, 1 lb 2 oz, happy and healthy. AFI had dropped to a 4 and it looked like baby was completely squished. We had decided before the ultra sound that we would find out the sex of the baby. I was over joyed to find out that my tiny dancer was GIRL! Girls statistically mature faster than boys and have better outcomes. We truly felt like a prayer had been answered. My brother had told me, "if she is anything like you, then she is sure a fighter".

MFM was happy with what she saw and was very positive for us. She suggested that we start on IM progesterone shots which can delay early labor. It has statistically not shown to be positive nor negative with PROM. However, she said she would do it if she ruptures at 23 weeks, can't hurt and it has the ability to relax the uterus and reproduce the mucus plug which can help decrease infection. So  why not! Man oh Man did that IM shot hurt though-pure maple syrup in a syringe.

Bill organized a rental car and we started our long drive to Dallas, TX that evening to pick up the kids before leaving for Austin. A 10 hour drive that ended at 2:30am with safe arrival to Cara and Mark's new house. Thank goodness my husband loves to drive and is safe on the road. Another blessing in the books.

I was so happy to get to Dallas to see my precious babies but was bittersweet to leave my mom in Omaha. She was grieving the loss of her mother and I felt that I wasn't their for her in that difficult time. She was by my side the whole weekend and I love her so much for that. She was an amazing nurse to me and mom!

Kids having a fun time with family in Dallas!

Bill arrived in Omaha!

Sunday August 30th, 2015

Sunday was a new day, a blessed day AND Bill arrived. I was so happy and relieved to have him by my side. He truly is my rock, best friend and I love him so much. We also got some more positive news today from the doctors. It seemed that making it past the first 24 hours was a huge accomplishment. My mom and I agreed that today was a happier day. We still knew their was a long journey ahead but today was a day of research, how we would get home and where I would go when we got home.

Bill was being a great patient.

Doctor's advised us to drive as their was no research showing the effects of the airplanes barometric pressure on the uterus at such an early stage.

Kids were in good hands with wonderful family. Seriously couldn't have done this without them.