It's a Waiting Game

Well, being back in the hospital seems to be the safest and most comfortable place - for all of us. I think my last post was immediately after my perinatologist appt which was on Monday. About 7pm I started contracting fairly regularly - and they got more painful by the hour. I called my OB and he said to come on up to L&D to check things out. I was in triage for a few hours getting a series of Tributaline shots every 15 minutes which seemed to calm things down fairly well. I had a quiet night that night and then come morning on Tuesday, things started to kick up again; along with some extreme pain in my lower left flank. They did the Tributaline again (it's a series of shots every 15 minutes for an hour & then they start with pills every 4 hours). Again, it quieted things down fairly well and I am continuing on that medicine as long as it will work. Often times this medicine doesn't work for longer than 24-48 hours; if that happens, they will put me on Magnesium which is nasty - but it does the job. We just need to buy some time.

Baby A was still plugging along as of yesterday - we just pray that he keeps going a while longer for the safety of Baby B. It is inevitable that we are going to lose him so we're grieving through that now. But if we can save Baby B from being affected by his demise, that is the goal. Both Baby B & C seem to be doing well; I'm hoping for another sono today to see them again. There is no question that these little guys are fighters so I've been cheering them on lots.

As for me - we finally got the pain under control on my side - thank goodness. I've never had such pain. It appears that it was a muscle spasm in my back - probably from being on my back for the last 5 weeks; plus, the first bed I was in was horribly uncomfortable here so I've moved to a new room and a new bed (for the Longtime bedresters) where I can see sunshine all day. My nurses have been wonderful - as usual.

The current goal for us is to get to 24 weeks (next Monday) and then we'll go from there. The 24 week mark is the viability mark where the babies could survive if born. I will have the steroid shots to mature the lungs which should ultimately help them, no matter when they are born. I just heard this am from my OB that every day after the 24 week mark, there is a 6% increase in survival rate. So every day will be a blessing. My OB checked my cervix this am and found it to be tight and holding so that is always good news.

Thank you everyone for all of your thoughts and prayers. I'm not ready for visitors or phone calls quite yet - it's an emotional roller coaster at the moment and with all of the drugs that I am on, it's hard to stay awake too long. Hopefully things are leveling out a bit each day so as it becomes appropriate to have visitors, I will certainly let everyone know.

I miss being home - it's hard to be away from Chuck and my kitties but I know we are in the best place here. It's only temporary so hopefully I can hold these babies a while longer. They will have quite a journey ahead of them in NICU but this hospital has a great NICU so I know they will be in good hands here.