Trying to keep the spirits up

Well yes, boring is good I suppose. But today, it’s really getting to me. It’s a beautiful day outside and my doctor wrote an order for me to go for a “wheelchair ride” and sit outside for 20 minutes. But I’m too scared. As much as I would like a breath of fresh air – at what expense? I wish I had more guts; but I’ll never forgive myself if bumping along in a wheelchair sent me into labor. Plus, I feel silly riding down there in a hospital gown; with these silly socks on. I dunno, maybe I’ll try it later this week if things continue to go well. I’m sure it would lift my spirits a bit but I’m a chicken.

So, for now, just trying to busy myself for the day. Not too much on tv on Sunday’s – especially in the summer. But kinda looking forward to the Redskins game tonight. Can you believe it’s football season already? Boy, the time has really alluded me.

I was getting ready to do my physical therapy exercises and I dropped the list of exercises and it went under my bed. Darn it. Have to wait until someone comes back in to get it for me. Physical therapy has been really great – they gave me about 10 exercises to do each day and they have really helped me to keep some of my strength up. I have a breathing spirometer which I am supposed to use several times per day which keeps my lung capacity up. It’s this tube that you inhale into to make a little lever thingy go up as far as you can. Darn thing looks easy but it’s a challenge! I finally this weekend got back up to the level I was on when I first came here. That magnesium really set me back like 2 weeks. Amazing how the body fatigues by doing nothing!

I also get a free massage twice per week. It’s just 10 minutes or so but wow, does it feel good. My body hasn’t really been too sore but occasionally I get that little crick in my neck or back from typing on my computer while lying down and it feels good to get it worked out. Monday’s and Thursdays I have that to look forward to!

For some reason, the L&D dept here has been slammed over the last 2 weeks. It’s uncanny how many babies are being born here! It’s kinda funny too because it wasn’t like we had a big snow storm or anything back in Dec/January when all of these babies were conceived. The only reason I bring it up is that all of my nurses are saying how burned out they are getting. Being an antepartum patient (that’s what they call us gals that are here trying to keep the babies in a bit longer), we don’t need too much attention so I only really see my nurses a few times a day. That is a good thing – but it gets lonely if nobody else is visiting at the time. I’ve enjoyed so many of the nurses over the last 2 weeks and it’s been fun getting to know them. They are just extra busy these days so they pop in for a second or two to check in and that’s about it. I get meds at 10 & 12 during the day and at 6, 10 and 12 pm during the night. Other than that, they put me on the contraction monitor for 30 minutes per shift and that is the extent of my care at the moment. Hopefully we’ll be able to hold this regimen for a while longer.

Tomorrow we hit 26 weeks – into the start of our 27th week – only 14 more days until 28 weeks! Until tomorrow...