Another Week Down

So another Thursday has come and gone with which I am happy to report being in a stable state once again.  Each Thursday comes with much trepidation as to what the results will be for another week.   I pray we can keep up the emotionally roller coaster as each week comes and goes.   You can say a prayer for Paul- it isn't easy trying to keep things going and understand the brain of a 2 1/2 year old.  As I type this, I have been interrupted three times for Audra to yell down the stairs telling me she loves me.  There have been many thumps and scraps but it seems she is finally in her pajamas.   Currently it is Audra 3, Paul 0 and they haven't even gotten to brushing the teeth.  Paul is handling it with grace but another prayer or two for patience, would be very helpful. :)  Most of us don't remember life as a two year old, right?  

The Facial

So from the pictures you can tell that bed rest round 2 is a little different than the first time.  Audra decided I needed a facial.  With stickers.  Needless to say, it didn't feel so great when it came time to peel off the many layers.  However, she had a great time and it helped pass the time.  I don't think I will let her paint my toes just yet.

Home Again

I am thrilled to be writing this post from home again.  Today was the first appointment I have had since my lovely time at UVA.  I was anxious to say the least.  However, it appears that this bed rest thing is working as I am finally stable.  I don't think I realized how much these appointments were beginning to wear on me.  It wasn't until I finally had some "good" news or at least stable news that I realized how much I needed to hear something positive.  Hearing bad report after bad report was starting to bring me down emotionally and I wasn't really aware of it.  So at this point the plan is to go for a weekly appointment and pray that bed rest continues to help.  As of now, I will continue to stay at home unless something drastically changes or it appears I am in active labor again.  If I were to deliver any time between now and 34 weeks, I would go to UVA.  After 34 weeks I can deliver at RMH.  So for now I am going to begin to adjust to bed rest for the next 8 weeks.  That doesn't seem so bad right?    :) 

Home

I am happy to be typing this post from home!  The last 48 hours has been a mass of moments that we don’t need to repeat.  It is hard to believe all that has taken place in the last few days.  When we went to my appointment on Monday, we were prepared for the possibility of a trip to UVA, even going as far as packing an overnight bag for the hospital. It wasn’t that Paul and I weren’t hopeful; we were just being realistic.  What we weren’t prepared for the extreme difference they saw from Thursday to Monday.   We weren’t prepared for being rushed to RMH to start a magnesium drip to stop the contractions or the ambulance ride to UVA.  The last time I was admitted to UVA, Paul drove me.  An ambulance solidified the terror of the situation in my mind, and I was frozen from emotion.  How was this happening again?  And why was it happening so quickly.  Gratefully the doctor gave me an anti-nausea medication that put me in a blissful state of sleepiness and I was able to make the ride over to Charlottesville without much awareness.  Upon arriving at UVA, I was immediately welcomed into a room full of care.  There were three nurses in the room and in my semi-conscious state I truly felt a peace.  They were calm, controlled and working as a team.  To Jessica, Liz, Claire, Eboni, and Emily- you completely blessed me with your care.

Once the chaos of  the day came to a close, my body went into a quiet rest.  The doctors literally observed me for 48 hours to find that my body had finally slowed down.  After many conference calls with my doctors here, it was decided that I could come back home and continue the strict bed rest here at home.  Being so successful at home last time helped seal the deal.  I will continue to be closely monitored by my doctors here and if anything changes again we will go back.  For now, I am so very happy to be home, despite the anxiety that comes with being away from constant care; we really do think this is the best. 

You have no idea how touched we are by the many prayers, cards, and words of encouragement you have sent our way.  We truly feel blessed to have such a caring community of friends.  Here is to at least 10 more weeks!      

Stable

So after a traumatizing day yesterday, I am happy to be the one typing on the blog today.  Thanks to Paul for updating yesterday as my state of mind and being was not  a great one.  I must admit that I do not need to repeat a ride over the mountain in an ambulance again.  With that in mind, the doctors have been closely monitoring me and it appears that my body is once again evening out.  The active labor signs of yesterday have slowed and so far I have not made any dramatic changes since being here. With that said, it is still a scary time.  The doctors have decided to monitor me closely for today and tomorrow.  If I continue in a quiet state, they will let me go home and I can try to complete my bed rest at home.  Thank you to everyone for your kinds words of hope whether through Facebook or phone.  They mean more to you than you will ever know.  It is nice to know that so many are praying and supporting us.  It truly makes all of the difference.  We will continue to update the blog through the next few days as well as the next few weeks.  I am very ready for January. 

UVA

I would like to briefly share of the latest step in our journey.  This disheartening step placed us over afton mountain at UVA.  As always we are uncertain of what may come and would greatly appreciate your prayers as we walk through this fearful time.  More updates will follow when more information is known.
Please pray for peace of mind and stability....

Preparing

Part I-Current Update
I have slowly been preparing myself for another journey on the couch.  The last few appointments have brought me to think a stay off of bed rest was a possibility.  However, after yesterdays appointment I am simply happy to be home on my couch. As of now, I am at home for a four day, very strict, bed rest.  I will go back to the doctor on Tuesday and if things have not settled down I will be admitted to UVA.  We are asking that you join us in prayer that my body would just settle into a period of rest.  Obviously UVA is the last place I want to go, but as of now I acknowledge and recognize that if that is best for keeping this baby as long as I can than I will.  The only reason I am not at UVA is the fact that I am exactly where I was with Audra at this week and my doctor along with doctors at UVA feel I can try to calm it down at home.  AND I have an incredible doctor!  So with intense monitoring here at home, some crazy drugs and rest, we are hoping to just enter the same resting, stable period I had with Audra.  My current prayer is that I will be given the strength to face what ever lies ahead.  I just need to get through the next few weeks and I think I will be more calm.  

Part II- What's really Alicia's problem? :) 
Some of you have been asking just exactly puts me on bed rest.  Below is a brief summary of what puts me on bed rest.  However, I realize this is a "delicate" subject and some of you would just rather not know. :)  So read at your risk. :)  Seriously, feel no need to read on if you don't feel comfortable knowing the intimate details of a woman in pregnancy. 

As many of you know, the woman is a unique and mysterious creature.  A man can live with a woman for years and live his whole life in awe of what makes us a woman.  I don't think that Paul knew he would have half of the conversations we have about things including words like dilation, cervical length and effacement.  :)  Poor guy- he is even a nurse.  So each woman has a cervix and as a woman's pregnancy progresses her cervix will shorten in preparation for delivery.  However, that shortening should not happen until the last month or so.  An average woman has a cervical length of 3 cm.  This is considered "normal".  In the case of cervical incompetency, a woman's cervix does not adhere to the natural patterns of pregnancy.  This is my case.  I started out with a cervical length of 3 cm, but as of yesterday I now have a cervical length of 1.2 cm.  This is also the reason I have a lovely thing called a cerclage. It is basically a high powered stitch that holds the baby in until a time the stitch can be removed and the baby can come at a safe time.  I am currently 24 weeks and 5 days.  I got steroid shots yesterday for the baby's lungs.  I just need to get through the next few weeks.  

Bed Rest Round Two

So it seems that we are beginning yet another journey of bed rest. Please feel free to check back from time to time for updates, stories, forgotten stories and new designs. :) I have lots of ideas to keep me busy so hopefully something creative will come out of this time on the couch.