A change of plans.

John and I went to our regular OB appointment on Tuesday, we had our fluid check (all good) our exam (all good) and talked to the doctor about setting the c-section date for August 19, 2011.  We all decided that date worked well for us and John and I happily tripped home talking of plans of getting to Flagstaff to see Mary Ann, Sean and baby Mason (when he comes), birthday plans for Noah, John getting off ER orientation before the baby comes, finishing up projects around the house and dinner dates and movies we wanted to see.  I even (secretly) thought I would ramp up my activity level a little more, take Noah more places, get out to see friends, go to play dates, take him to lunch, hey I am doing fine, the contractions are not bothering Grant, but why not try to do a little bit more everything seemed fine.  

So we went home had nice lunch out with Noah and a lovely afternoon in the pool.  I left my cell phone inside and when we came in, I had two missed calls from the doctor.  I didn't think anything of it, they were most likely trying to schedule the c-section date and wanted me to confirm before someone else took the date (it can get cut throat for those dates).  So I called back and received a very different message.  One of the swab test that they had taken during the exam for fetal fibronectin or ffn came back positive and I had to go on complete bed rest immediately.  Bed rest meaning I am in bed or on the couch, except when I have to go to the bathroom or shower, I get two trips up and down the stairs a day and I can go in the car to go to doctors visits and that is it.  They said they hoped they could get me to 35 weeks and I will have bi-weekly ultrasounds, stress tests, doctors visits and various other pokes, prods and other fun invasive experiences.  

Needless to say it was a shock.  That was last Tuesday and I was 33 weeks and 4 days and we have been doing this for almost a week now.  I consider every day a gift from God.  Yesterday, I was 34 weeks.   Someone told me that every day you can keep the baby inside equals four less days in the neonatal unit, so at the end of each day I say a thank you prayer to God and we keep on going. We are trying to keep things normal (as normal as we can) for Noah, John, my mom, dad, babysitters and friends have been amazing.  I have not told everyone yet as I am trying to always be upbeat with the message and I don't always feel upbeat.  We will just keep on taking it one day at a time and praying.  Our next visit to the doctor is Tuesday and we have a full growth ultrasound and stress test which will tell us how big Grant is. I am hoping for 3 pounds 8 oz, John is hoping for 4 pounds, any weight gain would be wonderful, we are hopeful for good news.  

We are trying to stay light hearted about the whole thing.  The new family joke is who is going to be born first Grant or Mason.  Mary Ann can go any day so we always joke that they are trying to race each other out so they can play.  Sometimes it helps to laugh about these things.  I know he will be fine if he is born early, I just want to give him as much time as my body will allow him, so he can be with us at home and not in the neonatal unit.  We stay hopeful and say lots of prayers and know that it is in God's hands and he will be with us and give us strength to do whatever we need to do.

June 27, 2011: A picture of Grant at 32 weeks 2 days.