Hey everyone ... it's Joe here. Some of you may know already but for those of you who don't know, here goes. Last night we had the opportunity of spending a night in the premier Zeeland Hotel--aka Zeeland Hospital. Last Wednesday Mere was checked and was not dilated. However, on Thursday and Friday she noticed an increase in the number and the level of contractions. She was debating calling the dr. since only a few days earlier she wasn't dilated at all (just starting starting to thin and still a "fingertip" cervix) and since I was supposed to be leaving shortly for my brother's bachelor party in Chicago (and she didn't want to ruin it). The dr. on call told us we should come in and get checked when we got a chance sometime that weekend. (switched to Mere now) So Joe still packed for his Chicago party weekend, gave the Chicago hotel info and directions to Steve, but thought there was a good chance that he could quick go to the hospital with me and then be on his way to Chicago to meet up with the guys just a little bit late. Wishful thinking that was! We dropped Elv and Lay off at Em and Mike's (threw in pj's just in case). Then once we got to the hospital they hooked me up to monitors and I was having a contraction every 1-4 minutes. Then the nurse checked me and I was at a 1.5 and 30% effaced. So apparently things had changed in those few days! They tried giving me a couple shots of Terbultaline, but it didn't help the contractions--just made mine and RV's heart rates go up and made me super jittery and hot. So that meant it was time for "the mag" as it's often so lovingly called to those that have been on it (magnesium sulfate). I'm not sure if the dose was lower, if it just affected me differently this time for some reason or if having it before prepared me for the worse, but it didn't seem as bad! I was sick as usual, super hot, wobbly and had a headache--but totally manageable! Maybe it was also that I was only it from yesterday afternoon and they are just slowing it down now. They're now trying me on Procardia (a pill) and if that helps keep the contractions further apart and not as strong, then I can go home this afternoon! The dr. checked me this morning and said I'm still at 1.5 dilated and like 40% effaced. That was the same as last night. Oh, and he did a quick u/s last night too and RV's head is down which is good and there's still fluid b/w him and my cervix which means he hasn't dropped to the birthing canal (obviously good). Joe missed the u/s, so he missed seeing his cute little bod:). Joe has been able to finally understand how much RV moves now that he can hear it on the monitor!
Of course I'll be on strict bedrest once home (still on Procardia and only getting up to go to the bathroom and such) which will be a challenge finding help with Layla--but if it helps RV stay in for awhile yet, then it's worth it! I'm 29 weeks and 1 day today--so another 2 weeks and a day would put us at where we were when Layla was born. I have now had both doses of Betamethazone (to help develop his lungs)--that ideally should be in you for at least 48 hours prior to delivery (but he didn't give it to me sooner b/c the effects of it start to wear off when you get to 4 weeks after it). He also put me on antibiotics for strep B (since we won't get those results back for a couple days and another antibiotic for another infection that can lead to preterm delivery--both he is giving just to be proactive in case they are needed and since they do no harm. Well, I think that's all for now! We thank the Lord that we've made it to 29 weeks and 1 day but are boldly asking God for even more days! Every day/week is so crucial for tiny babies! We ask that you pray for many more days/weeks in utero and for a healthy baby boy once he is born!!
