Sleep issues

Claire hasn't been sleeping well this week.
Last night was the worst so far. She woke up at 11:20 And was up for two hours. Then she woke up again around 4. Thankfully Mark and I were able to take turns caring for her. I had high hopes for last night because she took a slightly longer nap. Usually when she naps well she sleeps well.

Today she had two naps so I think she's not quite as sleep deprived... Here's hoping.

I am very tired in spite of laying around all the time. I managed to take two naps today.

One thing I have enjoyed during these 3 weeks on bed rest is observing Claire. Most of the time she is such a sweet, charming, inquisitive, affectionate girl. I have fallen in love with her all over again. Even in her fussy demanding moments I have been able to be more patient with her since I'm not "on duty" 24/7.

She has also been very itchy the past few days. I think this is mainly because she is extra tired.

reading etc

I finished reading another book today. This is one Katie loaned me called Children in the Church Today: An Orthodox Perspective by Sister Magdalen. I found it very helpful and inspiring. I want to take some notes before returning it. I'm about 3/4 of the way through The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding.

I enjoyed watching Claire play in the sprinklers in the back yard today.

I also enjoyed flipping through some new magazines Mark's mom picke dup at the grocery store.

I did some meal planning before she came. It's been fun trying out some summer recipies from last issues of Everyday Food. I just with I could participate in the cooking.

baby growth

My appointments yesterday went well. The tests they did in the hospital all turned out to be normal. The baby grew 160 grams since last measurement. She is the size of a baby two and a half weeks younger in development. She is about 750 grams. The perinatologist said he was happy with her growth and the amniotic fluid around the baby.

Short hospital stay

What a roller coaster Friday was!

I spent most of Friday in the hospital being monitored and tested. I went to the OB/GYN in the am and she said I was showing a couple of possible signs of pre-eclampsia. My blood pressure was slightly higher than usual and there was protein in the urine sample I gave. The Dr. wanted me to be monitored closely to determine if these were indications of pre-eclampsia. In the hospital they put the fetal hear monitor on and took my blood pressure every 15 minutes for the first couple hours and then periodically after that. My blood pressure while in the hospital was in my normal range. I have no idea why it was slightly higher in the morning. They also started collecting a 24hour urine sample for testing. They also drew blood and sent it to the lab. Once my doctor got the results back and knew that my blood pressure was normal she sent me home. I dutifully finished the sample and my mom dropped it off at the lab today. (Mark and my mom and Claire came to visit me. I was especially comforted by Claire's sweet hugs.) I was so glad I got to spend the night at home.

I see the doctor again on Tues. Actually I'll see both the perinatologist and OB.

Good report

I went to the doctor again today and she said she is pleased with the amount of amniotic fluid and the pattern of the baby's heart rate. A good quantity of amniotic fluid shows that the placenta is producing fluid and the baby is urinating... both good signs. There are expected patterns for heart rate for various stages of fetal development and the baby is showing small fluctuations in heart rate within the expected range. The doctor said this shows the baby is still happy in the womb. I told the doctor that I'm feeling the kicks and movements of the baby getting stronger. I feel very happy about this. We are at 27 weeks now and they will measure the baby again next Tues.

Claire had a good day today, but a rough night last night. I think her tummy was bothering her or something. For two hours she couldn't seem to sleep more that 5 or 10 minutes at a stretch.

Yesterday Beth filled a shallow container in the back yard for a wading pool. Claire loves it!! It is very entertaining for me to lay in the hammock and watch and listen to her as she plays in the water. I think this is going to end up being a daily summer activity.

Claire requested a trip to the museum today, but it didn't work out with our schedule today.

Claire is enjoying having her Nanu here. She was very excited that Nanu was cooking pasta for dinner tonight. She ate it enthusiastically so we hope that "good eats leads to good sleeps."

Mark has had a hard time sleeping for several nights because his skin is bothering him so much and he's having a hard time regulating his temperature.

By the way, bed rest is going fine. I'm trying to find as much enjoyment from it as I can. I love to read and have steamed through several books and started several others. I am also enjoying looking through magazines and watching a few DVD's. I feel very blessed by the bounty of good food and other help we've received from friends at church and family. Claire continues to enjoy trips to the park and "My Gym", her physical therapy sessions and other outings. It was hard for me at first to miss out on taking her to all of these things and entrust her care to others but I'm getting used to it and Claire has been a trooper just going with the flow as far as I can tell. One thing I really miss a lot are our daily walks.

one week update

Went to the doctor today. She said the amniotic fluid level looks good and baby is growing. She put on 100 grams this week. She also recorded the baby's heart rate for a little while. She said to just keep on lying around and see the other doctor on Friday.

I did a lot of reading the last few days. Am reading Kon-Tiki by Thor Heyerdahl.

Claire was a bit fussy today. She seems to be suffering from seasonal allergies. Lots of sneezing and running nose. Highlight of the day was going to the park twice! She's having a good time with her grandpa.

I am so thankful for the support we continue to receive from family friends and our church family as well as the prayers of their friends and family who don't even know us.

I am already in contact with a couple of people from La Leche League who have experience nursing preemies and are willing to help us get started off on the right foot this time.

Just the three of us

It was nice to have a couple of days at home together.
Actually we had an outing yesterday since I had a doctor's appointment. The doctor said the flow through the umbilical cord looks a little better than it did on Tuesday, so the baby's blood pressure is improved.
Claire had a fun-filled day today. She got to play in the rice box first thing this morning. We all went to the park and I laid on a lounge chair while Claire and Mark played. Claire also had a good long nap then read books with me. Next she did finger painting outside with Mark. Then she came in and we played with playdough. Now she is eating dinner.

bedrest day 2

Today went pretty well. Joy and Aidan hung out with Claire. She had her first major outing without her parents. She went across town with them for Aidan's swim lesson then went to church with them. I spent a lot of time reading and praying and I watched a documentary on the birth of commercial space flight about the team in the Mojave desert that won the X- prize in 2004.

Time passes more slowly when laying in solitude. I can't say I felt bored...just tired of being horizontal.

littlest B says, "Mommy rest!"

We've taken to referring to Claire's sister-in-the-womb as "the littlest B," since Claire is "little B."

This morning at the doctor's office, the ultrasound results showed that the baby's growth has slowed down. She is two and a half weeks behind schedule. This is due to the placenta not delivering consistent nutrition and oxygen. They think that some of the veins or arteries in the placenta may be restricted, which makes it more difficult for the baby's heart to pump enough blood through. This is the same problem that caused Claire to be born early and underweight. But they want to monitor the situation even closer this time, so even if the delivery has to happen sooner than Claire's 31 weeks, it might be better.
Jen is now on bedrest at 24.5 weeks into the pregnancy. The Perinatologist hopes the baby will be able to stay in til 30 weeks.
More later.
Please pray.