Wednesday, May 16, seemed like every other end-of-pregnancy day. With one difference. Our kind neighbor Maureen had come over to offer me a couple of hours of SLEEP. I toddled off to bed with a smile on my face, knowing that not only was I off-duty for a few hours, but she was also CLEANING MY BASEMENT!

I slept about twenty minutes, and as usual woke up needing to change positions. I got comfy again, and in a very few minutes woke up with an odd “stitch” in my side. I changed positions again, and figured I was just pulling a muscle the wrong way. However it became stronger very quickly, and in a very short time I was in so much consistent pain, I began vomiting.

I called Greg, and he rushed to drop off his student, make some calls to arrange for the remainder of his run, and headed for home. His cue was that I was vomiting. I don’t vomit easily. I can have stomach flu and never throw up!

Initially we were thinking I might be dealing with back labor, however, it was not coming and going as contractions do.

We headed straight for emergency, and I just closed my eyes, and prayed. I was hurting so bad, and vomiting several times on the trip in, I knew something was up, but it sure didn’t feel like labor as I’ve known.

I wasn’t in Labor and Delivery very long til I was hooked up with an IV and my obgyn had made an appearance. He agreed with my assessment that this didn’t seem like labor. His suspicion was renal colic - or kidney stones. Once they got the pain under control enough that I was able to give a urine sample, it was verified that there was blood in the urine, and I began to be treated for renal colic.

Being nine months pregnant, there wasn’t much to be done for me at that point except manage the pain. The goal was to have me pain-free for more than six hours, and perhaps I could go home. Over the next three and a half days, I was able to go without meds twice, once for eight hours, and once for twelve.

The first night I passed what we think was my first stone. A very tiny thing, it was. Hard to believe something that small could cause that much pain.

Early in the morning on May 19, Saturday, it hit again, hard. Nothing they gave me helped. I ended up spending my day laying on my right side, with not even enough energy to turn over and switch hips with each injection. I had to get up and go to the bathroom every so often, which took every ounce of energy and motivation within me. I wasn’t able to eat, and forced myself to drink, only because I knew this would be helpful.

Finally after trying several different medications, all administered either through IV, or shots in the hip, we went back to demerol, and FINALLY, mercifully, I had some relief. Though it didn’t take it away completely I could deal with it. And wouldn’t you know, five minutes into the relief, my water broke. On my due date. After four days of renal colic.

I didn’t think I had it in me to labor. Even though I tend to have short labors, the pain was not completely gone, and I was spent after the past four days.

The obgyn on call and I discussed my options. I have a successful vbac, so it wasn’t totally out of the question. And she did offer that I could have an epidural, though she couldn’t guarantee it would relieve the flank pain related to my kidney issues.

She decided to assess me via an internal exam, to see where I was at with dilation. My previous appointment that week had me between 2&1/2 and 3 cm. She assessed me at between 3 and 4 cm. Which was encouraging as I hadn’t at that point even started having painful contractions.

Not wanting to make a rash decision on a vbac versus caesarian, knowing the recovery time for a section is much more difficult, I was faced with a difficult choice.

However this internal exam determined the outcome. Baby was full-face presentation. There was no option. OR staff were called up. An hour and a half after making the call for a c-section, I was in the OR, having painful contractions, and receiving my spinal block. Though the dr. was unsure as to whether this would also block out the flank pain, it did completely block that pain as well. I was sooooo happy to finally be pain-free.

This section was different in that I hadn’t labored for nearly a day before receiving it. I was much more aware of what was going on, and there was a light-hearted mood in the OR, which was nice. I had such a great team!

Baby was delivered, finally. Damara Greer Edwards, made her appearance, ON THE EDD, at 10lbs.4oz. Because she was full-face presentation, she had quite a bit of trauma and stress from her shoulders and up. She wouldn’t keep breathing on her own, and was having difficulty swallowing. She ended up going to NICU, where she spent her first three days. That was very difficult for me, as I couldn’t see her until I was able to walk to her. It was over fifteen hours by the time I finally got to hold my Baby Girl.

So, is the saga over? Why, of course not! Thinking Wednesday or Thursday would be our target date for leaving the hospital, I was focusing on getting into a good routine nursing, and getting lots of sleep. Pain-free. After delivery, and the spinal wore off, my renal colic was gone. We thought that because of some of the concerns over Damara, that she might struggle to nurse, but that was not so. She’s a fantastic nurser!

I had company Tuesday night, and after a busy day of feeding, feeding and more feeding, I thought I had sat in the same position too long. I had a familiar feeling returning to my left side/back again, and I was in denial for the first several hours that it was anything except a pulled muscle. By Wednesday morning, there was no denying, the renal colic had flared up again. The nurse and both of my dr’s made their rounds at the same time, and happened upon a very distressed mommy, failing miserably at her attempt not to cry in front of everyone. Within a half-hour of re-assessing me, I was on my way for a cat scan to determine if and where the stone was.

Around three that afternoon, an urologist, Dr. Feero, came to explain to me more about the stone of which I was informed shortly after the cat scan. I did indeed have a stone. Approximately 7-8 cm, lodged 1/3 of the way down the ureter (tube from kidney to bladder). I would be on my way to surgery in about a half hour. They put me to sleep, and using a telescope and a laser, blasted the stone. I was of course, unable to nurse through the night, though the anasthetic was not an issue. I just was unable to fight my way through the fog of the exhaustion of it all. By morning, they did bring the Baby into me to nurse, and though I didn’t know if I could do it, and was concerned that 15 hrs. on bottles and formula may have messed things up for us, she did great.

I had to have a stent left in, which we were hoping to not have to do. It means another appointment, and minor invasive surgery to get it out, but contrary to what I was initially told, I will not go to sleep again. The stone was a “difficult” one, this from Dr. Feero, who before surgery said it should only take a half-hour, and then ended up working on it for over an hour.

I was falling apart before the surgery, because it just all was overwhelming me. The time away from my family, the pain that I had endured, the concern over Damara’s well-being, a section instead of natural delivery, and then to top it off, Wednesday was our ninth anniversary. When they made me remove my nail polish, my mother’s day gift (pedicure), I lost it. Everyone was so kind to me, and of course that made me cry harder.

However, yesterday at supper, Greg and the kids came to retrieve me, and we are home. I go in tomorrow morning to have the stent removed, and then I think it’s safe to say we’re DONE and we can focus on rest and recovery.

I thank God that my Baby Girl is FINE, and He kept me every step of the way. I suppose there are lessons to be learned in every situation we go through in life, and in time I may start to glean through this whole experience to see just what they are for me. For now, I am just going to cuddle my baby, love my big kids, and hold onto my husband while we all get over what was quite possibly the hardest ten days for our family so far.

Pray for me, that I will be able to just let it all go, and rest in the grace and mercy of God. It’s been difficult and traumatic, and not at all how you expect circumstances to be as you welcome a new life into your home.

Hello, Ladies. Am I ever being spoiled! I guess I need to stop whining and complaining about some of the tough times in my life, and just soak up these times when I am cherished and pampered.

Today Greg had made two appointments for me. One to get my hair styled - straightened - which is a treat for me and my curly/wavey/frizzy head of strands. The other was a pedicure. My first, and so nice. My feet actually were feeling pretty lousy after sitting in the hairdresser’s chair, so to go and have them soaked, and massaged, and cared for afterwards was soooo nice. I have a very bright pink polish now, and a sparkly top-coat - wow, do I feel girly!

It’s such fun to let go of the responsibilities of children, even for a couple of nights, and just hang out with my beloved. He is so sweet to me, and makes me feel so cherished. I am truly blessed.

We found out a fun tidbit from our ultrasound yesterday, but we are not revealing until Baby arrives. Let’s just say we know what we are NOT naming this baby!
So, in celebration of Mother’s Day, as well as our anniversary next week, I will enjoy the indulging and pampering. I wish I could do it for all of you as well. We moms (and I think at this point all of my six whole readers are moms) definitely do a necessary, but demanding job, and to be lavished on makes me just want to do an even better job. I highly recommend it once in a while. Try it; you’ll like it!

I had an ultrasound this morning, and the weight estimate right now is 8lbs.7oz. So not TOO bad, so long as Baby isn’t settled in for another 2&1/2 wks. like the others stayed. I’m thinking Mother’s Day would be perfect for having a baby. Can’t think of a better gift, can you?

The tech gave us some fun profile pictures, and I think Baby looks like Eliana’s profile. Of course, some would argue that all of our babies look alike, so how’s that new news?

Erin is back in town, and taking over the kids for the weekend - her offer. We’re headed off to an undisclosed location in Fredericton (close to hospital!), for a couple of nights of R & R…and hopefully Baby birthing!
It’s been gorgeous July-like weather here this week. Today is overcast, but muggy, and it’s actually nice. I don’t mind the heat and stickiness, because I know I don’t have two months of it ahead of me while hugely preggo. It was a long winter, people!

So I must get going, and get some things packed. Finishing up some laundry, and house cleaning, and then we leave after supper. Good times!

Say a prayer for me - this weekend couldn’t be more convenient!

The river has actually opened up, and there is no more snow here. I might have to change the picture to something from Wordpress, because our laptop is down, and I haven’t figured out how to get pics from my digital cam onto the old computer. Maybe I’ll get to that later today. Just so you know. Spring has actually arrived.

I’m kind of slacking, even in the boring department. I think my last post was a week ago at least.

I had another appointment yesterday. It was discouraging. There is some dilation happening, but other factors are not favorable at all, and actually similar to how Brett’s pregnancy, labor and delivery were. I’m trying to stay peaceful, and not focus on all my fears about what might happen. I don’t want a section. I don’t understand women who elect to have them without a real medical need. I’ve already had one. Believe me, it’s not fun. So Dr. A is not saying for sure a section right now, but things are looking more that way. Please pray for more dilation, for Baby to come down and engage, for my cervix to become more favorable, etc. I am supposed to be having an ultrasound. He ordered it last week, so I’m surprised I haven’t heard yet, as he requested within the week. Anyway, I’ll get less than 24 hrs. notice on going in, and they will be checking to see how big this Baby is. Of course it’s not completely accurate, but if we’re going back up above ten pounds, and approaching even eleven pounds, he just wants to schedule the OR for the weekend I’m due. May 19 is a Saturday, and it’s also a long weekend. So it would be nothing if not convenient.

Sharon and Holley blessed us with a night away last week. Greg had Friday off work, so he tucked me into bed at the Holiday Inn early Thursday afternoon, and took the kids with him for his afternoon run. I slept for 3&1/2 UNINTERRUPTED hours. It was NICE! And now Erin, recently returned from her sojourn in BC, has offered us this weekend. The WHOLE weekend! So we’re trying to decide what to do. I don’t want to go too far away from my hospital, just in case something does happen. So we’ll likely choose a B&B in Fredericton. Looking forward to it.

The weather is lovely this week so far. Cole was so pleased to be the first one donning shorts for outside play this year. They do really well playing away from the water. Normally it would be ok for them to be right on the shore, but water levels are still quite high, so there is actually no beach exposed right now.

And now it’s time for lunch. I think I’ll make french toast for the kiddies, and for me - more of my lovely mother in law’s fish chowder she made yesterday. I don’t think anyone can make it like she can! Yummy!

Had my dr’s appointment yesterday. In short, I am still high, long, and closed. If you don’t know what that means, be thankful that I withheld on more info. It means, quite simply, I’m as physically ready to have this baby as I was oh, say, five months ago! If you do, pray. I’m 37&1/2 wks., and yes, I’m starting to wish it were over. The Braxton Hicks seemed to slow down the past couple of weeks, but boy oh boy were they back in full force last night. And Baby decided to add to the fun by moving in ways that seem to be tearing my insides to shreds. It hurt, ok?

Anyway, today I’m still working away at my freezer list, and avoiding the other stuff. It’s so difficult just to bend over that I just about cry when I think about trying to do the laundry, or pick up toys, or whatever needs to be done. I went out to a homeschool meeting last night, and when I got home, my beloved had cleaned the upstairs for me. What a blessing! It’s such a joy to wake up to a clean kitching/living/dining room. Thanks, Sweetie!

It’s one o’clock, and I’m trying to muster up what I need to either get the laundry upstairs to fold, or work on our bedroom a bit more, or bake. I still have one batch of casseroles to do, but I think that will wait until tomorrow morning, and I also wanted to get some muffins and cookies in the freezer.

But since it’s one o’clock, I think what I’ll do instead is get Ellie down for her nap, ban the boys to the basement, and lay down. Yes, that seems like the most reasonable action right now, don’t you think?