Update: Mommy, Austin & Camden

Just a very quick update to let you all know how things are with me and my boys.  Before I do that, though, thank you all so much for your concern, thoughts and prayers since my most recent update last week- it has meant the world to me.

My C section ended up needing to be under general anesthesia as I could not have an epidural due to my low platelets.  I had gone in to see my doctor on Tuesday the 3rd and it was then that we discovered I had severe pre eclampsia- my blood pressure was extremely high and I had  4+ protein in my urine.  For the next 24 hrs before the C section, I was told that I had to be on bedrest and was given the evil drug via IV, Magnesium Sulfate (to lower the chance of seizures), which was more than horrible (as so many of you know)!  It was then when I realized I had only one option: A C section underal general anesthesia.  There was no confirmation of any sort as to how long or short induction would take and given I would have had to have been on the Mag for the entire time pre-delivery, I knew there was no way... No other option... These boys would come into the world, really, with neither me nor their father being present.  Ouch.  That is still hard to process.  Additionally, I knew that I would have to be on the Mag again for 24 hrs after the C section, which would result in me not being able to see my babies for a full day/24 hours post delivery- regardless of what decision I made.

After the delivery, I had severe hemorrhaging and lost a lot of blood, which lead to me needing to have blood transfusions. Then I developed an ileus – when your intestines are paralyzed -  and could not eat anything, but only drink clear liquids. Thankfully, that has slowly gotten a little better.  I am now on 2 different Blood Pressure medications and am hoping that those are what I needed to kick start my recovery into high gear.  I am looking at a possible discharge date of as soon as tomorrow.  The boys may be staying put, however, for a few more weeks.

I never knew such love existed until I met Austin George and Camden Frank.  I never realized how there had always been two huge puzzle pieces missing from my heart that have now been so perfectly filled-in by these two little miracle boys. 

My New Address

Wow, my how things can change SO quickly.  I am currently residing at a hospital in downtown Boston.  I had come in yesterday for a last minute OB appointment and boy am I glad I did!  After my appointment with the Hematologist last week, it was decided that I would sneak in an extra OB appointment this week just to monitor my BP, which had for whatever reason, registered high (for me) in the Hematologist's office.  So, in I went yesterday afternoon and I'm still here this morning... And I will probably still be here until I officially become a mom.

My BP was elevated yesterday, but more concerning was the amount of protein that was measured in my urine.  Apparently they normally see someone with amounts in the 0-point-something range.  Mine?  Mine came back at NINE-POINT-SOMETHING!  So with that, my OB sent me to Triage in Labor and Delivery and after several hours of monitoring I was admitted to the hospital.  I had the first of the two beta methasone injections to promote the babies' lung development and I will have the second tonight.  

I slept horribly last night, which I suppose is to be expected.  All sorts of emotions are running through my heart and mind right now.  I know I'm in the best place possible for me and the babies right now, but it's still just very overwhelming.  Thank The Lord, my miracle babies are doing great, it's more Mommy's body that seems to be shutting down.  I've been reassured that nothing I did or didn't do could have caused this, but it's impossible for your mind not to wander there...

I'm praying that I can be kept safe for as long as possible so that these sweet boys can continue to grow and develop.

I will update as much and as soon as I'm able.  In the meantime, please hold us in your prayers.  

UPDATE: the thought now is that I do not  have ITP.  Rather, the doctors feel that my low platelet count is a sign of pre-eclampsia.  Thus, the goal at this point is to make it 24 hours from tonight when I have my last beta methasone injection and then schedule a possible induction for tomorrow night or Friday morning.  Everything is being played by ear at this point... We won't know until we know, which has this Type A, over emotional Mama on pins and needles.  It's highly unlikely, that even with the daily steroids, my platelets will increase enough for me to have an epidural.  So, vaginal without a spinal is what we are shooting for (God help me) with the understanding that should I need a c-section, I will be in an OR ready for general anesthesia at a moment's notice.  I can't even BEGIN to process this...

Babies Bump and 32 Week Update

32 Weeks Looks Like This:

How far along:  The above picture was taken at 32 weeks and 3 days. 

Total weight gain?  I'm still up 42lbs and boy oh boy am I feeling that extra weight!

Maternity clothes?  YES!

Stretch marks?  Still none.... yay!

Sleep:  I still have the blocked nostril issue.  But once I've fallen asleep, it's wonderful... Until I wake up for the every two hours bathroom breaks :)

Best moment this week:  I'm officially on leave from work and that has by far been the best moment of this 32nd week!  I had been plugging away just fine with my job.  I'm lucky in that, aside from client meetings, I get to work from home (which, lets face it, since finding out I was pregnant I would work from my couch rather than from my home office!).  My job, however, comes with a lot of stress.  And I'm not a very laid back person so the normal stress turns into uber-stress for someone like me.  Anyhow, over the past couple of weeks I've really been feeling the stress in other ways, i.e. my severe cramping.  I started noticing the cramping while driving to meetings, while presenting at meetings and while rushing home to my computer to answer all of the e-mails that had come in while I was out of the office.  I mentioned this to my doctor and she said she'd support what I thought was best.  At that time, I figured I could get through the next two weeks, at least, and then re-visit the work situation at my next appointment.  Well, that was until I received a phone call about a platelet issue that I have.  I had my blood drawn at a recent appointment for a total blood count.  The last time I had this done was for my gestational diabetes screening and at that time, my platelet number came back just a little lower than what's considered the normal range (the lowest end of the normal range is 150 and mine came back at 140).  Because of this, it was decided that I would have them re-checked.  Well, this time, my platelet count came back at 61.  So, with that, I was referred to a Hematologist.  In speaking with my OB and also the Hematologist, with whom I met on Thursday, I learned that the problem with this low platelet issue is that should I need to have a C-section (which is very possible with a twin pregnancy), my platelet count would have to be at least 80 in order to have an epidural.  If my platelet count were not above 80, then I'd have to deliver the babies under general anesthesia.  If a C-section were not needed, then I'd have to deliver vaginally with no epidural what-so-ever.  I know that is something that is not impossible and if I had to do it, I guess I could.  I just always thought that an epidural is the way I'd go since becoming pregnant.  So, with all that being said, I'm now on a treatment plan to hopefully increase my platelet count to at least over 80 for my delivery date.  I'm currently taking an oral steroid tablet every morning.  I will be monitored closely in Boston so that my dosage can be increased, if necessary (the one good thing about taking the steroids is that, if the babies come early, it could help to promote their lung development).  If the steroid plan doesn't work, then another treatment would be to have the IVIg blood infusions.  Once I deliver, I'll be followed by the Hematologist to see if this was all just a fluke/symptom from a twin pregnancy, or, if I'll need to be monitored for this condition further.  Most importantly, the babies are OK.  But needless to say, with all of this extra stress, it was decided that I will no longer be working so that I can focus on myself, my babies and now also all of my extra doctor's appointments until delivery.  I can't tell you the weight that not working has already lifted from my shoulders.

Miss anything?  I really don't.  I feel like my life is as full as it has ever been.  Typing that takes my breath away because not too long ago, I never imagined true happiness being something that would present in my life ever again.  Oh my heart.  Sometimes this is all just a bit too overwhelming.  Where I came from to where I am today.  The only explanation is God.  God's hands were all over these two miracles from before they were even embryos.  They are lucky, lucky boys.

Movement:  My boys are still very active.  Their movement is visible to the naked eye and I love every second of their kicks and nudges!

Food cravings:  I think I've officially entered the stage of not even wanting to eat.  I constantly feel full because of the lack of room in my stomach and even if I do feel hungry I can't figure out what it is that I want to eat.  Add gestational diabetes into that equation and eating stinks!

Anything make you queasy or sick?  Still nothing in particular, but anything can still do the trick.  a side effect of the steroids is to have a queasy stomach, so I'm really hoping that my dosage won't have to be increased.  I've had enough of the nausea during the first four months of this pregnancy!

Gender:  LOVE my Boys!

Labor Signs:  None.  Unless you count the cramping I've been having.  At my last appointment, my cervix was still long and closed, proving that the cramping has not started any sort of dilation.  Let's hope things stay that way for at least another 4, 5 or even 6 weeks!

Symptoms:  The same…. linea nigra, some ligament pain on my left side in my hip/upper leg area, nasal congestion, restlessness, some back pain, the weird "rash" on the palm of my hands, general discomfort, sore and swollen feet, lower uterine cramping....

Belly button in or out?  In.  But I just might have an outtie soon!

Wedding rings on or off?  Off.

Looking forward to:  An upcoming week of relaxation and no work.  I have a follow up appointment with the Hematologist and I'm curious to see what a week's worth of the steroid has done (or hasn't done).

Here are some other pictures from week 32 that I want to be sure to have documented:

Ready for babies!  I made an appointment at the local fire department for a Firefighter to install both seats in my car.  While there is now absolutely no room in my back seat, I just love, love, love seeing these little infant seats every time I get in my car to go somewhere.  Totally warms my heart!

Also, I had recently bought two little going home outfits for the boys but knew I wanted to have special hats made for them, so onto Etsy I went... Shannon from Little Buttercup Baby made me these two adorable hats and they arrived this weekend.  They're perfect and are just what I was looking for (they look so big in this picture but really are so tiny)!

I laid the hats out next to their outfits and Miss Queen B(elle) had to inspect everything herself.  Luckily, she gave us her stamp of approval!