Still here..

    I'm still here at the hospital on bed-rest. My OB came by just moments ago. No contractions, lots of baby movement, vitals good. She said she'd see me tomorrow morning.
I've been watching a lot of HGTV and an occasional football game. There is a lot of junk on TV these days! I'm a really good bed-rest patient! Not too restless, but I know I'll be glad to be back home eventually.
    Thomas and Sean headed out to my in-law's land with his family yesterday and spent the night out there. I'm sure Sean had lots of fun with his cousins.
    Today Baylor is playing Tech so hopefully Thomas and I can watch the game together here.
Our dear friend Brandi is rapidly declining in health. We are still persistently praying for miraculous healing. Please join me in crying out for her healing.

33 weeks with Baby No.3

    Wednesday morning I had my 33week appointment. I'm so grateful I've made it this far! Upon examination my doc found I was dilated to 2-3 cm and 50% effaced. She initially said go back home and continue strict bed rest. I asked why I was being sent home even with being dilated, because with Kayla I was dialed a little, not feeling contractions but was sent straight to L&D. She said I was primarily sent to L&D so I could get a steroid shot to progress baby's lung development. But with this baby I already had that shot. Thhheeeennn, my doctor started to think....she decided it'd be best to monitor me over night in the hospital. Not in L&D but just on the floor (postpartum side). So, to the hospital I went. I didn't get into a gown, didn't get any monitors hooked up, just sat in bed and watched TV.
    The nurses took my vitals every few hours and also checked baby fox's heart rate. My friend Jill visited and brought me a vanilla DP and fried pickles! Thankful for friends treating me and taking time to say hi! Thomas spent the night while my mom stayed home with the kids. I'm thankful she has these days off to help us out.
This morning (Thursday) Dr. W came in and asked if I had been having any contractions.
Nope, I said.
She told me to be honest and asked if I was getting more bed rest here than at home.
Yes, I said.
She is having me stay here.... through the weekend. Definitely not what I want but is probably what I need, what baby needs. I can stay more motionless here and keep pressure off cervix. And I'm obviously super close to L&D. I could tell she felt bad but knew it was best. Hey she's here on Thanksgiving too! Thankful for medical staff working today!
As soon as she left the room I cried. Mostly because the thought of staying here away from Sean and Kayla made me sad. They can come visit but a 3 yr old and 15mth old don't last long in such a confined space. Thomas hugged me and said we can bring kids up here. So, I had my pity party and felt bad for myself. Then quickly remembered there are people in the hospital for months on end away from their family and they're in pain! I'm not in pain. Then I felt bad for not visiting my dad more when he was in the hospital with cancer and he was in the hospital a lot. And I remembered I am not doing this (bed-rest) for myself but for baby Fox. As my friend Allison pointed out every day in the womb buys a few days out of NICU, and saves $$ too. Thankful for encouraging friends that love me!
And I remembered my friend Brandi whose health is rapidly declining due to brain cancer. And Mary who is also in pain with pancreatic cancer. My "suffering" is not suffering at all. Thankful I can cry out to the Creator for healing in these women's lives.
I honestly don't care that it's Thanksgiving. I mean it doesn't bother me being here on turkey day. Thomas, my mom and kids will come visit me soon. Maybe we will get turkey from cafeteria, maybe they can get food from Cracker Barrel or Golden Corral. It's whatever. Today isn't about food.
So that's what's going on now.
Most thankful for Jesus Christ. His life, death and resurrection. The freedom to worship him and the community of believers he brings together.
Happy Thanksgiving!

Dad took Sean and Kayla to the suspension bridge

Kayla with the keys

Sean and Kayla visiting with smiles

chaotic little visitors

Brainstorming baby names

one more pregnancy update photo, probably the last!

30.5 weeks

    I'm 30 weeks along and quickly approaching my magical 32 weeks. Since Sean and Kayla were both born at 32 wks I have lowered my activity level to hopefully prevent preterm labor again. As my doc says "we are trying to buy time." I'm going in every 2 weeks, my next appointment is on Monday, Nov 12.
I completely desire to have a full term labor scenario but part of me is just comfortable with what I know; giving birth 2 months early. We were very blessed to have no major complications with neither the labor/delivery nor our babies' health. Their stay in the NICU, both for just under a month, was simply for them to grow. Although growing outside the womb proves more difficult than inside! They did face standard preemie issues like learning the suck-swallow-breathe sequence and jaundice.
As you can imagine it was quite difficult having them in the NICU but I saw it as completely necessary, so why be upset about it?
With Sean I was more ignorant. I guess it was all so new I was zoned out. With Kayla, it was difficult because I had another child at home I was missing. Splitting time between them was hard. She did much better in the NICU than Sean being a girl and all.
All this to say I really feel at peace with whatever birth plan the Lord has laid out for baby and I. If he does comes early we will potentially (hopefully) have same familiar, small struggles that come with my preterm labor. And if I make it past 32 weeks, great! It'll mean a better chance of "normal" labor and taking baby home sooner!
I feel we thrive in tough times and it's only because I know Christ has walked before us in these earthly struggles.