Bella's new blog.

It's official although I do not plan to migrate this blog to that one, this one isn't going anywhere. It's an archive, if you will, of my pregnancy with Isabella and the new blog takes over from birth. We hope you'll join us there.

http://isabellamichele.com


We hope you'll join us there.

inability to blog is driving me nuts!

so, i plan to find a blog site i can get to while at childrens and use that for the time being.

Free WiFi stinks!

At Abbott, where I was on bedrest and gave birth to little Bella, I could blog. At Children's, where I am staying with Bella until she is released to home, I cannot blog. It drives me nuts how some sites are blocked and others aren't, simply depending on where you are. Oi!

So, we're a bit behind on the blogging and so much has happened in the past 7 days since Isabella was born. I've done my best to update at least a bit using facebook and fertility friend, but it just isn't the same.

Here are some pictures that I snagged from my mom's camera that she took on and since Bella was born... to make up for my lack of blogging until I have a reliable connection in order to catch up? Or just something to look at.

A few minutes after they rushed me back to the OR.

Bella still wearing her hat from Abbott.

Finally got over to NICU to see her again.

Such a sweet little thing.

Blake meets Bella. 

Today also marks The beginning of Isabella's second week with us and I can't let that go unacknowledged. I am going to have a lot of pics and posting to make up for I know, it's just hard to do in a hospital with silly WiFi policies.

Bella's first day.

She came into the world at 1:17 am after a fairly simple labor and an even easier delivery. Although when you hold back pushing when you *really* need to for 8 minutes waiting on the NICU team to get there, it shouldn't take much pushing. I've never tried to cross my legs in labor before. (OMG)

She tried to breath on her own right away, but being so small and early she still had the plugs in her nose and throat. Once they got her all suctioned though, she took her first breath and has been breathing great since then. She's staying at Childen's in the NICU until we know for sure what she'll need in terms of surgery and so on. As far as the cardiologists are concerned, Bella calls the shots and the steps they take are based on how she's doing with daily life. Both the cardiac and NICU doctors are pleased with how well she's doing so far. So are we.

Today has been a HUGE day for all of us. Having and greeting Bella, trying to keep ourselves from crashing but at the same time trying to make sure we're meeting with doctors, I'm pumping to feed her and we're eating and resting enough. Believe it or not, that is NOT a simple task. Oi! So far, I believe we've done okay and I hope we're able to continue to do okay or better.

Isabella got to meet her most of her siblings today and she got to hold her grandma as well. I think they all enjoyed the time spent whether our faces reflect it or not. :p

As for Bella's heart, she still has HRHS, Tricuspid Atresia and VSD. However she shouldn't require surgery in the very near future. It sounds like surgery is a good month or so off, which for the stage 1 surgery is good. The cardiologist told me that they're happy with how she's doing and if anything her heart working too well cycling too much blood back to the lungs for oxygenation.

Overall, she will still need surgeries and she is 7 weeks premature, but I think we have a little fighter on our hands and for that, I am thankful.

As for me, I had a 2 hour nap this morning, met with my doc and her docs pumped for her, took a 4 hour nap and then introduced siblings. I am still feeling exhausted, but I am giving myself a break on that since I just gave birth today. I think aside from waking up to pump I am going to try for a full night of sleep. Once we discharge from Abbott it's to Children's we go until Bella is also discharged. I have *no* idea when that will be, but I am okay with that until we know exactly what she will or wont need.

Welcome to the world Isabella baby!

Isabella Michele Anderson born at 33 weeks gestation on May, 23rd 2011 at 1:17 am. She weighs 4 lbs 7 oz and is 17.5 inches long. 

I will post her birth story after some much needed rest, but to tide you over, here are some pictures of our precious new baby girl. 

How can it go from a sure thing, to nothing?

When  you're at a hospital good enough to stop your labor *every* time. Uhg.

I am still pregnant and not even contracting anymore. 26 days here. I am still looking forward to 34 weeks and I still don't think that I will make it that far... but, yeah, sorry about the false alarm.

sounds like delivery today

i will post more when i can

Busy morning already!

I woke up with a lot of the symptoms from yesterday back in my face after only 3 hours of sleep. This time they were concerned enough to call the Peri in, apparently she's reviewing my info and Bella's info before she talks to me?

I don't know, but I know the nurse used c and section together in succession and in a sentence.. I'm hoping she was referring to another patient though. >.<

Okay, so we've got an IV, we've got a CBC drawn, I've now seen the Peri... they think it might be today. They said there is definitely "something" going on. They're starting IV antibiotics as well and I've been on the monitor for two hours straight now. They weren't liking what they were seeing with Bella's heart rate.

I will update when I know more.

Maybe not today.

Allllllll the signs and symptoms I had earlier have petered out.

Yes, I know I should be happy about this, but I am so excited to meet this sweet baby girl. Seeing her 3d yesterday was really cool and omg I can't wait. But I should wait and I should want to wait. I think. Blah, the ultrasound was too reassuring and I am too impatient.

::sigh:: We'll see. I am still having small contractions now and then. I don't want to do anything to get it going on my own, I just want it to happen on it's own.

Maybe today?

Some light contractions and other subtle labor hints, don't want to TMI on y'all again. Bella and I are on the monitors now, we'll see what Dr. Saul thinks when she does her rounds. My contractions must be pretty minor though, they don't seem to be showing up on the monitor much, they just look tiny lol.

We'll see and I'll post when I can.

Today's appointment brings good news.

Today we had the growth scan, the fetal cardiac echo and the BPP all in one appointment! Nice to get so much done at once.

So, here is the good news. Another 8/8 on her BPP...

Growth scan puts her at 4 lbs 10 oz, give or take 5 oz, putting her in the 69%!

Fetal cardiac echo shows great blood flow to her lungs and her body, it appears she will NOT be prostoglandin dependent and the chances of her needing the stage 1 are significantly lower than even before. If anything, she *might* need a shunt to slow down her blood flow... not what we were expecting. She will still need the Glenn and Fontan procedures.The cardiologist Dr. Dummer (Sounds like doomer) was very positive about the scan and Bella's outcomes.

After speaking with both Dr. Danilenko and Dr. Dummer, it sounds like 34 weeks is a good time to have this baby. This of course is going to require input from the in house docs and the NICU docs, however, the outcome at 34 weeks looks like a positive one. I am praying that is true and that we are able to go at 34 weeks. The risk of infection is not so good with Bella's heart problems.

I have tons of pics to share when I get a chance to get them uploaded. :)

Ultrasound and Fetal Echo #3 today.

Try as hard as I might, I can't sleep in. I am too anxious to hear what they have to say today at the appointment. We'll find out an estimated weight as well as how Bella's heart is coming along. The news has seemed to get at least somewhat better with each ultrasound, so I am hoping that it either stays the same or maybe even improves a bit with this one too.

I wish it would be safer to deliver her sooner rather than later, when I was thinking about it last night, as little as there is that I can do about it there is a ton of pressure on me to "keep her in as long as possible". I want what is best, but the daily reminders probably don't help much and I know for a fact that the hospital stay is NOT helping. Steve and I have missed a bunch of firsts for Emma. Her first soccer practice, her first soccer scrimmage, her first "soccer stop" in which she used the phrase "You've just felt the power of the Bill-Fold!" (cracks me the heck up!) her second track and field, I have her entire first one in pictures and on video... and today her first play. She gets to play the ugly duckling who turns into the beautiful swan. I was so sad about that when I thought about it last night I almost went out and requested a form to leave AMA. (not a good plan.)

In all actuality, there are a lot of questions I'd like to get answered within the next few days about Bella and myself. The doctors have yet to give *me* the pros and cons or give me any say in my care whatsoever. The more I think about that, the more I find it to be completely unacceptable.

So, here is to the pursuit of information and the, hopefully, helpful guidance to make the best decisions possible.

Possible TMI Alert and other stuff too.

I don't know what your limits are on TMI, but I figured I should give a heads up, in case they're fairly low. Apparently amniotic fluid builds back up so much, that you can leak it again, like your water just broke for the first time. I thought I was done with all that. lol!

So, back to sexy hospital mesh panties, back to pads and back to praying I can continue to wear my pants without looking like I pee'd!

32 weeks 2 days, even the prospect of getting to the end of this week seems almost torturous. As with all things, this too shall pass, however, with this, the end is great reward.

Gah! The peri was just in.. I asked for the end date... apparently there is some disagreement among those who are caring for Bella and myself on when I should deliver. Dr. Block and Dr. Wagner are of the belief that I should not deliver before 36 weeks. O.o I'll go insane! I don't know what other docs feel differently, but I love them... I know I think it was Dr. Fairbanks that suggested 35 weeks. I am on day 23, I can't do 26 more days here. (See, now you know why Ashleigh is my mentor... she did over 70 days like a pro!)

So, if this were the average pregnancy with pPROM and no other issues, I'd be delivered no later than 5.30.11 at 34 weeks.  Since, however, this is not an easy situation I am looking at having delivery pushed back to 6.6.11 at 35 weeks or even 6.13.11 at 36 weeks at the very latest. These dates of course assuming my body doesn't do it's own thing, that Bella's body doesn't do it's own thing and I don't end up with infection. So, I know I'm not looking at 12 days, I am most likely looking at 19 or 26 more days.

::deep breath:: As with all things, this too shall pass, however, with this, the end is great reward. I can do this.

Congratulations to Ashleigh and Brandon!

You can't help but form a kinship with others in the same situation while in the same place. My mentor here has been Ashleigh (room 72) who has been here over 10 weeks!!! 10 weeks! Her water broke at 19 weeks, she bedrested at home until the baby was considered viable by the doctors and then was admitted. She made it to 32 weeks 5 days! Talk about a pPROM hero, she gets an award for sure.

I didn't get a ton of details but Brandon stopped by this morning and let us know that as of 6:30 am this morning he is once again a daddy! I don't want to butcher the spelling of baby's name, so we'll just call him baby boy for now. Baby boy was born needing a little help breathing, but weighs in at a beautiful 5 lbs on the nose. Ashleigh is sleeping after laboring for *2* days and Brandon was on his way to the Children's hospital NICU to see their newest little man.

Our most sincere congratulations and well wishes to the hard working family and their newest member.

We made it!

32 weeks! It's today! From here, I am happy. Each day from this point on, we're adding up bonus time.

3 whole weeks post pPROM, is just fantastic!

Here is a bad pic in a dirty mirror with horrible lighting. But it's our 32 week pic. :)

1 day to my goal and contractions seem to know it...

I am only a day from my goal of 32 weeks. A goal that I set when my water broke at 29 weeks. My goal was just to beat the odds for 3 weeks. Anything beyond that is bonus time for this sweet little one.

Being on hospital bedrest I've had a lot of time to chill and browse the intwerwebs I was able to find a great cloth diaper giveaway for those of you who are interested. You can check it out at Softbums Spring Fling giveaway I loooooove me some softbums, it's a company that is quite local to me, a WAHM who works at her home only about 5 minutes from my own home. So anyhow, check it out if you're interested. :) Even grandma's could enter to win for a granddaughter...  ;)

Anyhow. I plan to hang out and out muscle through these contractions for as long as I possibly can. They're not horribly strong, so I am really hoping they'll just peter out on their own soon or that they wont be horribly productive any time soon.

Not much happening.

My room smells like Stargazers!

I love stargazer lilies. I think it's something passed down from generation to generation in my family, my mom and my grandmother both really enjoy them as well. After going for one of my 3 daily wheelchair rides to get out of my room, tonight I come back to the scent of the 3 stargazer blossoms that have opened up since my mom and the kids brought the flowers to me yesterday. I can't imagine how it's going to smell when the other 3 blossoms open! Roses, daisies and lilies. I love Mother's day.

So, I had a relaxing Mother's day, or as relaxed as one can be in the hospital. I got to see all four of my children this weekend and Emma even spent a night with Steve and I here. It's easier to fit two in his bed than it is in mine though, so he got the snuggles for the most part. Which is okay, it's hard to snuggle with this big ole' belly in the way, plus, I got my fair share of Emma time too. :)

Today was fairly uneventful as well. Well, we had another BPP to check out the wellbeing of little Bella baby and she scored an 8/8 this time! She almost missed a few points for low fluid level, but she squeaked in there just barely. During that ultrasound she even played find the fist for us. She was sucking on it, lost it, opened her mouth reeeeally wide and quickly found it again and started nom nom nom'ing on it. It was SO precious and made her feel even more real than she already does. Oh and also she's still vertex (head down) which is great news if I want any chance of a "normal" delivery.

I also found out that I am tentatively scheduled for a growth scan and a fetal echo cardiogram on Thursday, assuming I made it that far. (Thanks to Dr. Wagner, my FAVORITE Peri.) I should though. I am officially 31 weeks pregnant today and we haven't had much more than a hiccup or two getting here. I am seriously starting to think I am going to make it to my goal of 32 weeks. It's rare that I beat the odds, but in this case, I'll take it!

That's about it for now. I am still taking belly pics, but I figured they don't really change all that much so I probably wont post them daily or even weekly anymore.

I don't think I've ever felt so pregnant.

Being so hyper aware of every little thing with this pregnancy has made it seem like I've been pregnant a lifetime. I honestly don't remember any pregnancy putting me through my paces like this one is. Once again, I wouldn't change it for anything. Maybe if I could just sleep and nap better, but as anyone who has ever been in the hospital knows, those things are just not so easy to do.

I can't remember if I updated or not, but I am back to 4 injects of insulin a day now. Those are fun. I also have 7 glucose checks a day. It's enough to make my head spin. I am however glad I have Dr. Mulmed to guide me through the changes and watch over them. He's one of the best things to come out of this hospital stay.

I am so blessed!

So today was boring, until mom showed up with Cheyenne, Blake and Emma in tow. It was SO nice to see *most* of my kids and of course being the day before Mother's day I got cards, gifts and lots of love. It was also a day of pretty cool moments. Isabella was feeling feisty today and kicking like crazy. Everyone got a turn to get kicked, however, Chey got the first and the biggest kick, it brought tears to her eyes instantly. As a mom, that was a very special moment to witness. One more reminder of why I am so willing to go through all of this. I am a lucky mom and daughter. On top of the nice feeling of receiving gifts, my hospital room now has a very cheery spot in it and some wonderful family memories! I can't wait to wake up tomorrow morning and look over at the cards, gifts and flowers and simply think about today.

Let's see... pregnancy wise... I am 30 weeks 5 days today and I've been in the hospital for 12 days. Getting really close to 31 weeks! I did have the opportunity to go over the "NICU Book" that they provide on this floor to help prepare families for babies that need extra help. I was able to go through it with the kids and show them what they might see when visiting Bella for the first little while.  (The while of course depending on how long I am able to go without labor. Her outcome looks brighter every minute of every hour of every day I am able to continue carrying her.

So, my overall outlook is a little brighter, my overall mood is a little better and I still anxiously await the passing of time to properly greet this newest blessing in our lives.

11 days (and counting?)

It's been 11 days since my water broke and we're still hanging in there. 11 days in the hospital for me means 33 fewer days in the NICU for Isabella. Sounds like a darn good trade off to me. Granted I'm miserable and this is the last place I want to be stuck on Mother's Day, but I'll do anything I can to help Bella at birth. (I know, I've said that a lot. But it helps reassure me that I am doing the right things and all I can to help her. I'm only human.)

I requested an U/S to see how much this little one weighs now and got the same answer as I did 11 days ago. It's too soon for another U/S... really? I haven't had one since 27 weeks, and I am now at 30 weeks 4 days... do 3 days make the difference? What makes the difference? It's frustrating! It's not like I am asking them to do surgery or something invasive. I am simply wanting to know where we're at and how Bella is doing with the lack of fluid. Yes, they do 2 NSTs a day, but that doesn't tell us if and how well she's growing.

I must be in an "off" color mood today, I haven't even taken my belly pic yet. I will of course take one... but it's already so late lol!

32 weeks, I can make it...

I think, I hope, I pray. Right now it seems VERY far off, however, considering yesterday the peri thinks I will be lucky to make it that far. I am starting to agree and hoping the steroids and the mag have done what they need to and can do. I also hope that since my body has such a big lead in time (my water broke 10 days ago) that it has done what it can to get Bella ready for birth.

My blood sugars are all over the place now, without the steroids influence, so I am monitoring blood sugars even more carefully and using insulin on an almost regular basis. I haven't seen the Endo yet today, but I am guessing he's going to put me on something for my fasting numbers in addition to the 4 units he has me taking with supper.

There isn't much else going on. I am still dealing with some of the side effects from the mag. I *hate* that stuff and it sounds like anytime I go into labor I get a big mag push again, even if it's close like yesterday's was. (They really need to further the research on how far out the mag works for preventing cerebral palsy and brain bleeds because that stuff is horrible.)

Anyhow... 10 days down... 11 to go. I am almost half way to my goal I am nowhere near the goal the peri has for me though lol. One day at a time!

I hope it's another sunny day, I missed the last one

After spending almost all of yesterday in labor and delivery, feeling icky on magnesium sulfate, I really hope I can enjoy today.

I had 2 room moves last night, it was crazy. In addition, I got the last antepartum room when I got back to 5th floor from 6th! The maternity area is SO busy the past few days, they had to open up an older part of this floor for overflow postpartum moms and babies.

I am very happy that we didn't meet Bella quite yet. I really would like to make it to at least 32 weeks. There is such a huge difference between 30 and 32, today puts me at 30 weeks and 3 days. so if I can hang on for 11 more days I'll be happy. Ish, even putting it into days it still feels like a daunting task. I can do it though, at least, I can do my best to do it. Ultimately I know I really have no say in the matter. (Okay, confession time... after seeing #Maythe4thbewithyou trending on twitter, I really didn't want to have her on May 4th...)

Long sleeve onesies, a 4 pack of mittens and the sweetest little outfit. 

Oh oh oh! Grandma came to visit last night and she brought goodies that she and big sister Cheyenne picked out! Sooooooo cute! I took pics of course. :D And the one little outfit, you'll see, has a little monkey on the butt. I about died! I'll tell you which one. I might actually have to take pics of the front and back of that one...

3 little sleepers. The monkey one says "kisses from mommy"

Lots of little hats, some little pants to go with onsies and the monkey butt outfit!

The softest blankie ever and the first pack of receiving blankets. 

Views

I have had so many different ones since I've been here, but I haven't posted any of them. It's about time to rectify that darn it! lol

So let's see. The room I was in for the past week until this morning I saw...

My current room...

And.. who knows where I will be next.

It's rare that the Doc freaks out and the mom is calm...

But it happened today. I was doing my own thing, cleaning up my room, just being a little more active than usual. Yes, I am on bedrest, but they allow for some things like going outside, showering and chilling in the common area for a bit.

Well I think cleaning my room today might have been a bit ambitious (they need to make a way for bedresting mommies to cope with the need to nest!) and caused me to have some minor contractions. Not enough to worry me, they weren't strong, but since they were regular they freaked the Peri on-call out. She had me moved up to L&D, put on magnesium sulfate again (this time for Bella's brain.) and has me now on non stop monitoring. Oh, she also told me no more eating and drinking. UHG! lol

So, here I am, 5 hours later. The contractions long gone, but I lost my antepartum room, I feel like poop and I am down right crabby after hearing other babies being born. I want to meet Bella, just not yet, and hearing others meeting their babies doesn't make my bedrest any easier.

I was finally settling into my room and accepting the fact that I am in the hospital for the long run and now this.  Well, I guess I can't say it hasn't been interesting! lol

Watching the Sunrise

I woke up this morning feeling even better than I did yesterday. Looking down... pregnant still? Yep. Looking outside seeing the blues, pinks and purples of the sky, looking forward to another sunny day. ::sigh:: Then I remember it's another sunny day... in the hospital.

Bella updates, not a whole lot. She's still hanging out in there, growing and hopefully getting ready for the world. She's been a tough cookie so far and both of her strips looked great yesterday. Her kicks are starting to get increasingly painful, which is great. The more they hurt, the stronger she is. (That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.) Last week my goal was to make it to 30 weeks. I managed that. My new goal is to make it to 32 weeks. I refuse to make goals any further out than that and I find reassurance in each hour, each day that passes with her still growing.

I do my morning things, quickly pop open my laptop and there is a message from mom. Emma had her first soccer practice ever last night and she did great. Talk about bitter sweet. I should have been there. I am fortunate that Grandma had the picture taking mindset or I'd have missed it completely. It looks like Emma enjoyed it, but I really don't know if she did or not. I haven't even gotten to talk to her yet after her practice. (Okay, falling into the poor me pit... climbing back out of that right now.) So, bitter sweet. I am THRILLED that Emma *finally* chose something to be a part of, we've been encouraging her for years.

Best number ever! <3 7 <3

So, as far as I know that is it for updates today. Less and less seems to be happening the longer I am here in the hospital. Exciting stuff I tell you! lol I do plan to request a growth scan for little miss Bella. I want to know how she's coming along and I don't think that is unreasonable. I know it can be off, but a general idea that she's thriving despite lack of fluid... I feel is reasonable.

Talking and dribbling. Ain't no thang.

Practice is tiring, need... a... drink! 

It's sunny outside!!!

Oh I can't wait for breakfast to get here and for Steve to wake up. I want to go outside and feel the sun on my skin. I am so excited about it, that I have to wonder if my recent bout with depression was really nothing more than SAD (seasonal affective disorder), it seems to make sense. We'll see.

I am officially off of all hospital given meds now. No antibiotics, no tocolytics (stop labor) and no steroids (to help Bella's lungs mature). It seems that watching me like a hawk is beginning to be the key. If there are any signs of change in anything I need to let them know right away. I am guessing this is to help prevent/detect infection, which is the biggest risk to both Bella and I from this point on. At least as far as pregnancy is concerned.

This has got to be the hardest waiting game I've EVER played. I have no idea what will happen, when it will happen or how it will happen. I know some basic stats, I had an 80% chance of having her within the first week post water breaking. Each week thereafter gives me a 50% chance of delivery.

Also, thank God for ChapStick... it's dry in here.

Well used and loved. <3 my ChapStick.

As of 8:45 p.m.

It's been one full week since my water broke. I went immediately to Mercy, explained the situation with Bella's heart and that my water was broken. I was swarmed by nurses, an ambulance was called and I was transferred down here, to Abbott, sirens, speeding and all.

The week itself seemed to drag on as it went, I swear hospitals are like some weird time sucking machines, but looking back, it seems as if it flew by. I wish the same could be said for the time as it passed lol!

I can't wait to meet my little Bella baby, it feels as if she and I have been through a lifetime worth of journey already. Like I know her and I miss her and I am anxiously awaiting her coming to finally meet me.

As she was last week, she is once again laying in a transverse position rather than head down. However, I sincerely hope she flips head down. Natural birth is going to be the best option for both of us vs. a c-section as far as health and healing is concerned.

Busy day so far...

Let's see. What have we done today?


-Almost 2 hours of monitoring. They weren't happy with the lack of accelerations and decelerations on the strip.

-Meeting with therapist to determine my mental well being level with so much going on. I passed.

-Meet with the acupuncturist and receive my first acupuncture treatment. (That was actually kind of cool.)

-Met with the Peri, same stuff different day there. Trying to keep me pregnant and healthy and Bella in and healthy.

-Had a BPP (Biophysical Profile) on Bella because they weren't happy with the heart monitor strip.
     -She did practice breathing - scored a 3
     -She moved plenty - scored a 2
     -Her fluid level measured 8-9 - scored a 3
     -NST I think she failed if the follow up BPP is any indication

    - Total Score: 8

A score of 8 to 10 points means that your baby is healthy. A score of 6 to 8 points means that you may need to be retested in 12 to 24 hours. A score of 4 or less may mean the baby is having problems. Further testing will be recommended.

Click to enlarge.

 Overall it's been fairly eventful today. Nothing horribly exciting, nor anything horribly disappointing. I still miss home, however acupuncture, BPPs, therapists, and doctors readily available at my beck and call, is a little bit cool if nothing else. Gotta find the bright side somewhere.

30 week Bella Bump Photo

I wish I knew how long I would still be pregnant. I need a psychic.

30 weeks!

We've made it to the official 30 week mark and today also marks 1 full week since my water broke! According to the statistics I was given, each additional day Bella is kept in my tummy is 3 days less that she would have to spend in the NICU. So... 7 days pregnant beyond water breaking, times 3 days per day... that's 21 days less that Bella would have to spend in the NICU now, versus had she been born last week. 

Heck, we've made it 8 weeks past the start of preterm labor which had started at 22 weeks! While I know that ultimately I have little to no control whether she is born early or not, I feel good that I am doing the right things to try to ensure this little one the best start I can give her.

If I ever hear anyone say this stuff is easy... I think I'm going to have to be restrained though lol! I have to say that what I've been through with this pregnancy, by FAR trumps anything I've dealt with in previous pregnancies. And time in bed and in the hospital... omg... 8 weeks, with the possibility of not 4... but 6 more weeks here. I found out just yesterday that if I don't deliver before 36 weeks, they wont induce me until then, rather than the typical 34 weeks that they'd induce at with a typical baby and broken water situation.

One day at a time, each day bringing us a healthier Bella baby.

Another big news moment

Osama Bin Laden has been killed, what tremendous news for all he caused harm to in his lifetime. I pray that this news provides at least some solace for those closely affected by the 9.11 tragedy that Bin Laden has been taking and given credit for.

Random pics

It's cold out!

So, today I started the day off with a nice springy outfit, maybe bordering on summery... and once I took my first walk of the day, well, wheelchair ride... OMG. Changing was a must.

So, I started out the day with this ...

And quickly switched to this...

Yes, it is THAT cold out today. I am just waiting to see flurries or some crap. Which I guess will still be an improvement over the rain we've had for the past week. BLEH!

29 weeks 6 days! We've almost beaten the odds!

When I came in with my water broken I was told 80% of women deliver within a week. Tomorrow will be 1 week since my water broke, I think if I can make it to at least then, I've "beaten" the odds or become a  part of that smaller 20%. Not that this is easy by any means. I miss everything, home, kids, even my little plants which are surely dead by now.

Tomorrow brings about the first "major" milestone I was trying to make it to, 30 weeks. From there they mention 32 and then 34. IF I am able to keep her in my tummy to 34 weeks, that is when we will deliver no matter what. I don't know what it is about magical week 34, but that seems to be the time to get baby out in a case of pPROM.

The idea of 4 more weeks on hospital bedrest is enough to make my head spin, but I am going to do everything I can for Isabella. She needs and deserves every chance she can get, it feels like we've already been through so much.

Ah yay! I just found out it's Dr. Wagner today! He's my absolute favorite peri, he cracks me the heck up! That is almost as good as the sun coming out to play. :)