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. :)