AUGUST!

So this week has been kind of crazy. I hit my 30week mark, no problems really, and then it came. The following day during one of my monitoring sessions we recorded a great big contraction. I've had several of these over the last few weeks, but didn't realize they were contractions. I've only felt contractions before when I've been in labor, and those hurt! These felt more like big pressure, and not all over my belly- just one side or another- so I figured it was one of the babies pushing on me awkwardly. During this "huge contraction" (as the nurse referred to it) one of tge babies heart rates dropped (which also could've been the monitor picking up my heart rate). Anyway, to be safe we called the Dr who put me on continuous monitoring until he came in the following day to evaluate everything.

It was a long night. I was convinced that we weren't going to make it to 32 weeks. The problem for me with having contractions is the Vasa Previa. If I go into active labor and/or have intense enough contractions the umbilical cord that is above my cervix could detach, try to deliver, or whatever else, thus severely endangering that baby and subsequently both babies. At this point we won't risk that. If any major complications like that arise, we will just deliver.

While hooked up to the monitors I could sometimes see the contraction line, depending on my position, and if I couldn't see it Zed could. Sometimes I would see that it was marking a contraction and I was surprised. I'd start feeling if my belly was hard, or really thinking about any pain/pressure I felt.  Other times I would feel a bunch of oressure and ask Zed if it was a contraction and he usually said no. So even though I've been through labor twice I am super confused at this point.

When my dr came in the following morning he was less concerned. He looked at my tracings for the previous 18 hours or so.  Zed and I interpreted his explanation differently. Zed basically got: all muscles contract,  and baby heart rates are going to have decels, no biggie.  I understood: yeah you are 30 weeks along with twins and your body is exhausted- you're having contactions; but they are not strong enough or frequent enough to get too worried about. Either interpretation led to me getting unhooked from the machines. We changed my orders to my being monitored every 6 hours, for one hour at a time, so we are more likely to get readings on contractions.

It's been a LOOONG stay here. Ive been in the hospital for almost 7 weeks. But we FINALLY made it to August! It is completely surreal that I will be done with this pregnancy in 10 Days. Having numbers that small is just weird at this point. I keep saying that I know this is my shortest pregnancy, but it has felt like the longest! 10 more days. It just is weird, yet so exciting!

HAPPY AUGUST!

So I sent Zed and the boys home for the weekend. It's time for them to party with grandma Bobbie again, while Zed helps me relax for my last pregnant week. Mr. J had another preschool graduation. This was his free online UPSTART program (seriously a great program). So we've got some pictures of my little stud and his diploma. Also, Otis was pretty excited about his cowboy boots and hat that had been left in K-town.  Love those boys!