We Have Hit 2 Weeks on Bed Rest!!!!

We have officially been on bed rest for two weeks...one week in the hospital, and one week at home. 15 DAYS!!!! 
You would think being on bed rest I would have had all the time in the world to keep blogging, but I have just had no desire.  Sorry! 

I am allowed two outings a week - a Monday doctor's visit for a NST (Non-Stress Test) and a Thursday doctor's visit for an ultrasound.
Every NST you are perfect!  You are not a fan of the bands constricting you, and usually get very angry...but at least you are showing them how active you are - which is what they are looking for. Your daddy and I just laugh, though, because you get so upset.

On Thursdays, we have our ultrasounds to check your movement and measure my amniotic fluid.  This was a major concern in the hospital and goes hand in hand with preeclampsia, so something we monitor very closely.  In the hospital, your initial AFI was 4-point-something.  Then it increased to 7.0 which we were allowed to go home.  The following day it was at a 7.7 when we followed up at the doctor's.  Today, however, it is back down to a 6.0.  The ideal number for amniotic fluid is 10.  It can be as high at 25, though.  Anything below 10, they monitor.  Anything below 5, and they induce.  We knew this would happen as the preeclampsia progressed, we just do not want it to get any lower.  We will check again next Thursday.  Until then, water, water, and more water until I feel like I am going to float away. 

My blood pressure is slowly starting to creep up as well.  On Monday, it was 130/90, then jumped to 144/94. Today, it was 152/90.  We take my blood pressure at home, but will monitor it a little more carefully - at 8am, 2pm, and 8pm.  We have been taking it in the morning and at night, but we may need to add a 3rd dose of Aldomet in the middle of the day to help control the blood pressure.  Again, this is something we expected as the preeclampsia progresses.  

We are now 33 weeks, 4 days!!!  We went into the hospital at 31 weeks, 4 days!!!  I praise the Lord we have made it this far.  Although you have already had the two steroid shots to mature your lungs, every day only adds to time you get to be at home and not stay in the NICU.  Again, if we make it to 37 weeks (3 1/2 weeks) we will induce....but at this point, you can come at any point and the doctor's feel you will be just fine.  Let's lean more towards 35-37 weeks though, sweetheart!  How crazy it is to think no matter what you will be here in 3 1/2 weeks....but definitely could be any day, now!!! 

The good news about going to the doctor twice a week and having an ultrasound done weekly, is we get to see your precious little self.  Today, you were snug as a bug in a rug!  The techs orders were to not only measure your AF, but to see how active you were.  She had to jiggle you around and wake you up with the wand, but then you were on the move.  For weeks, I have wondered what this certain feeling was...it almost felt like you were tickling me or waving your hand back and forth.  NOPE, it is you flexing and rubbing your foot around.  You were turning you head to the left and right, yawning, and moving your hands all around.  You like to keep one hand up by your chin/face!  Funny, this is how I sleep, too!  Our ultrasound techs are great and give us a few pictures every time we go!  We love them for it!  It always is a nice little surprise!

(For viewers pleasure, they are not as crisp as some ultrasounds you may have seen.  We learned, this is due to my low amniotic fluid.  Either way, enjoy!)

Can you see her little face and hand by her chin?

 She's got her mama's round little face!

 This is profile view...with her hand on your chin....silly girl! 


We love you Avery Mackenzie Lane and cannot wait to meet you!  You have stolen our hearts, already!!!!