Sunday, July 27, 2008

Complete

I have been beta-complete for 27 minutes now. That is to say, I am 27 minutes past the 48 hours for steroids to take full effect. The mag has been turned down to half the dose I have been on since yesterday afternoon or one third the dose I started with. It should go away entirely sometime overnight.

The state of my cervix will be assessed in the morning, and further decisions made. Based on limited contractions in the last day or so, the doctors seem fairly confident that there is a sojourn of as-yet unidentified length for me on the antepartum floor, and there is even talk of me being sent home. As this is the gestational week at which A died, I am a bit jumpy about that course of action. But I expect that Dr. Best will be by sometime in the morning to heavily influence the decision-making process.

Oh, and when the mag makes itself entirely scarce, I get to have solid food. There is a large plastic container of blueberries in my room, farm-picked by friends and already pre-washed, waiting to be attacked. The hospital, as hospitals are wont to do, tried to convince me earlier today that the bowl of chemically offensive yellow liquid was chicken soup, which I was allowed to have as per clear liquids ruling.

Ha! I am a Jew from the Old Country-- I know from chicken soup, and that was no chicken soup. Let me tell you about chicken soup. Chicken soup is made from, wait for it... chicken. With onion, carrot, bay leaves, salt, and pepper. And that's exactly the soup I did have today, courtesy first of my friend Natalie, and then my sister. My sister takes the prize for consideration in looking after the convalescent, as her and my brother-in-law (dudes, I have a brother-in-law... still weird to say that... they've been married for five weeks now. When does it stop being weird?) replaced the by-then-empty carafe of tea they brought yesterday with two, count them two carafes-- one of tea and one of chicken soup. Labeled for my convenience and everything.

Also? I have the best nurse tonight again. She was on last night, and is on again tonight. She is kind, cheerful efficient, goes way out of her way to make your and your partner's life a bit easier. And she gives massages. All my nurses have been very good (well, except for a lunch replacement today who tried to convince me babies don't die in utero in minutes... aha, I will be sure to pass that along to the pathologist who said otherwise, k?), but Nurse L. really is the grand prize in the nurse lottery.


And finally, as it is still Sunday, I thought I'd multitask and jump back into Mel's Sunday Show and Tell.

 

This is what I saw yesterday morning in my hospital room-- the mag and the IV fluids bathed in the rays of the very early morning sun.


P.S. Dear Teacher, Please excuse the late posting on the picture-- contractions ate my homework the camera made it to the hospital on Friday night, but the USB cord took until today. It's all better now.

28 comments:

EAB said...

The mag looks like such innocuous stuff, doesn't it? I am always faintly surprised that it makes you feel so horrible, yet looks like nothing more than water. It should be virulent orange, or chartreuse, or something.

Sue said...

So glad to hear you're doing well and have passed the critical 48 hours. Considering everything, I would want to stay put, too.

When I was a kid, the holidays were always celebrated at my grandmother's house(the same 90-year old grandma I kvetch about), complete with kasha with varnishkes (not on Pesach of course), kugel (same deal), potted chicken and chicken soup with knedlach. It's the schmaltz, she'd say. That's what makes it good. And it has to be a *kosher* chicken. The kosher chicken makes all the difference.

It's almost offensive that call that yellow salt solution at the hospital chicken soup. Glad you're getting medical, gastronomical and personal TLC.

Thinking of you.

k@lakly said...

Phew, now I can sleep. I've been waiting to hear exactly this. That everything is ok and they are taking excellent care of you and that little dude.
Hope the solid food hits the spot and you get some much needed rest, peace of mind and a healthy, happy baby in a few weeks:)
xxoo

JW Moxie said...

I saw just the title "Complete" from my Google Reader and I nearly choked on my half-eaten Krispy Kreme. My fingers stumbled to click through to read the post in its entirety, half-sure that by "complete" you meant a full 10 and ready to push. As if you would stop and politely say, "Oh wait please, good doctor sir - I simply must alert the internet that I am delivering." Duh, me.

I like your version of complete much better. Hooray for good soup, and even more for good mag.

Joy said...

*makes the sign of the cross at the sight of the mag*
Holy jeebus.. God bless your soul.
Congrats on the 48 hours of 'roids. Hang in there baby!

luna said...

sounds like everyone is taking such good care of you two. how wonderful of your family to bring some soup!

Betty M said...

Phew that you are through the 48 hours. Chicken soup (the real thing) should be a compulsory offering for those in hospital - better than grapes in my view.

Tash said...

People blogging from the RE table and the hospital room, replete with IV pictures? I'm a world behind.

Grateful for the chicken soup, and here for you during what will certainly be a rocky, trying week.

Caro said...

Great news on the 48 hours.

CLC said...

Whew. 48 hours over. I would probably want to stay if I were you! Hope the blueberries are awesome.

niobe said...

I love that picture, with the liquids suspended against the darkness, like poisonous jellyfsh.

Unknown said...

I've had that non-chicken non-soup at my hospital as well - how could it really be better for you than inoffensive farm fresh blueberries - here's to all the things being checked off your list, especially beta complete.

Amelie said...

Yay for the 48 hours, your thoughtful sister, and of course, you and the baby.

Aurelia said...

"Contractions ate my homework"--OMG I think I love you.

No wait, I KNOW I love you. And that baby, so take care of yourself even if you go off and get sent home and yadda yadda.

I'll be watching and reading.

Sara said...

How on earth did you make me laugh in this post? Thank you.

I've had a brother-in-law for about 7 years now, and it seems totally normal (great, even), so it'll come.

And of course the biggest thing, 48 HOURS gone! Awesome. So, so relieved.

christina(apronstrings) said...

man, i wish they would keep you through to the end of week. though, if lawsuit paranoid (are they there?) then you can rest assured they believe with every ounce of their being that little one is doing just great. and this is all going to end just the way it should.
thinking of you. xoxo

kate said...

Very relieved that it seems to be going so well. Yes, i am pretty sure they will be reasonable & keep you in the hospital. Glad they have internet there! And also glad to hear that you are surrounded by people who are taking care of you...

Rachel said...

I had no internet access this weekend, so I was a bit concerned to start reading your thread this morning. I'm so glad you made it through the 48 hours and seem to be holding up really, really well under the mag. I hope all goes well in the next few days.

S said...

love the part about the chicken soup.

i remember what passed for chicken soup when i was in for my hysterectomy.

shudder.

hang in there, girl! keep those updates coming!

Bon said...

ack, Julia. missed all this...glad you made it through the 48 hour protocol and hopeful that today will bring more quiet gestation, preferably where you're watched. i know this week is big.

hang in there, friend.

Wabi said...

Thrilled to hear the little dude's lungs are prepped for whatever may come next. Phew.

And congrats on making it to week 34 now. Big week, #34. Even without steroids, the viability stats get so much better from here on out.

Anonymous said...

I'm glad you are paranoid and glad all is working. i can't wait to read that he is here safe and sound. Much love, kuck and prayers to you right now lady!

janis said...

ohmigosh, I've been away from the computer and home... ... to read the last 3 posts nearly threw me off my chair.
Hang in there. Fingers crossed for you, everything crossed, in fact. All the good vibes going your way, including GOOD food, GOOD nurses, BEST doctors... everything.

N7 said...

Came across you rblog through Sturrup Queens- You remind me of me!!! I was in pre term labor at 24 weeks, magged up and I totally feel your pain. Its brutal stuff. And the whole situation is scary. We made it for 10 weeks and I had a healthy baby boy at 35w5d- and you are almost to that point! Any day inside is better for the baby but you have reached such a wonderful milestone in your pregnancy so please don't be scared if lil peanut has to come now or soon. You are doing amazing and so is that lil baby in there.
This is not easy stuff and you are kicking a@@ :)

mama said...

YAY for the 48 hrs! Hang in there babe(s) (Julia & Baby)! May you soon be able to snarf the blueberries!

my thoughts are with you........

xo
erin

Lori said...

Well, this is what I get for staying unplugged for too long! Aaaack! I'm so glad you are past 48 hours. The longer that little guy stays put, the better!

I will check in more regularly from now on... You will be in my thoughts.

Lori Lavender Luz said...

Oh, Julia, what a weekend! The lengths you'd go to to get some chicken soup.

Hoping for continued good news.

ZM said...

*nice* pic! Glad you are past the 48 hour mark, and nope, I wouldn't touch that crap either. Chicken soup, hah.