We've come along way Baby!!

One year ago today was the scariest day of my life. I was 31 weeks pregnant and had been to the Dr two days before for my regular checkup. At my checkup, my blood pressure had been really high and I looked like a swollen tick about to pop. My Dr decide to have me do some labs which consisted of blood work and a 24 hour. I was told no work until the lab results came back.



Me...looking like a tick about to pop. Swollen hands and face. You cannot see my legs in the picture, but trust me when I say then looked like tree stumps....big ones.


I had know idea what a 24 hour was, but I was about to find out. I was informed by the lab that for 24 hours, I had to pee in a "hat" and keep it in a jug. I also had to keep it refrigerated/cool. Yuck! It was 5:00 in the afternoon, and I had to get this back by 6pm the next day, which meant I had to start immediately collecting. Heavens to betsy. This meant since I was about to pee my pants, I would have to hit the public bathroom at the hospital and make a collection and then carry it out and take it home with me. Oh boy. That was really something.

The next 24 hours of collection were great. Not only was I having to make a deposit about every 15 minutes, but the jug then gave me was not nearly big enough. Now what? I decided I would just have to find another collection jug. The following day, I had to drop of my gift at the lab, but I was ordered to keep it cool on my 45 minute drive. Wonderful. Now I have to cart a cooler of pee around the country side with me. I was hoping like heck that I was not pulled over or in a car accident. I was not up for being showered with the stuff and I certainly didn't want to have to explain what was in the cooler.

I made it to the hospital in time to drop of the goods. The bag they give you for transporting is not exactly the most discrete thing, so I brought a better one. It happened to be a birthday bag with handles. When I sat it on the counter at the lab, you'll never guess what I said. Yep, I told them Happy Birthday. I bet they loved my gift.

So after all the fun, I now had to sit by the phone and wait to hear the results. The next day, by late afternoon, I still had not heard anything. Al was going racing lawn mowers, so I decided to go along and watch. It was around 5pm and I was about to jump in the shower and get ready to go. Finally, my phone rang and it was the nurse. She informed me my lab results came back good. I asked her if that meant that I could go back to work and she acted confused. I told her I was ordered off work until my blood work and 24 hour came back. She then realized she did not have the results from the 24 hour and that she would have to call me back.

I waited and waited for her to call back, and finally decided to get in the shower. It was almost 6pm and the lawn mower races would be starting in about a 1/2 hour. Wouldn't you know, while I was in the shower, in bursts Al with my phone and says its the nurse and she needs to talk to you. I jump out of the shower, soap in hair and talk to her. She then tells me that I need to come to the emergency room immediately. I was totally caught off guard, because of the nature of our first conversation. My 24 hour came back with very high protein and I needed to be admitted to be monitored and to see if they needed to take the baby. Now I know I was in shock, but I asked her if I could at least eat first. She told me to eat on the way down. I hung up the phone and was confused by the whole deal. Al asked me what was going on, and I couldn't speak. All that really registered from the conversation with the nurse was that they might have to take my baby. He was not due until Sept 25. They could not do this to me.

We made it to the emergency room and a stupid drunk guy almost feel right on my stomach. Luckily Al blocked him from landing on me. That was a sure fire way to get me to a room immediately. Once there, I was hooked up to all kinds of fun machines. My cousin is a triage nurse in the maternity ward, so she came in and gave it to me straight. It scared the crap out of me, but I was relieved to understand what was going on.

Colter-one year ago today. This is not his good side. He has done better shots.

After a few days stay, I convinced them to let me out a couple of days early. I had strict orders for bed rest and was not to be home alone. (Sorry people.) The next 6 weeks of my life were hell. Every week I had 2 appts, labs, stress test, ultrasounds. I never knew what each appt would bring or if that would be the day. Would my baby be okay? Would he have to be in the nicu? It was very stressful. I was very lucky and thankful to have the support of some great family and friends.

Colter was finally born 3 weeks early and a was very healthy 9lb 9oz-er. I thank god everyday. I also could never thank those who were there for me and helped me out during that time. I also thank all of you for letting me ramble on.

I hope all of your weekends are great and that you are all blessed with a little miracle like mine. Much love & hugs!!

~ps~

Below is a picture of me now and a short video of Colter now.....crawling! Enjoy!!