Two more weeks...

I started the blood pressure medicine on Friday and since then my blood pressure has been good. I was 99% sure that when I went into the doctor's office today, he would say, "Wow, your blood pressure looks great. You can go back to work but take it easy otherwise." I wasn't that lucky. Instead he told me that I needed to be on bedrest for another two weeks.

Fortunately, my blood pressure is maintained but the swelling is still there. He said this is something called edema which is normal in most women at this phase of pregnancy (26 weeks). He said this can also be due to weather - when it gets warmer out most women swell. However, he is still concerned since I am more swollen than I should be.

He also told me that my glucose test came back abnormal. I noted a couple posts ago that he said all my tests came back normal. I thought that meant all the tests I had taken up to that point but apparently they didn't have the results when he told me that. So, my urine test and all blood work has come back normal but the glucose test came back abnormal. I go back this Thursday for 3-hour glucose testing. Then, I go back on the 25th for an ultrasound and check-up. Until then I am on bedrest.

Until February 23rd (which is when I got put on bedrest) my pregnancy had been very uneventful. The past few weeks have been emotionally draining. I keep going back to the doctor and receiving confirmation that Baby Boy is doing great. That is probably the only thing keeping me from totally freaking out!

Thanks again for your prayers and words of encouragement. This too shall pass.



Meg

Medical Update

My doctor's office called me on Thursday afternoon and asked if I could come in on Monday instead of Tuesday. Since I have soooo much to do, I had to check my calendar (hahahaha), but I let them know that Monday would be great. A couple hours after talking to the medical assistant and scheduling the appointment, my doctor called to talk to me about results from tests and what the next step would be.

Praise the Lord, ALL tests have come back normal. This includes the original blood tests they did; the glucose test that was done Wednesday; the blood work that was done at the hospital; and the 24-hour urine test that was done Tuesday. I had additional lab work done last week that tested my liver enzymes and platelets. These are examined when testing for preeclampsia. These, too, came back NORMAL!!! Yay!!!

So, the next step is to start blood pressure medicine and see if that helps. He was hesitant to put me on this at first because he was concerned that something else was wrong and he wanted to find that first. Reminder: My blood pressure at the end of January was 118/something (I don't remember the bottom number). At my February appointment, it was in the 150's. He was concerned because of the drastic jump over a period of a few weeks.

He called in a prescription for me and Mama and I went and picked it up yesterday (Friday). I have taken it three times since then and my blood pressure has gone back to normal! If I don't take the medicine every few hours, then it is back up in the 150's and 160's but that just means I need to be disciplined in taking it. How exciting!!!!!!

I go back to the doctor on Monday for a check-up to see how the medicine is working. I am hoping to get a good report and start easing back into work, church and whatever else I have going on. I know, Mama, I will take it easy!! =)

I am SO thankful for our your prayers and words of encouragement!!! These past few weeks have been emotionally draining as I have spent lots of time thinking about the baby and hoping and praying he is ok. After the ultrasound on Wednesday I am so thankful that he is perfectly fine and healthy - I will do whatever I need to do to make sure he stays that way!


Meg

My sweet Mama

I called Mama after leaving the hospital on Wednesday. She told me that she would be leaving first thing the next morning to come stay with me for a few days. Nathan and her agree that I am a little hard headed when it comes to people doing stuff for me. I tried to convince her not to come, but she wasn't going to hear it.
She arrived in Louisville around lunch time on Thursday and just left this (Saturday) morning. The past 48 hours have been awesome for several reasons:

1. I had company 24/7. Nathan works 10:00-7:00 most days which means I spend the majority of the day alone. It was so nice to have someone to talk to besides Eli (our cat). =)
2. Mama cooked the whole time she was here. Since I have been on bedrest we have been eating leftovers, picking up carry-out or fast food or heating up frozen pizzas. Mama made baked ziti, bread, chicken and rice, breakfast casserole, pancakes, pineapple casserole (one of my faves), corn, chicken salad - geez, I am sure I am forgetting something. She made all of this for the meals while she was here but she put the leftovers in the freezer and refrigerator. Thank you, Mama!!!! All of it was yummy and I am so thankful to have plenty of food...I am sure Nathan is just as glad as I am, if not more! =)
3. She did all of our laundry, changed sheets on the bed and cleaned (dusted, mopped, vacuumed...everything). Since I have been on bedrest, Nathan and I had done pretty good at keeping stuff picked up but it was definitely time for a good dusting and mopping.
4. I had someone to play Phase 10 with! =) I love playing cards/board games. Nathan doesn't enjoy games near as much as I do, so it was good to have someone to play cards with. We played a couple games of Phase 10 while watching TV at night. Mama hasn't watched American Idol in a couple years now and I might have gotten her re-addicted. She was here for the "Wildcard Night" which was a good one.

Mama went above and beyond and I am SO thankful!!! The past few weeks have been very quiet and restful...I guess that's why it's called bedrest, huh!? =) It was great to have someone here to keep me company. Who better to do that than my Mama?

Love you!!!



Meg

Baby Moore Updated

I went to the doctor this (Wednesday) morning. I knew that I was going to have an ultrasound. Apparently, high blood pressure can harm the growth of the baby, so the doctor wanted to check and make sure Baby Moore was developing normally. Praise the Lord that he looks great!! His heart rate is good and he is growing at a normal rate. He is still right on track for a June 16th due date.

You can see his face on the right side of the picture and his legs are pulled up to his chest. This is my favorite picture so far.

Unfortunately, even after a week and a half of bedrest, my blood pressure was even higher than it was before. The doctor is still concerned and hasn't been able to determine what is causing the rise in my blood pressure. He said that my platelet levels were normal which is a good sign when testing for preeclampsia. However, he decided to admit me into Labor & Delivery at the hospital to monitor me and baby for a few hours.

I was already scheduled for the glucose test in March so they went ahead and did that while I was at the clinic. The glucose test is routine during pregnancy, and it screens for gestational diabetes. I had blood work done for that, then Nathan and I headed to the Labor and Delivery unit at the hospital.

We were there for about three hours and everything is fine. My blood pressure stabilized as long as I laid on my left side. So, I am on bedrest until my next appointment on Tuesday. As far as I know I am just going in for a check-up and see what the next step is.

My mom is driving up from Jackson, TN tomorrow. I am SO excited, although I wish it were under different circumstances. I am not very entertaining when I am laying on my left side all day! =) LOVE YOU, MAMA!!!!

P.S. I want to say a great big "Thank You" for the flowers that were waiting for me when I got home from the hospital today. My work (Vocational Economics, Inc.) had flowers delivered and they are beautiful. Thank y'all so much!!!

Meg

Linds & Anna Kate

Lindsey and her 6 month old daughter, Anna Kate, came to visit yesterday (Tuesday). They were so thoughtful and brought me potato soup from McAlisters. Thanks again, Linds!!! You are too sweet!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE playing with Anna Kate. She is such a happy baby and so well-behaved. They stayed for a couple hours until Anna Kate was ready for her afternoon nap, then they headed home.

I am so blessed to have such great friends!

Nathan was off work yesterday (Monday) which made for a better day. He had class last night but he was able to stay home during the day and keep me company. My mom bought us (well, Baby Moore) a changing table. It was ordered through JCPenney so we went and picked it up right before I went on bedrest. This was Nathan's first day off since, so there was finally time to start putting it together. We (yes, we...no worries, I didn't overdo anything) spent about two hours assembling the table before he had to leave for class.

For the rest of the evening I had company. My friend, Kim, brought Nathan and I pieces of pie from the Homemade Pie Kitchen...yummy!! Even better, though, she vacuumed our apartment! There were pieces of "popcorn" all over the floor from the changing table box. I was embarrassed for someone to be at my house with such a mess so being the good friend that she is, she vacuumed it for me! Thanks, Kim!

I have been a fan of the Bachelor since the season started a couple months ago. My Monday nights are committed to the show. My friend, Lauren, came over last night to watch it with me. She graduated from the seminary last year and is moving to Nashville in a couple weeks so it was great to get to hang out before she leaves. Hopefully, I will not be confined to bedrest for much longer and we can do something a little more exciting before she leaves town.

Kim and her daughter, Alexis, at a Highview gathering this past fall

Lauren and I cheering on the Vols when they played Mississippi State this past fall - so good to have a UT fan in the 'ville!

Thanks for keeping me company, girls!


Meg

Weekend

Guess what I did this weekend?! You guessed it...NOTHING! =) Except for the PAT (go ahead, Mama, make a joke), the past couple days have been uneventful. My heartrate has gone up to 105bpm atleast once a day since the first episode a few days ago. I have been keeping up with the occurrences so I can tell the doctor when I go on Wednesday.

I am excited and anxious about our doctor's appointment this week. I have felt the baby move more and more so I think he is totally fine. I just hope that there is good news regarding my health. If you think about it this week, pray for my sanity these last few days before I go back to the doctor; pray for Nathan as he continues to work, go to school and take care of me. He has done a great job but I feel like I am neglecting my duties (I know, I know...); pray for our appointment on Wednesday.

To all of you in Jackson, TN, have fun playing in ALL THE SNOW!! I know y'all are excited!


Meg