Hooray for Saturday! It's the only day we really get to hang out with Steve, so it has quickly become our family favorite! :) Today we have lots of errands on our list, who knows if they will actually happen?
This past week was busy and fun. Rachie had her first official dance class, we all had fun at the Blue & Gold dinner with Jake. I will get the pics up asap, they are still on my camera. Yesterday I went wedding dress shopping with Melissa, and she bought everything! Dress, veil, and these CUTE little sparkly hair twists. We were amazed that she found a dress she loved off the rack. They are thinking of getting married on May 1, so we were worried because that didn't give us time to order a dress or even have much done with alterations. We took Rachie and Jake with us. Rach was in heaven, Jake, not so much, lol. I will put those pics up later too. Rachie saw the rack of flower girl dresses and wanted to start trying them on. We didn't let her, so she had to settle for trying on Eesa's veil and posing. Now I just need to find a fancy enough maternity dress that doesn't cost a fortune since I will be 3 weeks away from having Ladybug when they get married. Steve and I are doing pictures for them, so if you want some comic relief come and watch me try and get my big ole pregnant belly up and down while taking pics! :) Especially since I will be the one doing pics of her getting ready, and I will be one of the ones actually helping her get ready. Should be an interesting double duty day! :)
Sorry about rambling on and on. Seems to be what I do on here a lot lately. Happy Saturday!!
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
Apprehensive
Ok, I have to tell the truth. I am kind of freaking out a bit about this c-section. I have questions and requests that I would like to get out in the open, but I really don't know where the boundaries are. How much say do I really get in my medical care? If I have an opinion that differs from the norm, will I be judged and treated as a problem patient? I have always just gone along with whatever the docs have told me to do, but this time I'm a little older, wiser and ornery-er (is that a word?). I want to feel like I have some control over my birth experience, even if it is just small things like, what I can eat afterward, when my staples will be removed, what tests they do on my baby, etc. Maybe it's because this is my last and I want to feel like I was a part of my child's birth instead of basically having it done to/for me. I don't know if this makes any sense to anyone who hasn't had a c-section. I still have some real issues that I have had since the trauma of Becka's birth, and apparently they are a little closer to the surface than I previously realized. I'm not going to go all crazy psycho on the hospital staff, I just want to have a chance to ask my questions, and make my thoughts and wishes known. After all, it is my body and my baby, right? I feel like after having gone through 3 of these surgeries already, I have knowledge about what works and what doesn't for my particular situation. I also know what I want for my baby and my requests are not unreasonable at all. It's so frustrating being the kind of person I am...someone who doesn't want to rock the boat, I don't want to disagree with anyone, but at the same time, there's a small part inside me that is screaming, "Hello! What about how I feel? What I need/want?" Stifling that small part almost always makes me regretful and upset when everything is said and done.
Here's my list, some of it may be TMI, sorry about that, You don't have to keep reading. :)
1. I just want to know why they can't make that AWFUL antacid drink taste better. I mean, come on people! We can transplant people's hearts and create nuclear weapons, but the antacid we give patients before surgery makes them gag and want to vomit because of the taste? I completely understand the need for this medicine before the surgery, I just would like to be able to drink it (especially since I have nothing else in my stomach) without being afraid it will all come back up.
2. (Here's the TMI part) Again, I understand the reasons for shaving me, but does it really have to be done dry and with a disposable razor? Can we please find a happy medium that doesn't make me want to scream obscenities while it is happening? If nothing can be done about that, could we at least wait until I have the spinal in me so that I can't feel the torture?
3. Why did I have my staples removed the day I left the hospital with my first two, but with the third, I had to go back a week after the surgery and have them removed after my skin had already started healing/growing over them? Oh, and could someone please explain to the nurses which set of tools is supposed to be used for their removal? Two out of the three times I have been near tears while they were removing the staples only to hear them say halfway through, "oh, no wonder this is hurting you, I'm not using the right kit." What??? Does anyone else see my pain issue in these last two posts? :) I obviously am a wimp, but at least I'm admitting it.
4. If I say I don't want my baby supplemented with formula, could I please not be given a huge guilt trip about that or even worse, have the nurses sneak it into my kid while I'm sleeping? Thanks. I mean, I have HUGE babies, it's normal for babies to lose a little bit of weight while in the hospital. Going from 10 pounds to 9 pounds just doesn't strike me as a reason to lecture me on the dangers of babies losing too much weight. Go talk to the lady who has a 6 pound baby and then I can see the need for concern.
5. I know you have to ask me certain questions that are a bit embarrassing, but could you please do it discretely in front of other people? I really don't think my father in law wants to know if I have passed gas yet or not.
6. Back to the surgery prep thing. Why when I give blood at the Red Cross, do they always tell me I have great veins and never have an issue getting the needle in on the first try, but when I get my IV put in, it takes 5-6 tries on each arm and three different people to finally get it in? I just don't understand it. I know they must be different needles or something, but if you can't get it in me after the first 4 times, am I allowed to ask you to go find someone who can? My 3 year old was very concerned that my arms were black and blue when he came to visit me last time, I had to agree that I looked like some sort of torture victim.
7. Please, please, please don't get grumbly at me if I ask for pain meds. I have learned the hard way what happens when I don't keep up on them and I never ever want to deal with that again. I promise that I will not abuse them, but for the first few days, just please give me everything you've got! Heck, you can just leave the spinal in if you want to.
Just for the record, I try my best to be a model patient and I don't bother the nurses unless I really need them. I know they are very busy and they are (for the most part, I've had one or two I wasn't so sure about) the awesome-est (again with my making up words) people in the hospital. Without them, nothing would happen. I know sometimes to docs are bossy to them and I don't want to come across as pushy or rude at all when I ask them questions or for help. I just want to feel like I am allowed to think for myself and not be grumped at, ya know?
Here's my list, some of it may be TMI, sorry about that, You don't have to keep reading. :)
1. I just want to know why they can't make that AWFUL antacid drink taste better. I mean, come on people! We can transplant people's hearts and create nuclear weapons, but the antacid we give patients before surgery makes them gag and want to vomit because of the taste? I completely understand the need for this medicine before the surgery, I just would like to be able to drink it (especially since I have nothing else in my stomach) without being afraid it will all come back up.
2. (Here's the TMI part) Again, I understand the reasons for shaving me, but does it really have to be done dry and with a disposable razor? Can we please find a happy medium that doesn't make me want to scream obscenities while it is happening? If nothing can be done about that, could we at least wait until I have the spinal in me so that I can't feel the torture?
3. Why did I have my staples removed the day I left the hospital with my first two, but with the third, I had to go back a week after the surgery and have them removed after my skin had already started healing/growing over them? Oh, and could someone please explain to the nurses which set of tools is supposed to be used for their removal? Two out of the three times I have been near tears while they were removing the staples only to hear them say halfway through, "oh, no wonder this is hurting you, I'm not using the right kit." What??? Does anyone else see my pain issue in these last two posts? :) I obviously am a wimp, but at least I'm admitting it.
4. If I say I don't want my baby supplemented with formula, could I please not be given a huge guilt trip about that or even worse, have the nurses sneak it into my kid while I'm sleeping? Thanks. I mean, I have HUGE babies, it's normal for babies to lose a little bit of weight while in the hospital. Going from 10 pounds to 9 pounds just doesn't strike me as a reason to lecture me on the dangers of babies losing too much weight. Go talk to the lady who has a 6 pound baby and then I can see the need for concern.
5. I know you have to ask me certain questions that are a bit embarrassing, but could you please do it discretely in front of other people? I really don't think my father in law wants to know if I have passed gas yet or not.
6. Back to the surgery prep thing. Why when I give blood at the Red Cross, do they always tell me I have great veins and never have an issue getting the needle in on the first try, but when I get my IV put in, it takes 5-6 tries on each arm and three different people to finally get it in? I just don't understand it. I know they must be different needles or something, but if you can't get it in me after the first 4 times, am I allowed to ask you to go find someone who can? My 3 year old was very concerned that my arms were black and blue when he came to visit me last time, I had to agree that I looked like some sort of torture victim.
7. Please, please, please don't get grumbly at me if I ask for pain meds. I have learned the hard way what happens when I don't keep up on them and I never ever want to deal with that again. I promise that I will not abuse them, but for the first few days, just please give me everything you've got! Heck, you can just leave the spinal in if you want to.
Just for the record, I try my best to be a model patient and I don't bother the nurses unless I really need them. I know they are very busy and they are (for the most part, I've had one or two I wasn't so sure about) the awesome-est (again with my making up words) people in the hospital. Without them, nothing would happen. I know sometimes to docs are bossy to them and I don't want to come across as pushy or rude at all when I ask them questions or for help. I just want to feel like I am allowed to think for myself and not be grumped at, ya know?
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Braces!
Becka had an ortho appt yesterday. We thought it was just for checking the appliance that has been helping to expand her jaw to correct her cross bite, but after they checked that, they went ahead and put braces on the top four front teeth! She was pretty excited and nervous at the same time. :) Steve and I think she looks so cute and grown up! :)
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Well, I finally called the doctor on Friday since I hadn't heard back about my glucose test. The receptionist looked for me and said everything was normal. I was (and still am) shocked. If that's not what's wrong with me, then I want to know what is so that I can feel better. I definitely have a few questions for the doc when I go in. If my levels were close, I am going to ask to be treated like I have it so that I can get a glucose monitor and be able to check for myself. If he won't listen, he tends to be a "wait and see" kind of guy, then I will most likely be shopping for a new doctor. I need someone who will listen to me and actually DO something about my symptoms. I like this doc, but he is very unlikely to order tests or do anything about things that need to be taken care of. I have dealt with it in the past from him and I am fed up. Mostly because I just can't keep feeling this way for 3 more months. I can't get anything done anymore because I am always feeling cruddy.
Preschool has been fun lately. We had a little Valentine party last week and they seemed like they enjoyed it. They each worked hard on decorating a picture frame for their mom and dad, and I had them make hand print hearts to put inside it. They also got to decorate the gift bag for the present, make a card, decorate 2 valentine cookies and we had "Sweetheart floats" for part of our snack. Yum!! We also read some Valentine books, and their favorite part was seeing the Valentines from their friends in their "mailboxes." I feel bad because I was so with our letter at the beginning of the year. I was too into the holidays and such, plus not feeling well, so now we are racing to get through the alphabet before we end. Most of them know their letters already anyway, so it's not a big deal to them if we go quickly. I am looking forward to the next unit we will be discussing. It is about fire safety, and I found a great link online with info about it. I am hoping to get a trip to the fire station scheduled also, that would be AWESOME!! Our last day will be April 29, I need those last three weeks to get things ready for the baby and clean stuff up. I want to get the preschool room cleaned up, repainted and such before baby come so I don't have to worry about it all summer. Although, I may have more energy a couple of months after the baby is here. We will see.
Yesterday was a fun day. Steve's work now has them take fixed holidays off instead of floating, so he had Presidents' Day off. We lounged around, then ran some errands. Went to a Thai restaurant that Dana and Derek had given us a gift certificate to for xmas. It was the first time I had ever had Thai food, and I liked it. After that, we treated ourselves and the kids to some dippin' dots in the mall and then went to visit Grammie/Grandpa Great and then to Steve's parents' house for a bit. I like it when Daddy has the day off!
Preschool has been fun lately. We had a little Valentine party last week and they seemed like they enjoyed it. They each worked hard on decorating a picture frame for their mom and dad, and I had them make hand print hearts to put inside it. They also got to decorate the gift bag for the present, make a card, decorate 2 valentine cookies and we had "Sweetheart floats" for part of our snack. Yum!! We also read some Valentine books, and their favorite part was seeing the Valentines from their friends in their "mailboxes." I feel bad because I was so with our letter at the beginning of the year. I was too into the holidays and such, plus not feeling well, so now we are racing to get through the alphabet before we end. Most of them know their letters already anyway, so it's not a big deal to them if we go quickly. I am looking forward to the next unit we will be discussing. It is about fire safety, and I found a great link online with info about it. I am hoping to get a trip to the fire station scheduled also, that would be AWESOME!! Our last day will be April 29, I need those last three weeks to get things ready for the baby and clean stuff up. I want to get the preschool room cleaned up, repainted and such before baby come so I don't have to worry about it all summer. Although, I may have more energy a couple of months after the baby is here. We will see.
Yesterday was a fun day. Steve's work now has them take fixed holidays off instead of floating, so he had Presidents' Day off. We lounged around, then ran some errands. Went to a Thai restaurant that Dana and Derek had given us a gift certificate to for xmas. It was the first time I had ever had Thai food, and I liked it. After that, we treated ourselves and the kids to some dippin' dots in the mall and then went to visit Grammie/Grandpa Great and then to Steve's parents' house for a bit. I like it when Daddy has the day off!
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
AWFUL!
I had my three hour glucose test yesterday. I think it was one of the worst things I have ever had to go through in my life. Right up there with my horrific labor experience when I had Becka. Maybe even worse.
So, I drank the stuff, did ok for about 20 minutes and then I could feel it hitting me. By 45 minutes into it, I thought I was going to throw up and/or pass out, so I asked the receptionist where a bathroom was. She had me come back, and stopped another lady who was on her way in there to let me go first (that was embarrassing). Luckily, I didn't throw up, but I was pretty close. I splashed cold water on my face, rinsed out my mouth (I wasn't allowed to drink anything) and laid on a little couch they had back there for the ten minutes left until my second blood draw.
Hour two started out ok. I could actually read a little bit, and a lady from our stake came in and talked to me for a while. About halfway through that hour, I started feeling ill again. I must have looked like an idiot, squirming around in my chair alternated with leaning back so my head was touching the wall behind me. By the time I got called back for my third blood draw, I could barely walk, and I couldn't even hold my head up when I was in the chair for them to take my blood.
The lab tech had me lie down in a dark room on a bed for my third hour. I intended to only stay in there for a few minutes, but it felt so much better lying in there that I stayed the whole hour. I even dozed off a bit. The fourth blood draw went better, although I was dizzy still.
I was nervous to drive back and get Rachie, so I stopped and got a water and some french fries so that there would be something in my stomach besides that darn glucola drink. I was so thankful that Katie agreed to watch Rach for me, there would have been no way for me to take care of her in the lab for that long while I felt so awful. Thank you Katie!!!
I always wanted 5 or 6 kids, but it sure seems like Heavenly Father is telling me every step of the way that this should be my last. Everything has been so much worse with this pregnancy, I can't imagine doing it again. Makes me sad, but at least it isn't a question anymore.
So, I drank the stuff, did ok for about 20 minutes and then I could feel it hitting me. By 45 minutes into it, I thought I was going to throw up and/or pass out, so I asked the receptionist where a bathroom was. She had me come back, and stopped another lady who was on her way in there to let me go first (that was embarrassing). Luckily, I didn't throw up, but I was pretty close. I splashed cold water on my face, rinsed out my mouth (I wasn't allowed to drink anything) and laid on a little couch they had back there for the ten minutes left until my second blood draw.
Hour two started out ok. I could actually read a little bit, and a lady from our stake came in and talked to me for a while. About halfway through that hour, I started feeling ill again. I must have looked like an idiot, squirming around in my chair alternated with leaning back so my head was touching the wall behind me. By the time I got called back for my third blood draw, I could barely walk, and I couldn't even hold my head up when I was in the chair for them to take my blood.
The lab tech had me lie down in a dark room on a bed for my third hour. I intended to only stay in there for a few minutes, but it felt so much better lying in there that I stayed the whole hour. I even dozed off a bit. The fourth blood draw went better, although I was dizzy still.
I was nervous to drive back and get Rachie, so I stopped and got a water and some french fries so that there would be something in my stomach besides that darn glucola drink. I was so thankful that Katie agreed to watch Rach for me, there would have been no way for me to take care of her in the lab for that long while I felt so awful. Thank you Katie!!!
I always wanted 5 or 6 kids, but it sure seems like Heavenly Father is telling me every step of the way that this should be my last. Everything has been so much worse with this pregnancy, I can't imagine doing it again. Makes me sad, but at least it isn't a question anymore.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Should have been a doctor!
My glucose test results came back high, and I am anemic. I could have told them all that that without the tests. Sometimes I think I should have been a doctor, lol! My main problem now is to find a babysitter who can watch Rachel for me for 4 hours on Monday morning. That's the hardest part!
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Doctor visit
Went in this morning for my monthly checkup. Everything is good. I haven't gained any weight yet (hooray!) and baby sounds/looks good. I am measuring 3-4 weeks bigger than I should be, but that's pretty normal for me. I have gigantic babies. I also took my glucose test this morning and am anxiously awaiting the results. Is it weird that I am hoping it comes back positive? At least then I would be able to get the tools to test my blood sugars and get it under control. I feel so icky if I eat in the mornings because my blood sugar goes up. So I have to wait until around 11-12 before I eat and by then I am SO hungry! Doctor said that next time we can figure out the day for this one to be born. He said I could go about a week before my due date which would put Ladybug's (that's what we are calling her for now) birthday right around May 21st. :) I can't wait until I know for sure!
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