Minor Complication=Frustration

It has been so long since I have blogged because I had been very busy and not feeling so good. As it turns out, I had lots of reason to not feel so good and had been pushing myself way too much. Last week at my regular MD appointment, he was concerned with the severe swelling in my body, as well as a very slight increase in my BP, so I was sent home for bed rest through the weekend. Unfortunately, I did not make it through the weekend after experiencing a headache all night on Thursday. I woke up Friday and went to Walgreens to check my BP. It was really high, so I drove to another Walgreens (ha ha) just to make sure and checked it again. My BP was skyrocketing, although I am sure I was a bit nervous which didn't help. By the time I got to the MD, it was reading 173/100.

After laying on my left side, it went down, but was still borderline high, so I was sent for an overnight stay in the hospital for observation. The worst part of all of this for me was that my sister had just flown into town and my long anticipated baby shower was the next day. To say that I was devestated was an understatement, but I did my best to mask my emotions and keep Margo and myself safe and calm.

The hospital stay was uneventful. I saw a specialist and had an ultrasound that showed Margo was only 4 lbs. 5 oz. which was small for 34 weeks. This was all the more reason I had to keep this situation under control, so she could keep on cooking. After a fun 24-hour urine collection test that had just slightly elevated amounts of protein, I was deemed to have borderline preeclampsia, which could be stabilized by strict bed rest and laying on my left side.

So here I am... my shower has passed me by and I am so sad that not only I missed it, but that all the effort that was put into it was wasted. I am done with work until Margo gets here other than an hour of catch-up online a day. If I stay on my feet for more than a few minutes my BP spikes, which is so frustrating! I have to keep convicing myself this is real. I look and feel so much better from the bed rest and when I am laying down, my BP is near perfect. It makes me question myself and my symptoms. I know this condition could change or worsen at any given time, so I have to keep reminding myself that I am doing this for the safety of myself and Margo.

I have three total doctor appointments this week and I know poor Cary is stressed to the max between juggling me, work, domestic household duties, trying to get last minute things done for Margo, etc... He has been a real trooper and an amazing husband through this and I feel so lucky to have him. My family has been amazing as well! My house is filled with gorgeous flowers that were supposed to be for the shower, my sister provided a fridge full of awesome food and washed baby clothes, the Weavers came to install car seats and my mom has been a big help in getting things organized. I don't know what I would do without them all and I feel so incredibly blessed!

So... I lay on my left side and wait and pray. I pray mostly for the health of our sweet little one and the hope that she will keep growing and flourishing. If all continues to be status quo, she will be delivered via c-section around 37 weeks in mid-September. Please keep up in your prayers as we face this bump in the road and ask for God to grace us with patience and understanding.