Hospital Stay

This is Gavan posting. We went in at 2:00 on Friday for a doctor visit and the doc found that Mel was dialated to a 2. She hasn't been dialated before this visit. The doc said she would be on full bed rest and prescribed a strong med to prevent contractions. At 3:00 we had a scheduled non-stress test and Mel was having many contractions. Not painful, labor contractions but they were big enough to concern the on-call doc and NST nurse. They admitted Mel into the hospital around 5:00 and put her on magnesium sulfate (in her IV) to control the contractions. It took until after midnight before they finally started slowing down. This morning they are much more spread out than they were Friday evening.

At about 4:00 yesterday they gave Mel a steroid shot that will help the baby's lungs develop quicker. She has another steroid shot at 4:00 today and that will be all of those. The doc said she will be on the magnesium sulfate at least 24 hours after that steroid shot. Basically it sounds like we'll at least be in the hospital until Monday morning, then go from there. Please pray hard for Mel's contractions to slow down and for this baby to stay put a few more weeks at least. The best news is that our little girl continues to look great. Strong, healthy heartbeat; she seems to be unfazed by all of the stupid uterus actions.

We may be taking some visitors today or tomorrow. Please call my cell before coming to check. Thanks for all of your love and support.

-Gavan
405-209-5721

Thanks

Thanks for your addresses. If you were on my list previously and you're not back on, let me know. My memory isn't quite up to par right now! I had another non-stress test last night, which took a couple of hours. They upped my dosage of the meds to every 4 hours cause I'm still having a decent amount of contractions. I had a lot during the test alone last night so they gave me a shot of the med in my arm to stop them completely before I left the hospital. She still looks good. I have another appointment & NST Friday and then another ultrasound and appointment next Thursday. Like I've said before, I pretty much live at Lakeside Women's Hospital. While I was doing my NST last night, I heard a girl have her baby without an epidural! I felt sorry for her cause she was screaming so loud and bad. I guess she went from a 5 to completely dilated in 30 minutes. The nurse helping me said she hoped I didn't hear all that but how could I not?! She was in the room behind me so I heard everything. It was nice to hear the baby finally cry cause I knew she was done. Anyways. I'm sure I'll have lots of stories like that with all the times I will be up there.

I haven't been having too many leg cramps but last night I got the weirdest foot cramp. My big toe kept turning in towards my other toes and then they were just curling down. We couldn't get it to stop. We tried stretching it out, walking it out, whatever but nothing stopped it. Finally after about 5 minutes it settled down. Then I was scared to curl my toes cause I didn't want it to come back! It didn't hurt as bad as some of the cramps I've gotten in my calves but it was so odd. Oh well, I've found lots of odd things that happen to your body when you are expecting so I'm not that surprised. Well, I'm off to the couch for a while!

Oops! I need your blog addresses!

I changed my blog and accidentally deleted all of your blogs! I need your blog websites! Could you please comment to this post and give me your website addresses? I didn't realize it would do that & I don't remember any of them! But don't you love the fall background. Have I told you that I absolutely love Fall?! I'm sure I have. I scared G half to death last night in the car cause we were turning a corner at Britton and Penn and I let out one of those gasps that I normally do when we get too close to a car or I think someone is going to hit us. You know, the one where we grab the "Oh Crap" handle and gasp really loud?! Well, I didn't grab the handle but I let out the gasp and he freaked out cause he thought someone was going to hit us! I was just excited cause at 7-11 the pumpkin spice cappucino is out! I'm so excited!!!!! The first day of fall was yesterday and that's when they put up the sign. If you haven't discovered pumpkin spice cappucino, then get your little buns over to 7-11 and get you one! I know it's still warm out so you can wait till it cools off but try it! I love it! Worked this morning and took at nap this afternoon so I feel pretty good. This medicine I'm on makes me so jittery though. Hopefully that will go away after my body gets used to it. I do have to set my alarm for 4 am to take it, which is annoying but oh well. Hope everyone had a good day! Don't forget to send me your blog address!

Okay, this isn't what you get at 7-11 but you get the idea!

There's a lot of "couch time" in my future....

Just updating on my doctor's appointments on Friday. I had my first non-stress test (NST) which went good. She wasn't moving too much at the beginning but they gave me some snacks and apple juice and she started moving around a bit. From the recordings they got she was going great and everything looked good with her. G couldn't stay for all the visits and after we met with Dr. Huff and heard the heartbeat & everything, he went back to work. My sis, Myra, happened to have her class cancelled that afternoon so she came with us and sat with my during the NST and ultrasound.

I got to the imaging center and after the girl took the first image she got up & said she needed to go check the printer to make sure the pictures were printing correctly. I knew something was up cause she'd only look at my cervix one time and then she left. I told Myra that she saw something that didn't look right. I could just tell. Anyways, 2 minutes later the radiologist came in with the girl and startd asking my if I'd been having any contractions or problems. I told him what has happened within the last 3 weeks and he told me that my cervix has started funneling, which means open up even more than it had and that I was going to be on bedrest for the rest of the pregnancy. We talked for a little while and they finished the ultrasound and took some measurements of the baby and then I had to go back to see Dr. Huff.

The baby looks great. She's 2 lbs 8 oz and is still measuring about 1 week ahead of schedule, which is good. Anyways, Dr. Huff told me I had to go to half days of work and then on the couch after that for 2-3 hours with my feet up. I just have to take it really, really easy or she's going to come into our lives too early! I've started medication to hold off premature labor too. It makes me a little jittery, which she said can happen, but other than that it hasn't affected me yet. It is supposed to settle the contractions down. So starting tomorrow I'll go to half days. Dr. Wright is so understanding about everything and we're going to work out a schedule that is best for me and the office.

G has been such a great help these last few weeks & now with the most recent changes, he's even better. I just appreciate him so much and love him for all he does for me and the baby. He loves and cares for her so much and she's not even here yet. It's not easy for me to sit back and watch him to everything but he says that I'm growing our baby, which is hard enough work! I'm just blessed with a wonderful husband and supportive family.

We know that God has a plan for our little girl and he'll give her to us when the time is right. We have faith that everything will be just fine. I'd like to ask you all to pray for Doug, Dixie and Ethan cause Ethan is having tubes put in tomorrow morning & he's only 9 months. He's already been through a surgery but it's always scary putting your baby under anesthesia.

For all of you still reading (sorry it got long), have a happy Monday tomorrow! Yea, for me only being there half a day on Monday!

I love Paisley but....

she won't eat her food! I'm not sure if I'm mentioned this situation in the recent weeks but we're at a loss with her. About 2-3 weeks ago she started acting really different. She was just moping around, not being her normal hyper self, and just all of a sudden stopped eating her food. She hadn't gone to the bathroom lately either, probably cause she didn't eat for like 2-3 days. We took her to the vet and he gave her some meds for some intestinal problems he thought she might be having due to some inflamed glands & that seemed to make her feel a little better. After several days she started to perk back up to normal Paisley but she still wasn't eating very much. She usually eats a cup of food twice a day. Over this whole week she was sick, she ate maybe a 1/2 cup every day and a half and that's cause I stood there and made her eat. Sorry this is getting too long. Anyways. She has stayed her normal personality and attitude over the last week or so but she's still not eating. Like tonight for instance.....she food that was in her bowl was from yesterday morning's breakfast and she still hadn't touched it. I stood out there and kept telling her to eat until she finished that cup of food. Then we brought her in and she acted like she was starving and wanted the food we were eating. Seriously. She's driving me crazy. I even bought her new bowls and different food to see if that helped but it didn't do much. I just don't get it. I guess she'll eat when she gets hungry enough but it just doesn't make sense why all of a sudden she stops eating the food she has been eating for over a year now. Nevertheless, that's my post for this evening. I've got my afternoon of doctor's appointments tomorrow so I'll update after I finish all of them!

This is the very first pic of Paisley, when she was about 8 weeks old. Wasn't she just the cutest little thing? I'm just trying to remember how cute, cuddly & easy she was when we first got her & not thinking of what a pain she's being right now!

Here she is about 2 1/2 years old now.

Happy Birthday to me......a big 27 years old!

Yep, today was my birthday. It actually made me have a good Monday because as you all know..."Melody hates Mondays!". The day went really fast (mainly cause we were shorthanded at work) but that's okay cause the day zips by. Dr. Wright got me a big chocolate cake at work that was delicious & there's more for tomorrow! G took me to Red Rock tonight for dinner. We sat out of the patio and the weather couldn't of been better. Too bad clouds covered the sun right before sunset but it was still great. That was our first time to eat there but it was all great. I think my favorite things were the house salad and the mashed potatoes! Very yummy. Now were home and just going to hang out and I'm probably going to get in bed early. My feet and shins hurt from today. I guess I ran around more at work than normal. This picture isn't the greatest but that's what you get when a stranger takes forever to take it and you start to drop your smile! By the way, I got that dress at the mall yesterday for $6.99! Thanks for all the cards and calls I got today from my friends and family!

Look at those mashed potatoes!

My face says it all: "Mister, please hurry up and take the picture cause I'm losing my smile!"

27 weeks

Just thought I'd post a belly picture. I'm so bad at keeping updated pictures of myself on here. The last one I posted was like 6 weeks ago, I think. I finished 27 weeks today so I'm officially in my 3rd trimester! I can't believe that in 3 months (or less) she'll be here! I'm loving this cooler weather that's for sure. Although this week is going to be back up to 90 but hopefully after this week it will stay cool. I enjoyed a pedicure with Miranda this weekend & I'm sure I'll have several more before I'm comfortable enough to reach my toes again! They are always so worth the money!

This week should go fast with my birthday being tomorrow and then I'm off Friday afternoon; however, it will be filled with 3 doctor's appointments. I have an appt with Dr. Huff, then my first non-stress test & then an ultrasound. Mom & Dad surprised me by coming down and meeting us for dinner after church tonight for my b-day. Michael, Katie and Myra were there too. Mom said she felt old cause I'm turning 27! She said she hopes my baby kicks me about 7:00 A.M. cause that's when she had me!

I'm heading to the shower & then to bed for now. Hopefully G won't mind rubbing my feet again tonight for me. Some nights they just kill me and then some nights they don't bother me. Tonight is one of those nights where they hurt! He always just smiles and says "I don't mind" but I know he'll be glad when I don't need them rubbed all the time! Have a good night and good week.

I feel like all I do is go see Dr. Huff......

I had my 2 week appointment today to make sure I haven't progressed anymore due to the contractions & other things. She said everything is like it was 2 weeks ago, which is good. She said to still take it easy for the rest of the time & to watch the contractions to make sure they aren't changing from what they are now. My belly measured on time, her heartbeat was great & I gained 5 pounds. Yea. I know it is for the baby but it's so hard to think I've gained 20 pounds in the last6 months! I have to start my non-stress tests next Friday and go twice a week for them until she is born! That's a lot of appointments to get too! Hopefully we can do them in the evenings, which I think I can. Next Friday I see Dr. Huff at 12:30, the first non-stress test after that & then our 28 week ultrasound at 2:15. What a way to spend my afternoon off from work! I always seem to fill it with appointments and other things. So, basically, I'm doing good but still have to take it easy and keep her in there as long as possible!

Tonight is the last night for our house guest, Brandon, to stay with us. He gets his apartment this weekend, which I know he's excited about. He's probably glad to not have to worry about taking me to the hospital when G isn't around. When G was gone the other night to a camp meeting, I had like 5 contractions within an hour & a half and I think he got a little nervous! G grilled steaks tonigh for Wee's last night in the Byrd House.

So glad tomorrow is Friday. I'm having lunch with my best friend from high school, Deana. She lives in Tulsa but is in town tomorrow so we're grabbing lunch! I actually can't remember the last time I saw her but I know it's been way too long! Hope everyone has a good weekend! Enjoy the weather! I'm putting up my fall decorations & I'm so excited!!!!

Update

Well, I talked to Dr. Huff's nurse today and she said that I passed the blood glucose test with all normal levels! I asked her what happened with the first screening to cause me to fail it. She said it was probably a fluke things or just an isolated event but this longer test showed that I was fine! I'm SO relieved. I just didn't want to have that to deal with or worry about, seeing how I know nothing about diabetes! I have another appointment on Thursday with Dr. Huff to check to see if anything else has happed with the softening of my cervix. Let's hope is hasn't changed from 2 weeks ago. The contractions have lessened slightly but I still have probably 2-3 a day. At least they aren't getting anymore intense cause that wouldn't be good. I'll update again after Thursdays appointment.

Hope everyone had a good Monday. I didn't start to have a good day until I got my results back over my lunch hour! After I found that out, I celebrated with a Dr. Pepper from Sonic! I actually had a splitting headache so the DP helped that go away! I'm so excited for this weather. It's starting to feel like fall aound here! In honor of the cooler weather I made Santa Fe Chili & corn bread tonight for dinner. G & Wee thought they were in heaven because they were both propped up on the couch watching the Bengals play Monday Night Football while eating chili. I always get in the mood for soups, stews, chilis, etc when fall starts coming around, not to mention my mom brought me a pumpkin this past weekend! The first one of the season on my porch already! I'm going to get my fall decorations out this weekend too. I know I'm weird, but I can't wait! I love putting all my pumpkins out! This month starts my favorite time of the year! Fall is my favorite season to begin with, then my birthday is next Monday and then we have all kinds of holidays in the next several months! This year will end wonderfully when our daughter is born too! Can you tell I'm excited tonight?!

Welp, I'm off to give myself a manicure cause my nails grow super fast with my prenatal vitamins. I've stopped giving myself pedicures cause I simply can't do it comfortably but it gives me a good excuse to go pay those nice chinese ladies to give me one. They do such a great job! Maybe I'll get one this weekend...... Oh yeah, I cut my hair off on Friday. I had an appointment for my highlights but decided while I was there to cut it! It's easy to fix and I like it! Have a good night, all.

There you have it!

I actually made this slideshow AND got it on my blog all by myself! I'm not just real good with that kind of stuff yet but I'm learning. We're really enjoying the kitchen and I'm almost done with the finishing touches, like curtains! They're coming as soon as I find the right material or that perfect curtain. It's so nice to not have the nasty blue countertops with the cigarette burn anymore!


Well, I had my blood glucose screening last week at my checkup and found out yesterday that my blood sugar level was high so I got to go to the hospital at 8:00 this morning and sit for several hours after drinking a very sugary drink so they could stick my arms 4 times to check for gestational diabetes. Luckily, my sweet mother came and sat with me all morning while I got a little sick from that drink and got poked with needles. It wasn't too bad but I really hope I don't have it. I just don't want to have to worry about anything more with this pregnancy! Hopefully we'll have the results within a day or 2. I'll report when I hear.


My daughter (no, we haven't decided on a name yet) definately already has a full closet of clothes. My sis-in-law, Shawna, gave us 2 huge bags of clothes that Dayona has already grown out of, not to mention I've bought a "few" things for her too! Here's a pic of the clothes we got from them. It's crazy!

Last weekend we did a little registering too. My parents were down for the OU game so Mom was with me at the baby shops, which was fun cause we haven't gotten to shop together for the baby much this time. Anyway, she bought us our travel set! I'm so excited & can't wait to use it! Gavan put it all together and now it's just sitting in the nursery taking up space. We are going to run out of space so soon. Where are we going to put everything? I love organizing but it's going to be quite a challenge to make the best use of space when this little darling comes into my world and messes everything up! I really can't wait for her to get here though. I'm up for the challenge! Here's a pic of our stroller & car seat! Thanks mom & dad! We love you. "LuLu" (that's what our nephews call her) says thanks too & she can't wait to be able to ride in it!

Well, I'm off to bed by doctor's orders. For all of you who have been wondering....Yes, I'm taking it easy and staying off my feet as much as possible. I'm trying to get more rest too. It's hard for me to slow down and let other people do things for me but I'm learning to be okay with it. Thanks to my great husband for helping out while I'm resting. Love you, G. Thanks to Wee for making a great dinner tonight too! You're a great house guest! Have Friday to all of you!

Kitchen Pictures!