Sleepy time update

Well.  We made it through another day all where we ought to be.  We heard this morning that my platelets had increased to normal, liver enzymes good and kidney function is ok.  That is pleasing and good news.  Now comes observation and observation and observation.  Will it all stay steady? The Dr's remind us that steroids, while helping the baby's lungs also temporarily can boost my blood platelets.  Thus observation.

Baby and mama are sleepy today.  I did manage about 6 hours intereupted last night, but 6 hours is better than 45 minutes the night before.  Baby isnt punching and kicking today, but the heart is steady and strong and baby is moving and hiding from the machines.   We laughed and sang silly songs to baby today while on the machine...baby just slept on. 

So, tonight a baby friendly sleeping draft for me and there will be dancing and running and singjng in my dreams. 

Bryce is taking the service tomorrow. I'm slightly jealous.  It's my favourite Sunday of the year - Memorial/Toten Sontag/Eternity Sunday and this year they'll light a candle for Dad.  Always so meaningful. 

Anyway, thanks for all your prayers this week.  We are resting in your and God's hands.

New LEG of the journey

What pretty ankles I have! And look! Tops of feet!  It feels so good to have my legs back to their typical grisly-Toews shape.  And, aside from lack of sleep on my part, things are looking good.

We had an ultrasound this evening and baby looks and acts healthy and strong.  No sense of any damage to baby or placenta yet (fingers crossed) with my preeclampsia.  The obgyn estimated the baby to weigh about 2.6 pounds.  That is good.  I want baby to be at least 3 pounds before I see baby's face.  We didn't actually see the baby's face because it was tucked in snuggling my back.  Sweetie.

So, I kicked Bryce out of the hospital...to Alexander's for good food - and took a shower.  We're back in Antinatal in a private room where, hopefully, I can finally sleep. Now I'm just waiting for my evening bloodwork and hoping all goes well tonight.  We'll keep you posted.

Heading to a new normal

From the monitoring equipment:  do not shower pregnant with electrodes on.  Pro tip.

2:45 PM November 20, 2015

The latest lab results have come back and they show that while the organ involvement has yet to stop, it is not worsening.  In sort this is where we want to be.  Blood pressure being controlled, by in large. Body systems healing themselves.  And a healthy mama and healthy kiddo.

Moments of surrealism abound.  Like the medical assessment "it is just that your baby is trying to kill you."    

The upshot here is we are now in the sense of days rather than hours, as was said before, with the word weeks being thrown around on occasion, allbeit with a high degree of caution.  The baby will quite possibly need to be early, but perhaps not as early as, you know, today.  Emily will need to be curtailed for the remainder of the pregnancy, and perhaps hospitalized, however that ends up being.  

All of which makes a guy kind of glad to find himself in Canada, but that is a different conversation all together. Though I still snicker as I pass the plaque unveiled by Her Majesty the Queen on the opening of a wing of the hospital, I am glad to be at home in a different place with one year behind me. I am just not sure how long it takes for monarchy to start sounding normal to American ears. Takes some getting used to.  

So the order of the day is now to rest.  Bryce has confiscated Emily's cell phone and turned it off for at least several hours in the hopes sleep might, just might be possible.  We will see if she gets it back.

Thank you each for your concern and your prayers and much much love.  We only hope to be given opportunity in time to fully demonstrate our gratitude.

PS:  the cell phone restriction fails miserably.

The numbers keep getting better

9 AM November 20, 2015

Another 6 hours, another blood draw and more news.   And it is good.

The meds are having the desired effect.  Liver function is improving. Ankles are emerging (much to Emily's delight). The baby is bouncing around happy as a clam.  It sounds now that we now from "the next time you see us we will likely be delivering you" to "yeah we're just going to hang out today."

Good news today is more boredom.

More soon

It 3 am. Do you know what YOUR liver function is?

3 AM November 20, 2015

The blood work came back and the numbers have stabilized, and somewhat improved.  This buys us another 6 hours until the next round.  and now we try to sleep.  or Emily tries to sleep while Bryce snores in the corner.

11:30PM Thursday, November 19

Pre-eclampsia or preeclampsia (PE) is a disorder of pregnancy characterized by high blood pressure and a large amount of protein in the urine.^[1] The disorder usually occurs in the third trimester of pregnancy and gets worse over time.^[2][3] In severe disease there may be red blood cell breakdown, a low blood platelet count, impaired liver function, kidney dysfunction, swelling, shortness of breath due to fluid in the lungs, or visual disturbances.^[2][3] Preeclampsia increases the risk of poor outcomes for both the mother and the baby.^[3] If left untreated, it may result in seizures at which point it is known as eclampsia.^{[2]   -- wikipedia  The only cure for preeclampsia is birth}

So that is what it is.  And we have it.  Emily has struggled for some time with high blood pressure for some years, and we knew this was a risk.  We have been working together on blood pressure and working with medications, with little effect.  This week our family doctor referred us to a Obstetrician to get it checked out, especially as Emily has had a number of highly resetless days and nights with extra ordinary high blood pressure and a general discomfort.  

We were left contemplating delaying today's appointment after receiving the first winter storm of the season and have 120 km of ice covered roads to deal with.  We decided to risk it and we are glad that we did.  Our OB took a look and sent us off to the Royal University Hospital.  We got settled in and I (Bryce) headed home as the plan was control the blood pressure and get things stable-- not much to worry about and now medical drama in the near offing.

But that changed. I got home and had supper just in time to get a call from Emily saying that I needed to come back, that Pre-eclampsia had indeed set in and we may well be seeing our 29 week old child sooner than we either expected.  With that, I packed a bag, and headed back to the city.

 We are now in waiting to see how the blood tests look.  The problem, it seems with Pre-eclampsia deprives the organs of the mother with adequate blood supply.  Emily's body is starting to show signs of this deprivation, and we need to address this.  The question, it seems now is not whether our child will appear well ahead of schedule (a true first for the Miller-Toews household), but when the kid will make an appearance.  Ideally mother and child and continue sharing space for a while longer yet, but it seems like the arrangement is coming to and end sooner rather than later.

The 2 AM blood test will tell the tale.  Stay tuned.