Eggcellent!

The kids dyed their eggs this morning.  I always loved dying eggs as a kid. Growing up, the Easter Bunny would hide those hard boiled eggs for us to find Sunday morning. Tom says that's not how it works and the Easter Bunny is supposed to hide the plastic eggs filled with money or candy. Clearly, he is wrong.

How low can you go?

I went in for my last appointment with my OB today.  He informed me that my platelet count has officially dropped so low that no anesthesiologist would do a spinal block for a c-section.  Meaning, I would have to go under general anesthesia and Tom wouldn't be allowed in the room.  So, poor baby Sam would come into the world without any parents to witness the event.  No way.  This isn't a surprise, I have been having blood draws weekly and seeing a hematologist   I just kept hoping it would go up.  So, as a last ditch effort, my hematologist has prescribed an insane amount of steroids to take each day in the hopes it will bring my platelet count up.  I have a cold and my OB told me today that I can't take any cold medicines, but I guess obscene amounts of steroids are okay. 

Tomorrow I go in for my pre-op appointment at the hospital followed by an appointment with the hematologist.  I am up for any reason to get out of the house.  Bed-rest sounds nice in theory, but it is incredibly boring and feels like such a waste of time.  I can't complain too much though.  I have been getting meals brought in every other day from my amazing church friends.I haven't eaten this well since I lived at home with my mom!

Why bedrest is not restful

Remember when my neighbor's house burned down?   Well, they have finally started demolition. I just hope it isn't this noisy when I have a newborn at home and am trying to nap during the day!

Pregnancy Update: A little trip to the hospital

Spring Break was amazing for me.  I was able to get so much rest and yet still spend a lot of quality time with the kids.  At my doctor's appointment on Friday, my blood pressure was way down and I had lost 2 pounds due to not retaining so much water!  I returned to work Monday feeling rejuvenated.  And then came home that evening in so much pain.  I spent a good portion of the night timing contractions and feeling pretty miserable. I decided to just work a half day Tuesday and go on early maternity leave.  Tuesday morning I went to school and tried to teach through the pain. I made it to 10:00 before making a trip to the doctor's office.  Because my blood pressure was so high, he sent me to the hospital for monitoring.  He told me if it stayed high I would have the baby that day, but if it went down he would send me home.

After blowing two veins and calling for reinforcements, the nurses at the hospital were finally able to do my bloodwork and hook up an IV.  My blood pressure was high the entire time and I was having frequent contractions.  The nurses seemed pretty sure I would be staying so I called Tom and had him come up to the hospital with our luggage and camera.  My mom was having surgery at that time so I texted Dianna, Sabs, and Rosie to make arrangements for the kids.  I was ready.  I should have known my overly cautious doctor who does not like to deliver before 39 weeks would not be on board.  Instead, I was sent home with orders to be on strict bedrest.  Obviously, he does not have two small children.  Or a uterus.

Showering of babies

This past week I had two baby showers. Two. Not bad for a third child who doesn't even have his own bedroom.  The first shower was an intimate affair after school with my favorite coworkers.  Teachers don't like to stay at school any longer than absolutely necessary so I really appreciate them staying for me!  Then, on Thursday, my sister and sister-in-laws threw me an awesome diaper shower.  It was all fancy because that's how they roll.  I now have enough diapers and wipes to last me for quite some time.  I wonder if the 19 year old me would have believed how excited the 34 year old me would get about diapers?  Because I seriously have them all arranged according to size and I like to just sit and look at them.

The morning after my shower was my 36 week appointment.  I rolled in hugely swollen and weighing almost 5 pounds more than my visit two weeks ago.  My doctor could barely believe his eyes.  I neglected to tell him I stayed up really late the night before eating all kinds of unhealthy foods at my baby shower.  He took my blood pressure because he didn't believe the nurse's reading.  It was pretty high both times so he told me he wants me to spend this week resting because he wants me to make it to the 37 week mark.  Tom and I both have this week off for Spring Break so being put on modified bed rest is quite convenient.  I stress the modified part whenever there is something I want to be doing and I stress the bed rest part whenever it is something I don't want to do.  I could get used to this.

Buzz

Jack has been in desperate need of a haircut for quite some time. Cutting his hair involves me pinning down a screaming Jack while a frustrated Tom tries to trim it. You can understand why we put off cutting it for so long.

My parents are in town this weekend and my dad was going to get his haircut at his favorite barbershop where these little, old Vietnamese ladies will cut it for next to nothing. I sent Jack along with him and hoped for the best. He returned as bald as his daddy, but that just means I won't have to worry about cutting his hair again for several months!

Failing

Track season is in full swing so Tom has practice every evening and meets at least one night during the week and all day on Saturdays.  I get home from school completely exhausted and lately I have been putting the kids in front of the TV and going upstairs for a nap.  This past week, I have really felt like I am failing as a parent.  My kids aren't getting the attention from me that they deserve.  They have been fighting with each other and acting out a lot more.  I need to do better, but I am just so tired!