So with that said here is the story... Carson, Carlee and I had gone to PA for one last trip before Lucy joined our family (well Carson went to work, Carlee and I went to swim and play). While we were there we experienced our first earthquake. Carlee and I were taking our daily nap and all of the sudden I felt my bed start to shake. I thought Carson must have gotten off work early and was trying to be a funny guy and wake me up. I opened up my eyes and no one was there. I looked over at the window and the drapes were shaking. I thought to myself, "We just had an earthquake." I got up and turned on my computer to see if that was really the case and my cousin Jill had sent me a message on Facebook asking me if I had felt the earthquake. CRAZY! No damage was done around us or to our home back in VA. It was small, but very awakening as to the power of mother nature. I am sure it raised my blood pressure a little bit.
We got home from PA on Fri after debating if we wanted to go back home because we knew that Hurricane Irene was headed our direction that very next day. However, I also had an appt with my Dr and felt like I needed to go in. I was sore I was so swollen and just didn't feel good at all. We got about 1/2 way home and the Dr's office called me to cancel my appt. I told them that I needed to come in that I felt like I might be in labor so they got me in and sure enough I WASN'T in labor. Haha. I wasn't even dilated, except to a 1 and only 60% effaced. So they sent me home and we rescheduled for the following Wed. Well Saturday came and we bunkered down in our house and experienced our first hurricane. It was very scary, but again we were safe and no damage occurred except for lots of trees and branches down and our power was out for 5 days. Sunday church was canceled and we ended up going to stay in a hotel because our house was over 85 degrees, which with the humidity and being pregnant felt like 108 degrees. Monday morning I woke up and really wasn't feeling good. I had TONS of signs of preeclampsia (from what I had read online). I was gaining more weight in a week than I had my whole pregnancy, I had headaches, I was sore everywhere, I had protein in my urine (enough to see it without even being tested), etc. I called the Dr's office on Mon to see if they could get me in and there power was out so they had canceled all of their appts for the day and closed their office. Carson didn't want to leave to go back to PA until he knew that I was OK, etc so I called the Dr that was at the hospital that day (they always have an OB/GYN on site at the hospital here, which is nice). She asked me my symptoms and I told her and then told her that I just felt like things were not right and I needed to come in and be checked. She agreed with me and got me an appt at their office right there by the hospital (they have 2 offices, the big one where most of my appts were and the phones go to was closed) this one had power and was opened, but wasn't really seeing many people. I went in and they took my urine (sure enough protein) and took my blood pressure (200+/100+). Normally my BP is not high, but the last 2 dr's appts it had been. The Dr told me to go straight to the hospital because crazy things can happen with preeclampsia, which is exactly what I had. I asked if I could go and get my husband because we only had one car (due to the accident Carson had been in on his way to PA with the deer) and I had taken it to my appt. Also, I had not packed or anything so I needed to get some clothes, etc. The Dr told me, "ABSOLUTELY NOT! Do not leave the hospital grounds!" So I went out into the parking lot and started to SOB. I was scared and sad that my Mom wasn't there and that Carson had to find a ride to the hospital and that I wasn't prepared to have the baby and that we didn't have any where for Carlee to go, etc. I called Carson 1st, then my Mom and then our friends the Bradshaws. It all worked out. The Bradshaws brought Carson to the hospital and took Carlee until our other friends, that Larsens, could come and get her for the night. I went into triage, they got me all checked out and then admitted me. The Dr gave me what they called "Soap on a rope" which was to help dilate me at 7:30 pm and said at 7:30 am they would remove it and start my potossin. He also gave me a concoction of morphine, Demerol and something else. I slept like a baby until about 4:30 am and then I started to have contractions so bad that I called the nurse and requested my epidural which didn't really take. The left side of my body was never numb and the rest was only partially numb. (I DO NOT know how ladies do natural births, yikes!) Anyhow, Lucy was born at 10:20 am on Tuesday, September 30th. She was 6 lbs, 8.8 oz and 19 1/4 inches long. She has TONS of black hair and is absolutely beautiful just like her big sister.
I stayed in the hospital for the normal 3 days and was so ready to get out of there I woke up and started to pack my bags. The Dr came in to ask me if I would like to stay because my blood count was low and she thought I needed a blood transfusion. I told her nope, that I felt great and was ready to go home. She released me. My Mom showed up the next day (HALLELUJAH!!!) and went with me to take Lucy into the hospital lab for a bellirubin check. She was jaundice. While we were in the hospital my Mom asked the nurse to check my blood pressure because she knew it had been high while was in the hospital after having Lucy. She knew that I was not bouncing back to normal like I should be and I was REALLY weak. The nurse reluctantly took it (after trying to tell us we could just go to Walgreens or somewhere and get it done. She was a nursery nurse and wasn't use to dealing with postpardom women and their mom's). The BP was SUPER high. She sent me to the Emergency Room. The Dr there took a bazillion tests and to make a SUPER long story just long they ended up admitting me and giving me 2 pints of blood and taking 4 more days in the hospital to get me on drugs that would bring my blood pressure down. Carson and my Mom took turns staying at the hospital with Lucy and I. Carlee was a trooper and hung out at home getting ready for her 1st day of kindergarten (which I ended up missing because I was in the hospital. It broke my heart!) However, she came to the hospital before school that day so we could get her ready, have prayers together and take pictures. It still makes me weep to think of it all.
I got home, was weak another couple of weeks, but I am now off of all 5 med's they had me on and my BP is back to normal. I have my energy level back and I have lost 67+ lbs since having Lucy, 63 of it was lost the 1st week. Which was pretty much all baby and water weight. I am still a chunk, but not as chunky as before I got pregnant. I always lose weight when I am prego, but not as much as I would like. Weight Watchers here I come!
Do I like having babies? NO and yes. I feel like I have pretty easy pregnancy's, but with Carlee the Postpardom Depression about killed me, literally and this time the Preeclampsia about killed me, literally. Do I want more babies, YES! At least one more, but it will have to wait for a little while. Physically and emotionally I need some time to heal.
I was nervous about loving another child as much as I love Carlee. I didn't know how that would be possible, but it is. It helps me understand a little bit more how our Heavenly Father loves all us and not just the 1st born. :) Lucy brings us so much joy. She is such a great baby. I wish she would stop growing, but at the same time it is so fun to see her take that first smile and make eye contact with you without getting crazy eyes. I wish I was home to show her off to all of my family and friends there. I am looking forward to Dec when we will bless her and show her off then.
Whew.... glad that post is done. ;)
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