Home . . .

. . . from the hospital, that is! That was my best Mother's Day present. That I got to come home from the hospital!

On Friday afternoon, somewhere around 2-2:30, I started noticing that pressure way down in my lower back (and other areas, *ahem*). It was that pressure that concerned my doctor at my last appointment, the pressure that she told me not to sit around at home and feel. Instead, I should get myself to the hospital if I feel it.

I called Dr. F and she told me to get to the hospital ASAP, so as soon as Buffalo Wings got home, I went. The nurse checked me and I was dilated to a one. I hadn't been dilated before this. The pressure was getting stronger, with a little pain. Dr. F wanted me to spend the night, and she gave me lovely cocktail which included Demerol. That helped me rest and relax and slowed the contractions.

Saturday morning, Dr. F came in to see us (some great friends from church kept the kids overnight so that BW could be with me) and said she wanted me to stay the day and get some steroid shots to help develop the baby's lungs. I was disappointed, because I had really counted on being able to go home that morning. But I knew it was the best thing for the baby to hang out a little while longer, especially since my contractions had picked up again and I'd gotten another Demerol cocktail at about 4AM Saturday morning.

I was on the monitor off and on during my stay, having some mild contractions and some minor irritability of the uterus (which basically means really short contractions). Dr. F came in Sunday morning and said I could go home, but that I am now on strict bed rest. I can get up to go to the bathroom and to eat, but that's it. She said if I can make it to 34 weeks, she will let me deliver. I'm still worried about delivering at 34 weeks; I hope to make it to 36 weeks.

I'm still contracting, still with a little pain, but am really trying to hang in there. Friends are taking the little kids during the day for the next two weeks, so that I really can do bed rest. Bed rest plus a three-year-old and a two-year-old at home equals no bed rest at all. So this is really helping us out. I can't say enough about how our church family has really taken over for us.

So, I'm home and hope to stay here for awhile.