TUESDAY, GETTING ADMITTED...PART II

So, once I got wheeled down to my room...

Gown on. Check.

ID Bands on. Check.

Husband by my side. Check.

IV started...Not my favorite part.

In my opinion, IV's are one of the worst things that can happen to a person in a hospital.

While being chauffeured to my room in a wheelchair, I saw my nurse (Barb) who got me ready for my c-section and also did the IV for that procedure. One try...didn't hurt at all. So, when she stopped by my room to say hi, I asked if she could put in my IV. She switched some patients around and was able to add me to her list. I was glad to have a familiar face taking care of me.

Barb got set up for the IV....and then couldn't find any real good veins! She said that I had lost so much fluid after delivery that all my veins are now hiding. She gave 2 attempts, one on each arm before going to get another nurse to try.

The second nurse came in....found the vein she wanted...but it "blew".

Yes, there were tears. But, wait! It gets better! These nurses at least stopped trying once they realized it was not going to work. So, they decided to call in the "Big Dogs" and have a flight nurse (a nurse that goes out on ambulance calls) to come and put in the IV so I wouldn't have to continue living as a pin cushion. I was told that these people can see veins that no one else can.

This should be a piece of cake, right?

A couple minutes later...in walks a VERY TOUGH, VERY STRONG, VERY SERIOUS LOOKING woman that obviously does not tolerate any sort of non-sense and was just eyeballing everything in the room...including me. A part of me is thinking, "what movie am I in"??? She walked out of the room after noticing things were not ready for her and got another nurse to get the supplies wanted. After, everything was ready...she grabbed my arm, looked at it for almost 1.2 seconds and stabs...and digs...and moves the needle around some more. Pride is a bad thing! She finally gives up on that vein and gets ready for another one. The Ob nurse tells me to make a fist to help "show the veins"...to which "turbo-nurse" immediately says to me....RELAX YOUR ARM. Yes, Ma'am! I have never relaxed one whole side of my body - let alone my arm - as fast as I did to her demand. Never mind that the left side of my body was way tense and I was dripping sweat from every inch on my body!

At least her second attempt was successful, thank goodness!

And, to her credit, she did apologize for having to stick me twice!

ALRIGHT...I'M DONE WITH THE DETAILS...HERE IS THE WRAP-UP! (May 11)

I started "Getting Admitted...Part I and Part II" while in the hospital because a random nurse I had for 3 hours one night refused to listen to me regarding what had previously happened to an IV taped the way she was insisting on taping it. So, in order to protect the latest tube in my arm, I made myself get out of bed at 3am to keep an eye on my IV to make sure it didn't "back flow" and have blood clot in the line which would of course cause it to stop working. But, the vein "blew" instead of the line clotting...so, either way...another IV had to be started.

So, I guess I should have just gone back to sleep!

Anyway, for those keeping score at home....there was a total of 11 attempts for 3 good IV's which eventually all "blew" due to the potent antibiotics that went around the clock for my entire stay at the hospital. So, finally one of the doctors ordered a PICC line to be inserted in my arm. I had no idea what a PICC line entailed. But, it is a more "permanent" IV and they use ultrasound to guide the line. It started in a vein on the inside of my arm and snaked its way up past my shoulder and into my chest. Lovely visual, huh?

But, now....I just want this whole experience behind me. The "23 hour watch" turned into a 10 day nightmare. There was A LOT of praying, too many IV's, lab draws, 4 different types of IV antibiotics used around the clock, pain meds, high fevers, x-rays, CT Scan, 2 different hospital rooms, nurses telling me that I was really sick, 2 days of thinking I might actually die from this infection, a PICC line, 4 blood transfusions, tears, and an "exploratory surgery" to remove a large infected hemotoma and flush out or remove any other infected areas before I was discharged from the hospital in a drug induced haze!

I'm still having some healing issues...I will spare you all the ugly details....but, as always...

THERE IS MUCH TO CELEBRATE!!!

GOD IS GOOD!

We have 3 adorable monkeys...

Brooklyn and Alex are great big sisters!

Riggs is such a sweet baby!

Scott is a loving husband and invested father!

My mom is amazing...staying a month to love on her grand kids

and to help while I was recovering.

And, our family & friends have blessed us beyond measure.

So, it is time to move on with life....and enjoy how God has blessed us!

TUESDAY, GETTING ADMITTED...PART I

There should be more pictures on here by know...right? Well, here is why that hasn't happened.

Riggs was born April 9th by c-section...which happen everyday throughout the world. Somehow during my surgery, which the doctor's are still unable to give a definite answer as to why, I lost quite a bit of blood. My hemoglobin count continued to drop until it was at 5 (normal is 12-16, I believe.) It was at that point that I received a blood transfusion. Before leaving the hospital, the received blood got my count up to 7 and I was told my body would take care of the rest of increasing the levels over about a month period. So, we stayed in the hospital for the doctor ordered 96 hours for observation and recovery.

After being discharged things never got better and actually went down hill fairly quickly. I was unable to walk very well, couldn't carry Riggs at all, tired from the blood loss and taking lots of naps and doing relatively nothing else....other than tracking when I was able to take the next dose of pain pills. I should say, while all this was happening...my mom was pumping me full of all kinds of iron rich foods and foods with vitamin C which help the body absorb the iron, taking care of Brooklyn & Alex, changing lots of diapers and lugging Riggs all over the place, doing laundry, making meals...you get the idea.
And, poor Scott...once he got home from work it was no rest of the weary. He would play with the girls, change diapers, help me burp Riggs after feeding him and help re-position when it was time to change sides for nursing and of course getting anything I needed or requested...again, you get the idea.

Then the fevers started. First, low grade, 99*. Soon they started to get into the 100's and then the 101's and the doctors started getting phone calls almost every night asking if I should go to the ER to meet them there. I was initially told that if it got to 100.8 that an ER trip was mandatory.

Luckily that never happened.

Sunday night, I was convinced I had a UTI. So, Monday morning I called our family doctor's office to have a U/A done. Yep, bladder infection. Sweet, 10 days of taking 2 pills a day and I was going to start feeling better. UNLESS...the infection was already on its way to my kidneys...always a catch! But, that was Ok....I was going to finally start feeling better.

But, then Monday night (April 19th), I spoke with the on call doctor because my fever was 101.5. She allowed me to wait it out at home to see if the meds would start working. But, if the fever got to 102* then I was to go the ER immediately. Luckily this never happened either. But Tuesday morning I had a message on my phone saying that I had an appointment that morning to get checked.

When I got to my OB's office....she talked with me about how I was feeling for about 1 minute, took about a 15 second look at my belly and told me I was being admitted to the hospital right then. Talk about a surprise! I was to be admitted for a 23 hours observation period to track my fevers and get IV antibiotics.

A wheelchair was called and I was on my way for more wrist bands and another IV!
Mom, Alex, Riggs followed behind as I was pushed to my new "home away from home". And, the whole time I was thinking....keep it together....keep it together...it is going to be ok!

Two things to leave you with right now:

All I have to say is thank God my mom is here. No idea how this would all be happening without her!

AND...not a good idea to ride out such pain for so long. The whole "rub a little dirt on it" attitude and "I'm tougher than this" thought process has gotten me in big trouble!!

Learn from my mistake :)

More on Tuesday, Getting Admitted...coming up....

OUR LITTLE HAWKEYE

It's official....we have another little Hawkeye in our family!

Let me introduce:

Riggs Deon Yoder

April 9, 2010

9 lbs 14 oz

QUIET TIME

Well, I figured it was close enough to 5am to finally get out of bed. I know there are some of you crazy people out there that do this as a regular routine life event, right? Although, I guess I used to be one of them when I was running. But, like I said....crazy!

I've been up since 2:53am after forcing myself to get in bed at 11pm. Guess I should have taken my sleeping pills??? Little late now. Between the inability to turn off my brain, this baby apparently being way too excited to be introduced to this world (s/he must know something is happening in a couple hours), and just being anxious about what is to come...there is a lack of sleep happening.

After watching the minutes pass by on my alarm clock for over 2 hours I decided to get up...and blog??? No. I actually got up to sit in the silence to pray and reflect on the blessing that will be welcomed into our family in 5 hours. And now, I realize the house is pitch black, except now for this computer screen, and I wanted to get some thoughts down before I may not get to have this "Quiet Time" like I have now.

GOD IS GOOD! During these last 5 months...I realize that no matter how I am feeling or what is going on....there is a constant.

GOD IS GOOD!

And, I am so grateful that GOD'S PEOPLE ARE GOOD TOO! Yes, of course we are all very flawed human beings. But, the love that God can shine through us...if we are willing...is very powerful. I've seen it in my friends' overwhelming concern and support for myself and my family during this time. I've seen in it from my family members...even with most being so far away. And it can be a very awe inspiring experience...especially to the people receiving the love.

Even with this pregnancy being one of the most difficult things I have gone through in my life...I would not change how things have happened. Of course, my husband would completely disagree...and my kids too :) But, this experience has honestly changed me. And, God is just allowing me to see this now...at 5am. Trust me, the person most of you know today....is a very different person from even 2 years ago. God has been breaking me down (in a very good, patient and loving way)to get me here. In this quiet, dark house, praying to Him, reflecting on my life and realizing....

I need HIM and I need God's people!

So, thank you to all of you that allowed God's love to shine through you into my life. Thank you for being willing to be God's body at work to take care and show love for just another very small part of the body. Much love to you all!

With that said, there will be more later today. Maybe pictures of a little...or not so little...baby???? Anyone interested??? HA :)

Ok. I have 30 more minutes to drink water. Gotta focus.

"Its actually race day...done with the training"!

BIG SISTER BEAUTIFICATION

Brooklyn & Alex wanted to get their hair done before meeting their new sister or brother.

So, Grandma Abblitt took them to see Miss Lori...of course.

The Before....

The After...

Yes, Alex got her hair cut too.

An inch off the back and the bangs trimmed.

Really!

FRUIT SALAD & SMOOTHIES WITH GRANDMA

"FRUIT SALAD....YUMMY, YUMMY"

The girls helping Grandma cut up the fruit

"GET YOUR WORK DONE SMOOTHIES"

GETTING READY FOR THE BABY

Ok...well, at least Brooklyn is trying to get us ready :)

Dusting the cradle that my Great-Grandma Swirn

had made for me when I was born

Alex wanted to take pictures of the baby
and was too far away for me to get the camera


Scary, huh??? At 38 weeks, I am measuring 44 weeks.
Yikes!!!


Brooklyn "sitting like Mommy"


Grace came over to help get stuff ready. No pictures of
her efforts but a picture of the girls having fun.