9-10-12 am

Happy Monday!  I can't speak for Ben, but let me say the caring medical staff is top of the line here!  Hudson was really good again this morning and stayed on the monitor for 90 minutes, the nurses are bragging on him if they can keep him monitored the whole time.  

Being on bed rest at the hospital doesn't mean you get that much rest.  Each morning at 4am, Hudson wakes up so of course I wake up and just as I go back to sleep in walks a medical student around 5am.  They ask every question under the sun, want to poke on me, listen to Hudson, listen to my heart and then they tell me to get some rest.  About 20 - 30 minutes after that the resident walks in and does the same song and dance.  Then I get some sleep again until the "team" does their rounds.  This morning they came in a little after 9:)  I couldn't even begin to spell his name out for you, but he told us to call him Mark.  He was the doctor that treated me when I had an episode last Wednesday.  He was glad to see that I'm doing much better.  He started talking about baseball terms, who's on first, etc...I laughed and said the most important thing is Hudson is still in the dugout!  He and the rest of the medical team got a good laugh at it.  I asked if they were going to do anything different today.  Answer was nope, just monitoring us and keeping an eye on my symptoms.  He reiterated again that because Hudson's feet are where they are, he could come at any time with no warning that's why I'm here.  He said with him still being so small he could come all the way out on his own or his head might get stuck.  And since there are so many unknowns they are not and will not take any chances on his life or mine.  Everyone seems to still be in a little shock he's not come yet.  He told me to keep doing what I'm doing because he's not here yet!

As for Hudson, he's been moving around all morning and doing his thing.  We cannot thank each and everyone of you enough for the prayers, thoughts, love and support you have shown us over the past weeks.  Please keep thoughts and prayers coming for Hudson, there are still a lot of unknowns that face us.  But one thing we know for sure is that God's got this!   

As for Colt, our four legged son.  Ben got to see him yesterday and he is having the time of his life at Grandma and Grandpa's (Ben's parents)!  Ben said the best news is he minds when it is time for bed, all they tell him is go to bed and he does!  Ben is a little jealous though, he said, where did I go wrong with him?  I couldn't help but laugh!    

9-9-12

The doctors told us this morning that we are officially in the 26th week!!  Every day is a win that he stays in!  Hudson was a good boy today during the times that he was monitored.  He did not play hide and seek from the nurses as they attempt to get his heartbeat on the monitor so the doctors can look at it. 
Besides that, there really isn't much to report.  This is a good thing.  Every day is different and we'll see what tomorrow brings.
To think where we were a month ago and with talk about possible miscarriage, fluid in the baby's belly, calcification on the heart, you'll be lucky to make it to 24 weeks and so on has me proud of my little man for fixing himself of the fluid in his belly along with his strong heart.  The doctors are a little amazed that he is still incubating inside Kim.  Let's continue to amaze them Hudson. 

9-8-12 early am

Hudson is a bit of a stinker!  He won't stay on the monitor unless I am in a certain position.  Sitting up at about a 45 degree angle.  And it is very hard to sleep at that angle.  So last night the doctors took him off the monitor for a few hours, but left me hooked up to the contraction monitor but that way I could get some sleep.  They hooked the monitor back up around 4:30am, and he was being good for a few hours.  But then the day nurse came on and he decided he was going to hide.  To the point that he ended up getting an ultrasound so we could make sure everything was okay.  He was hiding behind the placenta.  He is still feet first, strong heart beat.  The doctor said because he is so small and because we chase him all day/night that she was going to give him a break...and me a break from the monitoring.  She also said given my lack of symptoms I am not moving from Labor and Delivery because he could come at any time today or weeks from now.  Just waiting!  And we prefer to wait because the longer he stays put the more time he has to develop.

9-7-12

The doctors today discussed with us the details that surrounds an incompetent cervix.  Kim could be fully dilated but not experience any contractions and give birth.  All of this and she would not know how dilated she is.  Due to this condition, many women in similar situations have toilet births.  It is a scary thought to go to the bathroom and your child be born because you did not know about the signs.

Due to this, labor could occur at any point and be rather quick due to the lack of contractions and the size of the baby.  The doctors have told us they have been able to keep patients who are 3 cm dilated that way without increasing the dilation for several weeks.  However, there is no set way to do this as it varies on a case by case basis.  We are hoping Kim stays at 3 cm for several more weeks.

This is not much of an update in part due to an uneventful day.  As I write this it is storming outside in Indy, rather badly and every time it thunders Hudson kicks.  Kim says he doesn't like storms.  Hudson is rather famous for moving away from the monitors and giving the nurses a difficult time to pick up his heart rate.  He also will kick the monitors that are on Kim's stomach. We are lucky that we get to hear his heart rate all day and night long.

On other news, I did go on another short walk today and of course, only got semi-lost but quickly found my way back.  Maybe my next walk I won't get lost.  I was given a map just in case.

9-6-12

Today was an uneventful day, which is good.  The motto of today was, no news is good news.  The one change that occurred was: they stopped the magnesium drip, which is a muscle relaxer for smooth muscles given through an IV to prevent the uterus from contracting.

As I write this, the only machines Kim is hooked up to is the saline drip to keep her hydrated and the monitor which monitors the baby's heartbeat and if Kim has any contractions.  Both of these have been in our favor today, the baby's heartbeat has been solid and no contractions for over 24 hours!!!  She is also on antibiotics given through the IV as a precaution due to the possibility of bacteria which is common among pre-term labors.

Kim is also on a soft muscle relaxer for her uterus to keep it calm and not get excited.  So far it is working!!!  Kim's symptoms have not changed and she is doing an excellent job of relaxing.

The staff we have dealt with have been nothing short of phenomenal! We couldn't have asked for a friendlier group of nurses that genuinely care about us along with being very knowledgeable to our needs as they routinely change.  We believe we are in the right place to deal with any issue that may arise in the future due to professionalism and preparedness of the staff!

I wanted to get some fresh air this afternoon so I decided to go on a walk around IUPUI.  I checked out my map and laid out a course of sightseeing.  I saw the new Wishard Hospital being built, the White River, Ronald McDonald house (which is where we might stay if Baby M requires a lengthy stay at Riley), and of course Riley Hospital for Children.  Upon attempting to make my way back to see Kim, I got lost and ended up in the back of the hospital where the loading dock and trash gets picked up at.  So I turned around and somehow found our parking garage and made my way back.  It was nice to get out and give Kim a break from me, I'm told I am really not that funny.  I don't think so but they are also my jokes and the nurses laugh.  The day shift nurse as she left for the evening said, "Boiler Up!" as she walked out the door and of course I repeated.

    

9-5-12 update

Today has been a full of emotion roller-coaster type day filled with moments of joy followed by new adventures to be had.  During the day today, we have gone from the Labor and Delivery OB-ICU to the Postpartum recovery unit for simple monitoring back to the OB-ICU.  This morning was rather uneventful, besides a move of rooms and Baby M not cooperating when it was time to put the monitor on him to check his heart along with Kim's contractions (she only had 1 or 2 but could not feel them).  Every time the nurses would put the ear phone type looking sensors on her belly Baby M would move around and they could not get a constant heart beat. As time passed our appointment for the ultrasound arrived and they finally gave up with the monitoring.

At the ultrasound the doctor could not find any fluid in the babies belly at all!!!  She said there might be some fluid there but it is only 1 mm in thickness and the doctors do not consider that ascites at all!! This is a huge victory!!  The doctor started to talk about releasing us to go home on Thursday or Friday then she checked the cervix.  "Wow" is what I heard and the doctor then quickly said you are not going anywhere.  We then switched rooms and are now back in the Labor & Delivery unit until the baby is born.  Why you ask?  Kim's cervix is 3 cm dilated but not in active labor.  She is currently on a magnesium drip to relax the uterus' muscles to prevent any contractions from occurring.  Kim is on hospital bed rest until delivery which could occur at any point.  The plan is to get another steroid shot tomorrow morning and again continue to monitor her symptoms.   

9-4-12 visit

Baby Murray is 25 weeks and 2 days at our appointment in Lafayette.

Baby Murray is doing great!!!!  He is measuring at 1 lb 12 oz.  He was breech during the ultrasound and sitting on my bladder.  The tech did several scans and couldn't find any fluid on his belly...Ben and I were in shock!  So thankful for our friends, family and perfect strangers that don't even know us that have continued to keep us in your thoughts and prayers.   So that is our great news...but with any great news comes not so great news.

My cervix is NOT great!  It is 0.27 cm from being nonexistence...which to put it as simply as the doctor put it...you could go into labor any day/any time.  So Ben and I stayed at the doctors office until she had a chance to talk with our specialist.  And from their discussion we were sent to University Hospital in Indy to be monitored.  Babys heart beat has varied from 137 to 157...he is looking great!  I will have another ultrasound in the afternoon and from there...hopefully know more;)

The other good news is that Kim is not in active delivery.  We have been moved from the OB-ICU unit to the Postpartum unit (otherwise known as the recovery unit post labor & delivery).  Kim has received a steroid shot this morning to increase the rate of development for Baby Murray's lungs. The plan is to give her another steroid shot in the morning on Thursday and wait.  She will be monitored and on Friday the team of specialists, nurses, doctors, etc. will meet to discuss our case and decide on a course of action at that time.

We will update again after our ultrasound this afternoon.  Thank you's go to everyone for everything they have done to support us.