Unknown Path

Tuesday, I woke up feeling a little weird. I thought nothing of it and went about my day. By lunch time I was very tired and my belly was feeling crampy and tight. I rested all afternoon and then we went to D's double header softball games. Throughout the last game I began feeling the cramps and tightness pretty frequently. I then began to think maybe what I was experiencing were fact contractions. I contacted 2 of my friends who both have twins. They confirmed that they too experienced early contractions, that I needed to drink tons of water and contact my dr. I debated calling because what I was feeling didn't meet my expectation of contractions. Once home I had decided I better call because I had been experiencing these cramps long enough to be concerned. The on call nurse advised me to take tylenol, lay on my left side and monitor my condition for 30 min. If not better in 30 min then we should plan to head to the hospital to get checked out. 30 min later when the nurse called to check on me I was feeling better. Huge relief. We could go to bed and not worry.

I spoke too soon.

Not 10 min later I began to have more intense tightness and cramps. Not painful, but enough for me to know that it wasn't normal. Still I was afraid we'd go in and they'd laugh at me and say, Oh honey you just have gas or something crazy like that. Not wanting to chance it we headed to the hospital. Can I just say Baptist Womens is awesome. We show up and 5 minutes later I am hooked up to monitors where they immediately tell me 2 things: yes, I am having contractions, but both babies look great.

Relief.
1. I'm not crazy or gassy.
2. My babies are healthy and ok.

The nurse starts me on an IV to quickly hydrate me to help reduce contractions. As if I wasn't already peeing enough... lets add way more fluids. Then came the scary, unexpected news. They wanted to do a test that would tell us if I was going into labor in the near future.

What?! I'm only 25 weeks! True the babies are technically viable outside the womb but they'd be tiny and sick and there are HUGE risks. Thankfully 20 minutes later the nurse informs us the test was negative.

Relief. Now hopefully these babies will bake inside a lot longer... or at least several more weeks.

They decided to keep us over night and monitor my contractions and the babies. With the IV fluids, the contractions ceased. They ordered an ultrasound to measure my cervix and make sure the contractions hadn't caused it to thin out which would lead to preterm labor. Unfortunately we discovered the contractions had caused my cervix to shorten (which leads to thinning) so my doctor consulted with the high risk specialist who decided we needed to stay and be monitored a couple of more days while they give the babies steroids and me a contraction reducing medication.

The boys and I are doing great though. I am now a "lady of leisure" per the high risk dr.'s request meaning I'm on bed rest the duration of my pregnancy... but good news is he is ok with me attending my baby showers as long as I take it easy. Sister has already graciously agreed to open my gifts as if that is too strenuous. :)

Everyone is asking what they can do to help... Please just pray. Pray for D as he now has more on his plate due to my lack of helpfulness. (He has been amazing. No shocker there, but I know he will get tired and I'm sure I won't always be the sweetest patient.)

And then continue to pray for us as we travel this crazy unknown path. We know God has brought us this far and are confident that He is still good and faithful no matter what happens.

P.S. If you get a hankering to fix a yummy dish, we won't decline.