Swine flu...

Well it is official! After feeling absolutely dreadful with aches, pains, headaches, low grade temps, coughs and runny nose I went to the local ED as I couldn't get in to see my GP. They sent me to the major tertiary hospital because they were concerned about my BP and some swelling in my hands and feet. Ended up spending 3 hours in labour and delivery and just bfore I left they did a nasal swab. Today I booked an emergency appointment to see my GP as I still wasn't feeling any better - and he confirmed that I have Swine Flu. So I have started on Tamiflu.

This has all been extremely stressful (as you can imagine). BUT the benefits of the medications are widely reported to outweigh the risks. One fortunate aspect for me has been that despite my symptoms my temperature has never gone above 38.1 and that my lungs are clear - the two most significant risks for mother and unborn baby being very high temps and secondary bacterial infections. The other is that I am a fair way along with the pregnancy - 30 weeks tomorrow and therefore this should not affect the baby's development in any way.

Spent a fair bit of time on the phone with the hospital registrar today and he was very reassuring. So now it just a matter of getting over this illness.

Here is a link for anyone who is interested on the current CDC guidelines for managing Swine Flu in pregnancy...

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/clinician_pregnant.htm

Hugs,
Lisa

29 weeks today!!!

Today we reached 29 weeks with no sign of Baby Reid arriving soon. He is certainly making his presence felt and loves to perform his gymnastic's routine especially at night. It is such a comforting feeling to know he is moving about - although I imagine as I get closer to 37 weeks it may be more forceful. Today I packed his bag for the hospital - I honestly am not really sure what to pack as the boys came so early and it was at least 3 months before they could fit into any clothes. But I have packed his little clothes and some odds and ends. In the next week or so I will pack mine - must get some nighties which are modest. Kev is still scarred by the vision of a mother (not me) in NICU who was rather large and wore sleeveless nighties and no bras. Let's just say it didn't leave much to the imagination!

Apart from that we are plodding along. The boys and I have another cold - nothing serious, but when you can't take anything stronger than a Panadol and you spend half the night heading to the toilet it can be rather fatiguing. Today I did my chores before midday and ended up falling asleep for several hours. Not really feeling any better now, but if I spend the evening in bed I definitely won't sleep tonight.

Well, here's hoping that the next few weeks pass easily - only 8 more weeks to go :-)

Hugs,
Lisa xx

28 weeks...

Just a little post to let you know that I am now 28 weeks pregnant and at this stage everything looks to be going well. Okay, well I could do without the high blood pressure and diabetes and all of the meds...BUT the baby is growing well, moving a lot and shows no signs of arriving early. I saw the OBGYN today and she has scheduled me for a c-section on Sept 30th - when I will be 37 weeks. The reasons for delivering a bit earlier and by c-section are mainly due to my existing pregnancy issues and the fact that if they let nature take its course, then there could be increased risks for the baby (and me). At this stage it is predicted that our little baby boy will go to Special care for anywhere up to 3 days while they stabilise his blood sugar levels, but hopefully when I go home so will he! The hospital even offers a boarding room (in the ward) where I take care of myself, but can stay for several days if our baby needs extra time. During the c-section the doctors are also going to remove my right ovary with the troublesome cyst and perform a tubal ligation ( we are happy with 3 beautiful boys). So I imagine that I will be staying in hospital for about 7 days - 2 days before the c-section and 5 days after. BUT if I make a speedy recovery I am sure they will happily discharge me earlier :-)

We are organised and are now just counting down the weeks. The nursery is decorated and ready for its new occupant. I have managed to purchase lots of cute tiny clothes (probably too much but who cares!). And last weekend I went out with my beautiful friend Pat and my beautiful sister in law Kelly and purchased a divine red pram and a change table. So it feels like we are as organised as we can be at this stage. Those of you who know me well won't be at all surprised to learn that I even have two lists stuck to the nursery door with things I need to bring to hospital for me and for our baby boy. Now here's hoping he is just as organised (grin).

Hugs to all,
Lisa xx

My latest scrapping layouts...

A couple of weekends ago I was lucky enought to go away with a group of girlfriends for the weekend. There was lots of eating, lots of shopping and a little scrapbooking thrown in for good measure. Here are some of the layouts I finished...









And here is the close up of the paper piecing Koala...

Good News!!!

Went for the follow up cervical scan yesterday and saw the Prof of the unit who actually performed the scan and then chatted with me afterwards. He said my cervix looks completely normal! This could be because I am on the pessaries or more likely because the previous measurements were more pessemistic. He recommended staying on the pessaries and light duties for the next 5 weeks. He doesn't need to see me for 2 weeks. This time I actually asked the measurements and at rest I was 4.5cm and bearing down I measured 4.15cm.

Feel like a giant weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I am always cautious about being overly confident with this pregnancy, but for the moment things are good :-)

Now I am enjoying the nesting phase of preparing for our precious bundle. Have the baby's room all organised with the tiny clothes we have put away (note to self more shopping required). And Kev put up the cot from Mum & Dad's place. Thanks to Mandy for an adorable Pooh Bear quilt and the loan of a lovely basinette. Next big purchase a pram (still can't decide which one) and a change table!


Hugs,
Lisa xx

Yesterday I had a 25 week ultrasound where the placenta, cord flow and cervical length were checked. As soon as they called in the radiologist I realised something was amiss. It turns out that my cervix has an odd appearance and is slightly shortened. Not exactly the news I want to hear. So after a review by the OBGYN I have been started on nightly pessaries and advised to have limited driving and no heavy housework or lifting. I am due to go back in one week for a reassessment.

At this stage we have organised for the boys to be dropped off to child care in the morning by Kev and then picked up in the evening - 3-4 days a week. I have cancelled any long drives to friends and am planning on taking it very easy until the next appointment. BUT I feel so guilty to load this onto the boys and Kevin. And I am a neat freak - so wonder how I will cope without cleaning up!!!

Here is our latest picture of our baby boy - every time the sonographer tried to take a photo he put his hands over his face...

24 weeks and 2 days and counting...

Life sure has a funny way of catching you unawares. Well it does for me anyway. Apart from a few hiccups I have been coping well with the pregnancy and haven't dwelled overly on the frightening start the boys had to life. BUT this weeks has been a time for tears and worry. Mitch and Harry were born at 24 weeks and 6 days and all of a sudden I have been keenly aware of reaching that milestone with this baby. Added to this Kev has been working lots of odd shifts - coming home at 2.30 am some days and working weekends and so I suppose I have had more time alone with my thoughts, which isn't always a good thing.

But in amongst all of this there has been a bright side. I have been motivated to make visual schedules for the boys to assist them (and us) in streamlining their routines. Visual schedules are typically used for children with learning difficulties, speech disorders or behavioural issues. They may be used to specify acceptable behaviours, specific daily routines or even break down a single activity into small steps (ie going to the toilet). In Mitch & Harry's case it was first suggested at kindy that they may find a visual schedule useful as they were unable to recall the activities required each morning at kindy. After 3 terms of telling them each morning what they had to do, it became apparent that they were really struggling with the planning required to get ready for kindy. One of the teachers made a simple schedule and Harry in particular flourished. He now rushes to his visual schedule and tells me what he has to do - it has been a wonderful way for him to become more independent. So I finally buckled down this weeks and revised the boys' daily schedules and made a weekly one too. We are now just trailling it to see how it goes and whether it helps (or hinders)...but so far so good.

This is the weekly schedule which tells the boys what activities the family has planned throughout the week - like swimming, meeting friends, kindy, child care and quiet time...




This is the daily schedule which reminds the boys about their "jobs" - clearing the table, getting dressed, toiletting etc...





Next thing on the agenda is moving some of our furniture to Dad's place - that way we can start to set up the nursery and get the boys' bunk bed organised. I will of course be in my element - cleaning, tidying and organising :-)

Love to all,
Lisa xx

23 weeks and counting...

I am now 23 weeks (the boys were born at 24.6 weeks) and today I had my first appointment with the high risk OBGYN and the midwife clinic at the major tertiary hospital close to us. The doctor was very matter of fact and told me that the baby will be delivered by c-section. She won't risk inducing me and she doesn't want to attempt a trial of labour. I must confess I wasn't particularly surprised. She pointed out that with my hypertension and gestational diabetes I am already considered a high risk pregnancy and add to that the extreme premature delivery of the boys she will be seeing me every two weeks from now on. In addition she told me that because I was diagnosed with diabetes so early on in the pregnancy she considers me to have type 2 diabetes, rather than gestational diabetets - this means that after the delivery of the baby the condition will remain - that was a bit of a shock, but I can't do anything about it except stick to a relatively strict diet (at this stage). Baby Reid appears to be growing well and there was a strong heart beat. So now it is just biding time and hoping this little one will stay put for as long as possible.

Hugs,
Lisa xx

Now I am 22 weeks...

Everything has settled down since my last post. My BP is well managed with the three tablets a day and my BSLs are stable to, so no insulin at this stage. The best part of this stage is enjoying those strong kicks every night when I settle down to watch TV :-)

Mitch & Harry are fascinated by what is happening and today I tried to explain how the baby was fed. Mitch needed to check out my belly button and then looked at his own and wanted to know where the "hose" (umbilical cord) had gone. Mitch felt the baby kick for the first time tonight and was so excited. He put his mouth down on my tummy and said "My name is Mitchell and I am your brother. I will look after you". It was just so beautiful. Harrison is pleased he will be sitting next to the baby in the car (we had new booster seats put in) and he tells me he will "play with the baby and give him milk".

We are slowly getting plans in place for the room swap - the boys will be sharing a room with lowline bunks courtesy of their Great Uncle John. And the baby will have Mitch's old room. So in the next few weeks I need to find homes for two single beds and a lounge - no rest for the wicked...

Not much else to report - just happy that everything is stable :-)

Hugs,
Lisa xx

Appointments, appointments, appointments...

Lots of appointments this week - saw diabetic educator, obstetrician, had 2 ultrasounds and then today I saw a physician who specialises in pregnancy. He will be monitoring my blood sugar levels and blood pressure throughout the pregnancy. He confirmed that our baby will need to be born in a hospital with a NICU - and will probably require some time there. He has also referred me to a high risk obstetrician to take over the care of my pregnancy. It is all still a bit overwhelming and I feel sad that in all probability we will be in NICU again, but I keep reminding myself that whatever ensures the health of our precious baby is important. I am now doing finger pricks 4-5 times a day for sugar levels - which is not fun, but not too bad really. I just wish I could get some energy, but am told this is the combination of my age, the diabetes, hypertension, the medications and being the mum of two very active 4 year olds. Keeping my fingers crossed that the pregnancy continues on for another 18 weeks.

Thank you to everyone for your lovely messages,
Hugs,
Lisa xx