A Crazy Week

Well, a week that started out as normal sure ended up wacky. I'm hoping last night/early this morning was the end of the wackiness for a while.

Monday began with a great doctor's visit and nothing to worry about. I had experienced some mild cramping the week before which the doctor told me to keep an eye on, but nothing too bad.

On Tuesday and Wednesday night, and Thursday during the day, I experienced more cramping, but wasn't too alarmed, so I dutifully called the doctor and let him know.

I thought he was going to have me just take it easy and "see how I feel." But I was shocked at his instructions to go to the hospital and have it checked out. So, I left my meeting and went to the hospital, thinking they would just strap me to a contraction monitoring machine and I would be on my way in about an hour.

Not so.

I arrived there and they had put me in a labor room, they had me get into a hospital gown and they strapped me up to the machine. I was having contractions.

They performed a series of....well..I just say "invasive" tests. One which determined that I was beginning to dilate slightly (as my birthing book described it: the door was starting to open so the baby could come out). Fortunately, it wasn't open too much, but at this early stage in pregnancy, it shouldn't be open at all or even "unlocked." That caused some concern.

They also performed a test which is supposed to be able to anticipate if the baby is going to be coming in the next two weeks. Basically, if there are any fetal cells where they shouldn't be, then this kid is coming early.

After 2.5 hours of waiting for the results of that test, I am happy to say that it came back negative, but still had the contractions and the dilation as a concern in the forefront of my mind. They gave me a shot for the contractions and just told me to go to my doctor in the morning for him to check.

Now, this medicine for the contractions relaxes my muscle, but makes my heart and the baby's heart feel like we drank about 5 cups of coffee. It's a very uncomfortable feeling. The poor baby just does summersaults inside me. My stomach at one time looks like someone was shaking it with a massager because it was going back and forth so fast. The poor kid didn't know what to make of it.

So, the next day I went to the doctor and he checked me out and didn't seem to concerned. But he did recommend one solution that might help with the dilation: my old friend, progesterone. After sending me down to the labs, to test me levels, I went back up to the doctor for a shot. Apparently, shots at the beginning, and then we might see about getting pills.

I relaxed all day, drank plenty of water, and relaxed all night. Michael came home, we watched a movie until late, but everything seemed to be fine.

I got up and used the restroom, washed my hands, and while I was washing my hands, I got another scare, but this one was a doozy.

I felt water leaking all over me. It started as a drip and increased to a trickle until I ended up calling Michael in a panic because, for a person who never had her water break, I swear my water broke. I mean, what else could it be? I just went to the bathroom...and this didn't feel like anything I've ever felt before.

So we are rushing around the apartment, hurrying to get out, call the doctor, call family, and make it to the hospital. We were trying not to freak out, and praying definitely helped us stay calm, but needless to say, it was pretty worrisome.

After a few hours in the hospital, more tests, and inspecting what that liquid might possibly have been, it was determined....and I'm embarrassed to say, that it was probably nothing other than having had too much water to drink, and the baby probably gave me a kick in a spot where it was impossible to control what was coming out.

This is what the nurses said...and I trust them, but cannot reconcile how I would have mistaken a normal body function that I've gotten quite good at mastering (going to the bathroom) with something as unusual as what I experienced. I mean, I'm glad it wasn't my water breaking, but I still can't possibly remember at any point thinking to myself that this was a familiar sensation. It was not. But, I'll take being wrong, and, dare I say, being dubbed "incontinent" any day over an early delivery.

I actually like Michael's mom's explanation much better: it was just a miracle....something did go wrong, but with all the prayers everyone was praying, He made it ok. I will definitely take that because I know Michael's parents and sisters and my parents (I didn't call the Campbells because I didn't want to send them into a panic with their little ones...especially if it turned out to be nothing) were praying and we were praying intensely.

That explanation is a little easier on my ego too. :)

They kept me in the hospital for a while because I was having more contractions, but gave me another shot, and sent Michael and I home for the night.

I feel relieved, but I also feel bad. My parents had gotten up, showered, packed and were ready to head out the door, and Michael's parents had driven down. We were released and walked into the lobby in just enough time to see them come in. Of course, everyone was just relieved it was ok, but I feel bad throwing everyone into a panic for that.

So, today I am resting and hoping next week is a little less eventful. Thank you for your prayers!!

Love,
Kim, Michael, and Baby Michael (who we want to meet, but not right now!)