Day 26 - 29 wks, 1 day - Same old...Same old...

Today was really uneventful for me yet very eventful for Liam and Joey...

Joey and Liam had another long night last night, 3 crying nights in a row now =(, so Liam did not go to school today because Mommy had no way of waking Daddy up.  He fell asleep with Liam in Liam's bed around 3:45 a.m. last night.  Well, I am not allowed to walk up the stairs, Joey left his cell on the night stand, and Liam refused to wake him up "Daddy sleeping Mommy, Me no wake him up.  He need sleep!"  So, Liam did not go to school...But he was able to go see Santa, or "Ho Ho Ho" as he calls him

Liam and Santa 2010

Can you tell it was not a planned outing???  If it was, do you honestly think I would have allowed him to wear his camo pants, ARMY shirt, camo sweatshirt, and farm boots for the "official" 2010 Santa picture???  Well, with Mommy on bed rest, a lot is slipping right now...So the outing started as going to get tile floor cleaner, then turned into picking up Liam's new bed that his Papa got him for Christmas and led to a trip to Bass Pro to see Santa =)  Needless to say, Liam had a BLAST with all of it because he was with Daddy and Papa and he got to see Santa and the fish at Bass Pro.

I, on the other hand, cross-stitched, watched TV and White Christmas...and that is about it...lol...soooo not as exciting as Liam's day.

Joey was an absolutely fantastic husband, well he is most of the days but today was way over the top...He washed three loads of laundry, folded two of the loads, washed the kitchen and two of the bathroom floors, vacuumed the whole house, and then steam cleaned the downstairs carpet.  This, my friends, was done all today!!!  It's amazing what can happen when I have doctor’s orders to not get off the couch/bed.  Joey soooo earned some extra bonus points today ;-)

I'm tired and heading to bed.  I have had some requests to explain how I made the glitter ornaments.  I will post better pictures of them tomorrow and give you step-by-step instructions.  Believe me, they look like they took hours when really it was just minutes.  So look for that in tomorrow’s post =)

Ohh and my next appointment and sono with Dr. Watkins is this Thursday.  Soooo keep those prayers coming that my cervix is holding strong and all looks good.

HUGS from the land of bed rest!!!

~Charlotte=)

Day 19-25 - 28 wks, 1 day - 29 wks - What a week...

I'm starting off this post by apologizing for the lack of posts.  Computer issues were the starting point and then Blogger decided to not like me or let me log-in in any way, shape, or form.  FINALLY someone from my G-Mail account reset my information and presto!!!  I can blog again =)

So here is a week in a nutshell...

It has been CRAZY HARD!!!  I knew home bed rest was going to be hard, but gosh...Home bed rest is sooooo much harder than I thought it would be!!!  I honestly knew what I was getting into but it is still a shock at how hard it is.  I did home bed rest when I was preggo with Liam (from 27-35 weeks), but that was easy compared to this because Liam is now 3 1/2...Throw a toddler into the mix and man does it change everything!!!  It is so incredibly hard having to say over and over again, "No, Mommy can't pick you up remember?", or "No honey, Mommy can't play with you upstairs.", or "No Liam, Mommy can't play outside with you."  Talk about heartbreaking =(  The worst is when he is crying in his bed during the middle of the night and he is asking for me and I can't go up there.  Daddy is there with him, but he wants his Mommy and I can't help.  It kills me!!!  Feel like the worst Mommy right now because I can't do what a Mommy should be able to do for her child...I can't make him food, can't give him a bath, can't play with him in his playroom, can't hug him in the middle of the night when he needs me...sucks!!!

So enough of Debby Downer...

I made it to 29 weeks!!!  That is a huge accomplishment all in itself =)  1 week down, 11 to go!!!

I have done a lot of napping during the past week.  It's funny, I never napped in the hospital, yet I pretty much take one nap a day now that I'm home.  I have made a lot of progress in my cross-stitch (will post a picture once I finish the current letter).  Ohhh, and I have done a little Christmas decorating =)  My decorating consists of walking by the tree to fill up my water bottle and putting one ornament on it or walking to the restroom and putting out one of my snowmen (I collect them).  But that is it...Joey, Liam and my Mom have done most/all of it.  Here are some pictures...


The fireplace.  Not all that Christmassy this year, but ohhh
do I have plans for next year.  The red that Joey painted it sure
makes it fit with the season.

Still a work in progress.  Joey and Liam will
finish decorating it tonight.

Tablecloth and poinsettias are from my Mom =)

On Thursday, we got a surprise in the mail...

Liam and Cortlandt's pillows for her crib (so far the
only things we have for this little girl).

Joey had to report into Austin for the Army this weekend, so Liam went to the farm with his PaPa and my Mom came over and stayed with me for the weekend.  We had a fun weekend of crafting, girlie Christmas movie watching, and Starbucks coffee and hot chocolate =)  Here are pictures of the two crafts we did...

Glass ornaments - a little varnish and some glitter.
They look sooo pretty on the tree!



Ornament Wreath - There were three, but mine decided to fall apart.  These are made of a wire hanger and plastic ornaments.  Once we put the ribbons on them they will be ready to hang.

While I was looking through my cell, I found a cute picture of Liam from when he came by the hospital the day before I went home...Mommy moment here =)

Well that is all for this post. Look for a post every day to every other day from now on.  I sure did miss this Blog!!!  It's amazing how addicting and nice it is to post what you did for the day, even if it is trivial and mundane.

Thank you again for the continued prayers and good thoughts.  Believe me, they are working!!!

HUGS to you all!!!

~Charlotte

Day 18 - 28 wks - I'M HOME!!!

I AM HOME!!!  17 1/2 days of hospital bed rest and I was able to come home.  Now the challenge of 12 weeks of home bed rest begins.  And YES, I admit it, this WILL be a challenge!  I already had to fight the urge to fluff the Christmas tree, empty the dishwasher, open the 4 boxes of Christmas decorations that need to be put out, make myself something to eat...and the list goes on and on.  BUT, I am happy to report that I did not let myself do any of the above motioned things as well as anything not mentioned =)  Joey put Liam on "Mommy Duty".  It is his job to make sure I stay on the couch/bed.  He is really good at it too.  The moment I get up to use the restroom he runs to me and says "sit Mommy, no more hospital!" and practically pushed me back to the bed/couch.  Then he goes and tells Daddy that "me make Mommy sit down Daddy!".

I wish I had the video camera with me when Liam got home.  We did not tell Liam that I was coming home today.  Joey went and picked Liam up early from school this afternoon so I could be with him before Bobbee came by to get him (Joey has to work tonight and I cannot watch Liam by myself).  Liam and Joey walk in and Liam immediately goes to his train (it goes around the bottom of the Christmas Tree) and starts to play with it.  He has no clue that I am sitting 5 feet away from him on the couch.  Joey kept trying to get him to go to the couch but he wanted to play with his train.  Finally, Joey was able to convince Liam to go sit on the couch and take his shoes off.  Liam stood up and turned around and man did his eyes get HUGE.  Next thing I know he is yelling "MOMMY HOME!" and practically hurdles the couch to get to me =)  For the rest of the afternoon he kept asking me "Mommy no more hospital?", "Mommy stay home with me and Daddy?".  The poor thing looked so unsure each time he asked.  I think it will take him a while to believe that I am really home.

So from here until I'm 35 weeks I will see Dr. Watkins every two weeks for a checkup and a sono to measure my cervix.  One I hit 35 weeks, I will see her every week until Cortlandt comes.  If I start having pressure again and/or my cervix begins to measure funny and/or I start to dilate more, I will be re-evaluated and possibly put back into the hospital.  So prayers and fingers crossed that I stay like I am for a while...like all the way to 36 weeks, which is my goal.

THANK YOU again for all the prayers!  Believe me they are working and me being able to come home is proof of that!

HUGS and LOVE!!!

~Charlotte

Day 17 - 27 wks, 6 days - Looks like I'm going home =)

Yes, you read that right, I am going home tomorrow!!!!  Man that is such a great thing to say =)

THANK YOU again for all of your prayers over the past 17 days!  Believe me they have worked!!!  We still have a long road ahead, 12 more weeks of bed rest to be exact.  If I make it 12 more weeks, that will put me at full term, Feb 28th.  That is obviously my goal but a little un-realistic in my opinion.  Liam was 2 weeks early so we were already thinking Cortlandt would most likely be as well.  My first bed rest goal is to make it 8 more weeks.  That will put me at 36 weeks, Jan 31st, which means no NICU for Cortlandt when she comes =)  Really 35 weeks would mean no NICU, but I want to be super sure, so 36 weeks it is.  My second bed rest goal is to make it each additional week after that.  As long as I follow the bed rest that I have been doing here in the hospital, I know I will make it!!!

I know that last statement will be hard.  The temptation to do little things around the house, decorate for Christmas, make Liam dinner, take a longer shower, est. will be there.  But the consequences of those little things would mean one big bad thing and I am not about to let that happen to Cortlandt.  SHE is my main priority, not my only priority, but my main priority.  I know I can do this!  I know it will be hard for me...heck we all know this will be hard for me...but I can do it!  It's for the health of my daughter =)

Well I end this post with another THANK YOU for all your prayers, good thoughts, love and support for Joey, Liam, Cortlandt and myself.  I truly have the best family and friends around.  Man, I sure am one lucky person!!!

HUGS and LOVE!!!

XOXO!!!

~Charlotte

Day 15 & 16 - 27 wks, 4-5 days - Internet is not liking me =(

Okay, so I have decided that my internet connection in the hospital does not like me.  Facebook and Blogger, my two lifelines to the outside world, have not been working properly since Wednesday night.  It is pretty much hit or miss if I can get into either of them...really more misses then hits.  Sooooo..I am consolidating the post from yesterday that would not post and today’s post...

Day 15 - Friday, November 3rd - 27 wks, 4 days

Today went by fast!!!  It's funny how some days seem to drag by and others just fly.  Dr. Watkins came by and said that it looks like Monday will probably be the day I can go home if all goes well with the FFN and glucose tests.  I know I have said this in like the last 3 posts, but it suuuuuurrrrrre feels good to keep on hearing her say it each day =)

I had a great surprise this evening when the entire Morales gang came by.  I have been lucky enough to teach two of the Morales kiddos, Jacob and Elise, and can't wait to be able to teach Elayna too!!!  Michelle, my Mom and I talked for a while why the kiddos and Ray, their Dad, watched The Polar Express and they brought me some Mary Kay goodies too =)  It was a great surprise and I soooo enjoyed seeing my kiddos!

My Mom and I caped the night off by eating La Madeline for dinner and watching White Christmas, by far my all-time favorite Christmas movie!!! Man I can't wait to watch it in MY living room with a fire in the fireplace and the Christmas tree glowing!!!!!!  Fingers crossed that Monday will be the day.

~~~~~~~~~~

Day 16 - Saturday, November 4th - 27 wks, 5 days

Today was a whirlwind of visitors and more confirmation that Monday is most likely my day of freedom.

My Mom stayed the night which was fun.  We woke up, ate and then Joey came over for a visit before he had to head home and rest before work.  My first surprise visitor was my Father-in-Law and he brought lunch, La Madeline again...YUMMM!!!  While everyone was here, Dr. Watkins came by.  After talking, she decided that we will do the FFN test TOMORROW...as in SUNDAY!!!  She said that she is pretty confident on me being able to go home on Monday and to save us some time, since the FFN test can take up to 4 hours for the results, let’s get one test done tomorrow.  So on Monday, all we have to worry about is the glucose test.  It was nice to have her come by when so many family members were here so they could all hear what my bed rest at home has to be like.  I'm not sure all of them truly understood that I am not allowed to do ANYTHING!!!  No stairs, no car rides (unless to see Dr. Watkins), no cooking, no cleaning, no laundry (folding while sitting is okay ;-) ), no nothing unless it can be done from a resting position in my bed or on the couch.  I think my Father-in-Law was surprised to hear that even sitting up straight is off limits unless I am eating or taking a bath.  But we all agree that mentally me being home is what is best for Cortlandt and me.  Plus, it is nice to see that Dr. Watkins is so positive about me going home. She sees no reason why I won't make it to 32 weeks, if not longer, which of course is the goal =)  My goal is 36 weeks, that way there is no NICU...fingers crossed everyone!!!

So my other surprise visitors were some friends from Bright, Jaymie, Annie and Allison.  Jaymie brought the new Twilight movie, Eclipse, for me us to watch, she even left it for me to watch again (it's on right now!!!).  It was so nice to see them all again, but reminded me of how much I am missing at Bright and how much I miss everyone =(

Like I said, I am watching Eclipse, finishing dinner, and will be heading to bed soon...

Fingers crossed this is able to post.  I will update tomorrow about how the FFN test goes!!!

Thank you again for all of your prayers and good thoughts!!!  I know they are working!!!

HUGS and LOVE!!!

~Charlotte

Day 14 - 27 wks, 3 days - THANK YOU!!!

Thursday, December 2

This is the post I started last night, but had some internet issues and was unable to post it...so here it is...

Words cannot express how THANKFUL I am to all of you for your prayers, good thoughts, love and support during this stressful time.  Our life has certainly been on a roller coaster ride over the last two weeks and you all have been there for us through all the ups and downs.  The outpouring of help, visits, treats and the occasional coffee deliveries have reinforced what I already knew, that I have by far the best family and friends around!!!  God has certainly blessed Joey, Liam, Cortlandt and I with an abundance of love in our life and I am so incredibly grateful.

Kaci and Deanna (two of my teammates) came by after school today and brought a huge bag full of books, magazines, nail polish, cards, treats and Blockbuster gift cards from school.  I was so incredibly touched that my friends from school got all of this together for me.  I also have a beautiful orchid, from Bright's Sunshine Committee, that has received many a comment from the nurses.  By far, my favorite things in the bag were the cards and pictures from my students =)  I was a crying fool last night looking and reading all of the cards and pictures.  Here are some of the cards and pictures I received...

Cards from my students =)

More cards from my students =)

Cards from Emmie, Jeremy and their cousin Matthew.
I taught Jeremy two years ago and Emmie is in my
kinder class this year.

Liam and Joey came by earlier in the evening and stayed for about 2 hours =)  I swear that every time he comes by he has grown an inch or two.  Here are some cute pictures of Liam from today =)

Playing with Daddy =)

He is sooooo cute!!!

Looking for a helicopter.  My room is right next to the
helicopter pad so you can see them fly in and out.

It was a pretty jam-packed afternoon and evening, which was a nice change =)  Other then the visits, I was able to find some Christmas presents online, made a list of possibilities for Liam (thinking a big train table from from Daddy and Mommie =) ) and I was able to finish another letter in Cortlandt's name which was nice...

I want to end today's post with a bible quote.  My dear friend Lauren sent a card along with delicious brownies from school.  In the card was a quote, Lauren’s favorite bible quote to be exact. I have to admit, it is now one of my favorites as well and VERY true for how things are going right now. So today, I leave you all with this...

" '...I know what I am planning for you,' says the Lord.

'I have good plans for you...

I will give you hope and a good future.' "

JEREMIAH 29:11

I hope you all had a blessed day!!!

HUGS!!!

~Charlotte

P.S. 23 days until Christmas!!!!

Day 13 - 27 wks, 2 days - "Might" is my new favorite word!!!

Yes, "might" is my new favorite word!!!  "You might be able to go home next Monday" was the BEST sentence I have heard in 13 days!!!

So the morning was really long today.  I didn't have an actual appointment to see Dr. Albert, his nurse was going to call and say that they are ready for me, when they were ready for me.

I waited...and waited...and waited...and waited...

Until FINALLY at 3:10 I was called over.  I hop in the wheelchair and get a minutes ride of freedom to Dr. Albert's office.  I am allowed to walk to the sono room, but then I am instructed to lay down on the bed thing and wait.

I wait...and wait...and wait...and wait...

40 minutes pass and I am still waiting.  Now, here I am, pretty much un-clothed from the waist down except for a sheet, in a room that is cold enough to hang meat, laying on a bed that literally is nothing by plywood wrapped in plastic (I will NEVER say anything bad about my hospital bed again).  45 minutes into my wait Joey and Liam show up =)  20 more minutes pass while Joey reads magazines and I watch Liam play with some toy cars.  FINALLY, Dr. Albert and his nurse walk in.  He started by doing a sono of Cortlandt.  She is measuring at 2lb 4oz and is in the 75 percentile.  He does other measurements and calls out numbers that his nurse types into her laptop. I have no idea what they mean, but he says that she looks perfect =)  While all of this is going on, Liam is sitting in Joey's lap staring at the screen asking question upon question, "what that Daddy?", "what he doing Daddy?", "why baby moving lot Daddy?".  Then Dr. Albert lets us hear her heartbeat.  Liam's eyes got big and he asked "What that noise Daddy?".  Joey told him that it was the babies heartbeat and he wanted to hear it again.  After the appointment he kept talking about it and making what he thought was a heartbeat sound, soooo cute!!!

So after checking Cortlandt out, Dr. Albert then turned his attention to doing a sono of my cervix.  Our hope was that we would see some improvement in the length of the cervix.  Well thank goodness we did!!!  Now think of this, an average cervix @ 20 weeks of pregnancy is about 40 millimeters and @ 34 weeks of pregnancy it is about 34 millimeters.  My cervix @ 25 wks 4 days was somewhere between 27-28 millimeters...talk about scary!!!  So a 3 millimeter gain is good, not great, but good.  Dr. Albert’s exact words were "This is what we like to see, bed rest is working!"  His next words made my day, "You might be able to go home at 28 weeks as long as you can replicate hospital bed rest at home and if the FFN test (preterm labor screener) comes back negative."

Now, I know what you are thinking...That one sentence has one HUGE factor in it, replicate hospital bed rest.  Now, we all know me.  I don't sit still well at all.  The past 13 days have been incredibly hard at times and very stressful.  But he actually said I "might" be able to go home.  I would not care if you strapped me to my bed and I had to have a liquid diet for the rest of the pregnancy...I would be HOME!!!  HOME with Joey and Liam.  HOME in my own bed.  HOME to supervise the completion of Cortlandt's room.  HOME for Christmas!!!

To be perfectly honest, a part of me is worried about going home.  Can I really replicate the bed rest that I have been doing in the hospital at home???  I honestly don't know.  I wish I could say "YES!!!" with no reservations, but I can't.  This will diffidently be a topic Joey, Dr. Watkins and I will be talking about over the next few days.  But still, just being given the possibility of going home is the best gift I could have been given today.

So other then this news the day was pretty normal.  My Mother-in-Law, Dawn, came by and brought an adorable outfit for Cortlandt with her as well as a little Nativity Scene for my room.

Cortlandt's outfit from her Nana

I also had a surprise visit from a dear friend that used to teach at Bright.  Susan came by right after I was wheeled over to Dr. Albert's office and the poor thing actually waited for an hour until the appointment was finished.  She got me an adorable little snowman to dress up my hospital room, we chatted for a while and Liam showed off =)  It was soooo great seeing her again!

Nativity Scene and Snowman =)

Here is the picture of my cross-stitch project I promised from yesterday with the finished "T"...

2 letters down...7 more to go =)

Well I am going to end this incredably long post and get ready for bed.

Hugs and love!!!

~Charlotte