Wish Ball 2010

This year I was the Co-Chair of Make-A-Wish Foundation's Wish Ball. This event raises funds and awareness, and in the end grants wishes to children with life threatening illnesses. This is the third year I've volunteered for this organization and it touches my heart more and more each year. To learn more about Make-A-Wish click here.

The ladies...

The gents...

Rumble visited the reception and some of us got our picture taken with the bison. Not the best picture, but it is the only one we have. Our eyes look a little creepy.

Hospital Stay

It's been a while since I last updated the blog and a lot has happened. I will get up-to-speed soon, but I thought I would start with this.


Last Sunday night I was in severe pain. Trent asked if I was in labor, but since I haven’t expereienced this before I didn’t really know if I was or not.

Was it labor pains or gas pains? I thought about going to the emergency room but I really didn’t want to be told “go home, you have gas!”. I decided to wait it out and see how I felt in the morning since I didn’t have any other signs of labor.

The next day I got up, showered, went back to bed because I was still in pain, managed to get myself out of bed and go to work to then realize that I wasn’t able to function due to the pain. I grabbed my purse and keys and headed to the doctor’s office. Thankfully, they squeezed me in and Dr. S told me I probably had a kidney stone. He sent me home to hydrate and rest. He said if the pains gets unbearable to go to the hospital. My main concern was whether or not I would have to go to the emergency room. He told that I just needed to go to the labor and delivery floor and they would take care of me.

So, I headed home and spent 4 long hours rolling around on the floor, bed and couch just trying to get comfortable. No such luck! Plus I hadn’t been able to eat in over 12 hours because of the pain. I decided it was time. I packed a bag, since I wasn’t sure how long I would be there and headed to the hospital. Within 20 minutes I had an IV drip, morphine injection and was on a gurney being wheeled through the hospital to get an ultrasound of my kidneys and bladder. I realized at that moment that being escorted through the hospital on a gurney gives life a whole different perspective.

Question…why is it that I can’t take anything stronger than Tylenol while pregnant, but multiple doses of Morphine are just fine while I’m in the hospital? Not that I’m complaining…the pain meds made the hospital stay tolerable.

I ended up spending 22 unfortunate hours at Mercy Hospital but am feeling a lot better. The ultrasound didn’t detect any kidney stones, although they could still exist, but I learned that my babies are laying on my kidneys causing them to back up and not work properly which caused all the pain. I so love these little guys, but I’m ready for them to make their grand entrance into the world. Between my kidneys, back pain, constant contractions and heartburn, I’m afraid these next two weeks are going to be long and uncomfortable. BUT, this too will pass!

Strapped

Every Sunday and Thursday morning you can find me on the 5th Floor of Mercy Hospital for the non-stress test.

I've been there so many times that the nurses know me by name.

WHY?

I’ve been trying to write this post for several weeks, but I haven’t had the right words and I felt the situation was a little too raw for me to broadcast on my blog. Now I feel like I can and hopefully the timing is right.

My brother and sister-in-law received some unfortunate news that they are unable to conceive. I’ve been struggling with this for awhile now. How did I get blessed with two babies at one time and they can’t even have one? How is that fair and why did it have to happen to them? Every time I sit down to write about this tears come to my eyes. I just want to make it all better for them, but it’s not in my power.

I am glad to report that they are working thru the grieving process and have decided to adopt a little girl from Ethiopia. This fills my heart with so much happiness. This process will have its ups and downs and it will probably take much longer than the 9 months I’ve endured to get my children, but they are both strong individuals and I know they will make it thru this chapter in their life. A tiny, precious blessing is coming their way and I look forward to our children growing up together.

They’ve started a blog about their journey and I encourage you to follow along; I know I will.

Kathleen is incredibly crafty and all the proceeds from her Etsy shop benefit their adoption fund. You can find her creations (everything from diaper cakes to little girl dresses to holiday decorations) here. Check it out often as she is always adding new items and remember that you will be helping their cause with each and every purchase!

Bittersweet

Our lazy weekends that we love so much are about to come to an end. Sleeping in on a Saturday or Sunday morning with breakfast in bed, reading the newspaper and then a mid-morning nap are about to be over and I find this to be bittersweet. I know that the new lives, which are about to enter our world, will completely change the way we exist. I know that this change will certainly be for the better, but at the same time it’s hard to imagine what our new way of life will be like.

I love feeling the boys move in my belly. Will there be a void when they are gone or will I just be so busy (and tired) that I won’t notice or have just forgotten about it. Last night one of the boys rumps was poking through my belly!

I live in a constant state of conflicting emotions. Excited, scared (a lot of scared actually) and happy. Each one pulls in a different direction and I never know which one will win the tug of war contest at that time.

I know this last month will be very interesting. The constant wondering if they will arrive early, do I have everything at work ready to go if they do. I'm emotional, tired and have lost my "pregnancy glow". I try to still be upbeat and a generally happy person, but that is hard sometimes when I find it difficult to just walk down the hall to the bathroom!

We have another ultrasound on Friday and I'm eager to see how much the little men have grown.

Week 31 - Ultrasound

It's amazing what can be learned from an ultrasound that you can't get from a regular doctor's visit. Thursday I had my doctor's visit and I left feeling like everything was fabulous. Friday was a different story.

During the ultrasound I learned that Baby A (Jackson) only weighs 3 lbs and Baby B (Brooks) weighs 4 lbs. 1 oz. I also found out that my cervix is shortening and getting thinner which puts me at risk for preterm labor. I go back for another ultrasound in 2 weeks. If at that time the baby's weights are still drastically different then the situation will be addressed at that time (not 100% sure what he meant by this). He said it could just be that all babies are different and grow at different rates or it could be something wrong with the placenta. Cross you fingers that all goes well in 2 weeks. I need Brooks to quit stealing all the nutrients and to let Jackson have some!

He told me to take it easy and to try to stay off my feet. I left the office with my head spinning.

Sunday we went to the hospital for the bi-weekly Non-Stress Test. I got to lay in a hospital bed for about an hour with my belly connected to a fetal monitor. Both babies did great during the test; I go back again on Thursday morning. I'm eager to go to the doctor on Thursday to see what he recommends after all these findings.

We have a baby shower at our house on Saturday. I'm looking forward to seeing all our family and friends. Plus it gives me reason to get the house completed, cleaned and nursey finished!