Labor Day of 2007

I can't say there was anything unusual about this particular Labor Day. I woke up to tend to the dogs, so Brad could get some extra shut eye. The weather was nice and I was looking forward to taking Hoku and Koa to the newly renovated dog park near our house. After eating breakfast ... Brad and I headed to the dog park, I'd say at about 9:30am. I felt great and wouldn't have been the wiser as to what this day would hold for us.

As we slowly walked down the street ... I had a weird feeling that I mistakenly peed in my pants a bit. Not a big deal, just a teeny tiny bit at first which I ignored to be somewhat normal at this point in my pregnancy. As instructed, I was already wearing liners for this exact purpose. But as I continued walking, the weird "peeing" like sensation continued and there wasn't anything I could do about it. With a mind of its own, it just continued to "leak". At this point, I sent Brad off to the dog park, while I headed back to the house to change. Before I got home (probably a little less than 5 minutes), it literally looked like I was a 2 year who had just peed their pants.

Back at the house, I quickly changed and headed back out to the park. The "peeing" had stopped for the time being and I had upgraded to a pad rather than another liner. Not really knowing what that was, I figured I'd ask a friend (who had just recently had a baby) to see what she thought. In the back of my mind I thought it could be my water ... but I was only 33 weeks and it seemed a bit early. Plus, I was expecting a BIG gush of water more so then leaking. Contrary to what I thought, Lennie, suggested I call the hospital to find out what I should do. In the end, the labor and delivery nurse told me to come in to get the fluid tested and to see if it indeed was my water. I actually had to bring in my ever so embarrassing "pee" pants for testing, LOL. They said it was better to be safe than sorry. So that's what we did. We took the doggies back home, quickly tried packing an overnight bag (I obviously didn't pack one just yet), and off we were.

When we got there, they were already expecting me. They quickly sent me into a room where I was instructed to give a urine sample, while the lady checked the fluid. To our surprise, it turns out it WAS amniotic fluid. Before I knew it, I was in a hospital gown laying on the bed attached to a fetal and contraction monitor. This was it, I was here to stay.

I was worried and scared. It was too early. He wasn't ready. So many things raced through my mind, I didn't know what to think. I just sorta laid there awaiting my doctor's arrival.

Doctor Teagle got there rather quickly. Lucky for me she hadn't ventured too far away from home on this holiday weekend. She did an ultrasound and a very uncomfortable physical exam to see where I was at and get some fluids to run a few tests. I was about a finger tip dilated ... whatever that meant.

So being only 33 weeks early ... the first official game plan was to keep me pregnant for as long as they could. 2 weeks if at all possible! I was hooked up to an IV, a penicillin drip, and was given a shot which was supposed to slow down if not stop the labor. I believe it was Terbutaline, but I am not 100% sure. I was also given a type of steriod shot to help the baby's lung develop faster. Apparently, complete lung development doesn't happen until 34 or 35 weeks. They were hoping to get at least 2 of these shots in me, which can only be given in 24 hour intervals. So the hope was, I could last at the very least until the next day ... still pregnant so I could get the 2nd shot. If I wasn't able to get the 2nd shot and had to deliver sooner, chances were he would need a respirator to help him breathe. The other main concern was the ability to suck and swallow. Development of that doesn't usually come in till around 35 weeks as well. But that is something that can be learned, so it wasn't as big of a concern.

Now that we had a plan, I felt a little better. I sent Brad home to get the rest of my things and I got accustomed to my new hospital room that would be my home for the next few days. He stayed until evening and then went home to tend to the dogs and sleep. He was still going to be working, since we needed the money (LOL) and I wouldn't be needing him until I was actually ready to deliver.