30 weeks!

I am 30 weeks pregnant today!  Here is a picture of little miss Elise in my belly this morning!

Since my last blog post, I had a rough weekend.  My contractions didn't let up even with the change in medication.  I barely slept and couldn't get much done.  I also continued to have occasional bleeding.  I called into work on Monday and Maternal Fetal Medicine was able to get me in for an appointment.  I met a new doctor, and he switched up my contraction medications yet again.  My highest dose yet and also in extended release form.  We also discussed my blood pressure.  The contraction medication is also an anti-hypertensive, or blood pressure medication.  I am supposed to monitor my blood pressure daily to make sure it doesn't drop too low with all of these increases.  However, instead of my blood pressure going down, it has been going up.  I had quite a few higher readings over the weekend, so the doctor ordered some blood tests to check for preeclampsia.  I've been told that preeclampsia is more common in Trisomy 18 pregnancies.  I also got a work order for reduced shifts, so I will now be working 8 hour shifts instead of 12 hour shifts.

With the new dose of medication, I was finally able to get some sleep, as the intensity of my contractions has decreased.  I also stopped bleeding.  I was able to go back to work on Tuesday and made it through the shift!

I had a return appointment with the same doctor from Maternal Fetal Medicine today.  We discussed my labs.  According to the doctor, it appears that "something's a brewin'!" My labs don't indicate preeclampsia yet, but are trending up to the higher end of normal and seem to indicate that I am possibly headed towards preeclampsia some time in this pregnancy.  He said that it's a good thing that I am already on blood pressure medication (and a high dose at that).  For now, he'd like me to be seen weekly to keep an eye on it.  Also, I'll keep checking my blood pressure at home.  He also gave me a list of symptoms to be on the lookout for.  I feel confident that if I do become preeclamptic, we will catch it fairly early with all of the monitoring that I am being given. 

Poor little Isaac has had a rough few days.  The other day he started talking to me about how he was afraid to get sick and die.  I tried to explain to him that most of the time, if he got sick, he would get better or the doctor could help us make him better.  I also talked to him again about the fact that he can't catch what baby Elise has.  We discussed it again the next night at dinner, and he still said he was afraid to get sick and die.  Daddy asked him if it was because of baby Elise, and he said, "yes."  We talked to him again and tried to explain that he would never have what baby Elise has.  We talked for a while and tried to reassure him, but it's so hard to explain to a 3 year old.  My heart hurts thinking that he has to deal with this, but I know that God won't give anyone, including a little boy, more than he can handle.

"God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it." -1 Corinthians 10.13