August 2012
I worked pretty hard from the middle of June to the end of July. Then we took a week off and Camellia, Sterling and Nathan joined us for the August long weekend camping by the Shuswap lake in BC. We played at a beach there, went to church on Sunday and enjoyed campfire meals, sleeping in a tent and a relaxing weekend. Then on August 6th Nathan, Camellia and Sterling went back to Calgary and Chris, Caeleb and I continued on to Victoria. We spent the week there and went to Nathanial and Suzanne’s wedding on Saturday August 11. It was the probably the most expensive wedding I have been too. And very elegant. It was at a winery and after the 2:30 wedding, there were hordevers and cocktails and then a buffet supper at 6:00 and a dance after. Suzanne looked beautiful in her dress. It will be fun to have her part of the family.
I was supposed to go back to work on August 16 and 17th but had a turn of events. I had an ultrasound on August 16th and we found out that we are having a baby girl. We are really excited. Maybe little Lilly is making a comeback. The perinatologist was worried about the large Hematoma that was still covering my cervix and the cyst on the babies brain. I was also getting over a bad cold and really bad cough so I am sure it would not have been a good idea to go back to work as I sounded horrible. I had to cancel my shift that day. My lst appointment with my OB/GYN on Monday August 20th left me with a Doctor’s note stating that I should not be working. I guess Dr. Albretch thinks I should not be working because of that bleed. So I guess I will take an early sick/maternity leave and just take this time to enjoy Caeleb and prepare for baby girl.
The month of August and September has brought a rollercoaster of events and I have summed them up in letters I have written to my family.
June 29th 2012 (starting with the first letter to the family about this new adventure) Dear Family,
I hope all is going well for all of you. We had fun visitng with Aunt Marilyn, Uncle Gord and Aunt Sharan when they came up to Calgary. I would love to go on a road trip and go down to Utah and up to Edmonton to visit family but Chris has not been at his new job for too long and he does not have alot of vacation time saved up so our summer vacation this year will be a short trip to Victoria for Chris' brother's wedding. We plan to head out there the second weekend in August. Life is good. Chris absolutely loves his new job and we love our new house that we are renting in Ranchlands. I am working 3 shifts a week at the Rockyview right now which is a bit much but I feel I need to get a little more seniority. We love having Nathan live with us. He is an awesome uncle to Caeleb and Caeleb and him are great friends. They love to play hide and seek. Caeleb is at a fun age. He was jabbering on and on today. He says quite a bit but I can only pick out a few words that make sense - Car is still at the top of the list but he loves to say outside words like rock, lide (for slide), bus, pane (plane), tain (train), and lots of animal sounds and words. We went on the train today and he always loves his walks and train rides. We miss mom and dad (Nana and Grandpa - or Papa as Caeleb says), but we are so grateful for the awesome technology of skyping. Caeleb likes to give his Nana and Grandpa kisses and hugs on the screen. And he runs around the couch and dances for them.
We have some good news. We are going to have another little one. We are 12 weeks, 4 days (at the ultrasound today). I have had some complications. I have a subchorionic hematoma which is pretty large so I will see a specialist. And there are always the risks like miscarraige and preterm birth with that. But we are being optomistic even if things sometimes don't go the way we want - like last time. But Chris is a very optomistic person and I look to his example. Anyways, we are excited and we wanted to share that with you. We hope that you are all doing well. I miss you all. I really do. Love Katherine
August 17 2012. Dear Family, So we had an ultrasound today. I am just over 19 weeks along. And it is a BABY GIRL! We are really excited!! But we are a bit worried and confused as well. The Radiologist told us that along with the large Hematoma covering the cervix, and a lower lying placenta, the baby has a choriod plexus cyst in the brain. I don't think this would be that bad if it was the only thing, but the doctor said it may be an indication of trisomy 18 which has a very small chance of survival to birth and babies usually only live a short time. He didn't say what the probability is for our baby having this. Anyways, we would love any little baby with any trisomy or monosomy, etc or any problem at all, but we are praying that all will be okay. We just want our baby to live! (I don't mean to be selfish but who wouldn't want that, right). I have a specialist appointment on Monday and maybe she can give us more information. We are being positive. After all, it is just an increased chance and we will have more ultrasounds later to give us more information. I just thought you all should know. Thank you for your support and love. Love Katherine.
August 20 2012. Dear Family. So I had my specialist appointment today and it went really well. The Nurse and Doctor were both so kind and reassuring. They said that they would monitor the baby closely but that even though my risk of trisomy 18 is a bit greater than normal, I should not be worried about it. They were so positive and they think eveything will be just fine in that area. They will watch the cyst and the baby. The doctor was a lot more worried about the hematoma -clot. I left a bit confused because she first started out by saying that I should still go to work but that I should be on light duties. Then a few minutes later, she decided I should not work until I am at least 24 weeks along (4 weeks from now) because if I did go into preterm labor, a baby will not usually survive before 24 weeks and I would feel horrible if I had been working and went into labor. They are concerned that I may go in to preterm labor. I guess it happens quite a bit with these clots??? Well, baby does come first so I will take it easy.
Thank you for your support and prayers. I have sure felt them. We feel so blessed to have our family. We hope that we can always be there for you as you have been there for us. I will let you know how things continue to go. Love Katherine
September 10 2012. Hello family,
Hope you are all doing great! Just thought I would give you an update on baby girl. I was bleeding again two weeks ago and so we were a bit nervous for a while but it actually turned out to be a good thing. I had an ultrasound last Wednesday and it showed that the large hematoma was gone. Yeah!! I asked the doctor today if I should go back to work and she said no as I am still high risk (even though I really don't feel like I am now). So I will just take my maternity leave early and go back a bit early. I am going to take a Nursing module from Grant MacEwan in the next few months so that I can continue to learn and grow in nursing. I am a very forgetful person and have found it very hard to come back to nursing after breaks (mission and Caeleb). But most importantly, I will have this time with Caeleb. That is so important and I am excited for that. He is so funny. He is a rambler even though he is often the only one who knows what he is saying. He turns 2 on Friday (Chris does too but Caeleb kind of stole his birthday). Uncle Nathan is awesome and got Caeleb a power wheels jeep so that he can be like his uncle Nathan (who has a jeep). He had to give it to Caeleb early as he was so excited about giving it to him. We are excited to go to the temple open house in October. I went to the hospital and invited some of my coworkers today. We wish that you could all come to Calgary and experience it. Maybe Aunt Brenda, Uncle Gord and family and Uncle Ken, Aunt Sandy and family could come down from Edmonton. You are more than welcome to come and visit and stay with us. We want to thank everyone for their prayers. We love you all. Love Katherine
Sept 13 2012. I just thought you should know that I am at the hospital again. I am bleeding pretty good and I am staying over. I don't know what is going to happen but I would appreciate your prayers at this time for baby girl. Love Katherine
Sept 15 2012. Dear Family. So, I got home yesterday afternoon. I am doing really good. So is baby. Not much bleeding now. The doctor wants me to take it even easier for a while which is a little tricky with Caeleb as he just turned into a busy busy two year old. Yep, Caeleb was 2 yesterday and Chris turned ??? (just kidding, I know how old he is). I felt sad because I was not able to do my original plans for my birthday boys. So it ended up being a Chinese take out (Thanks mom and dad), and Dairy Queen ice cream cake birthday party on the spur of the moment. Chris and I had bought Caeleb his birthday present a few weeks ago so we were set. He opened a wooden train set and him and uncle Nathan set it up and played with it for a while. He loves it! He is such a good little trooper and it was so good to see him again. Thanks for you kind words, love and support. Love Katherine
Sept 17 2012. Well, I thought I sent you an email this morning but I don't think it sent. I started bleeding yesterday at 5:00 pm and it was more than last time so back we went to Foothills. They are getting to know me there. They gave me IV fluids and they even gave me a steriod shot which will mature baby girl's lungs just in case she needs to come early. It works in 48 hours and the positive effects last for about a week. They were not going to give me it last time because they didn't think things were going to come to that but the possibility of preterm birth increases each time I bleed it seems. Right now baby seems to be okay and I pray that she is growing and getting the nutrition she needs. That is really what I am worried about. She is so small, 24 weeks today, and needs more time inside. The ultrasound today showed a bigger hematoma as well as the one from Thursday which is getting smaller (which is good). I am not sure how long I will be here but the doctor mentioned a week so we will see. The bleeding has almost stopped again. Camellia is with Caeleb today and tommorrow and he always loves being with his cousin so that is good. Nathan was telling Chris that last night, when we were gone, Caeleb was so tired that he comes to Nathan around 7:00 pm and took his finger and led him to his crib. He wanted up and to go to sleep. Caeleb is so good for his uncle Nathan and I had to laugh at that one. Caeleb is such a cute little boy. Nathan is a great uncle! Love you all. Just want to keep you updated. Love Katherine
Sept 18 2012. Dear Mom and Dad. I am doing really well. The bleeding is pretty much stopped. So maybe I will go home tommorrow. I have two doctors and one was the one who helped with the DandE in January. They are both so kind and good. I am just taking it easy. Chris and the Elders Quorem president gave me a blessing last night so that was nice. Baby is doing well. We are keeping positive and I feel good. We just take it one day at a time but little girl is a fighter and I guess if I bleed again, I will know what to do - go to the hospital. But be assured we are all doing well. I love you tons and I hope that you are enjoying Korea. Love Katherine
Sept 18 2012. Hi Mom and Dad, Camellia, Sterling and Caeleb just visited. Now Camellia and Sterling are headed home so she can go to work tommorrow and Chris just picked up Caeleb. They are so good to have come up to be with Caeleb. Tommorrow and Thursday Caeleb will be at the Radfords and then Kamille said she could take him on Friday. We have been so blessed that everyone can chip in to help. I hope that I can be that way when others are in need. I was talking to Camellia today and we were remembering how when we were on our missions, and Dad broke his legs, we felt devastated that we could not be there to help. But I know I felt that everything would be okay and that I was where I needed to be. That is the case now. You are where you need to be and we will all be blessed. I love you tons. Love Katherine
Sept 19 2012. Hi Mom and Dad, I am still here but the bleeding really is about stopped so I should be able to go home tommorrow maybe. Originally they wanted me to wait until Monday so I could have another ultrasound here but the bed could probably be used for someone else especially since I only live 10 minutes away. Well, those are my thoughts anyways. I watched Anne of Green Gables today and I have gone for walks on the unit and I am reading my book on President Monson. My Relief Society President found out about me too and she visited today and brought me flowers. What a sweetheart. Baby girl is doing well. Hopefully we are done with all of this back and forth. In a way it has been a good experience here because I can learn from the Nurses and see what it is like to be a patient. That should help me with my nursing in the future - don't you think. It makes me want to go back to work in a way. But really, what I want for now is to have this baby be healthy and strong. A little grandaughter for you. I love you and hope that you are happy and healthy. Love Katherine
Sept 20 2012. Hi Mom and Dad, Well, I am still here. Dr. Fay wants to keep me until Sunday and I didn't question her. I really like her and Dr. LeSuer and I don't question what they say. I did tell the nurse that if they need the bed for someone else, I could go as I live close. I think she thought I was being rediculous. I was just throwing it out there. I think they have their protocols and such. I don't really know this but perhaps lst bleed is a two day stay, second bleed is a week and a nurse told me that on the 3rd bleed they keep you until you deliver - 3 strikes your in (yikes). But I am doing really well. I been having some bleeding the last 2 days but it is old stuff and really is not alot at all. Baby is doing really well. I will have an ultrasound on Monday and that is what I am a bit nervous about because we want little girl to be growing. I think she is though. Well, Caeleb is at the Radfords today while the boys are at work. I miss him. I miss home. But now I can relate more to my patients who have to been in the hospital for a while. I need to shower and then walk around a bit. I figure I will be more active at home so I should do the same here. I love you both so much. Love Katherine
Sept 22 2012. Hi Family, So I have a funny story to tell today. I was on day pass from the hospital from 1000 until later afternoon which I found to really hilarious in itself because the doctor is planning to discharge me tommorrow anyways. I guess she just wanted to give me a test run at home to see if I overdid anything and started bleeding again. Be assured that I am doing great. Bleeding is pretty much gone (for good hopefully) and I feel great today! Chris and Caeleb picked me up and we went home this morning. Nathan made us a slow cooked roast beef lunch which was delicious and Caeleb entertained me in the afternoon before it was time to go back to the hospital. As I was in our room getting ready to go back, Caeleb comes running into the room, trips and falls and slashes his forehead on the corner of a wall. I assessed the situation and found out that the gash was long, deep and bleeding pretty good (I guess he figured it was his turn to bleed - te he he). It needed stitches. So instead of heading right back to Foothills, we detoured to the walk-in clinic right by our house (which I have come to know very well during this pregnancy as I have had baby's heartrate checked alot there - I have been a little paranoid since January). They saw him right away which was nice because if we had gone to the Children's Hospital I am sure we would have still been there now (3 hours later). Alot of crying and kicking and screaming was involved but our Caeleb got 3 stitches in his forehead and a big
bandage to cover it all up. As sad as the experience was, he does look adorable with the big bandage on his forehead. He was so exhausted by that tramatic experience that he fell asleep almost as soon as he got home. I joked with the nurses when I got back to Foothills that if that experience doesn't cause more bleeding or preterm labor, nothing will and I am set for the remainder of the pregnancy. Well, I just thought you would get a kick out of that. It is funny the little things that happen in life that lead us from one moment to the next. Another funny thing that happened today was that my nurse today was the sister of a really good friend when I was growing up in Champion. I remember that my labor nurse with Caeleb was my preceptor for my NICU rotation when I was doing nursing at BYUI (I had not seen her in 5 years and she had moved up to Calgary from Idaho without me knowing). The world just keeps on getting smaller and smaller.I hope you all enjoyed your Saturday. Love Katherine
Sept 24 2012. Hi Family, I am home from the hospital (yesterday). Yeah! I had an ultrasound today. It went okay. Baby girl is still growing at a pretty good rate so that is good. She is a little trouper. I still have a large Hematoma right by the placenta. The doctor thinks the bleeding causing the hematoma is from the placenta and she indicated that the placenta could look healthier but for now everything is goingon as it should. The thing that could go wrong is that baby girl does not get the nutrients she needs to grow and be strong from the affected placenta but we are praying that she continues to be okay and gets all she needs to grow. She weighs one pound and 11 ounzes today. Every ounze counts! It is amazing what they can tell from an ultrasound. I have an ultrasound next Wednesday. I feel like this is a rollercoaster ride but we count our blessings and pray also that we will know what to do as time goes on. Caeleb is a little trouper too. He is at his babysitters today. I miss him. It's funny how one can miss caring for children, housework, driving, preparing meals, etc, when that is put on the not to do list for a while. I guess my standards of an organized house will have to be lowered for a while but I will do anything for baby. She is moving around right now. That is always reassuring to feel. I think the steroid shots they gave her last week gave her some strength because she has some good kicks at times. Too bad she won't qualify for olympic kickboxing because she has been using steroids. Just kidding - te he he. Well, I feel like we are all getting to know baby girl so much before she even arrives. She is a special little girl and I think we all love her a lot already. I know that cousin Sarah is having her little boy on Wednesday and our thoughts and prayers are with her. That is sooo exciting! Love you, Katherine
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