Update

Well it has been a rough few days. Lydia is just so tired and not eating like she should be or was. They had to put a feeding tube in and she is still gaining weight. We are hoping that she turns around soon and will be able to come home in about a week or so. We will let everyone know when the big day will be.

PICTURES! and the rest of the story

Sunday afternoon I went into labor. They gave me some medicine to stop the contractions. It worked for half an hour and contractions started again. They gave me another dose and told me if they didnt stop that they would be doing a c-section at 5pm. They didnt stop. Lydia was born at 5:45pm. She weighed 5 pounds 9 oz. She is still in the NICU. I am home and traveling back and forth. Yesterday they transfered her from the downtown hospital up to Meridian. We are so happy to have her so close to home! I also have a room in Meridian right across the hall from the NICU.

Today is Gabe's Birthday! He IS 2! 2 years ago today he was born at the same hospital where Lydia is!

Lydia Snow Swenson

Well she is here. Lydia Snow Swenson was born on Jan. 18th at 5:45pm. I know this is late. She is in the NICU but doing great. We hope she will be home Sunday or Monday. I will post pics. later.

One of those days.

I have one week left here on the Antepardum ward. Right now I am ready to be done. Ready to be home and in my own bed. Ready to have real food, not hospital food. Ready to be unattached to an IV. Ready to regain my freedom.

It has just been one of those days. I have a rash on my hands, arms, and chest. Which is either from stress of the antibiotics, we dont know which one. Gabe and Chelsea came to visit. For the first time since I have been here he was not happy to be leaving and got upset. I know I have a double whammy coming tomorrow, I have a blood draw and have to get a new IV put in.

I know I am a BIG whiner. It could be sooo much worse. But, I am ready to be done.

P.S. This little girl is still breached.

10 days down, 10 to go

I have been in the hospital for 10 days now. It has gone by faster than I thought it would, but, it seems like the days are getting longer now. I am at a halfway point. 10 days from now I should have this baby. They monitored me this morning and when they took me off my nurse said that she is the best looking ruptured baby she has ever seen. That was encouraging.
We had a little bit of added s
tress yesterday. Every other day they do a blood draw to check my white blood cell count. Yesterday it was "elevated" so instead of waiting until Wednesday they did another draw today to check and make sure it had not gone up. Thankfully it went down and I get to go back to every other day.

I am beginning to feel like a human pincushion at times. I think the reason that my white blood cell count was up yesterday is in part due to all of the bruises that I have from IV sticks and blood draws.

Thankfully, I know it will all be over soon. I guess it is worth it to get this little girl here safe and sound!

P.S. She is still breached. We have had quite a few long chats but apparently she is happy right where she is and sees no reason to turn around. Oh well, what can you do?

Another Monday

It is Monday morning and I am sitting in my hospital bed. I have 11 days until I will have this baby. She is still breached, so it is looking like I will have another c-section. I was pretty upset when she flipped. I had really hoped for a VBAC. But, nevetheless I have accepted it.

I had another ultrasound yesterday and it looks like the fluid levels have remained pretty stable. They also measured her yesterday and she is right around 4 pounds now. We are hoping that she will gain another 100 grams, at least, and be right around 4 1/2 to 5 pounds by the time she arrives.

They monitor her every 8 hours and every time they tell me how beautiful things look. We only have one more Monday left before she will be here!

Update Estimated Birthday

I saw the Dr. today and he did another Ultrasound to check fluid levels etc. Baby looks great. She is still breached and we are not sure if she will turn but we will just have to wait and see what happens. I also asked him what the plan would be if I dont go into labor when would he plan on delivering her. SO the big day will be January 23rd if things dont happen before that! It is so nice to have a date now. It is one day before Gabe's birthday but at least they will each have their own special day.

So if all goes well she will be here 2 weeks from today! We cant wait to meet her!

What a little stinker!

The Dr. just came in and did an ultrasound to check the amniotic fluid levels and look at the baby. The fluid levels are fine but, she is flipped. She was head down on friday night. Sometime since then she has decided she doesnt like being on her head as much as she likes being on her feet I guess. Stubborn little girl! I dont know where she gets it from! She hasnt even been born yet and already she does what she wants and doesnt listen to her mommy. When I am done typing we are going to have a good long talk.

Because she is breached there are a few more risk factors. They will be monitoring every 6 hours now instead of every 8. There is also the risk of the cord coming out first which would mean an emergency c-section.

It is funny because after I had Gabe I thought that there was no way a 2nd pregnancy could be much worse. Apparently I was wrong. I am just glad that I know there is an end in sight and 3 years from now this will all be a memory.

I have internet!

So, this is Erin.  Thanks to my awesome sister I now have internet access!  I am still in the hospital and will be until I have this baby.  So far we are doing well.  We are just taking it one day at a time.  Our little girl is a trooper and very happy and healthy still.  I am doing pretty well too.  thanks to everyone for all of their thoughts and prayers.  I can tell that the Lord is with us and our family and have faith that everything will work out and be just fine.    I will update with any changes.

Erin is in the hospital

On Friday night Erin's water broke. She hurried to the hospital where she will be staying until she delivers our baby. Her doctor is hoping to make it to 34-35 weeks before delivering the baby, which means that Erin will be at the hospital for 2-3 more weeks. She is staying at the downtown St. Lukes in the AntePartum unit on the second floor. While undertaking the long dull stay in bed she would welcome calls or visits from friends and family.