On Hold

(27w4d)

Ok, time for an update.

Unfortunately blogging while in the hospital has been frustratingly difficult.

The wireless internet card I would normally use gets spotty reception at best here in the hospital.

And although I am grateful that I can access the internet through the TV in my room, the type is so small from y bed that I can't read enough of what I am attempting to write in order to make it worth worthwhile.

To boot,  I have been exhausted the last few days, without energy to even crochet or read my book.

Shortly after I last posted (on Sunday) the Neonatologist and a NICU nurse arrived at our room to discuss what to expect when the triplets are born early.  

Turns out, we know both of them.

Dr. Neo is a kind, mellow and very good neonatologist who Matt did some contract work for several years ago.  When I worked at U.MC, Dr. Neo always went out of his way to chat with me in the hallways.  Turns out he now runs the Level III NICU here at the hospital where I am.  As I mentioned in my last post the NICU here only gained Level III status in the last year.    What we didn't know is that they ONLY care for Level III babies here.  Once they are stable enough for Level II, the babies will be transferred to a hospital within the same system that is very near our house.  I find it reassuring that the nurses and physicians here specialize in only the smallest and most acute babies.

As for the nurse-- she used to date Matt's brother in high school.  It has great to see her again.

I see all of this as a good omen.

We may be their first triplets, but we are in familiar and reassuring hands.

Until yesterday my blood work was still trending slowly in the wrong direction.  It appeared that my liver was becoming involved and the MD filling in for Dr. Peri seemed more concerned.  She was talking about possibly needing to deliver the babies by the end of this week.  But my lab tests have improved and stabilized over the last two days.  My blood pressure has also stabilized (being on hospital bed rest will do that to a woman!)  I attribute this turn around not only to hospital bed rest, but also to the thoughts and prayers of family and friends.

So at least for today, things are going all right and it appears (knock on wood) that we will at least make it to 28 weeks.

The babies are still doing well.  They put all the monitors on my belly for 2-3 hours every nursing shift (which means every twelve hours).  Because of the difficulty finding and keeping the babies on the monitors, I have to essentially lay completely still, often basically on my back, for the whole time.  As you may imagine, this is anything but comfortable... especially when one's bladder is being bashed either by Baby A or by a contraction.

But at times it is quite entertaining.  The babies seem to resent the monitoring as an intrusion into their world and often start kicking and moving.  A lot.  It is reassuring to hear their heartbeats and feel them moving around.

In summary, I am feeling better than a few days ago and all signs point to this being a longer-rather-than-shorter hospitalization.  We are grateful for every day that I remain on the Antepartum instead of Postpartum unit.

Just taking it one day at a time.