36 Weeks- on bed rest

Time certainly flies... until you get to the last 10 weeks and then it feels like it CREEEEPS by.

Well, we had a tummy check yesterday with our awesome midwife, Anita. I sure do love her. Have I ever said that before??? I'm sure I have, but I really do mean it. She listens so well and always makes me feel like my concerns are valid and puts them to ease without making me feel stupid. I just love her!

Anyway, when we came into the exam room the nurse, Chastity (just love her to pieces too) took my blood pressure. She took it twice with the manual cuff and wasn't able to hear it clearly. So she went and grabbed the automatic one, hooked me up and my blood pressure came up at a whopping 144/99. YIKES BIKES! That is sooo high for me. When I was pregnant with Gavin the actually encouraged me to get an epidural because my blood pressure was sooo high they were afraid I may have a seizure while in labor. Along with the high blood pressure I also had a little protein showing up in my urine. The problem is not the protein itself... the problem is that protein is a very large molecule. So if they are able to find protein, it normally means that my kidneys aren't functioning well enough to act as a filter anymore.

Chas told Anita what she had found and soon I was hooked up to the monitor. Now, let me just say, Anita and Chastity are sooo lucky that I love them so much, otherwise this could have been potentially disastrous. When I was in labor with Gavin I was hooked up to the monitor for over 24 hours straight, only able to lie on one side and anytime I switched positions they would have to come and fix it. I actually told Jonathan that if they didn't come and take it off of me I was going to shove it up their.... well you get the picture. LOL I was not fond of the monitor before. Luckily, after about 15 minutes Anita was able to see that the baby was doing fine. His heartbeat was consistent at the 140 range unless he was moving and then it would bump up to 180. She checked my cervix... already a TINY bit dilated. She said that if I did have to be induced at this point, it would be a pretty easy delivery. Well, that's good news.

So, the two concerns of high blood pressure and the protein in my urine means that I have "preeclampsia". The exact condition I had when I was pregnant with Gavy and that caused me to be induced at 39 weeks. Anita sent me down to get some blood drawn to check my kidney and liver function. She said that unless it comes back really crazy and as long as the baby and I still look good, she wants to keep me pregnant for as long as possible. She put me on bed rest and told me to hydrate like crazy.

Last night was my last day in the office until after the baby comes. The great thing about this office is that our software is Internet based, so I'm able to do some work from home. And there is PLENTY of work for me to do from home. So for the next few weeks I'll be hanging out at home, getting ready for baby. I always thought that being put on bed rest would be the greatest thing ever.... but I feel like there is so much to be done that I just don't have time to be on bed rest. Forcing myself to be idle is hard, but I know that it's what is best for the baby and me right now.

Thankfully, I have the world's greatest husband. On top of working his 12-16 hour days, he's been coming home, making dinner, and then working on stuff to get ready for baby. All without one little complaint. He's the best, I'm so lucky to have him! My mom is pretty awesome too. She's offered to help with anything that I need and is concerned about Jon just as much as she is about me and baby.

I'll keep you all posted. We may be having a baby here within the next few weeks.... wooooooaah.