Nurses Dilemma

Soo... It has been almost 2 weeks that I have been admitted to the hospital, it was a bumpy start but were getting better and better as the days pass by... 

My new dilemma right now, are my nurses... I already fixed one problem... haha... NO MORE 4AM VITALS CHECK!! YAY!!!! hahahaha... Now I am looking into re-arranging my nurses around so I could be more comfortable during my wonderful time here at the hospital...

Some nurses I really like a lot and some of them I don't like that much, they do their job correctly however they personalities just don't make me feel so comfortable with them...

So far I have about 5 day nurses that I absolutely like how they work and how thorough they are and having them take care of me... And about the same number of the night nurses that have the same characteristics as the day nurses just they are more laid-back... 

Well the dilemma is that I feel bad about being so selective about the nurses, but its whats best for me... We are the ones that are here for the long haul... and whatever that will make us feel better will make time go by better...

Tomorrow is another day... Ciaooo

3 Day Combo...

Since I have been now put on continuous monitoring my days have been scrambled into basically the same story every day... It doesn't change much, with the exception of visitors and actually getting to walk for a bit...

On Wednesday my mother in law came to spend some quality time with me and thought me how to knit, so now to make time pass by I knit throughout the day, its very old lady of me, but I actually like it, and by the end  I will have a new scarf out of it... LoL :-D

Thursday was an uneventful day... I just got to watch a bunch of movies... Hahaha.. LoL I'm a movie buff, so watching movies all day is not such a bad day for me... hehehe :-D And hubby made spaghetti with meat sauce, which was AWESOME... wayyyy better than hospital food... hahahahahaha

Friday was a nice visitors day again, visitors make my day go by faster.. My mother in law and sister in law came to visit us for few hours and we had a nice time talking and laughing takes the mind off things... Also my husband told my Doctors to at least give me some time to walk and get some fresh air, which was AWESOME!! They gave me 20 min of the monitor to go take a walk on the patio... I loved it, and I was so excited to be able to get out the room... LoL..

I'm looking forward to the weekend maybe I will have something new to tell... This weeks task is to plan the baby shower so that will be keeping me plenty busy...

Tomorrow is another day... Ciaoooo...

It gets better... Tuesday...

Today is another day... After a longggg and frustrating Monday, I had a great Tuesday morning... NOT... LOL 

I was woken up at 6:45AM to a tall Doctor, with no name, telling me that if I have an issue with being on the monitor I could deny care. First of all I was half asleep as he was talking to me, secondly I don't like to be woken up, and third I never ever said to anyone that I don't want to be on the monitor, I just get frustrated with not knowing... And I explained that to him as well. After he was done, and left, I went back to sleep as the night before was long....

As my night before, this morning was basically going on the same page, strapped on to the NST monitor for the babies heart beat, vitals check every 4 hours, and collect urine for the preeclampsia test. That is basically how may day went by for the most part. I could not have my lite exercise in the room, no shower, breakfast was a bit hard to eat, but I made sure to eat and feed my girls well. 

By the afternoon I was still hooked up to the monitor, and I was not coming off of it anytime soon, as my day progresses and I speak with my husband, I just got used to the fact that I will not be coming of the monitor and that from this point forward I will be on continuous monitoring. The only suckie part is I don't even get an hour off, all I got today was 10 min to take a shower... That's it just 10 min to stretch my legs a bit and have a nice shower... Right after the shower, the RN was standing outside the door waiting for me to weigh in and then back on the monitors... MAN not even 1 min over... LOL... 

Ate myself a nice little lunch, watched a movie, and have adapted my mindset to being on the monitors at all times... No more urine collection, at least they took that away... LOL... it was not a fun experience doing that... 

So that's about it for now, looking forward to another day ahead, and hoping they may take me back down to 3 tests a day and not continuous so I can go back to my little routine, but as I have stated before it is all about what is best for our MoMo's...

Things I learn today, having a great support during this experience is invaluable! Very happy with all the support I get from my husband and my families both here and in Aruba that all will be well...

Hasta manana... Ciaooo...

Monday Bluess....

First of all I don't like Mondays to begin with, its like the worst day out of the week, the weekend is over, you gotta go back to work, and the day just takes foreverrrr to finish. There is no changing that feeling about that at all especially not after all that happened today.

The morning started out well, had breakfast, vital check, shower, lite excercise and first NST of the day, I was on the monitor for about an hour and 20 min and all was well with the girls. After that watched a movie, ate lunch and got a visit from the clinical social worker, so I can learn about the NICU process, and to get a tour as well of the NICU floor. Very happy about this, I was looking forward to it, as I like to know as much as possible of what lies ahead. It was a very interesting visit, and I learned alot, which is great for me.

Here is where it all went down hill... I got back to my room from he NICU tour, and found the RN and my AMAZING HUSBAND waiting for me to get back, he just got out of work and came after. (I LOVE HIM SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE FOR ME) My RN was waiting as I needed to do my 2nd NST test of the day. So she hooked me up to the monitors and 4:00PM and around 5:30PM she comes in and says there was a variable with the babies and we need to extend the test 6 hours more. OK. No problem, so by 10PM, I will be off right? Lets hope for the best she says. So I settle myself in for a long night, and also besides that, the day before with the visit we had, my pressure had gone up ONCE because they checked me right after I just finished walking and it was a bit high than normal, so now they want me to collect my urine for 24 hours to test for preeclampsia, besides being hooked up on the NST as well.. My Monday is turning into a freaking frustration.. I said I hate Mondays!!... Jump ahead to 10:30 PM the night RN comes in and tells me; "The doctors said to keep you on till the morning"... "Are you serious right now", is what I felt to say to her.. But instead I got frustrated and was like why? And I have to collect urine throughout this, why? No response, just there was a variable with the babies... So I tell her my frustration, about being on the monitor for like 8 hours, having to collect for the test, and write how much and what types of fluids I am taking in. It was just all too much for me to handle and I just got so frustrated with the whole situation... After talking to my husband and calming down, I settle myself in for a long night, and just keep in mind that this is whats best for these girls to come out as healthy as they possibly can...

Keeping my mind positive and going with what is best for these MoMo's... Tomorrow is another day... Ciaooo

Weekend Wrap Up...

Saturday started it off way better than Friday night ended... I got a new RN whom was very thorough with  us, which is the type of nurse that we like to have. She was very honest with us and as was I with the experience I had the night before with my last NST test. We started the morning of, with shower, breakfast and exercise. And then the first NST test of the day. We went over what happened the night before then we searched for a solution to comfort both me and have the girls showing on the monitor the way they are suppose to be. So I sat up higher on the bed, and they placed the monitor on, she found the girls and we started at 10:30 ish and was on the monitor for about 1 hour when the RN came in and explained to us that I had to stay on longer, due to Baby A had a variable drop for longer than 30 sec, so I needed to stay longer on the monitor till they got a good 1 hour strip of both babies, and Baby B was a bit to steady for them and there was not much of a fluctuating flow on the chart that they would like to keep them on for a longer time.

Finally someone that would actually explain in detail as to why things are happening and what needs to be done when a situation like this happens... Very happy with this RN.. So far after 3 days I got a good feeling from 3 RNs that seem like they are very thorough with the job that they do. After another hour or so on the monitor they took it off, because they got a good clear strip from the girls, and it was right in time for my first visit!! My mother in-law and my two little sister in-laws... So grateful to them for visiting, they brought me some nice home cooked meal and they did my nails for me... So now I can look and feel cute in the hospital too... LOL :-D... Half way through my inpatient mani-pedi, the Anesthesiologist came in to explain to us our options for how anesthesia will work, and what options I will have available for when we go in to have the girls. Very scary but interesting stuff to learn about. After that, they brought me a nice comfy blow up mattress that would make it more comfortable to sleep on the bed, and also some leg massager thingy to help with circulation (suppose to use 8 hours out of the day) but I rather just walk, don't want to laying in bed all the time. After the family left, it was time to freshen up, and get hooked up to the NST test they started it later in the day around 6:00 PM, I asked the RN if she could change my night RN to one that would be as thorough as she was, as that is more helpful to us, and that is what we got, I was on the monitor for 2 hours, and did not have to take an NST later that night, which was the most relaxed night I had.

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Sunday same routine as the past few days wake up, shower, breakfast and exercise. After relaxing for a few had our early morning vital check mommie is doing great, and introduction to my new RN (another nice and thorough one) and a quick visit from the on call doctor, we were hooked up to the NST monitor for about an hour and ten minutes this time, as the girls were being extremely cooperative... YaY!! :-) they are getting used to the tests... And they did awesome on the strip for the full time, and we are very happy to have them doing so well.

Since our family has now relocated to the hospital my wonderful husband goes to work and then comes back to the hospital today he brought pizza... Yay!! Yummiieee.... it was delicious. Got some relaxing time, coloring and vitals check, by the way this is every 4 hours daily, even at 4AM ughhh stop cutting into my sleep time... LOL...

Later in the afternoon we had a wonderful visit from our friends Izzy and Christine, whom are also going through their first pregnancy... We are so happy for them, and they journey they are embarking on.. They were so wonderful to visit and be with us for a good amount of time, talking, laughing and joking, they came in right when I was doing my second NST test of the way which was only 1 hour long, these girls are getting so great and cooperative now with all the tests. It's amazing how great they are doing so far! We made a discovery: There is a patio on my floor which is AMAZING, I can get some fresh air, and feel some sun. We took a walk out there with our friends got some fresh air and had a few laughs before coming back in to order some dinner and just enjoying our company for the day.

After our guests left, and dinner had digested, it was back on the NST for the last one of the day, with the exception of the vitals being done every 4 hours... :-/ Haha.. All in all it was a great first weekend in inpatient care, which is not going as bad as I thought.. The most important thing is to keep thinking positive, and ask all the questions you feel like it, because then if you are like me and my husband you learn more and know what to expect, well at least as much as possible.

Tomorrow is another day... Will keep you posted... Ciaoo

Day 2

6:30 AM Good Morning, whispers the night RN nurse when she comes in to put saline solution in my IV so it doesn't clog, and keep the flow open. Right after comes the Tech in lets get some vitals... hahaha every thing is good. Now back to sleep.... not happening feel the door open a few minutes later, just turned my back and kept trying to sleep.

Finally decided to wake up at around 7:30 ish, and get started with a new routine, take a shower, have breakfast yummie pancakes and oatmeal. Then some exercise walk around the room back and forth a few times, to keep the blood flowing in the legs to avoid blood clots. After a few minutes to sit, and relax get the heart rate down, and the first NST test of the day... 1 hour and 20 min this time, the girls were behaving very well this time, so the test went great, they got a nice strip of their heartbeats.

After lets watch a movie, have some conversation, fix everything around the room, accommodate to our liking, and make the bed comfy with my own sheets...hahaha... Then lets have some lunch yummie cheeseburger with baked potato and broccoli, very healthy and very delicious. Exercise around the room again so that the food can settle and then relax for a bit, get some more things from the house, my husband went to pick up a few things. Here comes the RN time for the second NST test of the day, and another vital check again, and everything is good with mommie, lets check on the girls... So went on the monitor at around 2:00PM did not come of it until 10:00 PM maybe even later, because the girls were not cooperating well, however was not getting any feedback of what was happening or even why is was still on the NST. Somewhere in between the NST and getting frustrated I had to get the second round of BETA shots for the girls lung development... OMG that needle hurts sooo much, I literally was running from the RN when she poked me with the needle. Besides that I was in such a low laying uncomfortable position that it was putting pressure on my neck and back, and as well on the girls that they kept seeing the drop in their heart rate that was the reason they kept me on so long...

Finally around 10:30 PM ish I could not take it anymore and turned on my side so I can go to bed comfortably that is when the night RN came in and took me off the monitor, then a last vital check all is well with mommy again... And finally we can go to sleep...

All in all the second day was not a fun experience at all, not getting the proper information from the nurses around me, both me and my husband are the type of people that like to know of what is happening with the girls and why things happen. It was the most frustrated I felt since I came into the hospital...

Tomorrow is another day let's hope for the best for both mommie and MoMo Girls...

The first 24 hours

The day starts with a appointment at our Perinatologist at 28 weeks  at 7:30 AM for ultrasound and consultation. After receiving a heads up from the midwife over at the High Risk Clinic at my last pre-natal visit we already knew what was up ahead... Inpatient Care....

After waiting 40 min we first started with the ultrasound and getting all the measurements of the girls. Which were great as Baby A (the first one they find) was 2 lbs and 1 oz and Baby B (the second one) was 2 lbs and 2 oz, which is great that they are growing so well, last 3 hour ultrasound Baby A was 1 lbs and Baby B was 14 oz. So we were very happy with their amazing progress. At this point the tech went on to look at the cord insertion for Baby A which was easy to find, however Baby B was not cooperating with the tech at all. At that point the tech went to get the Perinatologist whom came in and told us that due to the cords being tangles I should be admitted immediately for inpatient care or go home and have daily visits to the MFM clinic for NST (Non Stress Test) on the babies.

Since we did our research and already knew that inpatient care is the best option for the babies, that thats the decision we took immediately. We spoke to the doctor and explained that we had some personal and work related things we had to take care of before I could get admitted.

By 2pm we came back to the Hospital to get admitted, and then after finishing the paperwork by 2:50 PM we came up to the antepartum floor and waited for 1 hour or so to get the best room with a view, since I was going to be here for a long time they wanted me to be as comfortable as possible. Once in the room, I had to put on that ohhh so fashionable and comfy hospital gown (NOT!!) and the nurses started with the vitals tests, IV being put in for bloodwork and then by 5:00 PM the ohh soo wonderful first NST test (3 times a day for 1 hour) unless the babies don't cooperate then it takes longer.

After the NST test I got the first of the two BETA shots for the girls lungs development in case they come out sooner than expected.... OMG that little needle hurts, keep in mind I am sooooo afraid of medical needles so not a good thing to deal with while staying in a hospital. But I'm keeping in mind that all of this is what is best for our girls and that is what is most important of all.

As for having a nice restful night, forget about it... :-) With vital checks every 4 hours and then being woken up for the second NST test at 10 PM for another 1 hour and 30 min, with non cooperative MoMo girls, we were not enjoying our first night... It gets better...

That was quite an eventful day!!

Things I know:
- The room service is pretty good.
- Good thing I brought a lot of colorful clothes, and my own bed sheets.. lol

Stay tuned for more to come... Ciaoo...

The beginning of our MoMo Journey

Our story begins December of 2011, the feeling started very normal, not much of a morning sickness and immediate feeling of being pregnant, it felt more like a stomach virus or a not wanting to eat much for breakfast and during the day. After a week or so of feeling this way and no period coming any time soon, we decided to take an at home pregnancy test that came out positive.

OMG WERE PREGNANT!!

It was wonderful news to share with friends and family as we had my family visiting from Aruba for Christmas and it was a great Christmas gift to share with not only them but with my Husband's family that live closer to us.

After all the festivities, we went in to our first pre-natal visit at 9 weeks, where I got the paperwork for all the initial blood-work and all other examinations. Our next visit was at 12 weeks, where we got to hear the heartbeat for the first time, so we though we were having a singleton pregnancy.

Our next appointment was at 14 weeks where we had our first ultrasound. As the ultrasound tech started we were making small talk and she turned around and said to us "Ooohh my goodness there's two babies, there's a head and another head." And from that point we were just in complete SHOCK!!... hahahaha :)

And this is where our MoMo Journey begins!!

After the ultrasound we met with our 1st Doctor which got EXTREMELY nervous, and was like twitching and shaking of how nervous he got as the babies were in one sack with one placenta, which our MoMo Girls that we are anxiously awaiting the arrival for... After a few more pre-natal visits to make sure that there really was no membrane visible we were referred to our now Perinatologist and high risk OB clinic that is now taking care of me and the girls up until their arrival...