I'm not dead either :)

[Andrea]

Well I know that Anna doesn't read facebook, and Kelli only recently added me on it, so...... here's a lovely update.

I'm 28 weeks and 3 days pregnant now. Back when I was oh..... 25 and 6 I had a placental abruption just for extra fun and was admitted to the hospital for 4 days. I had some contractions do they put me on lovely magnesium and gave me steroid shots. I still have significant shortness of breath that the pulmonologist is blaming on the pregnancy now after every fancy test known to man (including an echo, HRCT chest, EKG, spiro, etc.) has come back normal and my asthma meds do not help anymore. Also, the baby is small-- only in the 8th percentile. I was ordered to be on strict bedrest until 28 weeks and told I couldn't work until the baby was born..........

So I'm home. Doing paperwork and trying very hard to stay busy. I am now allowed to go on little outings ot the grocery store, but inevitably I am extremly winded when I come home and then I contract so... We have been keeping those to a minimum the last 3 days.

My plan is to get a bunch of writing done in the next month. I mean, I'll never have a better setup for it while I'm still a resident (and I'll be a resident for a little longer than expected due to my leave). So Anna, I have been pondering Kadyra's reply, so no worries. And I have tons of plots for my peeps floating in my head. So I think some good stuff will come of my time off my feet. The baby likes the warmth of the laptop so, I can't use that as an excuse!

Anyway, I figured I'd update you all on this. And poke my nose into these boards a little more often

[Hope]

Well, congrats on making it to 28 weeks! May you make 36! (Of course, you're likely to go to 42, but why borrow trouble?) At this rate, the baby has made it to "healthy viability", which I always felt was like the final approach to the runway.

I wrote (and read) a lot when I was pregnant with my first, and to a lesser extent with my second. I can't wait to see what you come up with!

I hope you have air conditioning?

--hugs,
Hope

[Anna]

Andrea, sign on to Messenger. I'm usually online after I get home from work and I'll happily keep you plotting, writing, and distracted until I have to go to sleep.

And take care of yourself! If Colin isn't waiting on you hand and foot, you tell him I'll be there sooner or later and I won't forget it. He's still in the doghouse for February!

[Andrea]

Colin has been amazing. I haven't lifted a finger since I got sick back around 23 weeks. So I sure can't complain about him!

If I didn't have a/c in Phoenix I think I'd melt. Although oddly, it's been a mild summer. Nothing over 106 yet and it rained today. Monsoons starting early, so I can't complain.

[Hope]

We've had the wettest June ever recorded in Massachusetts, even if no more rain falls. And it's supposed to rain daily through next week. My tomatoes love it, but the kids are going stir-crazy!

[Kelli]

For the record, while I deliver huge congrats on the pregnancy, I am still a little weirded out that the young lady that stayed in my stepson's room for a number of weeks while in med school now has a big belly!

(just saying!)

Love ya Andrea! When I make it down your way I'll come visit ya guys!

[Andrea]

Yeah well..... it happens And the belly is getting bigger and bigger (too bad the baby's not like the belly, but that's a whole nother story).

[Hope]

eep?

Are you in need of any prayers or good wishes, Andrea?

(Though of course you're getting them, needed or not....)

Charles was IUGR, and he turned out great. And he's 6'7".

[Andrea]

Yeah, the little squirt has IUGR in the 3rd percentile. On top of my shortness of breath, the abruption I had at 25weeks, and the preterm contractions that are driving me crazy. I'm in antenatal testing twice a week and I get umbilical artery dopplers once a week. My next growth scan is in a week. I see the perinatologist this afternoon (one of my attendings who rocks, fortunately) for some direction and guidance. But with all this fun stuff on top of all of my health issues, I won't go past 36-37 weeks (that will be around 8/22 or so). If I make it that far. So I am having so much fun at home twiddling my thumbs trying not to go insane, taking it one day at a time. So.... yeah. Things could be better. But they're as good as they could be under the circumstances. At least I'm not in the freaking hospital like I was last month!

[Hope]

It's not fun to be medical. You know too much, and all the other doctors worry more.

You have my prayers for a lovely delivery after 35 weeks of a healthy 5+ lb baby. Preferably 6lbs. And in the meantime, we're delighted that you're writing!