Bed Rest: Week 27

Because of all the complications I experienced when I was pregnant with Bryson, my OB and perinatologists have been monitoring me very carefully this time around. This pregnancy has been progressing well and my perinatologist transferred my care to my regular OB at 24 weeks. Last week (26 weeks in to this pregnancy), however, I started to experience occasional contractions and premature cervical changes.  My doctor put me on a medicine used to stop pre-term contractions and sent me home. 

I visited my OB again on Monday because of increased contractions over the weekend and was diagnosed with pre-term labor after increased cervical change and the contractions picked up during a non-stress test (NST).  I had a positive fetal Fibronectin test which basically means there is an increased chance of going into labor early.  But not everyone with a positive test result delivers right away or even prematurely.  I actually got a positive test with Bryson and still was able to carry him for another month.  As a precaution, I was admitted to the hospital for two steroid shots to help develop the baby's lungs.  I had to wait twenty-four hours between the treatments, but I am glad that I was able to go home in between and be with Bryson and Jarom.  I have also been put on strict bed rest for the remainder of the pregnancy.

While bed rest isn't fun or easy (it's nice for the first few days because you can catch up on all the reading, movies, and games you want, but after that staying in bed or on the couch gets old), it's necessary because I REFUSE to have this child until at least February.  Jarom and even Bryson have to occasionally remind me to get off my feet and "stop helping," but I really have been trying to stay in bed.  Jarom has been a tremendous help around the house and with Bryson, even with his broken bones.  Bryson is getting used to me being down and out and enjoys cuddling with Mom and watching DVDs in our bed.  We've had meals brought in, we received Priesthood blessings, and have had numerous other offers for help, so we're doing well and I'm managing to keep this baby cooking because of it. This week of bed rest has been good.  Now I just have to keep going and make it to term! 

Polar Express Christmas Party

Our ward Christmas party had a Polar Express theme and was fun. The people in charge did a great job with decorations and really making you feel like you took a train to the North Pole. We came in and Bryson received a ticket to give to the conductor and then got on the "train" in the hall to watch a clip from the Polar Express movie.  From there, we went to the "North Pole" and were served breakfast and hot chocolate.  The kids got to sing carols, listen to a spiritual thought from the bishop, and were able to act out the Polar Express story while it was read.  Bryson enjoyed dancing and prancing around as an elf.  Afterward, Bryson got to sit with Santa and got a bell to remember to "always believe."  Bryson couldn't think of what to tell Santa he wanted for Christmas, but laughed when Santa said that he could use a robe at the North Pole just like the one Bryson was wearing.  The party was a lot of fun and got Bryson even more excited about Christmas.  ("Only 10 more days!")

Nursing Graduation

Jarom did it!  He completed his degree in nursing and graduated this week.  He'll take the national nursing test here in a few weeks and soon be official.  It's been a long two years, and we're glad he's done (and I'm proud of him too).

In celebration of graduation, Jarom and a few of his friends dressed up as nerdy as possible to be forever immortalized in the halls of the nursing building in their class photo.  The pictures below feature John and Maggie, Jarom's best friends in the program.  It would have been a lot harder to get through the last two years without them.

     

Snowboarding Accident and Broken Bones

Jarom has been snowboarding for about ten years now, so I guess I figured something would happen sooner or later.  Yesterday Jarom took a bad fall onto some icy asphalt.  He was going over a berm on his way to the parking lot on his last run and didn't see that there was a five foot drop below.  He was knocked out for several seconds and even though he was a little dazed afterward, he knew he was hurt pretty badly.  Thankfully he was with his friends Nick and Mike, both of whom work at hospitals and they were able to help him, especially since the ski trauma center didn't do a very good job with triage and assessment.

Bryson and I met them at the emergency room a few hours after the accident.  After several hours, x-rays, and CT scans, we found out that he broke his scapula (back of shoulder), his first rib, and had a partially collapsed lung, which thankfully resolved without a chest tube.  He spent 24 hours in the hospital so they could observe the  pneumothorax  and will be released later today.  Thankfully he wasn't hurt worse and he has pain medication to help him get through the worst of it.  Of course  his accident occurred the same week flu hit our house and I started experiencing pre-term labor, so not much fun, but we'll just focus on all of us getting better, bones healing, and getting baby boy number two to full term, and we'll do just fine.

Update as of December 19: Yesterday Jarom visited the trauma surgeon for a follow-up and we found out that he has at least two more broken ribs than originally thought and that he might have a fractured hip as well. We'll know more after the x-rays and scans come back. She also told us how lucky he was to be in as good of shape as he was. Apparently, the broken rib is fractured right where the rib articulates with his vertebrae, so he was lucky that he didn't break his back. I'm glad he always wears a helmet, that he was with friends who could help him, and that Heavenly Father was watching out for him so that he's alive and well. Jarom is still in a lot of pain, but he's getting more mobility in his shoulder, is able to work, and is helping me and Bryson around here while I'm on bedrest.

Kindergarten Citizen of the Month

We are so proud of our kindergarten citizen of the month!  Bryson was chosen because he is always prepared, accountable, and supportive.  He works hard, helps others and is always volunteering to answer questions or do a job for his teacher or other students.  When getting the award, his teacher also said she appreciates that he helps her understand things from a five year old perspective so that she can better relate to him and other students.  He was proud of himself, and we are too.

Nutcracker Ballet and Birthday Weekend

Last weekend was a fun one, especially as opposed to this weekend when Bryson's been throwing up and the warmest it's been outside is 6 degrees.  Bryson went to the Nutcracker ballet with Grandma Jane, great-grandma Pearl, great aunt Shiela and Uncle Rudi, and their granddaughters. He said "it was a little long" and he didn't know what was going on the entire time, but he really enjoyed the outing, and boy did he get spoiled. They took him out to dinner afterward and he came home with all sorts of goodies from Grandma Pearl and Aunt Sheila (Christmas toys, an advent calendar, and an ornament). For my birthday, we went bowling after Bryson helped make me a cake. Yesterday evening, before Bryson got sick, we went to the town center for the lighting of the town Christmas tree. It was absolutely freezing (about 4 degrees) and we only lasted a few minutes, even with hot chocolate. Bryson did, however, manage to write a letter to Santa, ride the electric train, and take a picture in front of the reindeer. Hopefully Bryson feels better soon and we can have another fun holiday weekend next week.

Thanksgiving and Christmas Preparations

This Thanksgiving we did a lot to get in the spirit of gratitude.  We made a gratitude turkey that we added feathers to throughout the month.  It finally donned on me that I should laminate it so we can use it again and again with dry-erase markers.  Next year, it will be easy to put up and not have to start from scratch.

Bryson and I also went to a Thanksgiving orchestra concert with Grandma Jane and Grandma Pearl while she was visiting.  The orchestra did The True Story of the Three Little Pigs with narration and it was a fun concert for children.  Bryson loved it.  We also decorated our home for Christmas this Thanksgiving weekend.  Jarom put up some lights and Bryson liked putting up the ornaments he's made or accumulated the last few years and hearing the story behind each one.   Jarom and I have always loved setting up for Christmas and it's fun to see Bryson getting into the holiday spirit too.   

We sent Thanksgiving with Jane, Randy, and Molly and enjoyed lots of good food.  Aunt Molly helped Bryson make cookie turkeys and had fun helping with meal preparations (like peeling potatoes and washing vegetables).  We actually ate Thanksgiving dinner on Wednesday this year because both Jarom and Molly had to work on Thursday.   Boy was it nice to just be able to pop in leftovers all day on Thursday after Bryson, Jane, and I went to see Free Birds at the theater.

Our reusable gratitude turkey