Elise looked over the clipboard and paperwork that came with her Doctor kit. There was a stack of forms where kids could take a "history" of their patient. The form had blanks for name, weight, etc. The following conversation ensued . . .
Elise: "Mommy, what's this word?"
Me: "Weight."
Elise: "What's weight mean?"
We went through several more items, with me explaining each one. Apparently I hadn't paid much attention to the form, because her next question caught me by surprise.
Elise: "Mommy, what's this word?"
Me, glancing down and thinking she was pointing to height: "Height."
Elise: "No mommy, it's not height. It's ssss eeee xxx. Sex. What does sex mean?"
So this is my warning to you parents out there. Don't teach your 3 year old to read. Not unless you're ready to answer some dangerous questions.
Elise quote of the day:
"Call me readie pie because I read!" (instead of sweetie pie)
Friday, May 22, 2009
Sunday, May 17, 2009
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
I'll start with the bad and the ugly, and end with the good.
The Bad
Thursday morning I went in for an routine OB appointment. Tatu's heartbeat was strong and I was healthy. But they did inform me that an ultra-sound, taken a few weeks earlier, revealed that I have complete placenta previa. This means that Tatu's placenta is positioned entirely over my cervix. The placenta is rich with blood vessels. So having a hole to the outside world (my cervix) right in the middle of all of these blood vessels is not a good thing. My OB told me that if I had any bleeding I was to hop in the car and call my doctor as I drove to the ER.
Back home I did more research and was reassured to learn that the placenta will probably migrate to a safer spot and therefore cause me no trouble at all.
And then I noticed the bleeding. Just spotting. But I knew I was headed to the ER. Fortunately Jeffrey was only 10 minutes from home at the time. We left the kids with my mom-in-law, armed ourselves with snacks and a good book to read, and hit the road.
Our six hour visit to the ER revealed several things.
1) Having placenta previa and bleeding will skip you right past people waiting hours in the ER and land you a room as you are experiencing a "life-threaten event".
2) Having a husband wearing scrubs and a hospital doctor name tag makes everyone treat you awfully nicely
We also learned a lot about placenta previa too. It is likely that the placeta will migrate off of the cervix. But if it does not, I will probably have a "big bleed" at some point. This won't be just spotting, this will likely require temporary hospitalization and maybe a blood transfusion. If it can't be controlled, the baby will be delivered. But it will probably be brought under control and I'll be sent home on bed rest for the rest of the pregnancy. If I have a second big bleed, I would be hospitalized for the duration of the pregancy. In addition, because I've already had two c-sections, placenta previa would put me at risk of placeta accreta. In which case I might end up with a hysterectomy.
We were a bit dazed by this information, but focusing on the fact that my current bleeding was not worrisome and that the placenta previa would probably clear up on its own. They gave us our discharge instructions and we started packing up our stuff to head home.
And then they came back in the room. The attending radiologist took a good look at our ultrasound and discovered two disconcerting things. First, there is blood in some strange spot in my uterus. And second, my cervix is short. These two new problems warranted a recategorization of this pregnancy as "high-risk", follow-up appointments with my new high-risk OB this week, bed rest until the appointment, and a speech warning us to prepare ourselves for the possibility that we might lose this pregnancy.
It was a big second blow to receive just before leaving the hospital.
The Ugly
I have a cold. A nasty, long-lived illness has invaded our home. Zion has been sick for a week and a half. His sinuses are so stuffed up that his tear drainage system is blocked. So he is covered in crusty, gooey eye crud. Jeffrey has been sick off and on, mostly on, for the last three weeks. We both have stuffy noses and constant coughs. But this is only where my trouble begins. I am still a bit nauseated with morning sickness. So once my stomach gets into a big round of coughing, it wants to keep on tightening as it switches to violent vomit mode. And there goes my dinner. I told you it was ugly. I have bowls strategically positioned around the house as I never know when a cough will morph into more. I even threw-up while at my Mothers' Day dinner (in the bathroom) and during our visit to the ER. Ugly. Nasty. Miserable.
The Good
1) Jeffrey's mom flew in on Tuesday, this all started on Thursday. She was already planning on staying through June 10. She and I both had hoped this visit would be more of a vacation for her than her last trip out to rescue me. But even as I lie in bed rest, my kids are well cared for and my house is well run. I think God really was taking care of us in arranging this before we knew we had the need. And I will never be able to repay Sharon for the many times she has come through for me and my family.
2) Elise and Zion. If we end up loosing Tatu, or having a hysterectomy, I am so glad for my two precious children. Our family is already full of love and complete.
3) Friends and family. I know that if we end up going down the bed rest route long term, we have people that surround us with love and support.
4) Jeffrey's work related load has eased some, so he is now able to balance roles of resident, nurse, and Mr. Mom to a degree that he could not have just a few weeks ago.
So there you have it: the good, the bad, and the ugly.
The Bad
Thursday morning I went in for an routine OB appointment. Tatu's heartbeat was strong and I was healthy. But they did inform me that an ultra-sound, taken a few weeks earlier, revealed that I have complete placenta previa. This means that Tatu's placenta is positioned entirely over my cervix. The placenta is rich with blood vessels. So having a hole to the outside world (my cervix) right in the middle of all of these blood vessels is not a good thing. My OB told me that if I had any bleeding I was to hop in the car and call my doctor as I drove to the ER.
Back home I did more research and was reassured to learn that the placenta will probably migrate to a safer spot and therefore cause me no trouble at all.
And then I noticed the bleeding. Just spotting. But I knew I was headed to the ER. Fortunately Jeffrey was only 10 minutes from home at the time. We left the kids with my mom-in-law, armed ourselves with snacks and a good book to read, and hit the road.
Our six hour visit to the ER revealed several things.
1) Having placenta previa and bleeding will skip you right past people waiting hours in the ER and land you a room as you are experiencing a "life-threaten event".
2) Having a husband wearing scrubs and a hospital doctor name tag makes everyone treat you awfully nicely
We also learned a lot about placenta previa too. It is likely that the placeta will migrate off of the cervix. But if it does not, I will probably have a "big bleed" at some point. This won't be just spotting, this will likely require temporary hospitalization and maybe a blood transfusion. If it can't be controlled, the baby will be delivered. But it will probably be brought under control and I'll be sent home on bed rest for the rest of the pregnancy. If I have a second big bleed, I would be hospitalized for the duration of the pregancy. In addition, because I've already had two c-sections, placenta previa would put me at risk of placeta accreta. In which case I might end up with a hysterectomy.
We were a bit dazed by this information, but focusing on the fact that my current bleeding was not worrisome and that the placenta previa would probably clear up on its own. They gave us our discharge instructions and we started packing up our stuff to head home.
And then they came back in the room. The attending radiologist took a good look at our ultrasound and discovered two disconcerting things. First, there is blood in some strange spot in my uterus. And second, my cervix is short. These two new problems warranted a recategorization of this pregnancy as "high-risk", follow-up appointments with my new high-risk OB this week, bed rest until the appointment, and a speech warning us to prepare ourselves for the possibility that we might lose this pregnancy.
It was a big second blow to receive just before leaving the hospital.
The Ugly
I have a cold. A nasty, long-lived illness has invaded our home. Zion has been sick for a week and a half. His sinuses are so stuffed up that his tear drainage system is blocked. So he is covered in crusty, gooey eye crud. Jeffrey has been sick off and on, mostly on, for the last three weeks. We both have stuffy noses and constant coughs. But this is only where my trouble begins. I am still a bit nauseated with morning sickness. So once my stomach gets into a big round of coughing, it wants to keep on tightening as it switches to violent vomit mode. And there goes my dinner. I told you it was ugly. I have bowls strategically positioned around the house as I never know when a cough will morph into more. I even threw-up while at my Mothers' Day dinner (in the bathroom) and during our visit to the ER. Ugly. Nasty. Miserable.
The Good
1) Jeffrey's mom flew in on Tuesday, this all started on Thursday. She was already planning on staying through June 10. She and I both had hoped this visit would be more of a vacation for her than her last trip out to rescue me. But even as I lie in bed rest, my kids are well cared for and my house is well run. I think God really was taking care of us in arranging this before we knew we had the need. And I will never be able to repay Sharon for the many times she has come through for me and my family.
2) Elise and Zion. If we end up loosing Tatu, or having a hysterectomy, I am so glad for my two precious children. Our family is already full of love and complete.
3) Friends and family. I know that if we end up going down the bed rest route long term, we have people that surround us with love and support.
4) Jeffrey's work related load has eased some, so he is now able to balance roles of resident, nurse, and Mr. Mom to a degree that he could not have just a few weeks ago.
So there you have it: the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Journal - Pelvic Rest
"A time to embrace and a time to refrain . . ." Ecc. 3
Apparently it is time for Jeffrey and I to "refrain from embracing". Or as my OB put it "pelvic rest". She just through that phrase out there, like she was prescribing prenatal vitamins or an iron supplement. No sex.
I have placenta previa. Tatu's placenta is over my cervix. So I could bleed. She said that, "things might not turn out badly." I still can't believe she phrased it that way. Back at home, I did some research and 90% of the time the placenta moves and causes no trouble at all. And even for the 10% who still have placenta previa at the end of pregnancy, the biggest trouble is that a c-section is required. Since I've already had 2 c-sections I was already planning on a repeat c-section. So it really isn't that bad at all.
Except for the pelvic rest. The past three months of morning sickness have already stolen away my normal life and normal relationship with my husband. He is so understanding, but I feel awful that he has to bear the weight of this pregnancy too. I have been eager to put these sick months behind us and move on with normal life.
But it is not to be. On top of packing, moving, and settling in a new city we are going to add a strain in our marriage. A time to refrain from embracing . . .
Apparently it is time for Jeffrey and I to "refrain from embracing". Or as my OB put it "pelvic rest". She just through that phrase out there, like she was prescribing prenatal vitamins or an iron supplement. No sex.
I have placenta previa. Tatu's placenta is over my cervix. So I could bleed. She said that, "things might not turn out badly." I still can't believe she phrased it that way. Back at home, I did some research and 90% of the time the placenta moves and causes no trouble at all. And even for the 10% who still have placenta previa at the end of pregnancy, the biggest trouble is that a c-section is required. Since I've already had 2 c-sections I was already planning on a repeat c-section. So it really isn't that bad at all.
Except for the pelvic rest. The past three months of morning sickness have already stolen away my normal life and normal relationship with my husband. He is so understanding, but I feel awful that he has to bear the weight of this pregnancy too. I have been eager to put these sick months behind us and move on with normal life.
But it is not to be. On top of packing, moving, and settling in a new city we are going to add a strain in our marriage. A time to refrain from embracing . . .
Monday, May 11, 2009
Zion's Snuggles
Zion loves to snuggle. His favorite snuggle position is his chest to my chest, head on my left shoulder, legs tucked under him and against my stomach, with his arms straight down at his side so my arms encircle all of him. He curls up his whole body so he can best mimic how he used to fit flat against me when he was a baby. But now his feet reach almost to my knees. I wonder how long he will pretend he is still a little baby curled up on my chest. I hope it lasts for a very long time.
Other nights I get high-impact snuggles. The lights are low and my songs are gentle - the scene is set for a relaxing snuggle time before bed. But Zion's snuggles are sometimes far from relaxing. He stands up as tall as he can on my knees before flinging himself down with a great thud into his favorite snuggle pose. His head whacks my shoulder and he laughs with delight. It's snuggling, boy style.
Other nights I get high-impact snuggles. The lights are low and my songs are gentle - the scene is set for a relaxing snuggle time before bed. But Zion's snuggles are sometimes far from relaxing. He stands up as tall as he can on my knees before flinging himself down with a great thud into his favorite snuggle pose. His head whacks my shoulder and he laughs with delight. It's snuggling, boy style.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Resistance
In a house of two toddlers, we hear a simple refusal of "no!" surprisingly rarely. The resistance is usually a bit more complex . . .
Me: "Elise, would you pick up some toys while I load up the car?"
Elise: "Um, I'm not available to do that right now."
Another day . . .
Me: "Elise, let's pick up the toys before we play the game."
Elise: "I'm getting ready for the game. You can clean up by yourself."
Me: "No, I'm not cleaning up by myself. We are going to clean up together."
Elise: "I'll consider doing this first and then cleaning up."
Me: "Elise, would you pick up some toys while I load up the car?"
Elise: "Um, I'm not available to do that right now."
Another day . . .
Me: "Elise, let's pick up the toys before we play the game."
Elise: "I'm getting ready for the game. You can clean up by yourself."
Me: "No, I'm not cleaning up by myself. We are going to clean up together."
Elise: "I'll consider doing this first and then cleaning up."
Working Time
Elise has an incredible imagination. If she had her way, we would be telling "turn stories" from morning till night. My role in these stories is to listen and ask questions that help her expand on her ideas. Occasionally it is my turn to add a twist to the plot. I've learned that inevitably she will either reject my idea, or add cars and trains to the thought. For example, it I suggest that the bears went swimming, she will come back with, "and their cars and trains and helicopters went swimming too."
Vehicles work their way into very unexpected places. If the characters in her stories have ice cream, it is usually van or race car flavored. The other day it was horsey flavored. She went into details about how you would have to chop the horsey into little tiny pieces to flavor the ice cream. I'm not sure which is less appetizing - a frozen treat that tasted like the inside of a van, or a chopped up horse.
One of her favorite story themes revolves around her future home. It is a pink house with pink walls and three rooms - one for her, one for Zion, and one for Tatu. Jeffrey and I rarely appear in these fantasies. And if we do, it is only to visit. When Jeffrey complained that he would miss her, she reassured him that her house would be in our backyard. When he was still unsatisfied, she offered to leaved Lambie at our house so we wouldn't be lonely. According to her, Lambie won't baaa or call out. She won't be sad or do any worrying things. She will be brave. So, when our three year old, one year old, and unborn child all move out together, at least we will have a brave Lambie to comfort us.
Elise is planning to build this home with Zion in between her working times. You may wonder, as I did what her "working times" are. Here is Elise's explanation:
"My working times are snuggling, reading books, sleeping, and eating too. And I hold Lambie, and read books to Lambie. I am a shepherd. I take care of lots of Lambies."
So if know of any sheep in need of a shepherd, we have one for hire who is already saving up for a home of her own.
Vehicles work their way into very unexpected places. If the characters in her stories have ice cream, it is usually van or race car flavored. The other day it was horsey flavored. She went into details about how you would have to chop the horsey into little tiny pieces to flavor the ice cream. I'm not sure which is less appetizing - a frozen treat that tasted like the inside of a van, or a chopped up horse.
One of her favorite story themes revolves around her future home. It is a pink house with pink walls and three rooms - one for her, one for Zion, and one for Tatu. Jeffrey and I rarely appear in these fantasies. And if we do, it is only to visit. When Jeffrey complained that he would miss her, she reassured him that her house would be in our backyard. When he was still unsatisfied, she offered to leaved Lambie at our house so we wouldn't be lonely. According to her, Lambie won't baaa or call out. She won't be sad or do any worrying things. She will be brave. So, when our three year old, one year old, and unborn child all move out together, at least we will have a brave Lambie to comfort us.
Elise is planning to build this home with Zion in between her working times. You may wonder, as I did what her "working times" are. Here is Elise's explanation:
"My working times are snuggling, reading books, sleeping, and eating too. And I hold Lambie, and read books to Lambie. I am a shepherd. I take care of lots of Lambies."
So if know of any sheep in need of a shepherd, we have one for hire who is already saving up for a home of her own.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)