I'm so confused!

Well, I must say...pregnancy is a true test of patience and faith. As soon as you think you know what's going on, it all changes! It's worse than Texas weather! Well, yesterday I started contracting again despite the efforts of my medication, terbutaline. They started off at about 11 minutes apart (just like 2 weeks ago) and then shortened to about 8 minutes so we decided it would be safest to go get checked out. It took a while to get on the monitor as EVERYONE in San Antonio seemed to have been in labor yesterday! Once hooked up, the monitors confirmed that there were strong contractions about 8 minutes apart...but then...I had about a 20 minute break before they started up again. Strange...then came to find out that my cervix hadn't progressed at all since the last scare. My nurse called my doctor and was instructed to go ahead and give me one more shot of terbutaline to try and keep Finley in a little longer (who the whole time was active and kicking away...obviously irritated at the monitors). He (my doc) passed along the message that after today (35 weeks), if I have this happen again, they are not going to attempt to stop Finley. Well, here is the interesting part. It is now believed that I may have an irritable uterus. If you research this, it is not completely understood, but basically you contract as if you are in labor, but it only affects your uterus...not your cervix. This can mean that you eventually have to be induced! You can however, switch at any moment from "irritable uterus" to "preterm labor" if the contractions become strong enough. If your mind is spinning by this point, don't worry-mine is too! The one thing that I can say without doubt is this is in God's hands...not mine. But we can all anticipate that Finley's arrival will likely be one that is unpredictable..though what child's isn't?! I will discontinue terbutatline after Sunday so we will see what happens after that. If Finley doesn't come by next Thursday, I will see my doctor and find out more then. So hold on to your hats...we're in for an interesting ride. Much love and faith...and Happy Halloween!

Ten Days!

Today was our evaluation after spending the week resting. You will be happy to know that I have not progressed any further and the contractions are under control. My doctor has informed me that the few that I am still having are necessary to get the baby in the right position for delivery. As of tomorrow, I am 34 weeks, which is when most doctors stop giving steroids for lung development in the case of preemies since they are strong by this week. My instructions now are to stay on the terbutaline for 10 more days, which will put me near 36 weeks. At that point, whatever happens, happens :) This could mean he comes on day 11...or to make things interesting, he could come 31 days from now...no telling!!

I was touched today when a friend of mine who gave birth to a beautiful little girl at 25 weeks reminded me that there is no point in worrying..."it doesn't change anything, prevent anything, or help anything." Her little girl is precious and healthy, by the way. She also left me with a piece of scripture that we all need to keep close:

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." - Roman 8:28

Love and Faith as always :)

Wait a min, Finn!!

As I type this, Kelly and I are sitting in Labor & Delivery at St. Luke's thankful that Finley didn't get his way this morning!! I woke up at 3am with a burning cramp and quickly realized that I was having contractions...the real kind...not the practice Braxton Hicks that I've come to like so much ;) By 5am we were at the hospital being hooked up to a monitor to evaluate the situation. At that point, I was contracting every 10 minutes and was dilated to a 1. So...we had to take measures to stop our eager little man. I am now on terbutaline and am being monitored overnight. So far as we can tell, though, we have the contractions under control. They are a little concerned that I'm still cramping, but we believe it is just the battle that my uterus and the terbutaline are fighting out.

Now..."Baby Big Head." My doctor ordered an ultrasound, which is always very exciting, until they tell you that your 33 week old child has a head that measures 36 weeks!!!! They estimate that he is about 5 lbs., which is great and about a week ahead of his due date. But I'm not totally convinced that his head is not the basis of all these large measurements...though I suppose time will tell. I told Kelly that I should have measured his head before I decided to marry him and he quickly responded, "I should have measured your hips!" Snap! He got me!

Assuming that all goes to plan, we will be released tomorrow and I will be on bed rest until Finn is big enough to let me get off of the medicine. At that point, labor will likely resume and we will get to meet our precious Baby Big Head!!

Please keep us in your prayers...Love and Faith!!

8 weeks and counting...

Hi everyone! 8 weeks to go as of today...yippee!! I didn't post at 31 weeks as I was on my way to Corpus for Finley's very first baby shower...and let me tell you that the child made out like a bandit! He got everything from diapers to a pack n' play to a car seat-far too many gifts and books to name...he's so blessed already! Naturally, as you can imagine, I had a hard time sitting around as I was enjoying mingling...and then when we drove back to San Antonio, I couldn't stop when I had so much fun stuff to go through! Well, leave it to me...I ended up in labor and delivery that night. *KEEP READING-WE'RE BOTH FINE* I started cramping and experiencing lower back pain at about 6pm so I rested on my left side as instructed if this happened and drank as much water as I could get down. By 10pm, I was still cramping so I called the nurse and she insisted that I come in for evaluation despite the lack of contractions. So, we reluctantly headed to St. Luke's to make sure Finn wasn't trying to surprise us early. As we imagined, it was fine. His heart rate was strong...at times a little too strong as he absolutely despised the monitor and visibly kicked it with all his might for almost two hours straight. They also performed a pre-labor test, which revealed that he has not released the chemical that tells my cervix to loosen up, which would result in labor. All in all, we were releaved to find out that Finley is still baking like he is supposed to. The problem is that I now have a harder time rationalizing why I shouldn't slow down...I just don't want to! How terrible of me?!

On a more sobering note, tomorrow marks one year of when Sean and Liam left us for Heaven's beauty. It's a bittersweet time for us as we're so thankful for our healthy little boy, but we can't help but miss and mourn our sweet angels as we reflect on our short time with them. We realize that the space they take up in our hearts will never be replaced because they took it with them when they left. At the same time, we have faith that they are watching us all of the time and looking out for their little brother. Really, Finley wouldn't be here if they hadn't left when they did. So if you all could just keep us all in your prayers as we enter a time of celebration and sorrow...not to mention it is my birthday so that adds another element of complexity. God's plan is simply beyond my comprehension (as it should be), so we just pray for peace as we're on this beautiful journey.

Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

In loving memory of Heaven's Angels and ours...Sean and Liam Meegan 10.10.08