On Friday, July 12th Cammie Lynley joined our family. It was unexpected and a little dramatic.
Here is the whole story:
This pregnancy was pretty hard on me. I was sick almost the whole time and honestly never left home without some Zofran in my purse to get me through the day.
I also gained a ton of weight. Like double what I gained with both Alyse and Breeley. I didn't understand how in the world I was gaining because like I said I was so sick and really not eating a ton (even though I really wanted to use the craving and pregnancy excuse to eat anything I wanted.)
I was also so swollen. By the end of the day my feet were huge! I also had swelling in my face and hands. I had to stop wearing my wedding rings, which I have worn through both my other pregnancies with no problems at all. My shoes didn't fit and I just felt huge.
I assumed that all of these were because it was my 3rd baby, I am not in my 20s anymore, and it was summer. Now I think all those were signs of things to come.
Tuesday, July 2nd I went for my 36wk appointment. My Dr noticed my swelling and told me that my blood pressure was higher than it had normally been. It had been a stressful morning so she just reminded me to rest as much as possible.
Tuesday, July 9th- my 37wk appointment. My Dr again was concerned about my swelling and blood pressure. I also told her I had been having some headaches (which actually isn't rare for me) but she told me she wanted to run some test. Lots of blood work, urine samples, and more blood pressure and heart rate test later I was told I was on complete bed rest for 48hrs.
Thursday, July 11- another Dr appointment. My blood pressure was again high. My test results had come back and showed that I had preeclampsia. My Dr decided she didn't want to panic and rush me into an emergency c-section yet. She wanted to do a 24hr test and have me back in the office Friday morning. She gave me some meds and sent me home with an appointment the next day.
Friday, July 12th- I honestly don't remember much about that morning. I just remember having a horrible, horrible headache. I was miserable. My mom was driving me to my appointment and she said I was so pale. I was also very shaky. My mom called Josh who went up to my Drs office and filled them in on how I was. He then met us with a wheelchair and I was pushed right into an exam room. My Dr walked in and I just started crying. I was scared and felt like my head was going to explode. We were there about 10 minutes and she told me I was being admitted.
Soon I was in a room (my Drs office is across the street from the hospital at the medical center). They started a drip of magnesium and gave me some pain meds. My Dr said really I should have a c-section ASAP but that she wasn't sure if she could do it. I told her I wanted her and I wanted to wait if I could. A little while later she came in and told me I couldn't wait and I had to deliver.
At about 8pm they came and got us ready for surgery. When they wheeled me out I saw my Dr standing with the Dr on call. She gave me a hug and told me she wasn't suppose to be there and the other Dr would technically be on my chart but she didn't want me to be on my own. I started to cry again. She went in and held my hand as they gave me the spinal tap and prepped me. When Josh was allowed in, she let him take over the support roll and they started my csection.
At 8:53pm Cammie was born. She was 4 pounds 7oz and 18inches long.
Afterwards we went to recovery and I was feeling pretty good. Soon I was moved to a room and was able to hold my very little baby. Our first night was pretty good. I was tired and the nurses came in a lot to check on me and give me meds. Cammie was taken to the nursery and had a bunch of test run, but she passed them all. Even though she was so small she is strong and very healthy. She did not have to go to the NICU and I was allowed to hold and nurse her as much as possible.
Saturday, July 13- First thing that morning Alyse and Breeley and my parents came to meet Miss Cammie Lyn. I was tired and still on lots of meds for my headache and blood pressure. I was still also hooked up to the IV and other monitors so I spent the day in bed snuggling and getting as much rest as possible. That night they came in to unhook me from everything and get me up and moving. I was feeling pretty good.
Sunday, July 14th- It was a rough day!!! I woke up again feeling miserable. My head was pounding, my heart was racing, I was sick to my stomach, my whole body was trembling, and I felt like I was going to die. I thought if my head didn't explode that my heart would. The Dr came in and upped my blood pressure and pain meds. They also hooked me back up to the IV and about 5 machines. I was checked on throughout the day by nurses and just laid there praying I would feel better.
Monday, July 15- I was really hoping to go home but my Dr said she didn't think I was ready. Cammie had also dropped to right at 4lb. (I was not able to really nurse her the day before because I was so sick.) Cammie's Dr did not want to let her go until she started to put on weight. My Dr didn't want to let me go until I could be off the IV and such strong meds. She also sat down and explained more about what was wrong.
When you have preeclampsia your placenta is basically stealing the nutrients that you put into your body. (That's why Cammie was so small. She wasn't getting everything she was suppose to be getting to grow.) Your placenta then releases "toxins" (protein) into your body. These show up in your blood and urine. This is caused because your kidneys and liver are not fully functioning. The "filter" is basically broken. Because of this you also start to swell. My headache, high blood pressure, heart racing, feeling out of breath and tired along with nausea were all connected also. Basically my placenta was "poisioning" me. My Dr told me that my placenta was "really ugly". She said that I possibly had the preeclampsia for awhile because I did have signs of it but that my body really was strong for a long time but obviously was tired and I just needed to let it pass and get everything balanced and working properly. She said I could wake up tomorrow feeling good or it could last awhile. She told me most cases are cured by getting the baby and placenta out then by using magnesium to balance you out and the IV flushes everything out. They say in 24-48hrs you should be cured. But that you can have symptoms for up to 6wks. My case isn't really normal. I guess I like to do things big.
Tuesday, July 16- Cammie again passed all her test and I had gone 24hrs without an IV so we were allowed to head home. I was so happy. I just wanted my own bed, which was good cause I was going to be spending as much time in it as possible until my Blood Pressure dropped.
Wednesday, July 17- We took Cammie to her regular Dr for her first check up and weight check. She looked great! That afternoon I was so sick. Josh called my Dr and updated her and she told me she wanted me in her office ASAP. I was there for awhile with more test and more meds, praying she wouldn't put me back in the hospital. She finally let me go but said I had to come back Fri.
Thursday, July 18- That evening I thought I was going to die again. Josh called the emergency number and I was told to go to the ER. On our way my Dr called Josh's cell phone. She upped my meds more and told me that she wanted me back home checking my blood pressure every 30min for 2hrs. If they were still high she wanted me admitted. If not she wanted me at home with my baby but in her office first thing in the morning. I went home and prayed. A lot! I made it through the night not having to go to the ER.
Fri, July 19th- Back to the Dr. She checked me and we made a plan to get me through the weekend. She also gave us her personal number and I was instructed to call her if I needed her at all.
Sat and Sun I felt ok. My blood pressure started to lower. My headache was better. My chest stopped aching so much. I didn't feel good but I felt better.
Monday, July 22nd- I started my day back at the Drs office. By this time I didn't even have to check in. I just waved on my way in the door as they greeted me by name. My blood pressure was the best it had been and my tested looked good. She hooked me up to a bunch of machines and said my numbers were "ok, not great, but better". She told me to stay in bed and keep taking my meds for the next 2weeks. She said she thought I had turned a corner but still need to take it easy.
So far I am feeling a little better everyday. I get tired really fast. Going to all those Dr appointments was a lot for me. Sometimes just going to the kitchen to get meds or food or going to the bathroom felt like I have just run a marathon.
One afternoon Josh and I went to Target after the Dr. Josh kept checking on me cause he said I was pale and shaky. It was also kinda funny but we were not at regular Target. He told me to head to front for check out while he went to grab something we forgot. A few mins later he came up behind me and said "What are you doing?!" Apparently I was so tired/dazed/out of it and was actually walking to the back of the store and not the front. I was completely lost/turned around. I'm sure it was a combination of lack of sleep, lots of meds, and exhaustion from not feeling good.
I did have fears that I was never going to be the same again. I told Josh that I just wanted to play with the girls, exercise, and have energy to do everything I need and want to do. I was afraid of being a weakling and a shut in for the rest of my life. Now I'm starting to feel more normal. It will probably take me longer to recover than I planned but I will fine!
On a positive note I am recovering wonderfully from my c-section. I am also dropping weight pretty fast. (Most of it from all the swelling!) That is very encouraging to me. Cammie is also my best nurser out of my 3 girls. And spending so much time in bed has helped us to really work on my usually very low milk supply.
Josh has been a huge help! I could not have survived without him. He had taken such great care of me and all 3 girls. My mom has also been here to help and will be around to drive me around and help once Josh goes back to work next week.
So... There is the update on everything. I know a lot of you were wondering what was going on. Some people thought Cammie was sick (She's fine! I was shocked with how small she was, especially since they kept telling me she was probably going to be big- based on my weight gain and measurements.) Some people thought I had some baby blues (Really I don't! I actually realize how blessed I am!) Hopefully this helps explain some of the confusion and catches y'all up.
Here are some of our pictures from the last 2 weeks:
Last pregnant picture. 37wks 2days. Getting ready to be rolled in for surgery.
Little Miss meeting her Daddy. After this picture he was able to hold her for a second. He brought her over for me to see her but it was a while before I got to snuggle her.
Little Tar Heel
Getting all warm and waiting to meet Mommy.
3 sisters. They were so excited!
She is just like a little baby doll.
While at the hospital my friend Angela came to take some pictures. Here are a few.
Ready to go home.
All of our hospital bracelets.
A not so pretty but very real picture of what the last 2 weeks have been for me.
My pharmacy
Our little baby and our fat cat.
Lots of love from all of us.
Her big sisters
Every time we have a baby the stork comes to our house.
Special delivery
Our 2 week old little one. (I so wish I could keep a bow on that little head but they all fall off.)
I wish there was more pictures but really I'm glad we at least have these. I'm sure there will be many more to come!
On a final note- Thanks so much for your congratulations, encouragement, and prayers! We really are doing good and so happy to have our little new addition. I'm so sorry if you have texted, emailed, sent me a message on Facebook or called and I have not gotten back to you! I really do appreciate it. I've also had lots of people ask about meals. My friend Dawn Massey I believe is organizing it.
