Bed rest.

As of Monday night, I have been put on bed rest for "at least two weeks." 

After a quick trip to the park, where I sat in the shade and watched on as Beau chased Owen up and down the playground, and grocery store I started getting contractions. These weren't the random tightening ones I had been getting on Saturday and Sunday. These were crampy, achy, and coming every 15 min or sooner. What really worried me was that these felt like the contractions I had the morning Owen was born. 

I finally decided to call the nurse to see what her advice would be. After paging the Dr. and three more contractions, she told me to head over L&D to be evaluated. I had a few more contractions on the way over and after checking my vitals and hearing the baby's heart beat, the nurse asked me to let her know when I was having another contraction. I did and when she checked the monitor it turned out that I had one before that I hadn't noticed.

They started me right away on an iv of fluids, even though I had been staying very hydrated. The Dr came in and did an extremely uncomfortable pelvic exam to check my cervix and swab to test for fetal fibronectin. Thankfully, my cervix was closed and an ultrasound showed that there isn't any thinning yet. The iv didn't slow the contractions, so they gave me two shots of terbutaline which did end up stopping them. Before deciding to let me go home, the Dr told me that the results of the fFN test came back positive. This doesn't necessarily mean that I will give birth preterm, but along with the fact that Owen was born preterm it increases the chances to above 60%. 

The Dr. sent me home with a prescription for procardia to try to keep the contractions from starting back up and orders for bed rest. So far the contractions have continued, but at a much less regular rate. I have an ultrasound scheduled for Friday morning and a check-up on Monday. I'm just praying hard that Liza stays right where she is for at least 15 more weeks.

1st Birthday Party

Owen's 1st birthday party yesterday was a success. The weather was a little cooler than I would have liked, but aside from that, the day was perfect! Owen is so blessed to have so many wonderful people in his life who love him so much. He absolutely loved being the center of attention. He got so excited when everybody sang "Happy Birthday to OWEN!" 

The best part of the day had to be when Granda arrived at the party. He wasn't sure if he was going to make it because of work, but was able to stop by for 30 min. As soon as Owen saw him, his face light up and he started bouncing up and down. I just love the love those two share!

I took a million pictures and I'm only dumping about half of them here. 

Enjoy!

^^ His pre-smashed smash cake. It was like the leaning tower of cake. ^^

***

unfortunately running all over the place getting ready for the party, spending all day on my feet, packing up to move, and the stress from family issues has landed me back on bed rest. Last night I started having terrible- on the floor crying- cramps. I also had a few contractions, but nothing regular thank God! I think I'm getting to the point where I have to realize that this pregnancy is different from Owen's. I can't do all that I could last time. I'm just praying hard that Liza stays right where she is for at least 15 more weeks. 

You're not gonna believe this...

Baby Finn is not actually Baby Finn.

We went in for our gender recheck this morning (remember how we went the day before mother's day and the lady was 95% sure it was a boy but she wanted us to come back in two weeks so she could be 100% sure, but all along Beau and I were 100% sure because we saw the ultrasound and there was definitely something sticking out there.) and the little boy part we thought we saw before was GONE. 

Baby Finn is a girl! Which means she is no longer Baby Finn but Elizabeth Ann. Baby Liza. Or Little Lizzy as my dad has already nicknamed her.

I was so excited to be having another boy, but I can't even describe the happiness I felt when I realized the baby we were looking at was my little girl. I burst into tears of joy.

Little Liza will be so well loved and protected by her big brother and police officer daddy and of course, by me . I am, above all, excited to form a close relationship with her like I have with my mom.

Now excuse me as I return to daydreaming about the frilly dresses and dance classes that are in my not so distant future.