Hospital Fun!

Why Hello there!

I know I had joked about updating midweek strictly out of boredom of being put on bed rest, but little did I expect what has happened. I went in to my next cervical length ultrasound and doctor appointment and we have found out that internally(from Elliott's view) I am dilated at 2.5ish still. Here is the new news...I am externally dilated at 1. NOT GOOD news! Doc. Trottier decided to admit me to Altru, our hospital here in Grand Forks, to be monitored. I also got a shot (beta-metha-something something something) that is a steroid to kick start lung development in Elliott. I initially got that at around noon today, I have a second dose at noon tomorrow. I was suppose to only be in here until hours after the second shot, just continuing bed rest at home...but then I started contracting. NOT GOOD news! I had NO idea...I can't feel them at all. My nurse Lindsey came in with IV bags and stuff and I was like, UH?!?!, and she goes...you're contracting! My heart dropped...Thank God Evan was here at the same time so the initial shock wasn't as scary as if I was alone. I stayed strong until the nurse left and then of course I lost it. This isn't suppose to be happening! I never really heard about all this stuff. You just kinda assume you get pregnant and you get to your due date...Not once did I anticipate these challenges but then again, no one does. I took the medicine through the IV "like a champ". It is magnesium sulfate which can make people really woosy and sick, very flush and overwhelmed with heat and dizzy...I am thankful because I only experienced the flush feeling. Also, I am quite proud to report that I have awesome veins to have needles stuck in hahahaha! So good in fact that I squirted blood all over...go me! Is that something I should be proud of? Ahhh, who cares...Anyways, back to the action...
So the contractions are about 3-4 minutes apart. They are more "irritable" then labor contractions. They are not even strong enough for me to feel. I had been experiencing a tightening sensation for the past couple of weeks but didn't know if it was a contraction, him moving or both. Turns out right now its not a contraction which is good, and the fact I don't feel the contractions is also good news. So, the earliest I could get off of the meds through the IV would be around 8am tomorrow. I don't think anyone anticipates me getting off of it soon. I have been told to anticipate being here an extra 1-2 days now too. AH! I so did not think I would be in the hospital today after our appointment! So scary, but I am trying to relax. So much easier said than done.

Please everyone pray for us. Pray that my contractions stop. Pray that I stop dilating internally and externally. Pray for Elliott. Pray for Evan. Pray for me. Pray that if God has determined that this is when Elliott needs to be welcomed to the world that his health will be managed and that he will do okay. Please Please Please...Pray.

Love to you all,

Rachel, Evan and Elliott


-I'll do my best to keep this updated...at the time I am pretty much doing a ton of sitting and lounging around. I feel silly updating this and being on facebook but I literally can only stand so much TV. If there is more action we will go from there!