Alrighty then! ***Updated!

Well that sucked.

Geeze.

A week and a day in the hospital, 6 days on antepartum ward,  and a PICC line later, I finally came home on Monday. I was so weak and exhausted that I had to take a nap after I showered.

Yeah, that exhausted.

To be fair, the antepartum ward was awesome.  All the rooms are huge and private because during construction or engineering, or something, they didn't put in enough oxygen tanks, so the rooms, which were supposed to be doubles, became singles. Let me tell you, that was the best mistake ever made. It would have been even harder to have a roommate. I am a pretty low stimulation type person, and just having the other person there, when I felt like utter shite for 5 out of the 7 days, would have been awful. It wasn't until Saturday that I could concentrate long enough to read, but then had nothing to read! My sister, the soon to be full fledged librarian, came through with a great book, and I was at least entertained for Sunday and the part of Monday I was there.

In the end, I never had the 'magical' relief that most people get when they pass a kidney stone. I seemed to have stones, and muck and gunk in my ureter, plus a swollen kidney from being pregnant, in addition to it being swollen from the ureter clogging, so I was not a happy camper. When I had my ultrasound on Monday, there was no more blockage in the ureter, so I didn't need the nephroscopy, thank goodness. Like I need a piece of plastic in my back and the feeling of needing to pee all the time! 

I've been surprised at what a slow recovery it's been. I think that the end of second trimester fatigue has hit, in addition to recovering from a week of being sedated and hardly sleeping (I mean for a twin pregnancy, I realize I have 6 more weeks to go before I hit 28 mark, but I'm as big as a 28 weeker!)

Since I've been home, the babies have gotten so much bigger! Their kicks are much more distinctive, and wierd feeling, and yes, baby A has kicked me in the cervix a few times. Not painful, but weird! Last night they were very active, although baby A is easier to feel (posterior placenta), and Husband FINALLY got to feel some kicks from the outside. Next baby B needs to give daddy some kicks!

I find myself startled when they start kicking, as if something bad is happening, and then I remind myself that it's just them kicking, and it's ok.

In terms of me and the pregnancy, I've got some sort of dermatitis going on in my girl parts-not conducive to a good nights sleep! It was gone the whole week I was in the hospital, so I'm doing some detective work, and trying to eliminate (soap, laundry detergent, toilet paper), and see if I can figure out what is causing the irritation.

***Changing my laundry detergent did help a bit, but I finally took my girl parts to the dermatologist and she suspects a yeast infection. Turns out, some women never get the internal type, which jibes with my experience of myself, and just for TMI's sake, it had started to wander down my thighs! Never have I been happier to smear myself with nystatin and hydracortisone! Waiting to hear back from my OB on whether he wants me to do an internal treatment as well.**

Also, I've started to 'stutter' when I breathe sometimes. Its like that kind of breathing that happens after you've been sobbing, and you're winding down. But I'm not sobbing, and it doesn't happen all the time, or in just one positon. This morning Husband was worried I was crying in bed! Nope! Just breathing like a pregnant lady!

Also, I'm developing a hernia below my belly button. I was getting worried that I has having some sort of odd set of contractions, but only in one spot! When I take a deep breathe (sometimes), or straighten up, or sneeze, I get this tight feeling below my bellow button. Turns out, ye olde abdominal wall is a splitting a bit. Seems likes it's not a big deal, as long as nothing protrudes through it...So I'm on super princess duty, no lifting, no deep breathing (JUST KIDDING!) and I'm wearing my maternity belt which seems to make the whole belly area a lot less uncomfortable. The big buggabo is laundry. My laundry is in the garage, my bedroom is 2 floors away. Husband will do everything he can to make it work, but he is a VERY busy guy, and dammit, I wanna do laundry when I want to!

We lost a whole week and weekend of prep time, but we'll get it together somehow.  We still need to get our new mattress (we have everything, including the bed frame!), the boy's mattress', decide on dressers, and find a nursing love-seat for our second floor, clear out the babies room, the closet and another storage closet. Oh, and move me out of my office! No biggie. Ugh.  The hernia doesn't make it any easier to do the prep work, but I'm going to try. Our registry is up (we did multiple places...is that normal?), and the baby shower, which I'm also treating as my 40th birthday party, since these babies are all I've wanted for my birthday for 4 years, is underway.  My mom, sister and cousin are collaborating, and I know it's going to be lovely. My mom already ordered the cake from my favorite bakery, and I've requested bowls of peanut m&m's. Sounds like a good party, eh?

I'll try to keep up a little better here.  After all, blogging shouldn't affect my hernia.

I'll try to get a belly picture up, I have one on my phone that I can't figure out how to get on here, from here...

 

 

Comments

[Sara]

Ugh. It sounds like you've had an awful week. Glad you're home now. I'm looking forward to those belly pics!

[Summer]

Glad to hear from you! Although passing those stones sounds like it was more than an ordeal. At least it's done with now.

[Mo]

So glad you're home. Ordeal really sounds like the right word. Hope your strength returns quickly. Just wanted to let you know that a New Yorker is sending many positive thoughts your way. : )

Mo

[Michele]

So glad you are home and better!!!

It's funny, I had that stuttering when breathing thing too. I think it had something to do with uterine pressure on my lungs and ribs.

[Sweet Georgia]

I'm glad you're home and the whole kidney stone ordeal is in the past. Hopefully you'll get some of your energy back soon. I hear you on all of the stuff that needs to be done for the nursery. We're doing a bunch of that stuff this weekend.

Good luck with everything. I'm sure it will all come together for you!

[It is what it is]

You've had a rough go of late and I am hopeful that it, along with the kidney stone, are behind you.

Allow yourself to get your strength and stamina back day by day and know that it might not be a linear progression but you will get there.

The universe usually has a hand in things coming together in their time and I know that will be the case for you.

[Calliope]

good night lady!!! I am crawling my way to catching up on my reader and SHEESH! I am so sorry you have been through so so much. Thank goodness you are home now and recovering. ugh.
Oh Ziggy & Stardust- no more drama for your Mama!

[a]

Ouch! Glad to hear that's over! No more kidney stones!!!

I have had a lovely umbilical hernia for the last 4 years (it got aggravated at work and has been annoying for a year). The surgeon I saw said "When something is poking out, you will know because you won't want anything to touch your belly." I'm sure the maternity belt will help keep things in place, but this was probably bound to happen with twins. One of these days, I'll get my hernia fixed, but for the moment, I just keep poking the fat back in. :)

It sounds like you're going to be having some fun in the next few weeks - rearranging thing, registries, showers. Enjoy!

[Erin]

I'm glad that you posted, I was a little worried about you! Try to relax as much as you can, none of the projects that you want to get accomplished are as important as incubating the babies -- so don't overdo it, even if you are feeling good!

[meinsideout]

OMG you poor thing...Mike had to have a PICC line for 4 weeks...hell on earth but he sort of had an idea of what it was like for me to pump...so glad you are okay!

[Paige]

What a wild ride. Hope things continue to improve. Can't wait to hear about that awesome shower/bday party.

[Tireegal]

Oh honey, you poor thing! That sucks so bad! I missed all the drama when I was in hospital too. I agree though, being in hospital sucks big time and it sounds like you were really sick! Take it slow, and if you can get more help to set things up in the house, please do - we were not ready and it's been a bit crazy since we came back from the hospital. I hope you get your strength up and feel better soon, my friend! Take care:) xo

[Ellen K.]

Happy belated birthday! I know gallstones are more common in multiple pregnancies; maybe kidney stones are as well. But a PICC line just extends the misery.

Do try to stay on the couch and stay hydrated.

Mmmm, peanut M&Ms!

[mekate]

Welcome home! and
ASK FOR HELP
I am serious here, maybe shower#1 could be your sis and mom helping with the house stuff? Not ideal maybe but maybe practical-- it is amazing how much folks can get done when it is not their stuff!

please take care of you, and
so glad to see your update!
xo
Kate

[Kami]

I am not surprised you are exhausted. Just being pregnant can do that to you. Take care of yourself and keep us posted.