This time of year...

It's that time of year again. Most people think, "Fall? Halloween? Christmas shopping?" For me, the answer is different. This time of year is when I reminisce & remember the fall 3 years ago when we were blessed with our little boy, 3 months too early.

I realized over the past couple days of preparing to write this blog that I had never really talked at all about the hospitalization that led up to Dylan's birth. This is the first part of that story...

3 years ago today I went into my OB's office for a check up. My blood pressure had been high & I had just completed a 24 hr urine collection to be checked for protein spillage (I am still not entirely sure what that means, but I do know that it required me to collect all of my pee in a jug for 24 hrs...not really a fun time). Anyway, I had turned in the pee jug a couple days before & headed in to my appointment ready to be told that I was going on home bedrest & that I was to stay in bed & try to keep my blood pressure down. That was not what happened.

Derrick & I were taken into a exam room, where a sweet nurse came in to take my vitals. She took my blood pressure, but didn't give me the results. Instead, she said, "Roll over, lay on your left side, don't move & I'll be back." Obviously, that is a strange thing for a nurse to say, but I complied. I tried to stay calm, but I was terrified. The doctor came in. He took my blood pressure again. Then he told us. My blood pressure was too high & there was too much protein in my urine.

I still remember his directions. "Leave here & go directly to the Labor & Delivery floor of the hospital. Do not go home & pack a bag. Go to the hospital. I will call & let them know you are coming." We left the doctor's office & went to the car. I sobbed. SOBBED. I had no desire to go to the hospital & be on bedrest there. I had nothing with me. I cried as we drove to the hospital (not a far trip). I had previously been admitted for a 24 hr urine collection that they eventually released me from & let me complete at home, so I was holding out hope that maybe I wouldn't have to stay for very long.

I checked in & was taken up to the Labor & Delivery floor. Vitals, blood pressure, more urine collection. Lots of phone calls. No one really knew what would happen next.

I honestly don't remember a whole lot of that night. Derrick went home at some point to get us some clothes & things. I know I was terrified to let him leave my side. My mom & step-dad came to see me. I had a CNA come in who was a lady I knew from foster parenting classes. I tried to get some sleep. Little did I know what the next few months had in store for us...