HOME!

Yesterday I had my ultrasound around 1:30pm. She said my cervix was 2.7cm. I doubt it had really gotten any shorter since Monday considering I was in the hospital bed 99.9% of the time in between the two ultrasounds. I think that measurement was probably more accurate than Monday's, but either way it was a fine since it was greater than 2.5. I still have complete placenta previa. The baby's anemia was a little better (mild). The doctor came by about an hour later (he made a special trip over in light of our distance to get home), and I arrived home at 6pm last night. Oh there's no place like home! I was also ever so glad to get the iv port out of my wrist. I have a large bump there showing where it used to be. I was given big hugs by both kids when I got home - priceless!

I asked a couple of questions before I left the hospital that others had suggested I ask. The doctor did give me permission to go to the gymnastics showcase tomorrow. In fact it's written on my discharge instructions, ha ha! He said as long as I didn't drive and entered the event by wheelchair, it was fine. Yay! The other question was whether I can lift Ian up on my lap if I do so while sitting on the couch. I had been doing that during my last 6 day stint at home in between hospitalizations. My mom was right. They said that even if I'm sitting, lifting that much weight is putting too much pressure on my cervix. So he needs to climb up to my lap himself. They also gave me the list of what they want me to be taking - some of which (such as extra Calcium) are because I'm on bedrest. Evidently, being on bedrest is not great for things like one's bones. My next two appointments have been scheduled - the 21st in Harrisburg and the 28th at our small local hospital. I'm planning to switch to Geisinger's MFM clinic the first week of July. I'm really hoping the 21st will be my last trip to the hospital in Harrisburg.

I saw online last night that the insurance didn't pay a dime towards the first two MFM appointments (which totalled $1,050). Hopefully the EOB will just state that they need additional medical records before they can process the claims, and hopefully they'll pay eventually. They did pay the entire $35 for my first P17 shot at the OB. I was starting to think they were going to decline everything! Thanks for telling me about the Medical Assistance for those born under 1,200 grams, Regina. What a huge relief! Hopefully he'll weigh a lot more than that at birth (that's 2lb 10oz), but if that happens (or if he stays in the hospital for more than 30 days following his birth), he will automatically qualify. That will be a relief to Paul as he was fearing we were going to lose our house over the NICU bills if I give birth before July 1. I wish they had Medical Assistance for pregnant women! I really, really, really hope the insurance pays for these 3 hospitalizations (10 days total).

As we were driving home we passed some yard sales, and it hit me that's something else I'll have to give up for now. Thankfully I had finished most of the baby shopping already. I still need to buy him some cloth diapers and also something I can carry him in (I'm thinking a Bjorn carrier this time around), but I can shop online. One of our neighbors will be having a yard sale sometime this month. I'll have Paul wheel me down to her house because she has a girl and boy who are both just a bit older than my kids so her hand me downs are perfect for my kids, and she has great taste in kids' clothing and shoes, but other than that I'll forgoe yard sales until our town's big community sale the end of September. I'm sure I won't be on bedrest at that point! You are right, Regina that it's MUCH better to endure some frustration now due to bedrest if it means avoiding years of heartache from giving birth to a micropreemie.

Our refrigerator is loaded with food so I sent a message on Facebook to the woman who has been organizing our meals this week telling her that we have plenty of leftovers and don't need any meals for a few days. I had planned to take Paul out on Saturday night for our Father's Day date, but that's not going to happen. He loves pizza, and we haven't had any since we got back from Grand Cayman so I think I'll suggest he go get us some pizza on Sunday (after we make some room in the refrigerator by eating some leftovers). This evening Paul is taking the kids to make a brief appearance at Gabby's 14th birthday party.