37 Hours of Freedom!!!

Did you know that no one has taken my temperature, oxygen saturation level, or blood pressure in more than 24 hours? Amazing! It feels so nice to be OUT of the hospital. I was discharged a little before 7:00 last night, but Paul and I didn't arrive at his parents' house until about 8:30 because we had to stop for gas and also at a pharmacy to pick up my Procardia, as I needed to take the next one at 10:00pm. The first pharmacy that the doctor tried to call it into didn't have any. The second (Rite Aid) said they did, but when Paul's dad went to pick it up, he found out they didn't have it, but they said another Rite Aid in another town had it. So we made a detour on our way home to go to the other Rite Aid. I got to see the kids for a few minutes before they went to bed. Paul stayed until about 10pm. I decided to try sleeping with Nadia again. I thought it would go better than it had on July 4 because she was asleep before I went up, but she just wanted to snuggle right beside/on me, and she was at an angle across the bed so I had hardly any room. The whole night I felt like I might fall off the bed. I also had many nightmares that I was bleeding. I think that happened because the last time I slept there I did bleed in the early morning. Tonight I'm going to sleep downstairs on a couch by myself. I think I'll sleep better there.

Dr. Martinez had told me at 4pm yesterday that my next appointment would be on Thursday, but when Dr. Taboada did my discharge at 6:30pm she told me I needed to return for an 8am appointment on Wednesday. She felt it was too long to wait until Thursday, and she said all three doctors would be in the office on Wednesday, which meant if necessary I could even have a transfusion that same day since I was being seen at 8am. Dr. Martinez will be on vacation for two weeks starting on Monday. The nurse who wheeled me out of the hospital commented that she didn't comprehend the purpose of discharging someone for just one day, but I told her I would gladly take even just one day of freedom from the hospital, even though if I go back I probably won't get a room on the 9th floor because they are currently SWAMPED with antepartum patients. Someone from the 8th floor was getting my room, and there are 9 antepartum patients on the 11th floor waiting for a room to open up on the 9th floor. About 5,000 babies are born each year at this hospital (compared to about 1,600 a year at the hospital where I had Nadia and Ian). The hostess said she'd save my menus in case I was back later this week (I had turned in menus that would take me through dinner on Sunday), although if I'm having a transfusion they'll be starving me at first.

The best parts of being out of the hospital have been #1 spending way more time with Nadia and Ian than I have in 25 days and #2 being able to shop online. I bought a Bjorn carrier and letters for Oliver's wall on eBay today. I am also bidding on a "Big Brother" t-shirt for Ian. Nadia already has a "Big Sister" shirt, and Oliver can wear the "Little Brother" onesie that Ian wore in 2010. I also pre-ordered two copies of the VeggieTales dvd that's coming out very shortly (one as a gift for Nadia and one as a gift for a niece). I have tried to take it easy, but I've still been sitting and standing far more than in the hospital (ex. I had to stand for my shower this morning whereas in the hospital I sit during my shower per the doctor's instructions). This has resulted in me having FAR more contractions than I did in the hospital (I averaged 2 an hour in the hospital). If I'm not readmitted to the hospital tomorrow, I'm going to ask about increasing the frequency of the Procardia as I used to take it every 6 hours. Every 8 hours was working when I was in a bed 23+ hours a day, but it doesn't seem like enough when I'm sitting in a lazyboy chair, kitchen chair, etc. for most of the day.

A friend I haven't seen in a couple of years will be picking me up and taking me to the hospital tomorrow. She has to be at Paul's parents' house at 6:45am. I am so grateful she's willing to do this for me, and I'm looking forward to catching up with her a bit. We worked together from 1996-2003, and she's currently teaching at the university where I taught from January 2003- May 2004. If I am readmitted for the transfusion, I plan on going back to our home whenever I'm discharged after that procedure. If I am not readmitted tomorrow, then I plan on returning to Paul's parents' house, at least until Friday night when Paul can take us all back home.