I'll be keeping my fingers (& legs) crossed until Monday....

I had my OB appointment yesterday. My platelet count was 67k, still too low for an epidural. The doctor asked if anyone had talked to me about corticosteroids. My hematologist had told me that they could use corticosteroids to boost my platelet count but wouldn't consider using them until my platelet count dropped to 50k. I'm sure she was making this decision based on a bleeding stand point and not an epidural stand point. Anyway, my OB contacted the head of anesthesia for the OB department to discuss my case. The anesthesiologist said they definitely wouldn't be able to give me an epidural with a platelet level of 67k. However they wouldn't be opposed to giving me corticosteroids to increase my platelet count so I could receive an epidural.

So here's the game plan: I have an OB appointment at 10am on Monday. They'll check me and see if my cervix is "favorable." It pretty much already is. Yesterday I was 40% effaced and 1-2 cm. I'll be admitted to the hospital Monday night. They will put me on corticosteroids and they'll keep a check on my platelet level. As soon as my platelets are up to an acceptable level they'll give me an epidural whether I'm ready for it or not. And then they'll induce me (unless I've already gone in to labor on my own.) If I was to go into labor this weekend all bets are off. We would just have to play the cards we were dealt. Since my cervix has already started to change and I'm experiencing more and more braxton hicks I'm afraid I won't make it to Monday night. With our last pregnancy, Megan had already been born and was home from the hospital by now. The OB told me he wouldn't be able to induce until I was 39+ weeks and I'll be 39 weeks next week. Once they put me on the steroids they want to be sure that I'll have the epidural and baby during the high platelet window. So little Everett's birthday will probably be March 2nd at the latest.

For Sale

We did a lot of work around the house this past weekend. We had beautiful weather, so the guys (and our 2 little girls) did a lot of work outside. Phil flew his brother, Zane, up from Miami to help us get the house in tip-top shape. We also had a couple of friends stop by to lend a hand. I spent a lot of time working inside trying to make everything look perfect. Our real estate agent, Michele, took pictures for the MLS listing on Sunday. We're hopeful we'll have some interested parties stopping by soon. We have done a lot of updates around the house to make it more appealing. We also did a pre-listing inspection and have already repaired some of the findings. After talking with our real estate agent, we decided to offer a home warranty as well. As our furnace and water heater are at the end of their life span. We hope all of these things will help us sell quickly! 

Lunch Date

I took Makena and Megan to eat lunch at one of their favorite restaurants this week. They both ordered breakfast. Megan started dipping her bacon in butter. I told her it was gross. "No, mommy. It's nummy!" she told me. Megan, you can't continue to eat buttery bacon the rest of your life!

Wake Forest vs. Georgia Tech

Phil and I took the girls to see their first Wake Forest basketball game on Saturday. I asked them if they would rather go to the circus or to watch the Deacons play and that's what they chose to do. Their dad was so proud! Makena and Megan had so much fun! They really enjoyed being there and were starting to understand the game towards the end. The Deacs played Georgia Tech and won 75-64. WF is doing pretty well this season and that is part of the reason we wanted to go.


Hanging out in the Hoops Room at half time

Naz-T Deac





Makena went to a birthday party at Young Chef's Academy on Saturday. I only took one picture while we were there. The party was for one of her preschool friends. We have been to YCA a couple of times before. It is a very fun place to have a party. The kids get to make their own pizzas. They learn about following recipes and measuring ingredients. This is a picture of Makena measuring flour for the pizza dough.

Things you should never tell a pregnant woman...

I along with most women who are pregnant or have been pregnant could probably make a list a mile long. I'll just list 3 things I was told this week.
1) I went to have my traditional pre-delivery pedicure today. I was having a fairly pleasant conversation with the nail technician. She started asking about my kids and the baby. She asked how much the girls weighed when they were born. To which I replied, "6 lbs. 5 oz." "This baby will be bigger." she said. Lady, next time just keep your mouth shut and let me read my magazine. Her statement may prove true but since it doesn't look like I'll be having an epidural this go round that's not exactly what I wanted to hear.
2) I had my OB visit yesterday. The OB talked a little about my thrombocytopenia. "You know usually platelet levels don't rebound in time. You've been told that, right?" She was being honest. But how bad would it have been to let me cling to that small sliver of hope that my platelets would go back up to 100k and I'd be able to receive an epidural? Over the past 4 weeks my platelets have been 72k, 73k, 69k and 63k yesterday. So now I'll just wait to get the usual phone call from my hematologist's nurse saying, "The doctor has just seen your platelet level and she said it is acceptable." Wah, Wah, Wah...
3) I was talking to another mom while walking in to pick up my kids from preschool today. "How far along are you?" she asked. "You look huge." She should know better, she has been pregnant. I can say I'm huge. You cannot.

This is how we eat breakfast...

A Shower for Everett

Some sweet friends of mine put together a baby shower for me. This makes the 3rd shower they've done for us. I told them this will probably be the last one. :) The baby shower was at a local restaurant and there were 10 people there total. The girls did a wonderful job. There were 3 beautiful flower arrangements on the table, a gorgeous cake and cute little party favors. And there were a ton of wonderful baby gifts. Everett got some great stuff! All of the girls were very generous. Phil and I have some awesome friends and we appreciate everything they do for us!

The little blue boxes filled with blue and white M&M's.

The pretty cake that no one wanted to cut into.

Me and my mom.

Leah, Conner and Zette

Mitra and Sarah
Sarah, Ashley and Jenn The adorable "Mommy's New Man" onesie from the Gallimores.

The awesome diaper cake Ashley made.

L-R: Jenn, Ashley, Jaime, Leah, Conner, Zette, Brenda (Mom), Me, Mitra and Sarah.

Everett the Frog

Yesterday I took Makena and Megan to Build a Bear so they could make a gift for their baby brother. Before we went in I told them they would need to pick an animal and clothes suitable for a boy. No pink teddy bears or princess clothes this time. They did a very good job following my instructions. They chose a green frog. And we decided Brahms Lullaby would be the best sound to add to it. We told the lady working there who the gift was for and she let each of the girls kiss a heart and add it to the frog. The girls picked great "boy clothes." They chose a Deacon shirt, black pants and tighty whiteys. :)

They asked Megan what the frog's name was to which Megan replied, "His name is Everett." I told her that baby brother's name is Everett, but what about the frog? "Name is Everett, too." she said. So now we have Everett the Frog to give to baby Everett when he arrives.

Makena and Megan took turns giving Everett the Frog a bath.
I wanted a picture of the girls with the gift they made for their brother. They are a couple of jokers. I took one picture and asked them to smile. Take a look at what I got...

Basement Walls & More Snow

They poured our basement walls last week. (Our builder does poured concrete walls instead of cinder blocks.) The next step will be laying the slab for the basement plumbing. Then they can start framing. Unfortunately, we got a good 7 inches of snow Friday night with an additional layer of ice on top. All of this winter weather is slowing down our progress! And the forecast shows another wintery mix may be coming this Friday and Saturday. Ugh!

I don't have as many snow pictures this time. I took the girls out to play while Phil was at work. Makena and Megan love to eat snow!

Megan enjoys throwing snowballs at her mom. :)

Here they are making snow angels side by side in the sun the next day.