19+4

Today I'm 19 weeks and 4 days.

At 19 weeks and 4 days with Jack, after getting a second opinion from an MFM at University of Chicago for Jack's Dandy Walker, I was admitted for preeclampsia observation. My blood pressure was in the 140s/90s, I was short of breath and had a lot of unusual swelling.

At 19 weeks and 4 days, I sat in the triage room at University of Chicago watching "Duck Dynasty" with Jim for hours as doctor after doctor came into the room. "You have preeclampsia".... "You couldn't possibly have preeclampsia".... "You have preeclampsia"...... "This can't be preeclampsia"....."We're admitting you overnight for a 24 hour urine catch".

In the meantime, my triage mate was a woman who was 32 weeks pregnant being observed for preeclampsia also. She wailed when the nurse told her that they'd have to deliver her baby if she indeed had pree. To be on THAT side of the curtain that day would have been lovely, for a baby born at 32 weeks (maybe 33 if they could hold her off) is remarkably better than a baby born at 20 weeks. It took every ounce of energy I had to not leap through the curtain and tell her I was only 19 weeks 4 days and to shut the fuck up.

My 19 weeks and 4 days ended with being taken to my own private room. I already knew I wasn't leaving any time soon and the odds of leaving with Jack were pretty slim to none.


But almost a year later..... today.....I'm 19 weeks and 4 days with Jack's brother Thomas. My blood pressure is in the 120s/80s  when moving around the house but 110s/70s when lying down. My ankles aren't swollen. I can breathe (unless I'm walking up stairs, lol). Thomas is growing properly. There is no protein in my urine.

I think this baby may come home.