Sideways Betty...

First of all, let me start by explaining why my name is now "Sideways Betty". Last Thursday I went in to my perinatologist to check on the growth of my twin boys whom are due on Aug 2. Everything about the boys looked great. They are healthy, on track, and moving around like always. We were able to get some 4D pictures of one of our boys, he looks just like his daddy :) The other boy was a little shy, facing away from the ultrasound and snuggling up against his brother. Heartwarming images. Now I really can't wait until they are here in our arms. After the ultrasound, the doctor did a Fetal Fibronectin test (if the test is positive, the chance of me delivering in the next 2 weeks is 50%, if negative, less then 1%), and also an exam to measure the length of my cervix. I told him last week, at my OB's office, my cervix measured a little over 3cm...however, today we were down to 2.6cm. Dr. Naylor was a bit concerned and said he will call me after getting the Fetal Fibronectin result back, in the next 2 hrs. If it's positive, we need to get to the hospital.

That night, around 6ish, Dr. Naylor called and said, I hope you're not planning to do anything tonight or tomorrow...you need to get yourself checked into Cedars and have them start monitoring you. WELL, HECK! I broke the news to John (hubby), and started packing. Felt like I was gonna be going on a vacation where they only allow people to wear pajamas...haha. Guess it hasn't kicked in that I'm going to the "HOSPITAL!" How ironic that I had just called the day before to schedule a maternity tour and they put me down for June 8th because my due date is so far away. Well, guess we're now gonna do a "dry run" on our own. Hey, at least we'll know where we need to go when the "WET run" comes!

We got there around 9pm after a food run through McDonalds, checked in with the Labor & Delivery people, then were shown in room 3010. The room was nice...but the decor is...well...pastel. I quickly got settled in, changed into my Victoria's Secret silver crushed velvet pajama pants, a comfy tshirt from Forever21, crawled into bed and waited until the nurse visitations started.

Nurse Ginny strapped 2 fetal monitors (one for each of the boys, to monitor their hearbeats), and 1 contraction monitor to my belly. It was amazing listening to both their heartbeats at the same time...and little louder thuds here and there when they are moving around or trying to kick away the monitors that were pressing down on them. A couple of weeks ago I started playing a game with the babies by saying "All the babies in the womb go woowoo!" Now that the monitors are on I was wondering if they would actually respond to mommy's silly demand. So I played with them again..."All the babies in the womb go woowoo!!"...loud thumps...I guess they heard me. John and I giggle...it was so cute and amazing! I repeated the statement a couple of more times, getting the same loud thumps right afterwards. But they got tired of the game after a little bit. So I figured I'll play with them some other time.

John spent the night by our sides...felt nice to not have to be alone at the hospital for our first night. Although I didn't feel anxious, I was having a hard time falling asleep with all the activities coming in and out of my room. To keep myself entertained, I was able to email my sister, Elisa, who's in Taiwan, via my cell phone. We must have written 5 or 6 emails to each other that night and the next day. I was glad that we have our time difference since it was nice to have her entertain me and also keep my parents informed of what all was going on.

Besides the machine monitoring, I also got some blood drawn, and at 3:20am, Nurse Ginny came in to give me my first steriod shot (of two, given 24 hrs apart). The steriod is to boost the babies' lungs just in case they do arrive too early. This case the doctors and nurses can have a better chance of helping the babies develop normally.

Friday pretty much the same things happened. More monitoring, more nurses and doctors poking their heads in to check up on me. It's reassuring to know that I'm being cared for. My OB, Dr. Lee, came in to see me too. She told me that my cervix will be measured again on Saturday...and until that happens, I am to lay on my left side. Great...now I'm looking forward to Saturday to see if I get to go home and continue this bedrest instead of being at the hospital.

Saturday rolls by...can't believe I've already spent two nights at the hospital. One of the doctors rolled in an Ultrasound machine. With Dr. Lee and Dr. Faroohduddin, Dr. Harris does the ultrasound measurement. Cervix isn't looking too bad. Dr. Lee decides to discharge me and let me go home to continue bedrest in the comfort of my own bed. YAY!

Once we got home, John helped me set everything up in the bed. Laptop, cellphone, tv remote, etc...then I gave him a list for groceries. While I was laying on my left side, my sister, my parents and I were using Skype to talk to each other and webcam to be able to see each other. They got a kick watchinig me laying sideways all the time...so my sister started calling me "Sideways Betty". Gotta love her. Now, to entertain myself, I am calling myself Sideways Betty!