A.M.

Today is the first day that I feel comfortable saying "I am sick" instead of "I am really, really sick." Worst. Cold. Ever. and it got progressively more awful as the days went on.

But, as I said, today I am just slightly congested, and mostly raspy, and the cough stings but does not burn... things are looking up. Steve, of course, naturally, inevitably, is coming down with it; however, so god help us all. He is not the most stoical of people under the best of circumstances . Just stuff his nose up and watch while he becomes a misery to himself and others. I am TRYING to be sympathetic, honest I am, but he is so much less sick than I am, and so much not extremely pregnant that... well, I do sympathize with the congestion, she says with an attempt at sincerity.

It would be nice if we could both be healthy when we have the 13s but I suppose if it is a choice between the two of us, it is better than I am on the mend. I was trying to imagine going into labor the way I felt on Sunday and my mind boggled. I barely had the energy to adjust the couch pillow every few hours.

Speaking of having the 13s, I am leaving in 6 minutes for my newly added Tuesday appointment. I mentioned this at REDBOOK, or maybe it was here, anyway... 13a is looking sort of small in the general scheme of things and the amniotic fluid is low. Lowish? Lower, certainly. So I am going to get checked this morning and then again on Friday. Needless to say (but I will say it anyway) I am worried. Depending on the fluid levels today the options range from doing nothing to admitting me for infusions (of something, I did not ask) to delivering the babies this week. A veritable smörgåsbord of choices.

Back this afternoon to finish the saga of Steve's birthday boat, how his surprise party went (I threw a party from my couch. surprise!) and... well I'll think of something.

Off to my appointment.

Comments

[Ninotchka]

Good luck at your appointment, Julia! I hope you both feel much, much better.

[mellie]

So what was Steve's REAL present, or maybe it didn't arrive yet? You could probably tell us now--the likelihood of Steve checking the blog in his depleted condition...oh well, it was worth a try. Good luck with the smorgasbord!

[Sheila]

Thinking good thoughts for you and hoping you don't have an ice storm on top of all the OTHER things you have to deal with...

[terri c]

Everything, but everything, crossed for you all here. Oh, and Steve? not being pregnant, can TAKE DRUGS for those cold symptoms. LOTS of drugs.

[DrSuz]

I had a rip roarin' cold when I delivered my second. It was miserable and the nurses kept getting annoyed with me for dropping my used Kleenex. (I understand about infection control and all, but come on, had an epidural and couldn't walk for goodness sake- sorry if I lost a few in the sheets.) By the time we brought the baby home I was fine but my two year old had come down with it. By the time my newborn was two weeks old HE got it and we ended up spending FIVE DAYS in the hospital with RSV. Not fun under any circumstances, but worse if he had been preemie twins!

The worst part of it was seeing all the ill children there and feeling guilty that all mine needed was some oxygen, suctioning and time and he would be as good as new (he is now almost four.) Not so, for many of our ward mates...

[Katie]

You have got to see this about men and colds:

(I'm breaking the URL up into 3 lines; you'll have to cut & paste)

http://www.dooce.com/2007/12/06/
accurate-reenactment-what-its-our-
house-during-winter

[victoria]

I'm glad the cold is better, I'm very glad that you didn't have to be delivered during the worst of the misery, I hope the 13s are revealed to be perfectly happy and fine during this checkup, and I can't wait to hear about Steve's boat!

[Sally]

Yes - what was the boat? I had low fluid with that baby I had a couple years ago. It scared me more than all the other things that went wrong with the pregnancy and now you're saying they can just "fill 'er up" again with infusions? Or is it like aromatherapy or something else you're talking about- relaxes the baby and makes them not think about their low fluid situation...
Mine ended up being low, but the only one really alarmed at my level of low was me, but that combined with high bp ultimately ended up in an induction at 36 wks. Try to get a number assigned to "low" and that way you can know how low your low is.

[JuliaKB]

oh, Julia. The absolute best of luck to you and the 13s. 34 weeks is so much better than where you have been before. Keeping my fingers crossed and hoping for an update.

[Jessica]

I'm glad you posted; I was thinking about you today, wondering how you were.

Hope the appointment goes well.

:)

[Kelly]

The fluids would likely just be loads of saline. Yay! They'll pickle you in *no* time.

I hope the appt this afternoon goes well, though, and they just make you stop licking those big slabs of salt. 34wks is so awesome for twins. I'll keep hoping for longer, though. I'm selfish like that (I'm sure you are too).

[Laura]

Julia you are a heroine. How in god's name you got a surprise party underway from the couch with your nose blocked and your throat constricted, your thigh punctured with an intravenous drip and no air in your lungs, plus blood-thinners and contractions and the comportment of two tiny babies, a grown boy and miles and miles away from your nearest and dearest I DO NOT KNOW!

Your twins both weigh more than mine at 35 weeks when they were born after emergency induction and were only briefly in intensive care before being handed, perfectly healthy, to the outer world. The weight difference between them, which was almost a pound, was comprehensively explained when we saw them: the younger remains chubby and solid at two, the elder is thin as Audrey Hepburn.

Great luck this pm and seriously consider the option of induction unless there are really strong arguments against it. You msut be longing to meet them and in another few days they will be born a very admirable term in the pregnancy. Thinking of you with great admiration.

[Aurelia]

Kelly is right, they do infuse you with saline, directly into the amniotic sac.
Which can work nicely quite often, or not and result in breaking your waters when you are so far along and already dilated a bit.

I know US women are told otherwise, but what the heck, pregnant women CAN take medication in pregnancy for colds and flus. Over-the-counter stuff is well studied and is safe. You can start PubMed surfing to check or just go to Motherisk at http://www.motherisk.org/women/index.jsp. Seriously, it distresses me immensely when all the bloggers I love are suffering needlessly.

And Julia, I am not very worried about 13A. I really think that they are just having a hard time measuring due to how low the baby is.

[another Julia]

I had a terrible cold right at the end of my pregnancy with Grace and I kept thinking that miserable as I was (all huge and pregnant and unable to breathe and asthma-y and full of snot) how glad I was that I didn't have the cold after she was here. Pregnant with a miserable cold better than having a newborn AND a miserable cold, I suppose. Keep getting better!

[Mandy]

Can't wait to hear the rest of the story and hope the 13s are doing well. Crossing my fingers that the non-birth options will work for now. Hang in there....and definitely follow that link to dooce.

[MelanieTM]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXLHWmjA5IE

Direct link for the video Katie mentioned above. It's hilarious. You must watch!

Fingers crossed for whatever choice is made.

[Ashley]

Waiting patiently for stories about boats, couch parties and fluid levels

Hope you feel better soon - I also had a cold at the end of my pregnancy...maybe it's a "thing" and they're coming soon?

[Alex]

Hoping good things for you and the 13s.

As for "Just stuff his nose up and watch while he becomes a misery to himself and others," are you sure it's not my DH you're thinking of?

[Lisa]

Glad to hear you're feeling (slightly) better! I think you had the same cold my boyfriend and I had that took over our lives for almost three weeks (combined). Good luck at today's appointment!

[geohde]

Hoping that your appointment goes well,
J

[Dara]

Positive good thoughts being sent your way for improved health! And, no ice storms....

34 weeks...way to go!

[carosgram]

My niece's twin were delivered early because one was not growing as well as the other. He has now caught up and both are doing excellently. Thinking of you and wishing you the best

[Katie]

Remember that ultrasound measurements can be off by a pound or more.

[Monica C.]

Hope everything turned out well at the appointment. Please let us know how everything went!

[Melanie]

I'm not going to say you shouldn't worry, because we are Mom's, and sometinmes that's what we do best... My twins were born at 34w4d for many of the same reasons you are dealing with right now.
I went in for a routine appointment, and ended up having a c-sect. that night. Baby A was head down, head squished beyond belief - I think my notes say the techs couldn't get a good measurement from about 24 w on. Baby B was hanging out, fat, happy, and oblivious.
Baby A was 4 lbs, B was 5 lbs. We spent some time in the NICU, but for sleep apnea (B) and feeding/growing (A). They are crazy, fresh, fabulous 3.5 yr. olds. now with absolutely no lingering issues of any sort.
Hang in there - You know we are all thinking about you...

[Vanda]

Greetings from across the pond.

I have been wondering how you are for the last couple of days. A quick peek tonight before I got to bed, and here you are. Hope you feel much better by tomorrow. Hope you got some good news at the doctors today.

Sighhh, I'm like a man when I get a cold. Good job I only get one ever two years or so.

[squashi]

oooh i'm on pins and needles because you haven't posted yet! Hoping for the best!

[Mandy]

Only going slightly nuts wondering how you're doing and how the appt went.

Slightly.

Sending good thoughts your way.

[Amie]

Hope everything is well, waiting not-so-patiently for your update! Thinking of you, Steve, Patrick and the 13's :)

[Deb]

All good thoughts to you, Steve, Patrick, and the 13s.

Waiting with baited breath for an update.....

Best-

Deb

[Kim]

Hoping you are not in the hospital having the 13s, and hoping you feel better very soon!

P.S. Where can we send our ladybug onesies? ;)