today

I promise I will do better about blogging once this adventure is over.
I'm still feeling pretty rough and staying very drugged.
Today was a much better day than yesterday.
Hopefully tomorrow will be even better.
I am so ready to be back to normal.
Nate had hiccups for the first time today.
It was very cute.
Bryant and I are very ready for him to be here.

home....

Just wanted to update the blog...

I'm finally home after this crazy 8 day ordeal.
Still in pain and extremely tired.

I'm going to spend the next few days doing nothing. I have my dad and my sister here so that is nice.

Thanks to everyone for all of the prayers and support.

(I'll write more later and tell some of the many hospital stories I have.....)

A lot to say....

I'm not sure where to start. I'm going to at least somewhat document what has been going on with us the last week. I'm very depressed and run down this morning so this might not be the best time to write this blog. I'm just trying to use this time while the pain medication is working.

Thursday of last week I noticed that I was having so lower back pain. Nothing really to uncommon just aches and a dull pain. Bryant was so nice and helpful. Thursday and Friday night he rubbed my back for over 30 minutes and that is how I was able to fall asleep. Saturday we woke up and drove to Lowndesboro, AL (near Selma) to my Aunt Karen's house. We had the most wonderful time spending the day with Aunt Karen and my grandparents. We ate great food and fished. I actually caught 8 fish! Bryant only caught 6 so he wasn't happy about that. On the way back I told Bryant I think I must have stood up to long on the deck fishing. My feet and ankles were hurting and starting to swell and my back with in a lot of pain. Bryant thought that the car ride was probably adding to the back pain. I came home and was asleep by about 8:00 pm. The next morning Bryant got up and started getting ready for church. I told him I was still feeling not right so I was going to stay home in rest. Bryant said he knew something was up because I was still in bed when he got home from church. About 1 pm I started getting nervous. I was having such bad pains that would start in my lower right back and then wrap around my stomach. I didn't say anything to Bryant but I thought I might be having contractions. That is not how you want to feel at 20 weeks pregnant. I didn't want to upset Bryant so I just laid in the bed in pain. Within the hour the pain was so back I wasn't just crying but I was screaming in pain. I seriously thought I was going to die. This is not me being my normal dramatic self. It was a pain unlike anything I've ever come close too. Bryant called the after hours number for Lee Ob and Dr. Smith was on call. As soon as I told him what was going on he said we needed to come to the hospital. I think he wanted to make sure I wasn't having contractions. He also said on the phone it could be a kidney issue. I hadn't even thought of that until he said it. For those of you who know me I'm completely freaked out by hospitals and having test run and things of that nature. I sat at hour for an hour debating whether we were going to go or not. Right around that time I had another "attack". Bryant didn't even have to say anything. We were headed to the hospital. Let me just saw our experience at EAMC from start to finish was amazing. They did such a great job and had the best bed side manner I've ever experienced. I was just so nervous about Nate. That was my first concern was to make sure that nothing was going on with him. To make a very long story short within about 2 hours after - emergency ultrasound, tons of monitoring, having a catheter put in, drugs, shots, giving blood and seeing two doctors....we found out that the culprit was kidney stones and probably more than a couple. My kidney was swollen and very dilated. I knew at that point that I wasn't going home. There was a lot of crying from me and a lot of nerves from my husband. I think he was thinking the same thing I was about how all of this was going to affect Nate. They assured us that he was fine. The even broke the rules and let me see him on the ultrasound. I was told that whenever they have to do an emergency ultrasound that don't let the parents see anything. Nate actually waved at me. It was so sweet. She said he look wonderful and was very content. That made me feel a little better.
We stayed in the hospital from Sunday - Tuesday morning. I could write a lot more about it but it would take too long. Monday was a horrible day but thanks to the great staff we made it through. (Nicole - I am so so sorry once again that you had to be in there while I threw up...just be glad you weren't in there for the throw up incident that morning..it was worse.) They thought I should have stayed yesterday but I desperately wanted to get home.
Yesterday was a very tough day. The medicine that I can take at home isn't as strong as the iv drugs so there was a lot of pain. My dad has been such a huge help to me. It is so nice to have parents that can come when we need them. Bryant felt badly about leaving me but he really needs to be at work this week. Last night was pretty painful. We thought I would be able to sleep through some of the night without needing another dose of pain medicine...we were wrong. Any type of movement or walking at all is extremely difficult and painful. I'm still passing particles of stones so I'm hoping that once this is over with things won't be so painful.
I am feeling a little depressed this morning. Even though they have assured me Nate will be ok it's a huge source of stress. I've stressed about taking Tylenol so I hate being on this medication. My blood pressure gets so high due to pain that not taking the medicine (for pain) really isn't an option. I'm also dealing with a lot of water retention. From Sunday to Tuesday they pumped me with so many fluids that it added 14 lbs of water weight. For anyone that hasn't experienced that it is very very uncomfortable and for me it's very overwhelming. I feel like a huge cow which doesn't help the whole depression thing. Some of it is coming off but I know while this is still going on there is nothing I can do.

I'm just trying to be very thankful that this is an issue with me and not Nate. I am so ready even more for this baby to be here. I know that all of this will be worth it. Thanks again so much to Angela, Laura, Adrian, Paula, Cynthia & Lucy. You made my mama not being there a little bit easier. Dr. Smith and Dr. Litsey were wonderful too.

Please just keep us in your prayers...Hopefully the rest of this pregnancy will be less eventful.

one more time...

Bryant thought this was such a funny picture......barefoot and pregnant at 19 1/2 weeks..........

Easter

Happy Easter Everyone!

(Doesn't Bryant look adorable in his seersucker pants!?!)

Your love is Strong

Heavenly Father
You always amaze me
Let your kingdom come
In my world and in my life
You give me the food I need
To live through the day
And forgive me as I forgive
The people that wronged me
Lead me far from temptation
Deliver me from the evil one

I look out the window
The birds are composing
Not a note is out of tune
Or out of place
I look at the meadow
And stare at the flowers
Better dressed than any girl
On her wedding day

So why do I worry?
Why do I freak out?
God knows what I need
You know what I need

Your love is strong

The kingdom of the heavens
Is now advancing
Invade my heart
Invade this broken town
The kingdom of the heavens
Is buried treasure
Will you sell yourself
To buy the one you've found?

Two things you told me
That you are strong
And you love me
Yes, you love me

Your love is Strong

Our God in heaven
Hallowed be
Thy name above all names
Your kingdom come
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven
Give us today our daily bread
Forgive us wicked sinners
Lead us far away from our vices
And deliver us from these prisons

"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay." 1 Peter 1:3-4

"I feel the earth move under my feet......"

Quick Post -

Bryant is still having crazy allergies issues. I think I'm finally about to get him to go to the doctor and get a shot!

I am very tired from having night number 3 of listening to my husband weeze, cough, sneeze.....

Last night Bryant was able to feel Nate moving for the first time. It was really neat for him to be able to feel it too. Last night was the strongest I've ever felt him move.

That's all for now....

Poor Bryant

The past two nights at the Cloud house have not been fun. Sunday night Bryant had a really bad allergic reaction to something in the middle of the night. His allergies haven't gotten so out of control lately. He was still up and down all last night. I feel so badly for him. He is going to have to stop being so stubborn and see an allergy specialist. Why is it so hard to get men to go to the doctor's? That is the first place I want to be when I'm sick. Hopefully we will figure something out so he can get some sleep tonight. I know he is feeling really badly if he says he is going to come home and take a benedryl and go to bed.

Nate is moving a lot these days. He normally wants to start moving around the second I lay down and try to go to sleep....thanks Nate. I'm still feeling well. I have put on a couple more pounds but I'm not worried about it. I'm just so glad that I've almost made it to the half week point and have gained less then 10 lbs! Woohoo!

It is VERY cold today. We went from being in the mid 70's for a month to having lows in the 30's. Bryant said that I shouldn't be shocked because it does this every year right before Easter. I just hope and pray it's warm on Easter morning or I will not be able to wear my Easter dress. (Hopefully it still fits since I bought it two weeks ago....you never know these days...)

Sorry again for no pictures...I'm going to try and do better!

busy as a bee

I am so busy lately. If I showed you my calendar for the next three months you would probably scream. Every single weekend (almost) is booked with something. There are days that I think it is going to be forever before Nate gets here but with the way things are going lately I think it's going to fly by.

I am so tired of rain. I really don't remember it raining this much in a long time. This morning I was beyond glad to see that the sun was shining. Our backyard is like a swamp. Dudley doesn't even look white because of all of the mud.

I am feeling great still. I am started to put on weight after the 5 lb weight loss. My doctor said I'm right on track for the goal we have set. I have noticed that I've had a huge appetite this week after having 2 -3 weeks of not really being hungry. I am feeling Nate move a lot more these days. It is still very light and flutter-like but he is definitely moving. I go back to the doctor on the 24th so hopefully I won't have gained 15 lbs by then!!

Last night we went out to Laredos with some dear friends. I love that place.
Bryant and I have a very busy weekend. We are heading to Baldwin County first thing in the morning. I wish we were able to spend more time down there. It would be SO nice to have a day at the beach. Unfortunately - that will not happen this time.

Sorry....no pictures to post....

Hope everyone has a WONDERFUL weekend!