So I went for my routine 38 week appointment which, thanks to both a sudden increase in itching and an elevated blood pressure, was no longer routine. Thank goodness it was my actual midwife and not one of her students...I guess she felt it was better to see me herself, given my complaint about itching.
First I had my assessment: 2 cm dilated, not effaced. No PUPPP rash was found and all of my pressures were elevated. Midwife was concerned an made some calls. So off I was sent to the hospital for stat blood work, a little fetal monitoring in L&D, a referral for fetal assessment, a ramped-up appointment schedule, plans to induce should the little one-to-be not come out by 40 weeks and...yes, another red biohazard jug. Guess what I'm doing over the next 24 hours. Yup: my midwife also wants to rule out a late-developing preeclampsia.
So off I go to the hospital lab to get the bloodwork drawn and the whole process started.
First I had my assessment: 2 cm dilated, not effaced. No PUPPP rash was found and all of my pressures were elevated. Midwife was concerned an made some calls. So off I was sent to the hospital for stat blood work, a little fetal monitoring in L&D, a referral for fetal assessment, a ramped-up appointment schedule, plans to induce should the little one-to-be not come out by 40 weeks and...yes, another red biohazard jug. Guess what I'm doing over the next 24 hours. Yup: my midwife also wants to rule out a late-developing preeclampsia.
So off I go to the hospital lab to get the bloodwork drawn and the whole process started.
Now, before I went for my no-longer routine appointment, we had a plumbing issue in the house. Sewer backup. Usually the problem resolves itself in an hour or so, but yesterday it didn't, so I called the insurance company for a plumbing appointment. Then I let the better half know that he needs to try to be home early in case the plumber arrives while I'm at my appointment. Then I drop the little one off at my sister's and head to my appointment.
Better half is able to be home because, of course, that's when the plumbers show. Apparently things were not pretty at Casa de Meriwhen. The better half was instructed to flush one of the toilets. He did. Our bathroom flooded and my poor better half was up to his ankles in sewage. So he spent all afternoon and evening cleaning it up. The plumber did his thing, checked almost everything (it was getting late and he couldn't reach the insurance company for further instructions). He said he couldn't find the issue with what he did and that it was likely a city issue.
Meanwhile, I'm in L&D, strapped to a baby monitor. Thank God something told me to bring my Kindle with me to this appointment. I finished half of a history book while waiting. Little one-to-be is fine, my pressures started elevated but eventually went down. I even got a little peek at him via quick ultrasound. After an hour, I'm unhooked and told that the doctor is reviewing my bloodwork and monitoring results. Twenty minutes later, I'm restrapped to the monitor. Apparently the doctor wanted to see more of the little one-to-be on paper. So here we go again.
Another hour later, I'm free to go. They're pleased with the little one-to-be's performance. No word on my stat bloodwork but I'm guessing that if things were truly horrible they would not have let me leave. I was told that I definitely earned the 24 hour urine collection so that needed to be completed. However, I forgot to get that lovely red biohazard jug when I went to the lab and they're now closed, so I have to track down the main lab office and get it from there.
I got the jug. THANK GOD she also gave me a hat this time around. It'll make things much easier.
I'm on my way to get the little one when I hear from the better half. We have NO plumbing whatsoever. Zero. Horrible things are going on at home with our drains. He tells he he'll tough it out with the pets at the house but that little one and I should stay with my sister if possible.
Of course it's possible: she's my sister and she better not turn me out...not when I have a set of her house keys and can let myself in at any time.
So I drive up to her place, explain what's up, drive back to my place, pack an overnight bag and get my laptop and the little one's school things, and check in with the better half to make sure he's taken care of. His mood is understandably black but fine. Casualties of the bathroom flood: one bath carpet, one scale, one cloth hamper, two brassieres, and my Clarisonic face brush. Not sure how it became a casualty but it did and my better half erred on the side of caution and tossed it. Which makes sense because to be honest, I wouldn't have wanted to use it on my face after that.
I didn't have the heart to tell him what the Clarisonic brush cost...yes, three digits. It was a nursing school graduation gift to myself a few years ago and when it comes to beating my rosacea down, it's been worth every single penny. Thank goodness one of my birthday gifts was a gift card from Sephora that I haven't used yet.
So I drive up to her place, explain what's up, drive back to my place, pack an overnight bag and get my laptop and the little one's school things, and check in with the better half to make sure he's taken care of. His mood is understandably black but fine. Casualties of the bathroom flood: one bath carpet, one scale, one cloth hamper, two brassieres, and my Clarisonic face brush. Not sure how it became a casualty but it did and my better half erred on the side of caution and tossed it. Which makes sense because to be honest, I wouldn't have wanted to use it on my face after that.
I didn't have the heart to tell him what the Clarisonic brush cost...yes, three digits. It was a nursing school graduation gift to myself a few years ago and when it comes to beating my rosacea down, it's been worth every single penny. Thank goodness one of my birthday gifts was a gift card from Sephora that I haven't used yet.
I drive back to my sister's. We live about 20-25 minutes away from each other. Fortunately, there is a lovely state highway through the mountains that makes going between the two easy, as well as keeps me off of the interstates for most of the trip. So while all the driving isn't exactly my idea of fun, it is manageable.
I had In-and-Out Burger for dinner. Yes, my pressure was up, but damn it, I wanted something decadent after everything so far.
Get little one settled and get on the computer to find out who I have to call in the morning to have the city come check the sewer. And lo and behold...apparently for sewer backup, there is a 24-hour hotline because they want to know ASAP. So I called. I was told a technician would be out that night to assess the sewer line. I let the better half know so he could be prepared. This is around 2000.
Meanwhile, my sister and I are looking at the brighter side of things: should I go into labor that night, not only is she right there to take me to the hospital and her husband there to watch the little one while we go, the hospital is a straight shot from her house.
Meanwhile, my bank keeps calling me. My credit card info was stolen a couple of weeks ago. We caught it immediately and closed the account so there was minimal damage...however, now the bank keeps making automated calls to ask me to verify activity on the closed account. I'm told I can just ignore the calls since the account has been closed and no further damage is being done...however, me being of the paranoid type, I return each call. I'd rather do that and be told it's on the closed account, than miss returning a call and learn that somehow my new credit card info has been stolen as well.
Meanwhile, my bank keeps calling me. My credit card info was stolen a couple of weeks ago. We caught it immediately and closed the account so there was minimal damage...however, now the bank keeps making automated calls to ask me to verify activity on the closed account. I'm told I can just ignore the calls since the account has been closed and no further damage is being done...however, me being of the paranoid type, I return each call. I'd rather do that and be told it's on the closed account, than miss returning a call and learn that somehow my new credit card info has been stolen as well.
2300: The better half calls me. The city came out at 2100, did a thorough assessment, and declared that the issue is not with the city's line but the house. In the morning I have to call the insurance company/plumbers back to get them to come back out. I call it a night and go to bed. At least I don't have to do a kick-count tonight, not when I spent most of my afternoon tethered to a baby monitor.
Besides the stress of the day, two old cats and a two year old (all of which are not mine) keep me up all night, but that's OK.
As soon as the insurance company's office opens at 0530, I call. A different plumbing company is scheduled to come today, sometime before 1500. So I drove back to my city, dropped the little one off at school and headed to the house to assess damages and the better half's condition. His mood is much better. The bathtubs have drained but nothing works still. The bathroom floor is clean...well, except for under the washer/dryer. I'm going to attempt to squirt some Lysol under there today.
I brought the red jug with me. With everything that has been happening, I figured I'd wait until the plumbing issues were settled before I did the 24 hour collection...but since I can't use the plumbing anyway, having to pee into a collection jar makes perfect sense. My sister isn't bothered by the thought of my having to do this in her home: she is a PhD who does cancer research, so having to deal with a jug of urine on ice doesn't faze her, not when she chops ears off of mice on a regular basis. She even volunteered the services of her icemaker.
At my local 7-11, I bought ice, Lysol and coffee. The cashier remarked that I must have an interesting day planned. I agreed.
So here I am hanging out at the house for a while. I'll just bounce between here and my sister's as I need to. The plumbers will call before they head out to the house, so wherever I am, I will have time to return home if necessary. The better half is going to try to get out early today. The little one is covered until the evening in his after school program so I don't have to worry about him.
Meanwhile, one utility company called...apparently they had the stolen credit card info down for the autopay so my payment was rejected. However, based on my household notes, I had thought I had my bank info listed as the payment method so I didn't think I had to call them to update my info. I was wrong. But that was an easy fix and update, and my credit rating will remain flawless.
And the last meanwhile for a while...
Meanwhile, fetal assessment called. They want me to come in tomorrow morning, which will work out well as I finish the 24-hour collection at 0630 and have a fasting lab test (bile salts, I believe) scheduled when I drop the urine off. So I'll go straight from the lab to the fetal assessment unit.
Despite everything, my mood is fairly good. For all of the horrible timing and inconvenience, this could have really been worse..far worse. At least I have my sister here so we have a place to stay. Little one-to-be is fine. I wasn't admitted to L&D yesterday. Our insurance will cover a lot of the costs of the plumbing repairs, especially as it's not a city problem. And having to tote my jug of urine around with me isn't the worst thing in the world. If anything, it'll make for a great story when I tell the little one-to-be what happened in the weeks leading up to his birth.
I did tell the little one-to-be to scratch the "come out any time now" plan, and stay in until next week. Of course, he may not listen. But there's nothing I can do about that, right? It's one of those things I can't change and I know the difference.
