My dad is 60 years young on Monday and we had a "Hoe Down" Themed BBQ last night for friends and family.
We had a brilliant time. There was plenty of eating, drinking, laughing, singing, dancing and although I managed to stay up until just past midnight, the party didn't end until gone 5 am this morning!
Here are some snaps from the night.
Sunday, June 26, 2005
Iron All Done
I got my second Iron Infusion on Saturday and Ivan came along to hold my hand (or rather watch me being stuck with needles and ask lots of questions!). Went ok. Can't really complain.
I did wake up this morning feeling really sick. My face was swollen, my eyes nearly shut and my throat a mess. I started choking and gasping for breath so I mentioned this at my last appointment this afternoon. I thought it was just freaky and not a reaction to the iron but to be on the safe side the Doc gave me a good going over!
I could have differed the last infusion for a few days but I decided not too. Afterwards he checked my chest, temp & BP. All fine. Then he wanted to do a trace on baby for a while and check everything was ok, which it was.
It was nice to have the reassurance. So, I should see an increase in my energy levels next week and I've to go back and get the bloods done the week after that. They may decide to give me a boost of B12 / Folic Acid too if the levels are still low before delivery, but hey, I'll take whatever is on offer if it helps me and my baby!
I did wake up this morning feeling really sick. My face was swollen, my eyes nearly shut and my throat a mess. I started choking and gasping for breath so I mentioned this at my last appointment this afternoon. I thought it was just freaky and not a reaction to the iron but to be on the safe side the Doc gave me a good going over!
I could have differed the last infusion for a few days but I decided not too. Afterwards he checked my chest, temp & BP. All fine. Then he wanted to do a trace on baby for a while and check everything was ok, which it was.
It was nice to have the reassurance. So, I should see an increase in my energy levels next week and I've to go back and get the bloods done the week after that. They may decide to give me a boost of B12 / Folic Acid too if the levels are still low before delivery, but hey, I'll take whatever is on offer if it helps me and my baby!
Friday, June 24, 2005
Iron Might
Well I went for my first Iron Infusion today. It wasn't all that bad. I dare say that if you didn't like needles then it would be harder to deal with!
The doctor explained I might experience side effects like sickness but it should not be as bad as I've had in the past cause the iron is going directly into the blood and bypassing my tummy. I may have a strange taste in my mouth ~ people have said it tastes like Guinness, Soy Sauce or Licorice but to me it smelled like licorice and tasted like metal or blood!
He put a canula into a vein in my arm, then gave me a test dose followed by a dose of saline, then waited 10 minutes to see if I have any reaction. I felt fine but just wanted the procedure to be over with, it weird'd me out a little to watch!
He carried on giving me a couple of more doses over a 45 min period. Then I had to hang around for a while until he was happy to let me go home. I'm back in tomorrow afternoon at 1pm for the same again then last dose on Sunday.
The doctor said that I should notice a marked increase in my energy levels within a week but that it may take up to 3 weeks to see the iron levels in my blood rise. He said he would be keeping a close eye on my iron between now and delivery!
The doctor explained I might experience side effects like sickness but it should not be as bad as I've had in the past cause the iron is going directly into the blood and bypassing my tummy. I may have a strange taste in my mouth ~ people have said it tastes like Guinness, Soy Sauce or Licorice but to me it smelled like licorice and tasted like metal or blood!
He put a canula into a vein in my arm, then gave me a test dose followed by a dose of saline, then waited 10 minutes to see if I have any reaction. I felt fine but just wanted the procedure to be over with, it weird'd me out a little to watch!
He carried on giving me a couple of more doses over a 45 min period. Then I had to hang around for a while until he was happy to let me go home. I'm back in tomorrow afternoon at 1pm for the same again then last dose on Sunday.
The doctor said that I should notice a marked increase in my energy levels within a week but that it may take up to 3 weeks to see the iron levels in my blood rise. He said he would be keeping a close eye on my iron between now and delivery!
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Update
Got a phone call from the hospital last Thursday to say that they weren't happy with my blood results and to go in on Monday to have further tests done. Didn't see a doctor, just a midwife who just took a lot of blood and told me it would be tested and the results would be back in time for my next appointment.
I had that hospital appointment today.
BP was 119/80. Protein in my urine so that is away off to be checked.
Baby was measuring 41wks +5 days !!! Current approx weight 8lb 6oz.
She is now off the chart and looks like she will be around the same weight as Caitlin. Cause of this, the Consultant wants me in for another GTT ~ I've to go in on Wednesday morning, after fasting, get my bloods done, they then provide breakfast and do my bloods again!
The results from Monday were back and didn't look good either. My hemoglobin levels have dropped to 8.8 and my iron is down to 6.
Something else was down to 92 (acceptable level 140 - 650) and another thing was at 5% (acceptable level 20 - 50%).
I've to go to hospital tomorrow at 4.30 pm and get set up on a drip to start my iron infusion. I go in Saturday & Sunday too and they will review the situation at my next appointment on Thursday. They said they would explain everything tomorrow, so I guess I'll just have to wait and see.
I'm not sure what (if any) the side effects of the infusion are but I hope I can make my Dad's birthday party on Saturday evening. He is 60 on Monday and we're having a "Hoe Down" type Cowboy themed party!
I had that hospital appointment today.
BP was 119/80. Protein in my urine so that is away off to be checked.
Baby was measuring 41wks +5 days !!! Current approx weight 8lb 6oz.
She is now off the chart and looks like she will be around the same weight as Caitlin. Cause of this, the Consultant wants me in for another GTT ~ I've to go in on Wednesday morning, after fasting, get my bloods done, they then provide breakfast and do my bloods again!
The results from Monday were back and didn't look good either. My hemoglobin levels have dropped to 8.8 and my iron is down to 6.
Something else was down to 92 (acceptable level 140 - 650) and another thing was at 5% (acceptable level 20 - 50%).
I've to go to hospital tomorrow at 4.30 pm and get set up on a drip to start my iron infusion. I go in Saturday & Sunday too and they will review the situation at my next appointment on Thursday. They said they would explain everything tomorrow, so I guess I'll just have to wait and see.
I'm not sure what (if any) the side effects of the infusion are but I hope I can make my Dad's birthday party on Saturday evening. He is 60 on Monday and we're having a "Hoe Down" type Cowboy themed party!
Saturday, June 11, 2005
Can't believe I've been MIA for so long !!!!
RL has been super busy and I haven't been able to find time for the internet. Work has been hectic, so no web time there and when I get home in the evening I'm so tired any free time is spent napping!
So, last weekend I was sick morning, noon and night but I blamed the iron tablets cause I had to double my dose! I couldn't seem to keep anything down except ice cubes!
Then I had a really strange night on Friday. I woke up with tummy pain twice through the night in a space of about 3 hours. I had really low down cramping-like pain, tightenings and terrible back pain (although I suffer from back pain a lot). I honestly thought I gone into early labour and had to pant & breath my way through the pain, no joke. My instinct told me it wasn't labour but that maybe the BH are stepping up a gear or two!
I didn't go into labour with Caitlin cause I was induced etc. but it got me thinking about contractions and how will I know and what is the difference between BH and real contractions?Which also leads me to my next question ... how do you time contractions? I get confused by how long they last v how long they are inbetween?
I had the same pains and woke through the night on Sunday night and I also had a bit of spotting. Again, for some reason, I wasn't overly worried. I knew I had an antenatal in a few days and would ask about it all then.
So I went to the hospital on Thursday and BP was 131/81, Urine was clear.
Got a scan to get some more measurements. Head currently spot on but the tummy is putting me at about 38 wks. With the current measurements, the current approx weight is 6lb 4 oz. Just above 90th centile line.
If I have anymore strange pains, spotting or suspect fluid leaking I've to go straight back to hospital and get checked out.
The doctor also booked me in for a c-section on 11 July. That is my 'due date' week and there are 2 Bank Holidays in Northern Ireland so she wanted to book me in cause they will be busy and she defo doesn't want me going over my date.
There is always the chance that they will still bring the date forward if baby hits another growth spurt. I've to go back again in two weeks to find out!
So, last weekend I was sick morning, noon and night but I blamed the iron tablets cause I had to double my dose! I couldn't seem to keep anything down except ice cubes!
Then I had a really strange night on Friday. I woke up with tummy pain twice through the night in a space of about 3 hours. I had really low down cramping-like pain, tightenings and terrible back pain (although I suffer from back pain a lot). I honestly thought I gone into early labour and had to pant & breath my way through the pain, no joke. My instinct told me it wasn't labour but that maybe the BH are stepping up a gear or two!
I didn't go into labour with Caitlin cause I was induced etc. but it got me thinking about contractions and how will I know and what is the difference between BH and real contractions?Which also leads me to my next question ... how do you time contractions? I get confused by how long they last v how long they are inbetween?
I had the same pains and woke through the night on Sunday night and I also had a bit of spotting. Again, for some reason, I wasn't overly worried. I knew I had an antenatal in a few days and would ask about it all then.
So I went to the hospital on Thursday and BP was 131/81, Urine was clear.
Got a scan to get some more measurements. Head currently spot on but the tummy is putting me at about 38 wks. With the current measurements, the current approx weight is 6lb 4 oz. Just above 90th centile line.
If I have anymore strange pains, spotting or suspect fluid leaking I've to go straight back to hospital and get checked out.
The doctor also booked me in for a c-section on 11 July. That is my 'due date' week and there are 2 Bank Holidays in Northern Ireland so she wanted to book me in cause they will be busy and she defo doesn't want me going over my date.
There is always the chance that they will still bring the date forward if baby hits another growth spurt. I've to go back again in two weeks to find out!
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