I survived another surgery …   despite my son’s best efforts to make it as difficult as possible.  The very first thing Dr. Chmait  did was perform a cordocentsis, so that we can compare Andrew’s kidney function to the time before. Last time his function came in at 8.5, which is not good at all, we were hoping they’d been around 6.3 or below which still would have been high.  The Hope is that his kidneys have gained some function since having the shunt placed in his bladder, as long as it comes back lower than 8.5 I’d be very encouraged that all of this is heading in the right direction.

After drawing blood from Andrew’s umbilical cord, Dr. Chmait gave him a shot of morphine and some kind of paralytic ( also threw his umbilical cord ) for pain and so that he would hold still, the idea being that he wouldn’t move about thus making the surgery easier.  However, a few minutes into surgery Dr. Chmait asked me if my husband could “handle his alcohol” … unfortunately the answer to that question is a big fat YES.  Dr. Chmait said ” well, like father like son … Andrew should be knocked out by now but he’s still fighting me ” ! Although I’m not exactly thrilled with this realization, I was happy to hear my little guys a fighter ! With all that lies ahead of him, I prefer he be feisty !

This time I only received one incision … Andrew was in the same position as last time, so he went thew the placenta again.  Dr. Chamit was hoping I wouldn’t need another Amniotic Infusion, but by the time of surgery my amniotic fluid had dropped so much I had one of those as well. I dunno why, but this time I received twice as much fluid as before, approximatley a litter …  

Overall the surgery was much more intense.  I felt a lot more, heard more , Andrew wasn’t behaving so it lasted longer.   Anytime you start messing around with the uterus, specially since I’m 34 weeks a long now the chances of going into labor increase,  add that to the fact that my cervix is short and wah-la , you have yourself an extra night in the hospital hooked up to magnesium sulfate feeling like death.  My saliva tasted like metal,  it burns going threw the IV, it feels like poison in your body not to mention all the nasty side effects of which I felt every single one.  On top of all of that I was threatened with being admitted to the hospital permanently if my contractions didn’t stop or improve by 3:00pm this afternoon.  ( They were every 3-4 minutes, hence the magnesium sulfate ).  THANK GOD, they subsided and Dr. Chmait released me to my Dads in Thousand Oaks on strict bed rest … I’m talking he called me by my middle name and made me swear I’d lay in bed 24-7.  I of course would have agreed to anything at that point if it meant I could get out of the hospital.  I love my nurses, I had a HUGE suite with an extra bed and TV for josh, the food lady ( MALLIA ) likes us so much she stamped our room VIP so that josh was served whatever his heart desired at any time of day, but lets face it … it’s NOTHING like being home.

So anyhow, I’m sore and exhausted and incredably uncomfortable, not to mention incredibly LARGE and swollen, which happens to be a side effect of the procardia, a persription I was sent home with to help ward off contractions. Emma and I are trying to get settled at my dads, Josh and I are trying to figure out what life will be like 2 hrs apart …    My brains on overload trying to remember to make notes of all the many things I take care of around the house, things that need to be done, bills to be paid, for Josh so he can keep the house running smoothly while I’m here.

In the meantime, my only purpose is to be a crock pot for the next 2 weeks …  How fun does that sound ?!?!