Thursday, April 30, 2009

So thankful

You know those moments in your life where it becomes so blatantly apparent that God is completely in control? And you wonder, why have I been trying to do all of this on my own? Well I think that I have come to that realization today. I have always been taught to put everything in God's hands and that he has a plan. But it's so hard to do. I have a hard time just turning everything over to him and relinquishing all of my control. But sitting here in the hospital, doing everything that I am supposed to be doing, I have become very comfortable with the idea that He is in charge. High blood pressure is a funny thing in that when you find out you have a problem, you stress out about it. Which in turn just drives the BP up- so what do you do? Well, you hit your knees and pray. Raymond and I have felt the powers of all of your prayers and thoughts and love more than ever in the last 48 hours.
My condition has taken a slight turn for the worse- I checked into the hospital with a blood pressure problem and under the idea that I was here for mere observation and to make sure our sweet baby girl is okay. But that problem has escalated into what they have determined to be pre-eclampsia. I am spilling proteins into my urine, I have a never subsiding headache, dizziness, seeing stars, swelling, etc. All of this has the medical staff on their p's and q's making sure that my condition does not worsen. The problem with pre-eclampsia is that the only cure is delivery. But thankfully, the problems go away once the baby comes out. The condition can stay the exact same as it is right now for the rest of the pregnancy, or it could worsen in a 24 our period. I will be going to the doctor twice a week from here on out and they have put me on bed rest. The doctor would rather me be on bed rest, but still be able to get up and move around the house- even doing some light cooking- instead of trying to work and then not being able to do a single thing once I get home. I have resided to the fact that I am at the mercy of my God and I am trusting Him to take care of everything. We hope to go home tomorrow and finally get some rest. At this point, the chances of me carrying Georgia to 34 weeks is really good. The chances of me carrying her to the original 37 weeks is about 50/50. My doctor said we will go as long as we can and he won't take her any earlier as long as my condition is stable. But our baby girl will be here in just a few weeks either way. It just blows my mind that in no time I will be able to kiss my sweet angel and hold her in my arms. I don't think that Raymond nor myself will ever let her go.
My ever diligent husband has been absolutely amazing. I know all of you that know Raymond know him to be a strong and loving person, but I don't think that I can ever express in words how much he has done for me the past few days. Heck, this entire pregnancy. I have never even wondered why God brought him into my life, but I am so very thankful. I do wonder how I got to be so deserving of such an amazing and incredible man. He is my rock and my source of strength. He doesn't sleep because he is too busy watching my baby monitor making sure Georgia stays on track. He is monitoring the input and output of my fluids closer than the medical team. He is on top of when I am due for my meds and calling the nurses. Last night he crawled into bed with me and spooned me because it was the only way I could get to sleep. He lays beside me in an uncomfortable chair so he can be next to me holding my hand. He is up and unplugging me for my frequent trips to the bathroom before I can even ask. He is going on absolutely no sleep, and has not for one moment begun to complain. When I start to feel bad for myself about how uncomfortable I am I feel so ashamed because he has given and continues to give unconditionally. Its so amazing that when we feel we don't have the energy to hear anymore bad news, how he swoops in and makes me feel so much better. I am so blessed and I can't imagine going through this with anyone else. He is going to be an incredible father and I hope Georgia always knows how much her daddy loves her. My mom and mother in law have also been amazing sources of strength throughout all of this- both of them have been here making sure Raymond and I want for nothing. We couldn't have done this without either of you. Thank you so much for being there.
As our stay here is hopefully ending soon, we are also so thankful for the wonderful care we have received here! The Birthplace here at Baptist is amazing and I am so glad this is where we have decided to have our baby.
Thanks again for all of your unwavering support and love. Your continued prayers are much appreciated- please also keep our furbaby in your prayers as she is at the kennel getting pampered! We are ready to go get her tomorrow and have our family complete.
Going to try and get some sleep now- love to you all!

Fear you not; for I am with you: be not dismayed; for I am your God: I will strengthen you; yes, I will help you; yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.
-Isaiah 41:10

Charlotte, Raymond, Georgia and Tellie.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

My latest Staycation

WELL some of you know by now and some of you don't so I thought I would save myself and my husband the trouble of updating the masses and just do it through a very impersonal blog. Selfishly, it's the easiest, and LEAST EMOTIONAL way for me to talk about what's been going on.
I am typing this to you as I lay in my hospital bed at Club Med Baptist. I went for my weekly Blood Pressure check up yesterday and despite holding off for the past few weeks and seeing what my body will do on it's own, my Wonder Doc decided it was time for him to intervene. Over the past few weeks my BP has been climbing slowly but has pretty much stabilized (at a much too high rate). He was trying to let me work and then do bed rest whenever I was not at work. His orders were for me to do nothing when I was not at my desk! It worked for a few weeks, but yesterday when I went in, my BP was higher than ever. So, he marched my pregnant self right over to the High Risk Unit and checked me in! This way he felt he could truly monitor what was going on with me and Baby Georgia. Although scary at first, and completely traumatizing for my husband, who happened to miss his first appointment yesterday- I can tell you folks that THAT will never happen again!!!! Poor thing rushed back from a meeting in Aiken to be by my side. Luckily for him and myself I had my warrior of a mother and ever diligent best friend with me until he could get there. I don't know what I would do without any of them.
So the course of action as it stands right now is I will be here until at least tomorrow morning. The reality of the situation is that, as most of you parents know I am sure, High BP can cause a significant number of problems in pregnancy and birth and poses a high risk for still borns. So not only am I under lose monitoring, the baby is under an even bigger microscope to make sure this is not having an ill effect on her health. I am hooked up to all sorts of gadgets and after two long ultrasounds yesterday, the baby is in stable condition. I have yet to develo Preeclampsia so we are ever so thankful for that. The Lord is definitely watching over us right now. They are starting me on some BP medicine and giving me two doses of steroids to increase Georgia's lung maturity in the event she has to come early. My Wonder Doc's main goal is to get me safely to 37 weeks and deliver the baby then. We don't know yet what the prescription is going to be for my work situation, whether or not he will continue to try and let me do what I was doing, or to put me on total bed rest. I will at the very least, be out the rest of the week. The workhorse in me wants to continue working, but I understand at what cost this comes for my health and the baby's so I am completely open to anything he thinks is in my best interest.
I really appreciate all of the comments/texts/calls and most importantly, the prayers. Raymond, Georgia, myself, and our families need them more than ever right now. Please also pray for the doctors and staff here at Baptist as they are taking such wonderful care of me and that they continue to have insight into our issues. I will continue to send out updates on our impending bundle of joy as I have them!
In the meantime, I will continue to lay here and enjoy my respite here at Baptist Hospital!!!!!

“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
-2 Corinthians 12: 9

Much Love to you all,
Charlotte, Raymond, Georgia and Tellie

Sunday, April 26, 2009

A gloomy cloud

So after giving my blog a much needed update with everything that has been going on in our lives, I feel guilty that all of my complaining seems so trivial. Our dear family friends the Boozers have lost their mother Nancy. After a long and tireless battle with cancer and subjecting herself to harsh treatments, Nancy lost her battle last night. I know that Mr. Boozer, Billy, Kathy and Robert will miss their mother/wife so very much. With Mother's Day right around the corner, my heart just breaks for them as they will have to experience this time of year without her. Mrs. Boozer was just at my baby shower a few weeks ago and I was so touched that she came. I know that in the last few weeks any outing was so difficult for her and it warmed my heart that she wanted to be there. If you will please keep all of the Boozers in your prayers as they try and wrap their minds around such a tragic loss. It makes me stop and think and hit my knees for how grateful I am that although trying at times, I am so blessed to have my health and those around me that I love be safe and healthy as well. This will be a difficult time for them, but we lift them and their sorrow up to God and pray for his mercy.

Love to the Boozers and all of you,

That is, that we be mutually strengthened and encouraged and comforted by each other's faith, both yours and mine.
Romans 1:12

Charlotte

I'm back! I'm back! I'm back!

So I know that it has been a long, excruciating month but I am back! I just haven't really been in the blogging mood. Our little budding family has been through quite a lot in the past month. Mainly I haven't blogged because there haven't been that many outstanding updates, so instead of constantly putting up discouraging posts, I just decided to not do it at all! There is enough bad news on the tv that I don't need to add to it with my little blog!
During one of our check ups about a month ago we diagnosed a blood pressure problem. It alarmed my doctor so he put me on semi bed rest. He wanted to allow me to work as long as possible (I begged him) so I promised to take it easy....well, we go back for weekly check ups and although my BP has stabilized, my doctor has still deemed me high risk. He is still alarmed and I am not out of the woods. Most women in my case are now at a much higher threat for developing preeclampsia so they are keeping me under close observation. Also, most women at this point, they don't allow to carry to the full 40 weeks. So little Miss G will more than likely be coming earlier than June 27. Which Raymond and I are more than okay with! During each weekly visit I have my blood tested to make sure all of my enzymes are where they should be and I'm not spilling proteins into my bladder. Basically, what this means for me and little Miss G is that we have to be very careful. I have to try and stay as stress free as possible and keep my feet up at all times- this is much harder than I ever thought possible. I have to prop them up on my hard drive at work! I can't venture too far mainly because should I start to feel bad- i.e. the excruciating headaches, dizziness, seeing stars- I need to be able to go home and get in bed.
My ankles and fingers swell so bad that I am pretty much unable to wear any of my rings and I have resorted to my JR's or my rainbows every day. Thank goodness for the warm weather so that I can wear loose dresses everyday!!!
This has been hard on our little family as up until now, I have been pretty much able to rip and run like I usually do. But now, I have to take ultra precaution in everything I do. It is so hard for me to accept that despite taking really good care of myself, this is out of my hands. Georgia's health is my number one priority and I know that I have officially entered motherhood since there isn't anything that I won't do to make sure she stays safe. I can handle a crunch in my social life if it means keeping her healthy and happy inside me! I know the days are numbered before she comes and once she enters this world, there is only so much that Raymond and I can do to protect her. So it's nice to know right now that she is safe and sound : ) We have turned all of our fears over to God and we are so thankful for all of the prayers. I know they have made a tremendous difference in how things are panning out for us.
On a lighter note, I did have my baby shower and Georgia and I got so many wonderful things! Raymond and I are so blessed that we have so many people who love us and who love our baby girl just as much as we do! I have such wonderful friends and I wanted to thank you all- Kristy, Callie, Erin, Blair, Aunt Liz and Aunt Keys for making my shower to incredibly wonderful. You all are so selfless and did so much to make me feel so special. Swoozie gave G her most important pieces of jewelry (well, until she gets her pearls that is) that consisted of my baby ring and bracelet, and then her very own baby ring and TWO new bracelets!! I think she's set!! My mama also gave me some of the smocked dresses that she made for me when I was a baby and I know they are going to look just as beautiful on Georgia. I was so overwhelmed at all of the goodies! I will post pictures soon of her overflowing closet and drawers! I am trying to hold off until the bedding and glider get here so that everything looks complete! We are so excited and are counting the days until she gets here. I promise that I will continue with the updates so that it's not another month before you know what's going on!
Hope you all are braving the heat as we are and bracing for a brutal summer! Only a few more weeks until the pool opens!!!
Hope this finds you all in good humor and health,

"She is my joy and heart's delight."
-Robert Wever


Love, the Hamilton's