I went to a surprise baby shower on Tuesday afternoon for a friend who is due next week. It was fun times, but there was no way I thought I would beat her to the hospital.
Sunday night, I started getting this throbbing pain in both of my kidneys. It was weird! I just thought it was because I had not had enough to drink on Saturday and then drank lots on Sunday. It wasn't too bad of a pain. I would say not even half as bad as kidney stone pain. It was just weird and a little uncomfortable. The pain continued on Monday, but seemed to be linked to when I would drink something. Tuesday morning when the pain was still there, I emailed my mom to see if it was or could be something normal in pregnancy. Since she has had six kids I thought she would be a good place to go for some advice.
Then I went to the baby shower, and on the way home the pain was there again. I asked Sherri Ziemer, who had given me a ride, if she ever experienced any kidney pain with her 4 pregnancies. She said she wasn't sure because she might not know if that is where the pain was. After all not many have had such experiences with kidney pain and could pick it out like me.
When I got home, I pretty much just laid on the couch. I was feeling a little sick (from the pain I thought), and I was tired. I talked with Jon and at about the same time received a reply from my mom. Both said I should call my OB just to make sure it wasn't a problem.
Well, she was not in the office, but her assistant talked with one of the other doctors in the office and told me I should head into Labor and Delivery at the hospital just to get checked out (and that is where my doctor was). So Jon came home and we headed to the hospital. My doc was just going to order a renal (kidney) ultrasound for whenever I could go in and do it, but they hooked me up to some monitors that check baby's heartbeat and contractions (it was standard procedure). Low and behold, I was having contractions every two minutes and didn't even know it.
Dr. Rhee then checked to see if my body was producing a certain hormone, which if present, meant you would delivery within two weeks. She saw something she was really not expecting and got to use it as a teaching moment for Jon. I was dilated to between 2 and 3 centimeters and she could see membranes. She said she didn't want to do an exact measurement, because she feared rupturing the membranes. Too early to be seeing these things. I am only 31 (and a half) weeks.
I was then admitted to the hospital, and put on medicine to stop my preterm labor. The regular contractions stopped at 2 a.m. Wednesday. I didn't have any more for a while, but I have had some random ones that they don't seem too worried about.
Dr. Rhee said she would really like to see me get to 32 weeks (which is tomorrow!) and then we would shoot for 34 weeks. She didn't seem too positive that I would make it to 34 weeks, but if I do, I might get to go home and be on bed rest there. If the baby does come in the next 2 weeks, it will be by C-section since the baby is not turned at this point.
I had an ultrasound Wednesday morning. He is already 5 pounds. If I was to go to full-term, he would probably be over 9 pounds. Also his measurements were in the 33-34 week sizes, except his upper arms, which was in the 32 week size. Looks like he has Jon's arms at this point anyway.
I am just sitting in bed at this point waiting to see what happens. Jon has had to adjust to being a bachelor (at least as far as our apartment goes and him getting himself up and ready for school). Then he comes to the hospital after classes until around 9 so we can both try and get some sleep.
Wednesday, Jenni Toller came and spent most of her day off with me. It was really nice to have company. It made the day go by so much faster. She also left me her computer so I could have something to do and access to my email and stuff. Thanks so much Jenni. You are awesome!
That is all for now, I think. Jon took some pictures of me laying in bed eating green jello last night, but we don't have our little thing to load the pictures on the computer, so there will be pictures coming. Sorry for such a long post without pictures. Not normally what I like to do, but I did not see what else I could do at this point, with all that has happened and where I now sit and will be for probably another 2 weeks.
My room. See the monitor I am hooked too. And the IV.
This is what Jon does when he gets to come up. Sit in the corner and say diseases and their treatments. He is studying.
After the Ward Chili Cook Off, I have a mild allergic reaction. I am pretty sure it was celery in some of the chilies that I tested. I found out in making my own chili that Mexican-style Stewed Tomatoes has celery in it. Who would have guessed?
I was just starting to feel better from that reaction when I went to church on Sunday. The perfume was really bad. I left the chapel after the sacrament. The minute I stepped into the foyer, the headache when away, and I could breathe. It is amazing what fresh air can do. Jon said even his eyes started to water. I sat in the foyer through Sacrament Meeting and Sunday School. 
Then, I decided I would go to Young Women's so I could participate in something that day and the Young Women didn't bathe in perfume like some of the women had that day.
Look at the pregnant lady doing the YMCA and Kaitlyn jumping in front of the camera.
Keriann and Julia.
Everything looked good at my 7 month appointment. My blood pressure was high, and the nurse said they would have to watch that. I have never had high blood pressure when I have been in the doctor's office. I know once when I went to the ER, my blood pressure was monitored closely (I think it was high then because of pain or something).
Sunday, Jon came with me to Findlay, Ohio for the Findlay Ward Conference. I was filling in for another member of the Stake YW Presidency that was out of town. I was really nervous all through the lesson, which I team taught with Dusty Watson. I think the biggest reason I was nervous was there were a lot more youth this time. This is the first time there has been more youth than leaders. There were about 25 youth. Another thing that made me a little nervous, or was caused by my being nervous, was that I was feeling a little sick to my stomach. 
I just pasted 30 weeks. I cannot believe I have made it this far with so few problems. After it taking so long to be able to get past two months, it is such a blessing to have an easy pregnancy that is getting close to full-term.
Friday night, Jon and I had our monthly trip into Michigan. There was some bad traffic mixed with construction, but surprisingly it didn't set us back too much. I tried to take some pictures of the fall colors while we were stopped in traffic, but my camera was not working. It was beautiful! I love the drive on Highway 23. The road is lined with trees and right now they are various shades of green, red, yellow, and brown.
We were able to make a stop in Ann Arbor and get Panda Express which we haven't had in a while. It tasted so good! I had a hard time sitting through the endowment session. I just get really uncomfortable sitting for that long. It is going to be a long 10 weeks. We might have to try sealings next month. I will have to see.
On the way home, we stopped at the Meijer in the area. We wanted to see if they still had some of the cheese we need for our Christmas tradition, but sadly it seems that Meijer is not carrying Raclette anymore. We will have to find another supplier, or have it shipped from Northern Michigan.
Okay, so we were not singing in the rain, but Wednesday Night, Jon and I went for a walk in the rain. It was not coming down very hard when we left, but it was pouring before we were able to get back. We were soaked! It was awesome! The weather had been a little warmer, and so it was a warm rain.
There was a point when we thought a police car was following us, because let's face it we did look a little suspicious, walking in the pouring rain. It turns out that he was just looking for a certian appartment. There have been a few more break-ins around our place recently.
Slow dance. It is still the same "deacon shuffle."
There was a football toss competition. The Young Men had to throw with there opposite throwing arm to make it more fair.
There was also a limbo competition. This first picture was a little messed up. I forgot I had my camera zoomed in and I was trying to catch a picture of the action.
It's hard to limbo after knee surgery with a brace.
Friday Night, Jon and I decided to try something new for our weekly date. Caper's Pizza had been highly recommended to Jon so we decided to try it out. It was pretty good, and very reasonably priced. I don't know if it is a place we will go often, but it was good. It is fun to try new things, and it was something different from where we normally go out to eat.
