What a YUCK week!

Last week was SO much YUCK that there are no pretty pictures to add to this blog post.

It started with a ache in my hip from napping on the couch in one position for too long. The next morning, I had horrible back pain, mid & lower. But to top it off I was having painful chills and it took me a while to get out of bed. I drank some water and gatorade, and after puking that up, I headed off to church. I was moving slow, but okay. In church I actually questioned whether I was feeling mild contractions. Remember, I'm only 6 months. So I decided I'd take it really easy for the rest of the day. And I did.

Monday. Monday was not nice to me. I had more chills, the kind that make your whole body hurt. And then later, I was feeling warm. Little Josh was such a good boy and played so well by himself. I went ahead and called the doctor since I'd vomited again. I don't vomit. Anyway, the nurse suggested some OTC meds and vitamin B6 to help with the nausea. The times I lost my stomach, it was stupid - once after brushing my tongue and another after trying to swallow my huge prenatal vitamin. So I decided not to take any medicine since I wasn't really feeling much nausea. Oh yeah, and I forgot, I had this weird lose-my-breath cough. Totally dry, and completely annoying.

Tuesday, same. :(

By Wednesday I was feeling good enough to leave the house. So I took Josh to preschool and went to the chiropractor. Oh my, was it amazing. I'd also been having this pounding headache through my left eye too. He adjusted my neck and it sounded like popcorn at its popping peak as my neck untangled. So awesome. Later I went to the doctor since my symptoms hadn't really improved. They ruled out any urinary or bladder infections (since my back & sides were hurting) and to my surprise informed me that I was on the downslide of a virus. I never had any congestion, so I was surprised to know it was a virus. I guess I shouldn't have ruled it out since I had painful chills and sweats.

Thursday was better, and I went back to the chiropractor again. Awesome, again.

By Friday, I finally figured out that the back and side pains were separate than the viral thing. My sides hurt from coughing so much. I went to my friend Emily for a pregnancy massage. She has such a healing touch. It was so effective and relaxing. I need to schedule regular pregnancy massages now that I'm in the 3rd trimester!

Saturday was SO much better. Slow, but good over all. No more headaches, chills, or sweats. And I was able to eat well too!

I was getting ready for church on Sunday morning when I started having horrible stomach pains. It felt like I ate something bad and just needed to get it "out." After 4 episodes of vomiting and *more* :( I was still in pain by late afternoon. Fed up with pain, I called my Mom to pray with me. I'd been praying all week, but like I said, I was still in pain. Maybe I needed "two or more to agree" :) After Mom prayed with me she suggested I call the doctor. I really didn't think it was necessary but I'm glad I did.

The nurse told me to go to the hospital to make sure I wasn't having contractions (they're always a little concerned since Josh was born a month early). Scott was on the way home from work (drill weekend) and we headed to the hospital as soon as he got home.

Apparently, I WAS having contractions. They were at the top of my stomach. I thought it was completely gastrointestinal. Boy was I wrong. From being sick all week, vomiting that day, and hardly being able to even sip water, I became dehydrated. And I learned that dehydration is one of the top 3 causes of preterm labor. So after clearing a few tests, they gave me an IV to hydrate me and monitored me until the contractions stopped. It's all good. :) I'm so scared now of being dehydrated I'm drinking water all day long!

Thank God this is over. I'm continuing to pray for full recovery (feeling a little dizzy today and had a little bit of an upset stomach). But I'm so grateful for no pain!! Pain is so depressing. I don't have much longer before the baby gets here, add on top of that the holiday season, and I've got lots to do! So I need to be feeling great. :)