Here is an e-mail I sent out last night:

Dear Family and Friends,

After many days of feeling sick with flu-like symptoms, things seemed to take a strange turn today with some extra abdominal pain that wasn’t there before. Finally late this afternoon I decided to go ahead and call and ask my doctor if it was anything to worry about. He sent me to the hospital to be monitored, using the logic that even if they determine nothing is wrong, it makes the pain easier to endure.

We are so grateful that shortly before I got the word to head to the hospital, Todd (Michael’s brother) showed up at our house to walk with the kids while they went trick-or-treating. So he stayed with them until we got home after 11:00 pm. What a blessing to have built-in childcare before we even knew we’d need it.

We spent almost six hours at BroMenn this evening, with me hooked up to a machine, and were amazed to discover that indeed, I seemed to be having some regular contractions and I was already dilated just a little. Since I’m only about 34 weeks pregnant, the doctor wants to encourage the baby to stay put for at least a few more weeks. He ordered three doses of Terbutaline (also known as Brethine) to help relax the uterus. Once that was deemed successful, he said it was ok for me to go home for the night, to be sure to take a dose of the Brethine every 4 hours, and to call right away in the morning to come see him in his office.

Much to my wonder and delight, the medication not only relaxed the contractions but made most of my intense pain go away. I practically hopped out of bed when they said I could go home.

Since I’ve never experienced this kind of early labor before, it’s all new territory for me. I’m so curious about what’s going to happen next.

Love,
Christie
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P.S. This morning, Thursday, I will go see the doctor at 10:30 a.m. for a brief checkup just to make sure all is still well. Already this morning I feel so much better than I have for several days. It’s amazing how pain can cloud so many parts of our lives, and when it’s lifted, life is again worth living!

P.P.S. Thursday evening doctor report:

The doctor said things look good today. He says I can try a once-a-week progesterone shot and ease off taking the Brethine. That’s wonderful news for me, because the Brethine leaves me rather shaky and sweaty and with a pounding heart. Those are typical side effects, and they are sure better than the pain I had, but I’m glad to switch to something else. So for now, things are stabilized. I won’t go back to the doctor until next Thursday unless there is another reason for concern.