Yuck

Sunday, January 31st, 2010 | The Daily Special

That’s about all I can say about the past week, yuck. And then maybe (avert your eyes!), damn, I didn’t finish this month’s baking challenge – again! I had planned to make this month’s Rugelach this week, but alas, it was not to be.

The week started out really well. Monday I felt good, Anna and I were both recovered from a cold, and the weather was sunny. We trooped off to our Monday morning music class, walked the dog, went to the park, and had a good nap. It was all going so well! For dinner I was a little tired, but I managed to prepare a new tilapia recipe, basmati and a nice spinach salad. Four bites into dinner things turned sour and I just didn’t feel right. And thus begins my unpleasant week…

For the next three hours I experienced some um, severe stomach and intestinal issues, to put it delicately. At around 11, when I could no longer keep even water down and I was having contractions, we finally called my OB doctor. We were told to head to the hospital without further adieu. My brother-in-law, who was fortunately up late working, came over and stayed on our couch listening to Anna’s baby monitor while we trooped off to the hospital.

When we arrived at the hospital at midnight, we checked into the Labor and Delivery department, a seemingly unending 20 minute process that was made worse by the heat in the admin office and the woman’s perfume, which made me even more nauseous. I have no idea what cruel person finds it necessary to make you answer questions about your insurance and fill out billing forms while you are obviously ill, but I think whoever thought of the process is related to the Marquis de Sade. The printer jammed, the copier jammed, the printer ran out of paper, hot air blew on me and I still didn’t throw up – kudos to me!

Long story short, we were in the Labor and Delivery department for 6 hours. I threw-up so much I raised a nurse’s eyebrows, got three bags of i.v. fluid, had contractions 2-4 minutes apart (caused by severe dehydration), got anti-nausea medicine and anti-contraction medicine. I was not able to sleep due to being hooked up to an i.v., a contraction monitor and a baby heart rate monitor and Mike had barely any luck with the make-shift bed/chair in our room. We made it home by 6 a.m., just in time to hear the first chirps of Anna who had slept through the whole thing.

Anna became sick later that morning and Mike and I traded trying to take care of her and trying to sleep the whole day. For the next few days no one really felt well, we all were exhausted, and Anna watched way too much t.v. while we tried desperately to sleep even for a few minutes. Mike was able to work from home on Wednesday and went to work on Thursday, only to come home to me having more contractions, and I forced him to work from home on Friday, just in case another trip to the hospital was needed. Sadly, although friends would have liked to help, all offers of help were ended with, “but we don’t want to get sick.” Come on! Don’t you too want to have this very fun stomach virus? So we were on our own…

Friday we all started to finally feel better and a little more rested. Yesterday, Saturday, we ventured out to get diapers and other things we were in desperate need of, and had some fun at the park after Anna’s nap. Our week that began with such awful sickness is finally over and I’m thankful. This experience, although unpleasant, has certainly put things in perspective. When I complain of my hip pain or heartburn, Mike now gently says, “At least you’re not projectile vomiting.” Truer words were never spoken…

4 Comments to Yuck

Ellebee
January 31, 2010

Oh God – I am so so sorry you had to go through this. As if being pregnant isn’t hard enough. And, I hope that woman in L&D goes to hell for wearing perfume! Of all the people who should be aware of how sensitive your sense of small is while pregnant. I’m glad the week of sickness is over, and I hope you have smooth sailing until the baby is born.