Hello from the Hospital...This Might Be IT!

Hello everyone! Jen's friend Anita here...Jen entered the hospital today, so this is being dictated by Jen to me, her official "Birthing Communications Coordinator." I'm proud to be a small cog in Jen's Pregnancy Posse and Birthing Entourage. I'll be blogging, emailing and phoning all the news as it happens over the next few exciting days...

Here's the story...
Went to Dr. R for a checkup today to specifically check on my amniotic fluid level. Normal range for the amniotic fluid is 10-20. Two weeks ago I was a 7 and today I was 3. Yikes...where is the fluid going? It certainly doesn't seem to be streaming down my leg!

So Dr. R, for the second time, took me in to the special "We've got to talk"room in his offices and told me we had to check into Plantation General as soon as possible for monitoring and IV fluids in the hopes we can get the fluid levels back up to normal. It was big news, but as I left his office we were actually smiling at the fact that we have a 35-week-old, 6 lb 2 oz baby on our hands. The last time we were in this room, we didn't know if we would make it this far.

Mom and I went home and grabbed my bag 'o stuff and went to this hospital. I'll be here at least overnight with an IV and fetal monitoring. Tomorrow morning at 8AM'ish they'll do a sonogram to check fluid levels. If they have gone up I'll be discharged and if not, I'll be having a c-section on Thursday or Friday because Baby Carly is breech. Doc says it's a 70% change I'll be having myself a baby in the next 48 hours.

What a perfect time for this to happen -- no Baby Daddy (he's in Philly on business) and no Birthing Coach (she's in Atlanta on business). But that's OK because today is also full of great news...

I've officially hired a nanny!
Nanny Charity "signed on" today and has just left the hospital after a little visit with me this evening. I'm very excited about her being Baby Carly's nanny...she has lots of great experience and we really clicked. She actually has some Doula experience, so she might just join me in the delivery room if she can.

And finally...meet the Entourage!
Speaking of the delivery room, I've finalized my Birthing Entourage and I just want to share it with you. The Birthing Entourage is the group of friends who have gathered together to help me through this special time...

Silvia -- Birthing Coach and Official Baby Protector
It's Silvia's job to be with me in the delivery room and help me keep focused. She will also be dispatched to follow Baby Carly once she is born, to be printed, weighed and cleaned up after we have spent our first few minutes together. The hospital requires this to make sure there are no switcheroos!
Vivian--Official Photographer/Videographer
Vivian is working the digital and video cameras in the delivery room with Scorsese-like skill to ensure we record all the best moments! Note to Vivian from Anita -- stay away from recording Jen's "Lady Business" -- no one needs to see that.
Grandma and Grandpa Barr -- The Welcome Wagon
The Barr grandparents will act as the welcoming committee for those who visit me. They get to tell people when to go home if I'm tired!!
Storm -- Baby Daddy-to-Be
His job is to work on making it home to see his daughter.
Anita -- Communications Coordinator
It's Anita's job to make sure you all know what is going on! She writes all the news that's fit to print!
Jill -- Stork Committee and Keeper of the Cat
Jill is having an 8-ft stork put in the front yard so that when I come home, everyone will know Baby Carly's in the house!! And of course, her most important role is that she is the official Mandy-sitter. Mandy needs love during this stressful time -- plus she can't sleep without her Milk-Treat!

OK -- that's all from me! I'm tired....Good night!

From Anita: as they say in the news biz, "More news as it happens!" Talk to you tomorrow with a Jen update.