Monday, July 9, 2012

Hospital Bed Rest- Day 5

So I have been here in the Red Cross Hospital for 5 days so far. First, let me thank so many of you, as always for your support through prayer.  I am learning over and over again, how important prayer is and that sometimes it is the only thing we can do.  So many of you know by my request for prayers on Facebook, that very early Sunday I woke up with contractions.  At first, I thought I had just slept wrong.  There was once a few weeks ago, I had some contractions, but it was more just be very uncomfortable to move. Then after about 40 min of laying on my side and drinking water, it went away.  When I woke up on Sunday, I had been sleeping on my back, so I just thought my body was hurting.  Then, I realized the pain was coming in waves and was getting intense, needless to say it was VERY scary and more painful this time.  My chest hurt it was hard to breath, my shoulders and upper back were excruciating, my back and stomach were in pain.  I think the only think that didn't hurt were my legs.  Maybe this is normal? Well, I had already been given the second round steroid shots, to help the babies lungs develop, but of course I still felt this is way to early for them to come.  But luckily after being put on a contraction drip everything has calmed down.  We spent Sunday sleeping and just resting and being monitored.  Not that I am really doing anything else :) 

But Monday was a new day.  I woke up feeling much better.  Dr. Suzuki came to check me. (I always feel much better when it is him.) He said everything looked good again, but I just need to take the contraction medication more often.  This is fine I guess.  I just makes my heart often race especially if I have not eaten.  But if that is the only side effect I can deal with it!  Being here I get daily 4 heartbeat checks, and one with contraction and heartbeat check, which I LOVE! Some are longer than others, but I have become an expert at helping the nurses find the right spots.  Something  I haven't shared yet is that we are in a PRIVATE room!  YAY YAY YAY!!!!

You may not know this, but we have socialized health care here in Japan.  From our last experience in the hospital, I knew that many of the long term ladies on the floor shared rooms.  Four women to a room.  If you want a room to yourself you have to pay an additional fee. At this hospital it is some thing like $86 a day.  That is on top of the normal monthly fee or what in America you might consider your out of pocket expense.  So anyways, $86 a day on top of a pretty high monthly bill really adds up, even if just for a week.  So, we knew that we couldn't do it.  Anyways before coming to the hospital I kept praying that some how I wouldn't have to share a room. Mostly due to having to share a bathroom and my biggest fight right now is not getting any kind of infection.  I didn't know how that would happen, but I just kept praying about it.  Well, when we got to here we were so surprised to learn that I was in my own room and that the price would be no different that what we were expecting because it was doctor ordered!  In America I think you would know this before coming but the financial office did not mention this to us when we sat down with them the day before. Also, because it is a single room Clifford is able to come and go as he pleases and is able to spend the night!!! Such a blessing.  It has really really made a difference for me mentally!!!  So praise be to God for working things out in His perfect way.

Things to pray for:
-Please continue to lift up our doctors and now nurses as the care for me and for our babies.  I pray that somehow they will know more of the Lord from us being here.
-Pray for weight gain for both babies. The bigger weight the better chance they have.
- Pray that their lungs would continue to develop and that the steroids will help them breath when they are born.
- For continued health and no infection in my body.
-We are meeting with the neonatologist on Wednesday.  Please pray that our meeting would go well and that we could all have an understanding of things, medically and culturally. ( I am sure it will take some getting used to me being American and my different way of looking at things and asking questions for this new doctor.  This is always a difficult thing when you are dealing with cultural differences!)

Staying strong by God's Grace,
Danielle

Ephesians 3
16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge —that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.


4 comments:

  1. I prayed today before I saw your post, but God knew what I needed to pray- He is watching over you all. Hugs.

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  2. I pray each time after I run (I run about 5 days a week)...you and a few others are on my prayer list...thanks for updating...I always wonder how things are going...our God is a big God and I know He can do huge things, and I keep asking He show that again and again through your babies' lives...keep up the faith and stay strong...hugs from Louisiana!

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  3. Love you so much! And praying for you and sending hugs.
    You are doing an amazing job, sweetheart. You are a beautiful
    Woman of God :) and we will be standing with
    You, day by day. Get good rest and know that you all
    Are on the hearts of so many. God bless you and keep
    You. And remember Jehovah-Shammah, the God who
    is there :) Xoxo

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  4. Friend of Carey's- have been praying for you along this journey as you've shared your heart here. My 4th little girl was born 5 weeks early and I was put on bedrest at 25 weeks. Feeling your fear and anxiety and have been praying for you throughout the day today. Praying you would feel God's closeness and for what you need in the next moment. Love through Christ, Kelly

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