In Which I Regulate.
I am too tired and giddy to write much, but let me tell you just a little about my day:
This morning I spiked a fever and started contracting every 2-4 minutes. It was determined that I had an infection, and would have to deliver. I was given a very kind sponge bath. The doctor, who commutes here to the Twin Cities from LAGUNA BEACH CALIFORNIA (yes, really) and looks like a Grey’s Anatomy character, all tanned muscular arms and gleamy teeth (McGleamy?), came in to discuss what seemed to be a fast-approaching C-section. Then Simone had a horrible, prolonged decel, they put me on Oxygen, and my room filled with people. Simone’s heart stabilized and ultrasound revealed that she had turned head down. It was decided it would be better for me give birth vaginally, though I was still not allowed food or water, just in case. What was certain was that I would give birth, and soon. Depending upon my temperature and contractions, they might decide to do something to “promote delivery,” which sounds harmless, like a leaflet campaign, but I assure you is not. My bed and belongings were wheeled to labor and delivery, Simone remained on constant monitoring, I contracted, they took my temperature every hour and told me I would not be allowed an epidural because of infection, families were called, survival rates were sobbed over, and then, tonight…
My temperature went back down. My contractions slowed. Simone remained stable. My latest white blood cell count came back normal. And the doctor walked in an hour ago and told me Gleamily that I had developed a bacteremia, but that my body had cleared it.
My immune system smacked that bitch down. And so Simone gets to stay in for another day.
“We are in a data-free zone,” they tell me. I could get another week, or more, or I could deliver tomorrow. They are keeping me here in Labor and Delivery overnight, but if I am stable in the morning I will move back to the antepartum unit to resume my grateful waiting.
I couldn’t make this shit up.
137 Comments
Simone and your immune system will not be defeated. I am praying so, so hard for you. God, I wish you didn’t have to go through this. Stay strong.
Indeed, you could not make this shit up. Or could you? Are you making this shit up???
Whew,
Jess
Good god. Congratulations on one more day and on having such a kick-ass immune system. You astound me.
I am so happy to hear that your wonderful immune system rallied and took care of this! Great news for you and for Simone! Every additional day she stays in is significant. Good for both of you!
That is amazing. All these prayers must be working. Kudos to you who survived contractions that close together without drugs. You are amazing. Simone is a fighter like her Momma.
Fight girls fight!
With you, Alexa
You go girls! Both you and Simone are sounding like you could smack anything down. Hope it continues.
Girl, you are a regular soap opera!
And that little girl inside you? She sounds like one hell of a fighter.
I’m thinking of you!
Your immune system is a kick ass biotch! Gotta love thos white blood cells! Try to relax and get some rest, it was great to hear some good news for a change!
Yow. Good for you and that immune system, and Simone. As others have said, every day counts.
I continue to hope you’ll be stuck on prepartum bedrest a long time. I hope some of the days you spend there are a little calmer than this one.
Yea, Simone! Yea, Alexa! No one could make this stuff up. Hang in there. You are both so awesome!
One more day in January. One more day in January.
YAY for your immune system! I hope tomorrow is much, much less eventful. Thinking of you both.
Oh my stars. I hope the nice boring kind of bedrest starts now, and continues for many weeks. Still thinking of you all.
I am so glad to see your good news! You are all in my thoughts, and I hope for nothing but the best possible outcome for you, simone, and scott. Way to go, immune system!
Go you!
You sure know how to hold an audience spellbound!
We’re all giddy with you. Whew.
damn, woman! nicely done!
You kicked some serious bacterial ass today! Here is to keeping the wee one in for another day (week, month…). May tomorrow be boring and uneventful.
Alexa
What a day! I hope my previous e-mails gave you some insight into that kind of event….decels, IVs, nurses rushing/yelling, fast trips to L & D….and waiting. May your wait continue as mine did! For while the drama is absolute agony for Mom, little Alexa appreciates her extended vacation in her warm little sauna! By the way, I kind of got a kick out of the Laguna Beach doctor! I am planning a visit soon (but will certainly call first), so stay put for a while longer!
Way to kick some bacteremia-ass!
Try to rest, stay positive and know that we are all hoping and praying for the best!
I am crying, but they are happy tears. I’ve been checking your blog every hour, thinking about you a lot. I am just so glad you are both fine. Yay!
Oh My God. Talk about making the best of a bad situation. I’m so sorry you had to go through all of that, but grateful that your body was able to put the smack down and let Simone remain where she needs to be. Thanks for keeping us updated, I hope your new room (when they move you) has WiFi!
You go girl!!!
OMG, your situation is incredibly heart wrenching. I am thinking about you all a lot. Hold on a little longer Simone! Alexa, you are one strong mother…
I’m brand new around here, but just wanted to join the chorus of way to give bacterima a smack down.
Hooray for one more day! That’s just fantastic, Alexa! Yay for your immune system! And some more exclamation points for good measure!!!
Crossing everything I’ve got for an un-eventful next few weeks!
(but perhaps Simone just wanted to get you to where there was wireless???)
Hang in there Alexa… we’re all behind you!
I’m checking your blog so much that I’m worried you’ll slap me with a virtual restraining order. SO happy to hear your news. With each post you’re finding a new way to amaze me.
Keeping hanging in there, Alexa.
HURRAH! You and Simone are SO hardcore!
Good lord, woman. What you will not do for high blog readership/commenting.
Great news on the smackdown. Keep it up.
So amazing! My heart was in my throat just reading about it! You GO girls!
Seriously you are amazing! Keep kicking butt and taking names! Still praying for a little longer for Simone and an uneventful week for you.
Hell, House couldn’t make this shit up. Your body is the Queen of ALL, smacking that bitch down. Go Girl. Tell Gleamily I said hi from SoCal (and I thought my commute was long). You keep on keepin’ on. Simone: Stay put for now.
Many, many more prayers on their way from here.
Yes. I’ve had my fingers and toes crossed all day (mighty uncomfortable, I might add) and am glad to see that it worked! So, I’m crossing them again and hoping hoping hoping for more time for you and Simone.
Hope you spend a peaceful night…and many more.
Dude, you are totally THE shit! Way to go super immune system!
Well, at least I won’t have to worry about working tomorrow — reading this entry was extremely cardiovascular.
Good job on the infection-beating!
I’ve been too nervous to check your blog and now that I have, I’m so relieved to hear that Simone is still hanging in there and getting more time to develop, and that you fought off the infection. Yay!!!
Working OUT tomorrow. That’s what I meant. In fact, that’s what I typed; the word “out” was just written in invisible ink. Good thing I realized how confusing that could be, huh?
(Am moron in your comments section. So sorry.)
Every appendage I have that can be crossed is crossed for you both. Stay inside Mommy, Simone!!!
Go deep in that data-free zone, Simone! Be the craziest statistic you can.
i hate your zombie movie but love your immune system.
There are no words.
You are an amazing mother and Simone is a beautiful little fighter.
I will continue to keep your family in my thoughts and prayers.
Oh shit, I was worried for you all when I was reading the first bit.
Thank god for your immune system! Crossing fingers Simone gets another 10 weeks AT LEAST!
Your immune system ROXOR! Good effing job!
Okay, first, yay for another day! And second, that is one crazy-ass commute. Who does such a thing?
At any point when you were being wheeled from place to place, did you notice a bit of graffiti that said WILL SMITH WAS HERE?
I was just wondering.
Oh honey, you just keep on fighting like that. Both of you.
And you know what Simone is thinking?
“If you think I’m contrary now, just wait till I’m a teenager!”.
She is bad-ass and so are you, well done for weathering another crucial day.
Still thinking about you and hoping for you all!
HUGS
holy holy balls. smack that shit down, with all of our collective thoughts/force behind you. woo!
Wow, Alexa. What a relief! So glad your immune system handled that crisis so well. Here’s hoping for a long, long stay in the antepartum unit.
Wow, Alexa. I am so glad to her about your wonder immune system, it’s amazing. Hoping hard for you and your daughter.
Still thinking of you around the clock. Go immune system of steel!!
Keep smacking this shit down… no, you couldn’t make it up. This was not the boring update I was hoping for, but thanks for keeping the cyberworld posted. We’re all hoping the bestbestbest for you!
I’m thinking that you’ve set an official record for all the roller coaster riding you’re doing! I’m so glad you were able to stop that infection in its tracks. Still keeping you, Simone, and Scott in my thoughts, of course.
You do have a kick ass immune system! Keep it up! I like to think Ames was watching over his mom and sis…keeping you all together for a (loonnnggg) while longer
Well that is good news! And I’m still praying. Wishing you all the best.
Eh, what’s a little infection? I simply flick it away. You rock. Now if you could just roundhouse kick your to an internet connection. Chuck Norris has nothing on you. Hang tight, Simone.
Keep ‘goin Alexa. I’m glad you beat that infection into submission. Thinking of you, and sending positive thoughts your way.
That’s great news! I think Simone must have smacked your immune system upside its…uh, spleen…and said “Get working! I need to stay in here longer!” Way to go little girl!
I am very happy to hear that she’s still in there and not out here yet.
You don’t know me from a hole in the wall, but I’m thinking and praying for you and your little girl. Keep fighting, keep strong.
Katherine
Woohooo!! Damn straight you smacked that bitch down! And right after that horribly profane sentence I will say that me and my ladies spent a considerable amoutn of time at church praying for you and Simone yesterday morning and I am SO GLAD a miracle was delivered on your behalf. We are still praying and will keep on. Hang in there, both of you. You are incredible!
xoxo
I’m generally not one for prayer, but I am here, girl. Continued happy situational up-turns.
Badass, lady. Keep it up. Glad to hear you are all still doing well (enough.) I still just cannot believe that you have to go through all of this. You’re absolutely right, you couldn’t possibly make this shit up.
alexa how utterly terrifying.
Alexa/Scott if you’re reading this, do read the email that Kay sent you, it has lots of suggestions for keeping the baby in there as long as possible -eg get the docs to use prophylactic antibiotics, drink lots to keep risk of infection low, potentially use antibacterial wipes when you go to the loo etc. Very much hoping Simone can keep cooking for a while more.
WOW. You are very brave. I hope Simone stays put for a while longer and gets strong and healthy before she makes her grand debut.
Come on Simone! Ladies are fashionably late, so please finish your makeup inside. Thank you!
Nice job immune system! Keep up the asswhooping! It’s too damn cold to be born this week, little Simone.
Yea, as Jeanette said, noone could make this stuff up!! So glad yesterday is done and Simone is still all warm inside.
Also, I love Dr. McGleamy-he was our L&D doc. Love the description-you nailed it!!
Keep up those smackdowns, Alexa. Nicely done!
And I LOVE the soap opera-esque McGleamy getting in on the action now, too.
Touchdown for immune system!
Oh, Alexa. I’m crying for you right now. You are going through more than a human should have to go through. Oh, how I want Simone to hang on for as long as she can. Hang in there, hon.
Thanks God, only you could do that.
Thank goodness for small miracles!
Thinking of you, Alexa.
You motherfucking badass you. Damn. Keep thinking bedsores.
Wow! I was absolutely holding my breath while reading this and I cannot believe the big ending! If you are making this up, I don’t care anymore. As long as it has a happy ending. (Just kidding. A little).
Keep up the incredible work. Apparently, all that bed rest is making for an immune system to battle Godzilla. I’m gonna go take a nap now.
Oh my stars and garters! (read: fuck!) Amazing!
That’s incredible! “I can’t make this shit up”- how do you stay so funny during such a stressful time? I know you said its your coping mechanism, but you are just amazing…
So happy to see an update from you! Hearing that your body is an awesome piece of work—and little Simone is a real fighter! Wow!!! Jeanette is right, you cannot make up something like this!
Keep it up ladies!!!! You make a fantastic team! GIRL POWER!
Simone is gonna be the coolest little person. Think of the stories she’s already got under her belt!
Bravo, immune system! Praying for another day, and then another, and then another, and as many as you and Simone need.
Alexa, your immune system kicks ass! May it give you much time in the date free zone.
Hang in there, Simone!
Ummm….I meant data free zone. Not date, DATA. Although it may be best if you aren’t out dating, right now, either.
I swear I come here with my hands over my eyes, terrified of what latest hell at you the world has wrought. And today I was reduced to saying out loud, “What The Fuck?!” You are doing all the right things, even when it seems you’re doing nothing at all. Microscopically, you’re kicking ass!
Holy crap, that is all I can say. You girls rock!
OK, excuse the language, but way to bitch slap that motherfucker. You are the boss dammit. Stay put Simone. You’re one tough cookie.
You are simply amazing Alexa. That you can still be so funny (McGleamy!) through everything is fantastic. I’m so glad that your immune system kicked bacterial butt and Simone gets to stay put for another day. Or hopefully quite a bit longer!!!
fwiw - I pray for you and simone daily, many times a day.
You did it! You did it! You did it! Yay!
NOW STAY PUT SIMONE. STAY THERE.
I cried when I read this post.
I’m sorry you have to go through all of this. so sorry.
YAY!!
I’m so glad for some good news!
No, you can’t make this stuff up. I am so glad your body did the right thing and kicked the infection.
Simone, stay inside for as long as you can. You need time to grow and be healthy.
Take That Immune System! Nicely Done - sending you good vibes!
GO Alexa’s immune system! Way to kick in and kick ass!
GO Simone! GO GO GO!
You kick ass!
Also, brand spanking new study out about halving the cerebal palsy risk in preemie births (Intravaneous solution of epsom salt to the mom during delivery, basically):
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/31/AR2008013101672.html
Tell your doctor!! :)
Oh honey, you are a rock star! I’m so glad you’re getting this all down for Simone to read some day.
Whoo, tits! Way to go, Alexa’s immune system.
Still pulling hard for you and Simone over here. Take care!
I’m just speechless. Thinking about you. Hang in there, what can I say. This is unbelievable. I hope and pray you and Simone can hang in there one more day, one day at a time.
Let it never be said that your life is boring. Sounds like your daughter is going to be a drama queen. I am so glad things slowed and you have more time, even if that amount is unknown. GL and God Bless
Wow, I’m breathless just reading this! You just don’t belive in uneventful hospital stays, do you? Glad to hear that, for now, status quo is holding. I hoping for the best possible outcome for you and Simone.
Please, Alexa’s body, let Simone stay in for much longer!
You hang in there Simone!! And you–immune system–keep working!! Alexa, Scott and Simone–I’m praying for you and sending you {{hugs}}
HA! That’s awesome.
It is nice to see this new trend of things going your way again.
I’m sending some of my best wishes your way.
Here’s to one more day. Thinking of you constantly.
Hells ya immune system! Stay in Simone, stay in!
Thank goodness for that news! I was so happy to see this post Alexa; I’ve been checking and re-checking your site with bated breath…. I’m sure you know that you have a lot of support out here in blogland — there’s no doubt more people reading and rooting for you than will ever feel comfortable to leave a message. Until now, I’ve been one of them.
But I have to say, I’m SO very happy that you and Simone are hanging in there. Keep up the fight, your courage is inspirational!
Alexa. You are amazing. Thinking about you constantly and praying, no, INSISTING, that everything turn out okay. Here’s to your incredible immune system.
You and Simone are SUPERSTARS! See how much fight in both of you? we knew it all along. Keeping you all in my thoughts and willing you health, strength and a safe delivery when the time comes.
Delurking to say to Simone- Stay in there my little fetal friend! Keep fighting- both of you! Your are in my thoughts!
I am so happy for you! You go girl!
Every time my immune system smacks that bitch down, or bitches, as it were, I buy it a slice of chocolate pie and eat it victoriously. OK, so I don’t really. But I SHOULD.
(Woot! Hang in there, Simone.)
Alexa,
reading and thinking of you all.
xx
J
You and your immune system are amazing!!! And Miss Simone is too.
Keep on keeping on!!!!!!
Alexa, I am amazed,and so proud of you and little Simone. Way to kick some statistical ass. I think of you daily and hope hope hope that you’re in the hospital, still pregnant, for a good, long time. With wifi, no less.
And I’m so pleased you’ve got Jeanette on your side. There is none better for help through times like these.
You fucking ROCK, man! YOU ROCK. Way to go, you just keep kicking some ass, okay? And we’ll keep everything crossed, and Simone, you be a good girl, now, okay?
Also - Alexa, you amaze me with your writing, you are funny, brave, hilarious, I love reading your blog.
Alexa,
We don’t know each other but somehow I’ve still been checking your blog compulsively, hoping that everything is improving. I just wanted to say hello and let you know that there is even one more person out here on the internet holding you and Simone in our thoughts. Oh, and GO TEAM ALEXA’S IMMUNE SYSTEM! See? Our bodies are sometimes stronger that we give them credit for. You and Simone WILL get through this.
-Cait
Hey! It’s not January anymore. Things must be going better, right? I hope?
I’m so glad to hear Simone is still hanging out in the pool. What a fighter!
I think about you guys at least a zillion times a day. Maybe a zillion and a half.
Hooray Alexa! Your body served you & Simone well THANKFULLY! Happy to hear the joyful news of more time for Simone.
LOL about McGleamy! I love how you’re able to devise these witty blog entries while in the midst of so much turmoil! You’re way more talented than Diablo Cody — if you eventually decide to turn your latest adventures into a screen play, I predict an Oscar nomination. Start crafting your acceptance speech!
This is an unbelievable situation. I can’t believe you’re going through it and you will definitely need some serious drugs when you get to the other side of it. But for now, hang in there and know that like everyone else, this virtual friend is thinking about you all the time and praying for the best. I feel like I know you and I’m hanging on every post, thinking positive thoughts…
Your little Simone is threatening to be quite a character!
Wow. That’s all I got. Just wow.
Thinking of you and your strong and strong-willed girl.
Hoping all is staying on the good side of better.
sending you all the best for more time with simone in the pool. ~luna
Every day I come here and see no update I think that no news must be good news. Stay strong! We all love you.
Hi Alexa, thinking of you both, take care
I too am hoping no news is good news.
Thinking of you often and hoping very much that you and Simone are OK.
I can’t speak on behalf of the rest of Internetland, but I’m just a smidge on the wrong side of concerned. Who the bloody hell am I to dig you out of silence, if silence is where you want to be?
I am about to press the SUBMIT COMMENT button with my heart in my mouth. Just hoping all is well…
You have battled so long and so hard, and you have said it all with such effervesecence and truth and directness and honesty, and we all love you… and … and …. and …
Alexa, is it OK?
Am increasingly… worried… that there is no news from you here. Like the previous poster said, I have no right to dig you out… but are you okay?
Yes please … a quick note from Scott that all is well (relatively speaking) would be nice.
Hey …..Keep Simone good. Hang on in there. I am thinking about you all the time.
Hang in there. You’re doing great!
Um, hello? I know you’re very busy regulating and gestating and whatnot. But please, just a couple of words to let us know how everyone is doing. I don’t mean to be such a worrywart, but from the look of the previous comments, I’m in good company so I feel less like a stalking freak.
I’ve been thinking of you every day, Alexa. Hope you’re hanging in there . . .
I’m hoping no news is good news. And yet, I want an update. In a few years, when simone is able to type for herself.