Home-24 hours

I am so frustrated... Well, it looks like I may have a mild infection from the c-section. While I realize this happens often and I should just take it as par for the course. I am just so tired. All I wanted was something normal and that just isnt meant to be. It is very upsetting.

I dont remember if I posted about this or not, and I'm too tired to check, so to recap... I've been sore since the section (which I assume everyone is). Last night, I sat down on the bed, preparing to get in, and, as I moved a pillow (or, better yet, when I touched the pillow... I never actually got a round to moving it), I felt a quick pain in my belly near the staples. Then, instantly, swelling. I freaked. Peter called APU and they said that swelling, etc can be completely normal. To make sure it wasnt changing colors and to follow up with the doctor. So, Peter checked and it wasnt red or bruised, so he got me some ice and, although I was now in a fair amount of pain, I fell asleep thanks to pain killers and ice. I woke up and pumped during the night and hurt, but nothing I felt I couldnt handle. Still swollen.

We went to the NICU and then down to APU, where I asked one of my favorite nurses who was on duty if she would mind looking at my staples. She looked and felt and said that it felt like there was something going on. She said possibly a hematoma or cellulitis. She recommended going over to see Dr Bailey, just to check. So, since we had time in between seeing Bobby and Maya, we went. Peter actually pushed me in a wheelchair because, by this time, I was starting to really hurt. The office was practically empty and the nurses all freaked when they saw us. They were super excited and we spent the first 15 minutes just sharing pictures and talking about the babies. I told our nurse about the pain and issue and she said that Dr B was in (in between surgeries) and could see me. So, into an exam room I went. I sent Peter back to the NICU because I didnt want us to miss baby time (diaper changing, feeding, that sort of thing). Dr B came in and felt around and looked and agreed with the APU nurse and said he wanted to do an ultrasound. So, I was moved there. He saw what he feels is the start of an infection. He prescribed a z-pack of azithromycin to knock it out. He also saw something he couldnt identify and was concerned about because it was so large and misshapen. So, he asked me to go over to radiology to have a radiologist look at it. The nurse made an appointment for me, so after Peter came back, we ended up there. I had to drink until my bladder was full (which is fun post pregnancy when you arent really sure when that is!) and then to the scan room. They had to push so hard that I was on the verge of tears. I used to consider myself a tough cookie, but my goodness... The tech apologized but it was excrutiating. The swelling got worse during the exam. The radiologist said that she couldnt tell exactly what it was and that a CAT scan would be the best way to see. She also said that she could see edema, cellulitis, and what Dr B had thought was the start of inflamed tissue. As she was scanning the unknown mass, Peter saw the telltale signs of cysts. It was my right ovary... Which has a nasty habit of getting huge (in this case 8x5x5) after pregnancy. We both remembered this after Nick & Sophia and Alex. The radiologist said that it was awfully large to be an ovary but after looking at it, conceded that since she found another large mass on the other side (with cysts) and couldnt see ovaries elsewhere. When she called Dr B, Dr M happened to be there too, and she confirmed with him that, when she was closing me up, my ovaries were huge. So, crisis averted and issue solved.

By the time that was said and done, we went back to the NICU so that I could pump, then we kangarooed, Peter with Maya and Bobby with me. I was in so much pain that I could barely walk. Peter got the car and brought it to me and, thank God, I fell asleep on the way home. He got me inside, doped up, and with ice, and that has made all the difference.

Sweet heaven... This cannot possibly be the dream experience people sign up for! Here's to hoping that the antibiotics clear up whatever this is and that we have no additional complications. This is definitely slowing down the recovery process.