We actually had a bit of an eventful weekend. We had planned to just relax and not have any plans, but things didn’t exactly play out that way.

I had a terrible night’s sleep on Thursday night and woke up Friday morning in a lot of pain. My belly was just throbbing. Every time Hayes would move, I felt like all of my nerves were being pinched and I wanted to cry. When I’d stand up, I felt like I had to hold my stomach to try to get some relief. But there wasn’t any relief.

I was having Braxton Hicks contractions, but the pain was amplified and I continued to wince every time the baby would move. I didn’t go into labor with Hudson, so I really had no idea what to expect if I did go into labor. The contractions weren’t super consistent, though, so I didn’t think Hayes was actually on the way.

TC called to check on me and I asked if he could see if his parents could take Hudson for the day because there wasn’t any way I could keep up with him in that condition. He had already taken the dogs to be day boarded, which was a huge relief. TC’s dad came to get Hudson and I was finally alone to try to get some rest.

I called the OB nurse at my doctor’s office and she told me to drink lots of water, lie down on my side, and take some extra strength Tylenol and she’d call me back in an hour. I did as she instructed and nothing changed.

In the mean time, we had the cable guy and a plumber coming by to repair some things, so my “rest” wasn’t all that restful. TC came home from work early to check on me and ended up staying while I slept. Right before he got there, I started throwing up and had the chills. My pain had moved to my back and hurt every time I took a breath. I sent TC to get some Sprite and some soup and while he was gone I called the OB on call.

Thank goodness it was my doctor. She told me she was already on the OB floor of the hospital for the night and encouraged me to come on up. TC and I jumped in the car and went to the hospital thinking I’d get checked out and sent home with some pain medication. I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t in labor!

They checked me in, admitted me, and I put on the hospital gown. Then I got hooked up to all the monitors. Hayes was doing great, which was a huge relief. My blood pressure was really low and then it was really high. I got sick again in the hospital while I waited to see my doctor.

She came in and listened to me describe my symptoms and said that it was probably a bladder infection or a kidney infection. She ordered up some antibiotics, lots of fluids, and some pain relief for me. But first I had to get them a urine sample.

This is where the story gets a little funny for us. I had to drag my IV pole (with TC’s help) to the restroom with me and try to dodge all of the cords and wires and long hospital gown to get a good urine sample for the lab. I can’t remember the last time TC laughed so hard, but I was trying to make him stop or else I’d start laughing and end up peeing all over the floor before we could even start to get the sample!

I should actually find out the results of the test today because it takes 48 hours to get the results.

But in the mean time, we found out we’d be staying in the hospital over night and I got a lovely IV of phenergan for the pain and nausea. That stuff worked fast. The pain was gone and in about 10 minutes, I was gone, too. I told TC to make sure I was breathing every once in a while, because I was pretty darn dead to the world. My antibiotics started working immediately, and when I’d wake up in the night, there was no pain and no nausea.

We were in the hospital for about 20 hours, but I am so glad we went. I slept great while we were there. I missed Hudson and the dogs a lot and was really eager to get home. But the rest was something that God knew I needed it and I had to go to the hospital to get it.

I’m taking antibiotics for a few more days to make sure that whatever this was is gone. TC has been so helpful and proactive to make sure that all the “heavy lifting” with Hudson is taken care of so I can continue to rest for a few days. We need Hayes to stay put for at least two more weeks. TC even dried Hudson’s hair last night, which is something that I always do. It was so cute!

I just had to document the events of our weekend, so I can tell little Hayes all about it someday!

In the spirit of baby items, pregnancy, having babies, and preparing for babies, I’m giving away something really fun this week to a lucky Blue-Eyed Bride reader.

This adorable gift basket full of Dr. Smith’s diaper ointment, educational toys and books, a fun plush toy, a swaddling blanket, and a onesie can be yours. It’s perfect to give to a new mom or maybe you’re the new mom who needs all of these items.

A little bit of information about Dr. Smith’s:

I woke up this morning feeling a little nervous and anxious. I know that kids get tubes in their ears every single day and ENT doctors do thousands of sets of tubes every year. I had tubes twice as a kid. I know how routine it is. But when it’s your baby having a procedure done and being away from you, I think it’s normal to worry. At least I hope it’s normal to worry.

TC and I got up early and got ourselves ready this morning. Then we woke Hudson up just before it was time to get in the car. He couldn’t eat or drink anything this morning, so we wanted to let him sleep up until the minute we needed to leave the house.

He went to the surgery center in his pajamas and Elmo slippers. I packed his favorite blankets and all of his lovies (aka E-Os) so they would be there when he woke up. (All of his E-Os are identical– even though one of them is preferred to the others– because in the event that he gets sick or spills something on one of them, we need back up!)

We got to the surgery center and were directed to go talk to the person in charge of accounting and insurance. I had spoken to her on the phone previously, but when I walked in she  told me that she reads my blog, so I thought I’d give her a little shout out here! I am going to leave her name out, though.

They let us go back to get Hudson situated and changed. The nurse put a little “sticker” on his toe and took his temperature. He wasn’t so sure about all that. (He also brought two copies of Green Eggs and Ham along for the morning and wouldn’t let go of either of them.)

The nurses gave us a tiny little hospital gown and socks (that were too big) for Hudson to wear. As soon as I saw this gown, I got a huge lump in my throat. My sweet big boy was going to be in this tiny gown and they were going to “operate” on him when he wore it. It’s just too much for this mommy heart.

There were fun pictures of Elmo, Big Bird, the characters from Cars, and other cartoons on the wall, so Hudson had a great time looking at those and talking about them. Then he decided that he wanted me to read “I Am Sam” (what he calls Green Eggs and Ham) to him. So we went through the book a couple of times.

And in this picture, he kept saying, “Cheese, Daddy!” (Ignore my morning hair and lack of make up.)

Then a nurse came and carried my baby away and TC and I walked to the waiting room. I started fighting back the tears immediately and even let a couple fall when we got to our seats. But as soon as I sat down and text my parents that Hudson was in surgery, someone came to get us to put us in the room where the doctor would come talk to us. Less than five minutes.

And then about two minutes later, the doctor was there telling us that he did fine and it was over. So fast and so easy. And hopefully the answer to many many months of terrible ear infections.

I want to say that my heart goes out to the parents whose babies and kids have operations and reoccurring procedures. It is a huge act of trust to put your child in the hands of a doctor or nurse and to be completely helpless except for our prayers and our ability to speak for our child’s best interest. I am thankful that Hudson was able to come out of such a minor surgery so well and I hope this is the end to all of his ear infections.

He didn’t nap today — or yesterday– and I’m hoping that’s just a reaction to his antibiotic and not a new habit. He did, however, just hang out in his room for his entire “nap time” and never cried or asked to come out. So I guess as long as he was content, I should be content, right?

Thank you to everyone who has prayed for him today. We appreciate all of you very much!