Categories: uncategorized
Date: 03 September 2004 20:51:29
I took daughter Jess with me and we went & picked up daughter-in-law Kim, to go to her OB for one of those end-of-the-pregnancy checkups. Heard the baby's strong little heartbeat. His head is socked in right, he's facing the best way, his little feet are tucked under her ribs (ouch) and his little butt is poking cheekily out at us right there in front.
Poor Kimi! She was an athlete, I don't want to leave you with the impression that she's a delicate little fragile flower -- but she's maybe 5 feet tall, bless her, and that baby looks like a kindergartener curled up in her poor tummy! She is sooooooo ready. When I reminded her that her husband, my son, was over 10 pounds and almost 2 feet long at birth, she said I was scaring her.
The nurse-practitioner said the Dr. was on vacation -- back Tuesday -- but that she, herself, did not like the way things were looking. Kim's poor feet and legs are a little puffed with water retention, and her blood pressure is a little up, and her kidneys are putting out a bit more protein than they should -- they called the doctor.
I have seen worse swelling, and worse blood pressure, and worse protein levels, but taken all together, and with them always watching her because of her liver problems --- it wasn't good.
So, the NP ordered a 24 hour urine check for her, and they'll have her in the hospital monitoring all sorts of stuff from her liver functions to blood pressure to the stuff in her urine. All the details will go to the Dr. and they might decide to try to start her labor. She's about ready, they said. It might be a good thing. If that big boy in there went a couple weeks extra, like many first babies do, Heaven knows how she would deliver him vaginally. They're already making noises about a C-section.
Then, when we get outside to go home for her overnight bag to head to the hospital, we find the car dead.
That car has its drawbacks, but it has always always faithfully started, and now it's dead.
Battery? Starter? Fuse? Who knows?
I had a young man from the quickie oil change shop next door come & jump it... no dice. Nothing. Lights, dash functions, all good-- but not even a grumpy "eerrrm eerrm" from the engine.
Rats.
So Kimi called her mom - her parents were having lunch nearby, driving a rental car because their car had done the same thing yesterday. Kimi is starting to feel slightly persecuted, in a Murphy's Law sort of way. I say, she's not paranoid, because all this crap is really happening all around her.
What is it with the cars dying when Kim needs sure ways to the hospital?
My sister came & brought me and Jess back home.
Not a great day.