Top Picture: Brad hogs the hospital bed as Angie and Brad wait for Elvis
Bottom Picture: The view from Angie's Hospital Bed
Week 3 - July 13 - 19
Week 3 - July 13 - 19
- # of Days on Bed Rest - 23
- New C-section Date - August 7th
- # of Days to Go - 19 - less than 1/2 way there!! Yeah
We Found a Nanny - we managed to find a nanny on our first try. She was recommended to us by Cousin Lainie. Lainie is the person who set me and Brad up on our blind date so I told her she was two for two - she found my husband and now my nanny! Her name is Myra and she is from Guatemala. She lives in NJ and has an 11 year old son and has taken care of infants for more than 10 years. She will be joining the Team Harrison family on September 8th - I hope she's prepared for the chaos that goes on at 275 Greenwich!
Roommate Drama
I've managed to move rooms about 3 more times this week, which is always exciting for someone on bed rest. I've gotten to know so many women in various high risk situations. NYC is so diverse and it's been fun/interesting to meet women from all over and learn their stories. A few highlights (names have been changed):
- Lolita was my first roomie and my favorite. She's from the UK and is 38 with her second baby, she had her first when she was only 20 so it's been 18 years. She came in with preterm labor at 29 weeks and ended up having an emergency c-section a week later at 30 weeks. Her baby was born 3 lbs 9 oz and is doing well but will be in NICU for 4-6 weeks. Lolita had the best attitude and was so positive - she told me a quote she loves from the bible, "I am the victor, not the victim" that helped her get through her experience. I was amazed at how quickly she bounced back from her c-section and she said she was mentally getting past the pain so that she can be strong for her baby. I also loved the fact that she would get dressed in street clothes every day even when she was on bed rest to help her feel better.
- Sarah was my second roomie - she was very sweet but as I mentioned in my first blog, she had a very annoying high pitched voice, similar to that of Janice on Friends. It was painful. She was your typical Jewish American Princess from the Upper East Side (not to stereotype but I will). She was very high maintenance and full of anxiety. She was in for high blood pressure, which is not surprising due to her anxiety. She was only here for a day so I didn't get to know her thank well, thank God, because I couldn't take her voice for many more days.
- Rosie came in next. She was super sweet and was pregnant with her first. She came in for a shortened cervix - I'm not really sure what that is. She works for Eileen Fisher clothing and used to be Robert DeNiro's personal assistant. Her husband worked for the Rachel Ray show and was so so sweet, he would always bring in goodies and always brought me a Starbucks coffee. She is from New England and currently lives in NJ. After a few days, they sent her home on strict bed rest for the rest of her pregnancy.
- Jessica - I'm not sure where she was from, I think she was Jamaican or from one of the Caribbean Islands. Jessica came in at 22 weeks with preterm labor and had been here 2 weeks when we met, and will be here for the rest of her pregnancy, for a total of 14 weeks! Update - Jessica had an emergency c-section on Friday and unfortunately, the baby did not make it. My thoughts and prayers go out to Jessica and her family.
- Lauren - I was only her roomie for about 30 minutes because I got moved shortly after she arrived but Lauren came in with preterm labor at 24 weeks. She was by herself and was really scared and I could hear her crying through the curtain. My heart went out to her and I peaked at her through the curtain and said, "I'm Angie, don't be scared, everything will be fine but if you need anything at all just ask" and then I added "If it makes you feel any better, at least you can get up and pee, I have to go in the bed pan!" and she giggled and said thanks. As I left, I saw her reading the bible.
- Trouble - I never caught her name but this girl was trouble. I went back and forth feeling sorry for her and wanting to shake her but in 2 days I managed to get this information
-she was about 24 weeks pregnant with preterm labor
-her boyfriend got thrown in jail for 6 months (not sure what he did)
-she was homeless, she was trying to find housing when she was here and social workers were in and out of the room trying to help her
-she was a big girl and was diabetic but continued to eat cheeseburgers and chips and unhealthy foods
-the day her boyfriend got thrown in jail, she was determined to leave the hospital to get some things taken care of. The doctors came in and begged her to stay for the safety of her health and her baby's health and she left anyway. She didn't even have money for a cab, the social worker had to find a way to give her $20 for a cab
- The Girl With No Name and No Face - there is a girl in the next room that is on complete bed rest like me but I've never seen or since neither of us can get out of bed. I wonder what her story is?
Luckily, I've managed to get by without a roommate since Thursday so it's been nice having "Angie Time".
What I'm Watching/Reading This Week:
- Hopkins (TV show on ABC) - I love this show, it's a reality show that follows residents, surgeons and patients at Hopkins Medical Center.
- Still addicted to "Intervention" on A & E (TV show) -- no pun intended
- The Station Agent (movie)
- Brokeback Mountain (movie) - I forgot how good that was!
- To Kill a Mockingbird (original movie with Gregory Peck) - Boo Radley rocks
- Ira & Abby (movie) - thanks Margaret!
- sTori Telling by Tori Spelling - thanks Bianca
- When You are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris - thanks Liz
Thanks to This Week's Visitors and Gifts
- Brad gets the Husband of the Week Award again for continuing to be the best husband in the whole world, taking care of me, bringing me goodies and dealing with me when I get bossy or cranky. We've figured out that our max visiting time is 2-3 hours and then we get on each other's nerves but our favorite thing to do is cuddle in my hospital bed and take a nap together.
- Amy D from AHA - the chocolate covered strawberries were tasty
- Jane Chesnutt - sweet card
- Rob - thanks for the "How to Survive Pregnancy Bed Rest" book - it has some great advice
- Hannibal and Heidi - thanks for the beautiful flowers
- Veronica - thanks for Elvis' swing
- Liz Topp - thanks for the Tasti DLite and the David Sedaris book
- Fred and Sherry - thanks for the nursery bedding, can't wait to see it in the room all set up
- Cindy and Wito - thanks for the high chair
- Jules and Breda - thanks for the ice coffee and cookies - love you guys!
- Pat Slatt from Rodeph - thanks for bringing me the yummy Indian Food for lunch
- Dez and Kim from AHA - thanks for the cupcakes and scented hand sanitizer
- Kim and Elliott from the Racoon Lodge
- Jackie Linden, Marilyn Mauler and Margaret Mintz from my Bat Mitzvah class - thanks for the truffles
- Emily - thanks for the pizza
- Aunt Roberta and Cousin Stacy - thanks for the lunch, even though they put me on IV and didn't let me eat it!!!
- Rabbi Levine - thanks for the cards
- Cousin Erica
- Donna Schragis from my Bat Mitzvah class - I LOVE the pink nightie!
- Faye from AHA YPs - thanks for the massager and In Touch
- Jannette from AHA - thanks for the cheese and crackers, the chocolate covered banana/strawberries and the Wheel of Fortune computer game
- Taylor from AHA - thanks for going to get my sushi!
- Kate Coyne - thanks for the cutest elvis gifts and Tasti D Lite!
- Jane from AHA - thanks for the gifts!!!! Love the "Party at My Crib" tshirt
- Cousin Stacy - thank you sooooooooo much for going to Babies R Us to return all my stuff - you rock
- Bryan from AHA - thanks for the infant CPR training kit
- Mom - thanks for the Willie Nelson and Elegance books
- Lou - thanks for the sweet card and chocolate
- Cousin Abby - thanks for the M & Ms
- Marilyn Mauler from Bat Mitzvah class - thanks for the fruit salad
Love You All,
Angie
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