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Growing up in the Valley, I’ve always known, and taken for granted, that Children’s Hospital Central California (formerly Valley Children’s Hospital) was the best place for kids with serious, or emergency, health conditions.
With the birth of my oldest son 16-years ago, I was comforted by the fact Children’s was just down the road. If anything [...]

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The magnesium didn’t hit like a Mac truck. Instead it wound lazily through my veins radiating warmth. OK, I could handle a flush of heat and a bit of weirdness. This wasn’t so bad. At 30-weeks pregnant and in antepartum with outrageously high blood pressure, I needed something to work. My baby needed more time [...]

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Please let this work. And please, don’t let it kill me. The nurse pushed the plunger on the syringe and watched the monitor as the medicine flowed through the heplock into my vein. At 30-weeks pregnant, the goal was to keep the baby and me alive. The hope was to give her more time to [...]

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Anxiety burned my senses like stomach acid. It was too much. I was 30-weeks pregnant, in the hospital with escalating preeclampsia and being treated by strangers. For the first time I had no influence over my situation.
What was going to happen to the baby and me? I wanted my doctor. He was my anchor, the [...]

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Getting to the hospital room had been a challenge. I was 30-weeks pregnant, battling preeclampsia and ready to drop. The risk I’d deliver my daughter prematurely was as high as my blood pressure. And that was the best-case scenario.
After I had changed into a gown and climbed into the air-pressurized bed, I wanted to sleep [...]

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At 30-weeks pregnant I was directed to the high-risk antepartum unit by my doctor.
The trip to the hospital was an exhaustive blur. Forget preeclampsia, I needed sleep.
“Where do we check in?” said Jimmy after he braked for a red light.
“I don’t know. The emergency room?” We didn’t get a tour of this hospital – or [...]

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At 30-weeks pregnant, even I had to admit my health was disintegrating.
“How do you feel?” The nurse asked as she prepared to take my blood pressure.
“Terrible.” It was difficult to explain. I felt a massive pressure on my chest and it was so bad I slept propped on pillows to breath easier. Conversations were exhausting. [...]

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My daughter is a miracle. From conception to birth she battled to be born. Even now, as we gaze into each other’s eyes when she nuzzles and nurses, I’m amazed she is really, truly here.
Still, I can’t get enough of her and nibble her tender toes, cheeks and belly. Her skin is warm and sweet. [...]

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This blog is in hiatus. After life stabilizes here posts will resume. In the mean time we’re getting excellent healt care and taking it day by day. Many many thanks to everyone for their well wishes. We are greatful for the suport

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Bed rest lost its novelty after three hours. I thought I’d enjoy snuggling on the couch and reconnecting with Oprah, snoozing and reading for at least a few days.
Instead the day yawned in front of me with empty, heavy hours. Daytime TV and repetitive commercials of ‘Slap Chop’ guy who exclaimed ‘you’re going to [...]

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I am a caffeine addict. My love has led me to devote many a Twitter, text message and verbal declaration to it.
Seriously.
I’ve stood on a mountaintop and sworn my unwavering I-would-die-for-you loyalty to Mr. Coffee – and pledged to run away with him if he’d have me.
Fortunately, the mountain was a pile of laundry and [...]

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Kids keep you young? At 35 that’s hard for me to believe.
This pregnancy makes me feel old. Really, really old. Lately my purse is a portable pharmacy with giant bottles of Tums, Tylenol, various other meds, eye drops, tissues and Shout wipes.
Worse yet, my olfactory senses are disintegrating. That or my mental processes are on [...]