River's Story: March 2010

This is E. Scott (aka Big Daddy) writing for Amber because for the next 6-8 weeks she will be typing with one finger.

First off, we just want to let everyone know that we/she are doing fine and we are humbled by the tremendous amount of support and well wishes that we have received over the past few days. It has been rough, but we are back home now, recovering.

For those of you that don't know, here is the Cliff Notes version of what happened...

On Tuesday of this week, Amber and I were in attendance at the monthly Kyle Chamber Luncheon at the Hays Performing Arts Center. We had just finished eating a delicious Bar BQ lunch (Milts Bar BQ) while listening to an exciting economic update from the EDC (Diana Blank). We were making our exit out of the building. As usual, I was walking way too far ahead of my lovely wife (when I should have been holding her hand). I was well past the bottom of the stairs when all of a sudden I heard a cry of distress. I turned around to see Amber landing on the ground (hands and elbows) and rolling over in pain after having fallen down (head first) a full set of concrete stairs (maybe like 8 or 10 stairs).

I rushed over, along with a crowd of attendees, we were all asking if she was ok. At first, she seemed fine, just a little shaken up (she is a trooper for sure). Luckily, we had several physical therapists and doctors at the luncheon (Peak Physical Therapy). They looked her over as I rubbed the dirt from her arms and legs. Someone called 911 during the confusion and the ambulance was there in no time at all. Again, it seemed that she was ok and so we declined a ride in the ambulance. Instead, I went and got the car. Reluctantly, we decided to head on over to the ER at Seton hospital, just to be sure, because, I mean, she is 32.5 weeks pregnant.

Over the next hour, in the waiting room of the ER, the shock from the fall began to wear off and Amber's pain began to increase. It was a good thing we went there. After a few hours and few X-rays we learned that she had broken at least one arm. I remember thinking that it could have been a lot worse. We were about to be discharged from the ER and sent home until the doctors checked in with her OBGYN, Dr. Rudder. At that point, we were told that we would need to head down the hall to do a sonogram and check on the baby. Our good friend Jason Tarr had shown up a few hours earlier for moral support. The 2 of us, along with a random male nurse wheeled Amber down the hall. Amber mentioned a breeze across her toosh and it turns out that the random male nurse was getting a very good view of Ambers thong and toosh through the back of the chair and her exposed gown. I regret to inform everyone that I closed her gown and stopped the peep show rather than taking some opportunistic camera phone pics. Next time, I'll think twice!

In any event, we made it to the labor and delivery ward for pregnant women at Seton hospital. The friendly staff hooked her up to the monitors and we were surprised to find that Amber was having contractions (frequent and consistent to 'boot!) Keep in mind we are still a good 7.5 weeks from the due date, which is way too early. Her contractions were coming 1 to 2 minutes apart and showed no signs of letting up. The doctors and nursing staff buzzed around quickly, performing all sorts of calculations and tests. Baby fetus River seemed to be doing fine in the womb (kicking and bouncing around even more than normal) but Jason and I sat in disbelief when they told us that we might be making an emergency trip up to Brackenridge in Austin because it looked like Amber was going into pre-term labor from the stress of the fall. I think the news of this sent Amber (and Rivers) hearts racing. To make matters worse, the doctor on call, (not Dr. Rutter) began to disclose one dire worst-case scenario after another. I had to interrupt him more than once to bring us back down to a more optimistic (realistic) outlook of the matter at hand. It seemed clear to me that this information was being taken in by our patient as a prediction, rather than a cautionary warning. Amber's anxiety began taking over and we were seeing evidence of psychosomatic medicine (not in a good way) right before our very eyes. Her condition seemed to worsen, the more the doctor talked about it worsening!

By this time, Ambers mom and step-father had shown up to the hospital. Several friends started to show up too. I was being deluged with text messages and phone calls of questions and concern for our dear Amber and baby Rivers condition. I didn't know what to say. We didn't know what was going to happen. We just needed the contractions to slow down and for the doctor to stop scaring the crap out of us. Thankfully several tests of the cervix proved that she was not dilating yet. We waited and waited. Amber got a morphine drip. Daddy got some coffee and McDonalds. Time passed. We stayed over night at the hospital (first time for both of us). The sofa bed was not comfortable. The nurses and I took care of Amber over night and no one got much sleep. All the while we watched the monitor in anxious uncertainty, hoping it would slow down.

Morning came and Dr. Rutter came in to see us (a sigh of relief). Turns out she had been there since 1am, watching over Amber's condition, but did not want to cause a stir during the night. Several hours and several cervical exams later, the morning turned into the afternoon. The contractions were slowing...her condition was improving. The outlook was turning positive for a change. We ended up staying at the hospital until about 5:30 on Wednesday afternoon until being fully discharged.

In the end, Amber broke both arms and fractured one wrist. The contractions still haven't stopped but at least they slowed down to about one every 10 minutes. Amber is in a sling and a splint, for now, until she gets a cast on Friday. In the mean time, I am learning how to help her get dressed and give her baths and stuff. We go back to the OBGYN on Tuesday. Hopefully baby River can chill out for a few more weeks and let mommas arms and wrist heal, otherwise Daddy is going to be taking care of 2 babies real soon!

Anyway, like I said, we are doing fine now. Just resting. It has been a stressful week. I want to thank all of our friends and family, again for your tremendous show of support. I literally do not have time to return all the calls, texts and emails that we have received. Thank you for the flowers, the visits, the food and the offers to help. Thank you to all of the doctors and nurses at Seton. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. It could have and probably would have been a lot worse without your help and support.

Until next time....Big Daddy E, signing off.

Last weekend I traveled to my hometown of Del Rio for what I thought was a wedding shower for my brother and his fiance, Kimberly. Little did I know that my family had some different plans in mind. They had been planning a surprise baby shower/wedding shower. My brother and Kimberly thought they were going to a surprise baby shower for me and I thought we were going to a surprise wedding shower for them!!! We both walked in to the party together and were both in for a huge surprise when we found out it was a shower for both of us!!! I just wanted to send an extra big thanks out to my cousins Tiffany and Heather who planned and organized the whole event (along with some help for Janet, MaryAnne, and Carmen). Oh, and we can't forget Granny's contribution of her famous banana pudding!

They all did a wonderful job with the shower. The decor, cupcake tower, games, and food were all amazing! I coulndn't have asked for anything more. I have the best family in the world.

here I am walking in the door to yells of "SURPRISE"