I'm going to be dark for the next few days as G and I head for Portland, where I'll have no computer access to speak of.

JZ and the Halloweenie Update

I'm back at home for a minute to get her toothbrush and sundries and a book and her phone charger. (We only live two blocks from the hospital.)

She's stopped bleeding, and the baby is fine.

It was a placental abruption - meaning the placenta pulled slightly away from the uterus. But it was only in one small corner and it seems to be "resolving" (as they say).

Around 11:30 this morning she'd gone for a coffee break, getting her decaf, a muffin and a very tasty looking falafel sandwich (with lettuce and tomato). She noticed some discharge and went to the bathroom to check and saw she was bleeding. She hurried back to her desk, put her doctor's phones on the answering service, grabbed her cell and went to the ER. She called me on the way, and by the time I got there about 10 minutes later she had been moved to a triage unit in Labor and Delivery.

She's at 28 weeks so the baby is viable now and they would do a C-section if the abruption was catastrophic. They kept a close eye on her, put in two IVs (the second one took four tries, which was quite the endurance test for the needle-phobic JZ). Did an extensive sonogram, blood draws and a less than pleasant speculum inspection.

Everything looks okay now. No contractions. Baby's heart rate is healthy and vigorous. She had spotting for a couple hours after the initial gushes but now it seems to have stopped.

She's exhausted from all the stress (the nurses learned exciting new profane phrasings today after the failed IV attempts. They found "Fucking McFuckypants!" to be an entertaining addition to the lexicon.)

They gave her the steroid shot to boost the baby's lung development if she came early. Which she is not, because the Empress said Stay Put.

She's also sad about missing her falafel sandwich, since she hasn't eaten since breakfast and they won't let her eat until they're absolutely completely sure that she won't need a C-section.

Which looks like we're almost clear on - we just want to wait for the second blood work and then I can go get her dinner. (She's opting for Saag Paneer for dinner.)

Thanks for all your kind thoughts. She might be out by tomorrow night, or possibly on Sunday. If she's very stable when she leaves, she might not need bed-rest, but would have to be taking it very, very easy.

Meaning, of course, that the Northern California Pogo Stick Sectionals she'd been training for are right out.

It's 2:50am, and I'm taking myself to the ER. I have sharp pains in the area of my left kidney.

Now that we have had my birthday party and made our announcement, at last I can divulge--we eloped! The WBB and I got married on Wednesday. Just us and a notary marrying dude who was a failed actor and was hilariously hammy. The BF had been planning this for a while and sprang it on me last Saturday. It almost KILLED me not telling anyone, but it was such fun to spring it on everyone who was here for my little birthday shindig. The BF's mom and sisters were here, so there was a lot oif crying and hugging. After 13 years, it doesn't feel any different, but it's still lovely to be married.

Bay Area-istas, I'll be in town from August 31 - September 4. Not nearly long enough for my taste, but it's a miracle they gave me five days off in a row from work in the first place. I want to see you all! As I think the F2F thread is where these discussions go, I'll post this there, too.

Jacqueline has been released from the hospital. She's just waiting for the priest to swing by and give her communion. Then I'll go pick her up.

She'll be on bedrest for the rest of this week at the very least, and we'll know more after our regularly scheduled doctor's appointment on Thursday.

Thank goodness for hospitals, I guess. Any of that patented Buffista ~ma will be greatly appreciated.

Just got back from ICU. StE borrowed StY's scooter, came off it and hit his head. If he hadn't worn the helmet he wouldn't be in ICU.

He's comatose, not breathing on his own, they're fiddling with the medicines trying to get him to breathe, and will call us if there's any change.

Sleeping on a four-foot couch with the teevee on in a room full of other ICU relatives yapping just can't be done.

Any vibes you can spare are appreciated. Updates as I have them. Right now? We're going to try sleeping before heading back to the hospital.

Small update: StE's breathing on his own, and is "stable", though still critical. They're keeping him on the vent for now, to supplement his breathing. But his nurse sounds very positive. We're breathing a bit easier. I believe all the good wishes help, I really do. Thank you all.