PT-LawMom

Starting to wonder if half this blog might be medical updates? LOL.

So ever since I was diagnosed with DVT in my left leg, I have been doing shots in my belly twice a day. Unfortunately I have also been on bed rest. The pain continues in a seriously insane way and the specialist I saw last week could still feel a palpable mass, resulting in 10 vials of blood drawn to figure out a cause. I heard from her yesterday and she said bed rest until at least September. She also said that the blood tests showed a clotting factor problem but they want to re-run the tests when I’m post-partum and off the blood thinners for a month. Fun. The Lovenox is $6k/month (I pay $40, thank goodness!) and the blood work was $2k!!!

So how do you work an insanely busy job in the legal department of a large corporation and deal with bed rest? Well… thank God for understanding doctors, awesome bosses and cutting edge technology. The doctor cleared me to work from home as long as I keep my leg up and my boss has had no problem with that. I’m surprised and grateful (my former boss would have been a total asswipe about it). But I’m also trying hard to hold up my end of the bargain. This week I overdid it a bit. I’m supposed to work 9-3, take a pain pill and nap, and then work 7-10 or so. All week I’ve been working 9-7 or 8 with no break except potty and food prep breaks. Today I hit a wall. I need to cut that out. But fortunately my being out has allowed other people to show their stuff (or not…) and has hopefully illustrated what I do for them. I was worried at first, especially as the bed rest kept being extended, but fortunately my company has great tech and most of the people I interact with are overseas so I’ve pretty much would interact with them by phone, WebEx and email anyway. I’ve managed to finalize a huge contract negotiation that I’ve been working on for months (hopefully GC will finally sign off tomorrow) and have worked on several reports and other projects. Big Boss has even been asking me for things consistently and, fortunately, I have been able to turn them around quickly. That said, I have had days, like today, where I have had to say, “too much!” to direct boss and rested more. But I hope I am making up for it on the other days.

In the long-term, can you really know if bed rest will affect you professionally? There is not a whole lot I can do about it. Doc says no driving (and it hurts like hell) or walking for more than 10 mins or so unless you want a clot to break off and go to your baby’s placenta or to your lungs. Somehow it’s easier to take a step back when it’s not my own health but also the baby’s at stake. Still, the real test will be at review/raise/bonus time, won’t it?

Unfortunately because of the medical issues, my Ob/Gyn has to induce me at 38 weeks. So that means wedding 10/10 and baby 10/21. Yeah… I was really hoping to have one last month at work after the wedding. That said, I was such an unproductive mess at that point in my pregnancy with Pumpkinhead that perhaps it is a blessing in disguise? Wedding planning is going well. Some RSVP disappointments (you know who you are), some pleasant surprises and some etiquette breaches (like my mother’s friend who is single, not dating, and added a guest to her RSVP – when called on it, said she wanted to invite her daughter as a “special surprise.” Um, we’re having a kids-free wedding and, as much as I’d like to pay for extra guests, we just can’t afford it!!) My MOH and bridesmaids threw me an awesome shower last weekend. Mr. V drove me (and my ottoman and pillow) over to the place (only 5 minutes away) and I had a blast with friends and family. Great food, fun games, awesome gifts, amazing company. I am very lucky to have such good friends in my life.

So it’s not all bad. Trying to look on the bright side. Baby is kicking up a storm, seemingly unphased by the shots. I get to spend more time with Pumpkinhead since he is home for the summer – what a wonderful blessing since these are our last few months alone. I get to rest, which is always nice when you are pregnant and uncomfortable. And I have more time to work on last-minute details of our wedding, which is coming up in less than 2 months!!!

And now, a 27-week belly pic: