Where were you two years ago tonight?

I was in a hospital room at Winter Park Memorial Hospital. I had had an OB check up earlier in the day and because of continued blood pressure problems, severe swelling in my extremities and protein in my urine, I had been immediately sent across the street to be admitted to the hospital for observation. I had had the same experience exactly one week prior as well, for the same issue minus the protein in the urine. It appeared that this time, on Aug.2, 2007, I had full blown pre-eclampsia.

So, I waddled over to the hospital. They hooked me to a monitor for a bit and ultimately decided to admit me for overnight observation. I think I even had a tray of hospital food for dinner. They continued to horde my pee too...making me pee in a "hat," which was their term for the plastic tray that fit into the toilet. They checked my blood pressure hourly and tested the pee every time there was a new drop to be found.

I believe my sister brought my suitcase to me...or some portion of my belongings I didn't have with me. Actually, I may have had my suitcase in the car that time because I didn't have it the first time I was admitted for observation and that just added to my panic. So, I guess I did have it this time and maybe someone just brought it up from my car.

My "labor" room had a private shower so I was able to shower and get ready for bed in a fairly comfortable environment. Craig came to the hospital once he was out of hearings that day, but then went home for the night since he had hearings again the next morning. (He hates hospitals just about more than anything else I can think of, so, while I did choose a hospital that had a bit less of an institutional setting than most, I still tried to minimize his time there whenever possible for both of our sanities.)

Once he was gone and the night shift nurses were there, I settled into bed. I remember I had a really nice nurse that night, very capable and provided solid answers to all my questions and was very reassuring. She dutifully woke me every two hours during the night to check my vital signs, not that I slept much. Not only was this the night leading up to my son's birth, but this was the night I discovered Top Chef on Bravo! :) Fortunately they were running a Top Chef marathon, showing the entire season in anticipation of the upcoming season finale. (I've been a loyal and faithful fan every since that night!)

What a difference two years makes. Back then, Dillon was off at Boy Scout summer camp out west. My sister was dating a guy that seemed promising. My husband had just been offered the chance to represent children in Orange county with an annual contract. And me...I was fat, bloated and laying in a hospital bed watching Top Chef. Now Dillon is going off to college. My sister is married. My husband is considering starting his firm over in Tallahassee. And, while I'm still not back to my 'fighting' weight, as they say, I'm no longer carrying the weight of a little 'Turtle' inside me...instead it's the weight of a toddler on my hip.

Oh! And the new season of Top Chef starts in just a few weeks!