If this weekend is any indication of how the next 6 months of Cassie's pregnancy will be, i'm not looking forward to it. Cassie spent the entire weekend in the hospital. After a battery of tests she has been diagnosied with Hyperemesis Gravidarum. Which basically means that she has a severe form of morning sickness, that limits her intake of food and fluids. Hyperemesis is considered a rare complication of pregnancy. Estimates of the percentage of pregnant women afflicted range from 0.3% to 2.0%. So of course she is in that range. Poor Cassie! She is pitiful.
On Saturday her Dr. told her she would have to have a PICC LINE or Peripherally Inserted Cental Catheter. (The pic above isn't Cassie's, hers has 3 lines) This is usually used for chemo with cancer patients, but at the present time its keeping both Cassie and the baby alive. She hasn't had any solid foods in almost a week, and very little liquid. Her PICC has 3 outlets. One is for her IV, one for her TNP and the other for them to draw blood. When she gets to go home (hopefully Monday) she will take her PICC line with her. This will stay in her arm until she has the baby in July. She will also start home health the day she comes home. They have told her she won't have to eat while she has the TNP. People can live on TNP.
If you know me in real life then you know that when something like this happens I am usually the one who springs into action. And thats exactly what I did. Friday after work Dad and I took Mom and Josh clothes and food over to the hospital. Cassie looked so bad and was worn out so we didn't stay too long. * Just a side note for my memory, Friday night wasn't all bad*
I spent Saturday morning cleaning her house and doing her laundry. The last thing she needs to come home to is a messy house and dirty clothes. Then Dad and I went back to the hospital. She had a rough day Saturday. Lots of vomiting and somewhere around 6 p.m. she started to shake. Finally they gave her some benadryl and phenergren. She was resting when we left. I stayed with Dad this weekend, and spent most of today cleaning their house. I just got home from the hospital and i'm happy to say that she is better today. If all goes well she may get to go home today. Her Dr. has given us all instructions that she is to be on bedrest and be very careful for the next few months.
Cassie has an amazing husband! Josh hasn't left her side this whole time. He really is her best friend. Hopefully between him, Mom, Me and Dad we can keep her healthy enough to make it until July.
Cassie started home health today. I'm not sure how many days a week they will come, but they taught her and Josh how to clean and care for her PICC line. Josh is already a pro! Cassie seemed to be in better spirits today. She had more energy and better color. She still isn't back to her old self (and may not be for months) but she is getting there. Dad stayed with her today and is staying with her tomorrow. Hopefully, she will continue to get stronger and be able to get up and down without help by the end of the week. If not I guess Dad will have to retire early and be her full time nurse! Ha! 
