it's NEGATIVE!

ok, for those of you who don't know (because i didn't post it in the blogosphere), in addition to modified bedrest, the doctor wanted me to do a 24-hour urine test. this test checks for protein in the urine. but you say, how is this different from the one you do every time you go to the ob? the difference is that in the one you do where you pee in the cup, they are using a dipstick to check for protein, and it only gives them a glimpse of what you're producing, that is to say, you could be "spilling protein" into your urine at other times of day and have it show up as negative. this test is one of the things they were doing to confirm or rule out preeclampsia. though painless, this joyful procedure includes collecting your own urine for 24 hours and storing it, during that time, in the fridge. here are examples of my collection implements:

the "hat" for keeping urine from actually going IN to the toilet.
this was interesting to me especially because i was not sure how one was to ahem... poop... while using this device. (for those who are curious, it seems it, fortunately, does not interfere with this function, as it only covers a certain part of the toilet.)

after collection, one must pour the collected urine into the urine jug and return the jug to the fridge:

mine was the 3.5L one, and did not have that fancy do-hickey on the top there.
again, i had concerns. how was one to pour from hat to jug without wearing urine? should i be more grossed out about putting the jug back in the fridge? luckily, the "hat" has a pour spout, and i only spilled about 2 drops the entire 24 hours, and to alleviate the fridge weirdness, i kept the closed jug in a plastic bag when it was in the fridge.

this was actually quite a humiliating experience for me, though i'm not sure why. i deal with animal urine everyday, but i was somehow very embarrassed at the thought of anyone seeing the hat in the toilet or seeing me pour the urine into the jug... or actually, seeing me carry the jug or put it back into the fridge. i'm not sure what my hang-up was, but i was really stressed about the whole thing, and when i finished the 24 hours this morning, i was literally thrilled.

not, however, as overjoyed as i was when i got the message that my test was NEGATIVE! yes! exhilaration on so many levels! not only did i not have to do it again for some lab error reason, not only did i not have to wait until tomorrow to find out the results, not only do i have very little reason anymore to worry about having preeclampsia, but i feel so vindicated! finally, maybe these doctors will believe that i just get anxious about having my bp checked, and that telling me you want to induce my labor and THEN taking my bp is not accurate of how it really is!

ahhhhhh. i feel better now.

i go in for another check, with baby monitoring, and an ultrasound tomorrow... but unless they find something wrong with the baby, i'm just going to tell them where they can put the rest of their tests. :-P