Finn's Story

Recently, the representative we worked with while at Mercy from the Central Oklahoma Chapter of the March of Dimes asked parents to submit their stories of premature birth to be included in a book they are working on called "Journals of Hope."  The purpose of this project is to be able to help support families who are just starting a journey they never dreamed they would be on.  To give them hope in a scary, confusing time.  We were approached about the project, and of course we wanted to participate!  It has taken a lot more time than I thought it would to organize my thoughts, write them out, polish the product, and let it fly.  Not to mention the emotions that it brought up while I was working on it - I had to just put it away several times - it is OVERWHELMING what we have overcome this past year.  Along with that, I have to acknowledge that I shared the burden of this project with my husband.  With out the suggestions/prodding/editing/proofreading/laundry support of my amazing husband, I would have never seen this through to completion.  I buckled down over this past holiday weekend to finish it up and put the final touches on it, and I want to share it with you here.  It's a mere 5,300 words.  Sit back and enjoy the "short" version of Finn's Story...

Journals of Hope

NICU Family Support Program

We are the Six Dream Weavers – This is Our Story

My name is Betsey, and my son was born 14 weeks premature.  I found out I was pregnant on May 24, 2011.  At age 36, I was already the mother of 3 children, and was not contemplating a fourth.  I had 9 year old twin girls, Emma and Lara (who worn born in 2002 at 38 weeks gestation, weighing 6 pounds each - came home with me a few days later) and a 4 year old son, Jacob (born in 2007 at 37 weeks weighing slightly under 9 pounds).  My husband, Britt, and I both worked full time, and had a very busy life with our 3 kids, and thought our family was complete.  It took me 2 days to get up the nerve to break the news to him!  Although we were already covering our newest little addition with prayer, we had no idea about the complexity of the journey we were about to embark upon.  I was due with my fourth child on January 6, 2012.  

Both of my previous pregnancies were very routine – even the “high risk” multiple pregnancy.  I had some PIH (pregnancy induced hypertension) issues late term that led to a C-section a few days earlier than scheduled with the first, and we moved my C-section date up for my son by a few days based on his size, but other than that, two pretty unremarkable pregnancies.  That all changed with this one.  I started having unexplained bleeding at 9 weeks, a slight amniotic fluid leak at 15 weeks, and both issues seemed to continue and get worse during the 2^nd trimester.  We were praying BOLD prayers with our friends, family, and care givers to save this precious life and to give us all the wisdom to make the right decisions.  Eventually, these complications led to pelvic rest, then restricted activity, and finally home bed rest.  On September 14, 2011, I walked out of my house for the last time as a mother of 3.  That evening, I had another (my 4^th) severe bleeding event that landed me in our local hospital for 2 days (after being in and out of labor and delivery a few times in the past weeks), after which I was transferred to a regional hospital with maternal and fetal medicine specialists, as well as a Level III neonatal intensive care unit – Mercy Health Center in Oklahoma City, OK - for total hospital bed rest.  I was ready to settle in for the long haul.  I was only 23 weeks pregnant when this happened.  My baby had a LOT of growing and developing to do!  My prayer warriors kicked in to overdrive to beg for God’s protection over this situation.

Fast forward a few weeks.  It was a Wednesday.  October 5.  3 days before my 37^th birthday.  I had run into the “bed rest wall” that morning and was having a huge pity party for myself.  I was incredibly weepy that day -- Just couldn’t stop crying. I was sad. Sad because I missed my kids. Sad because I felt “trapped” and “stuck.” Sad because I missed my husband. And sad because I missed my home town of Stillwater – 70 miles away. Not really anything specific, and I had TONS of visitors, but it just wasn’t the same.  Shortly after lunch, I had started to feel better. I had gotten a few pep talks from my husband, and a few excellent messages from a fellow twin mom who endured 63 days of hospital bed rest while waiting on her twin girls, and a beautiful bouquet of flowers from my most prominent cheerleader outside of my family. And I knew people were praying for me, for the baby, and for my family.  I had been in prayer all day, too, I just needed God to help me overcome the stronghold Satan had on us that day.  I had given myself a few pep talks as well, and I was looking forward to Skyping (is that a verb?) with friends that night with my newly discovered favorite technology! Things were looking up! I knew I could do this!  At 7:00pm, I started my Skype session with my friends.  About  30 or 40 minutes later, it happened.  Although we weren’t sure what happened at the time, my water broke, but along with that was a large amount of blood.  Thankfully, my husband was smarter than I was and headed down to see me as soon as he could – after I had said all would be fine and insisted he stay home.  But after several hours of prayer, careful monitoring, IV fluids and calls to my specialist, the time had come.  

At 11:01, my nurse came in, sat on the edge of my bed, put her hand on my knee and said, “Sweetheart, we’re going to have a baby.” I nodded as though I understood, even though I didn’t really. And then she said, “Like RIGHT NOW!” And then I saw the panic. And within seconds, 4 or 5 other people were in my room. I heard the charge nurse on the phone saying we would have a baby by 11:20. People were putting the compression boots back on my legs, taking off my street clothes and putting me in a gown, putting warmed IV fluid on the pole at a much faster rate, taking my blood pressure, shaving me in preparation for surgery, a NICU nurse was introducing herself, and so on and so on and so on!   With fear in my eyes, I told my husband to “Call my mom!” and to “PRAY!” Next thing I knew, I was being wheeled down the hall to the operating room. As we crossed the threshold, a nurse called out “Time in, 11:09.” Wow. 8 minutes from the time I was told I would be giving birth.

Finn Ricker Weaver was joining us soon!  He was born on Wednesday, October 5, 2011 at 11:48pm. He weighed in at a tiny 1 pound and 14 ounces, and was 13 inches long. His arrival 14 weeks before his due date was a bit dramatic, and even a bit traumatic, but he defied the odds by surviving and then thriving in the NICU at Mercy.  Praising God for his mercies and his miracles!

 

You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples. Psalm 77:14

“They” (NICU doctors, nurses, staff and graduate families) often say the first 24-48 hours of your NICU stay are somewhat of a “Honeymoon” period – things seem to be going well or better than expected.  But, the roller coaster ride has to begin at some point, and it always does.  We were told that Finn was doing very well initially for a baby of his size and gestational age.  The first two interventions for Finn (besides IV fluids for nutrition) were the ventilator for respiration (which at this point was at very low settings for a baby of his size!), and 3 banks of the blue photo therapy lights used to fight the bilirubin levels in the blood that cause jaundice.  Both very typical for micro-preemies.  (Heck- all my full term kids had jaundice issues of some level!)  The next few days were pretty uneventful as far as the health of our baby.  We knew he had a long row to hoe, and we would be in the NICU for several months, so this was just the beginning of our ride.  The hardest thing for us during those early days was the 4^th day after he was born, when I was discharged, and we had to leave the hospital without our tiny son.  Absolutely heartbreaking.

That first week consisted of lots of IV’s, lots of photo-therapy lights, weight loss, tiny weight gain, and finally, on day six, the chance to HOLD MY SON for the very first time!  I was allowed to “Kangaroo” (a method of caring for a premature baby where the baby is held against a parent's bare chest – skin to skin) with Finn for almost an entire hour that first time!  Truly a healing moment for both of us!  I also learned this week that sometimes, when you are past an obstacle (Jaundice – they removed the lights on day 6), sometimes it has to be re-visited (the lights were back on day 11). Let the roller coaster begin!

At one week old, Finn received his first (there would be six before we were discharged) blood transfusion.  This was an emotional moment for us.  We had never known anyone who had received a blood transfusion, and it brought up a lot of questions and fears.  Ultimately, we knew what was best for Finn, but there was still those nagging thoughts – Is it safe? What if he rejects it? Why does he need blood?  We learned that it is completely safe, and he needed blood because he was using it faster than he was producing it just trying to grow, plus all the tests he was having run on him – including a heel prick for blood gas levels every few hours!  It was also this day that we learned he was fighting off his first infection, and was being given broad spectrum antibiotics.  All of these things compounded to make me a very nervous mom.  Once again, we turned to our faith and knew that God would provide for our tiny baby.

The second week was rocky, too.  While I was able to hold him more, Dad got his first opportunity to Kangaroo, he started feeding on tiny amounts of my pumped breast milk, and he had gained weight back up to his birth weight, he also was experiencing more respiratory distress.  He had to be switched from a traditional ventilator to a more invasive, LOUDER oscillator (which keeps the lungs open with constant pressure, and vibrates at a very high rate).  This was distressing because it was more support (going in the wrong direction here), we were no longer able to hold our baby, and the machine literally SHAKES the baby.  He looked like he was vibrating all the time!  But, he immediately started improving on this equipment.  During this time, he was also sedated lightly, as well.  While I didn’t know exactly what to expect from a newborn preemie, we could tell sometimes that he was acting “drugged up” a bit.  

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. Psalm 28:&7

The next few weeks were filled with days of sitting by Finn’s bedside, pumping breast milk endlessly, staying with friends while missing my family over an hour away, and learning our new normal.  Finn was a fighter from the start, and he was working so hard to get bigger and better.  He continued to tolerate his feedings through the NG tube, stayed under the bili-lights for another week, and made respiratory progress every day.  When he had been on the oscillator about 5 days, he hit a plateau of sorts and was not making any forward progress in the breathing department.  That’s when we were asked the hardest question by far of our NICU journey.  Our Neonatologist wanted to start Finn on some controversial steroids to help his lungs.  We were told that the long-term effects of these were unknown, but that short term there was a VERY HIGH chance of them helping Finn turn this corner.  After much prayer, consultation, and crying, we decided that the short term benefits outweighed the long term risks.  We knew this was part of God’s plan for Finn’s life, and we wanted Finn to get better and be able to be the man God wants him to be.  And, thankfully, the drugs worked and Finn continued to improve – he transitioned off the oscillator back to a traditional ventilator after 2 (of the longest) weeks.  Then, we FINALLY got to hold him again!  

By one month old, he weighed 2 pounds 11 ounces.  He was finishing up a round of antibiotics for the staph and e.coli they had found in his eyes and chest tube.  He had been off the oscillator for 10 days and off the steroids for a week, and was making positive progress in the respiratory department.  He was up to 18cc’s of breast milk every 3 hours through his NG tube and tolerating them well – working towards being off all IV fluids and supplementary lipids.  He was still on fentanyl for sedation, but was being slowly weaned off. And he had his first eye exam from the ophthalmologist - which he passed beautifully!  We had fallen in to a good pattern, and Finn was growing well.  Our next hurdle was to remove the PICC (peripherally inserted central catheter for intravenous access for a prolonged period of time) line from his arm and eliminate that potential source of infection.  We need him to grow, but to also avoid infection and other illness.  Two steps forward, one step back.  But, slow and steady wins the race, right?

 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding Proverbs 3:5

November brought us lots of ups and downs as to be expected.  Early in the month, he was doing SO WELL, then he started trending downward and needed his fourth blood transfusion, medication to pull fluid off his lungs, and his ventilator settings were going in the wrong direction for a couple of days.  So distressing!  Then, he bounced back and had a GREAT few days!  At 6 weeks old, he was taken off all pumps and medications, the PICC line was pulled, and he had no IV’s in him at all!  He was de-sat’ing less and less during his hands on times, and he was making progress in the right direction – even figured out how to suck his thumb!  By the end of the month, there were even whispers that he might be home for Christmas – a mere 12 days before his due date!  We were looking forward to celebrating the birth of our Savior by bringing home our sweet son!  He was making tiny steps forward every day.  Creeping closer and closer to being off the respirator and on to CPAP – a step in the right direction for sure! As soon as he could be without the chest tube, we could start trying to nipple some of his feedings.  By this point in our journey, I was just weary.  Missing home and my family.  Wanting time to go more quickly.  Wanting Finn to improve faster.  Wanting us to all be home and together and life back to normal.  Everyone kept telling me I look good, so I was either good at faking it, or the pace and stress I was keeping up under was making me look better to others!  I don’t know, but I’ll take the complements.  Since Finn was born, I had not spent more than 4 nights in a row in the same bed.  We had been in the NICU for 7 weeks.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

Week 8 was a big one!  Not only were we celebrating our THIRD holiday in the NICU (my birthday, Halloween, and now Thanksgiving), MY BABY DIDN’T HAVE A TUBE DOWN HIS THROAT ANYMORE!!!!!   He could swallow and cough and CRY now.   Soon, we would be bottle feeding!  Also this week, he started wearing real clothes!  Up to this point, he was in a diaper and was swaddled.  I was not aware of this development coming, so I was truly shocked!  I found out later that the requirements were 3 and a half pounds, but when Finn hit that marker, he still had a rigid tube down his throat.  So, for him, it was 3 and a half pounds, AND the tube was gone!   The month ended with him being “graduated” from his high-tech incubator “Giraffe” omni-bed to an open-air crib in his room.  This seemed much less scary for all of us, but he seemed so SMALL in there!  Especially since he was still on the CPAP for breathing and was so wrapped up all the time.  Soon after he moved to his open crib, we learned that the settings on his breathing machine (called a SiPap) were no longer initiating breathes for him - he was doing that ALL on his own!  SO CLOSE to being off the machine and on to a nasal cannula!  He also got his 5^th blood transfusion at the end of the month.  

The beginning of December brought a whirlwind of excitement.  It seemed like things were doing a two-step (one step forward, two steps back) for such a long time, then everything was just stagnant with nothing happening, then started moving forward QUICKLY!  We were really looking good for the “home by Christmas” dream we had.  Finn was doing very well, hitting milestones, and getting bigger and cuter every day!  One of my favorite NICU moments came early in December when I had stayed late and got to help the nurses and RT give my little man a “spa bath.”  Just under 4 pounds, he was totally bare for the experience except for the NG feeding tube, and the RT was holding a hose to blow air by his nose to keep his O2 levels up, and she used another of her tools to make bubbles in the pan they were using to bathe him.  I got to help, and another nurse took pictures, and it was truly a memory I will cherish forever! 

 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?” Matthew 6:25

I missed a few days early in the month because I was back at home for my surgery – a tubal ligation.  We were definitely too old and too worn out emotionally to do this again!  I made sure I held Finn extra the 2 days before I had to go home for several days.  The day after my surgery, I got the call that Finn was no longer on CPAP – what a GREAT way to make my recovery go faster!  He was now just on the nasal cannula, and would soon be able to attempt bottle feeding!  We made a quick trip down to see him since this was HUGE and we could finally see his whole face.  Good news can sure speed up recovery!  

 

He turned 2 months old on December 5 and weighed in at 4 pounds six ounces, and had started taking some of his feeds by bottle.  The other thing that made getting off CPAP such a huge milestone for us was that now our other kids and family members could HOLD THE BABY!  They had been asking for so very long!  Up to this point, Britt and I were the only ones to have held him.  Early in December, that was quickly remedied!  Big Brother Jake was first, followed by big sisters Emma and Lara as well as extended family.  Once Finn got his tachypnea (fast breathing) under control, he took to the bottle like a champ!  The first few days he would tire easily, but by the 4^th or 5^th day, he was really doing GREAT, and was up to about 82% bottle feeds!  The staff was very impressed by this as a baby with his much oxygen support typically has some aversions to nipple feeding.  On his month-day, we also started his first round of immunizations.  I didn’t know they would keep those on a “traditional” schedule, but it made me feel better knowing he was protected.  But, as the NICU ride goes, the bottom soon dropped out on us again.  The next week, he was struggling – couldn’t keep his O2 levels up, super sleepy (maybe from working so hard to bottle feed), and generally not the hard working baby we had all come to know.  They told me they were going to withhold the bottle for an ENTIRE WEEK to get him back up to par.  There went my Christmas wish.

The morning after I got this crushing news, I was greeted at Finn’s bedside by 4 staff members; all declaring my son had just had the poop of the century in the NICU.  He got it all over everything including the walls, the bed, and the VapoTherm machine!  And the best part?  After this display, he felt SO MUCH better – back to the baby from a few days ago who was eager to please!  We got to try a bottle again that morning – and never looked back!  My Christmas dreams had been revived!

The thought of actually bringing my tiny baby home started to become a reality at this point.  But, a scary reality.  While I desperately wanted Finn home, it’s scary to leave the only one he’s ever known.  It’s like his birth, all over again.  Leaving a home that is safe, comfortable, reliable, and KNOWN to go to another place, that while it is safe, comfortable and reliable, it is a GREAT unknown.  A whole new set of circumstances and lessons to be learned.  A new family dynamic.  A new life that God has entrusted US with – we are so unworthy of all his blessings!  About this time, we seemed to hit another Finn “plateau” – which he was now famous for.  His numbers were trending downward again, so it was time for his 6^th (and FINAL, thankfully) blood transfusion.  During the blood transfusion, they hold his feeds, so not only did he get an IV for the blood, but also for IV nutrition as well.  While he looked kind of cute with a hep lock in each hand poking out over his blanket, I knew it wasn’t comfortable for him.  Typically after a transfusion, Finn perks right up and takes off in the right direction.  But this one had left him pretty sluggish.  He was having trouble taking all of his feeds by bottle, he was lethargic, and was relying heavily on his oxygen support.  All these things were not getting us home any time soon.  He was no worse, but definitely not better either.  And we weren’t moving forward at this point.  It really looked like Christmas would be a family of 5 affair as Number 6 stayed in the NICU.  Time to get back on our knees and get our prayer partners back in full gear.  We needed grace in this situation.

At 10 weeks in the NICU, we had been there long enough that some of the other parents of preemies feel like friends, and the staff was like family.  We couldn’t walk down the hall without a handful of “Hellos” and “How’s Finn?” greetings passing my way.  Although it was a comforting feeling, it was still a bit surreal.  WHY were we there in the first place – let alone long enough to feel that way about the people we were encountering on a daily basis?  But all of the hard work, diligence and prayers were paying off.  Finn was on another upswing!  He hit 5 pounds 10 days before Christmas.   We had a plan to get him over the plateau – which included discontinuing the diuretics (which he was not responding to properly), an echo cardiogram (which came back clear), and hold bottle feedings for 48 hours to insure he wasn’t aspirating when he fed – which also gave him time to rest.  Oh – and the doctor ordered for his parents to be patient.  Easier said than done!  We were told due to these setbacks, Finn would not be home for Christmas.  But we were thankful for what we had.  The doctor had told us the day before that 9 out of 10 babies with his exact circumstances (26 week gestation birth, under 2 pound birth weight, 7 weeks on a ventilator, etc.) would not be faring as well as he had. 

But, 2 days was all he needed!  We had once again seen God show off through our son.  Back to bottle feeding, back to being his perky self.  Still weaning his oxygen support ever so very slowly.  Just 4 days after that last, fateful blood transfusion, Finn moved to the “A quad!”  This is where the less critical babies in the unit stay.  This was another huge milestone.  You know your baby is going home soon when you move over there where they keep the “growers and feeders.”  They took his feeding tube out on the 20^th, and that was his last invasive treatment. That’s where we were at this point, just growing and mastering bottle feeding!    He was now just on monitors and oxygen.  We celebrated Christmas at home on Christmas morning, and then had a lunch of lunchables and capri sun in the van as we headed to see our baby!  Best. Christmas. EVER!  First picture of all 4 of my kids in the same place at the same time.  5 pounds 10 ounces of Awesome.  Growing and feeding just like he should be.  Just waiting to come home.  They were working through his check list to come home – including his hearing test, eye tests, car seat challenge, and the final obstacle of an MRI.  And we were working on ours – taking our last NICU class and getting CPR class taken care of, too.  

…the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” Luke 1:30-33

On Tuesday, December 27, 2011, my husband and I got to “room in” with our son in the NICU for our first overnight with him, and we drive him home to our house on December 28, 2011 – 9 days before his original due date of January 6, 2012.  

 In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8

The first few days (and weeks!) at home were a true test of our parenting skills, patience, and love.  Finn came home on a heart/apnea monitor as well as supplemental oxygen, so we had lots of “stuff” to bring with us.  We had some equipment issues the first few days that took some working out, we had some insurance issues that were making it impossible to get the Synagis (RSV preventative) shots scheduled, and my husband had to go back to work, but my older three kids still had a week off school for the holidays!  WHEW!  And, we were trying to keep Finn on the every 3 hour schedule he had been on in the NICU.  It was a challenge keeping every one fed, entertained, clean and dry - and to keep reminding them not to step on, trip over, kink or otherwise disturb all the cords and wires crisscrossing our house! It was a crazy ride, but we made it!  On his due date, had been home for 10 days.  We are all still adjusting, but we couldn’t help but celebrate this milestone.  We are so happy to just be a family, all under one roof and looking forward to a much calmer 2012.  

By 4 months old, Finn weighed 8 pounds, 1 ounce and was 20 inches long.  We were so thankful for what God had done in the life of our son so far, and for the future we could finally begin to imagine.  He was still on oxygen and still on the monitor 24 hours a day – both of which were becoming tiresome at this point.  We had started to wean the amount of oxygen and we were getting close to being done with it, but we still had a few weeks to go.  He was still growing strong and doing all the things he should be done.

Shortly after his 5^th month day in March, Finn was struggling through a slight cold, and with his congestion and the nasal cannula in his nostrils, he was having a hard time breathing.  We called out pediatrician, and got the go ahead to try a room air test!  We were so thrilled!  It was so great to finally be able to see Finn’s whole face without tender grips and a tube up his nose!  He did great, and while we had him on oxygen at night for a few more days, it felt so good to be done with one set of cords and wires!  We were still on the heart /apnea monitor at this point, but soon moved to only having it on at night. Our prayers were being answered!

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Matthew 6:26

At his 6 month pediatrician’s visit, we were finally cleared to stop using the monitor.  This was truly an emotional moment.  Our baby was FREE!  Thank you Jesus, for all of your continued blessings over our son!   We could be a normal family!  He was growing bigger, was given a clean bill of health, and we were finally getting out of RSV/flu season!  We did have one more hurdle to jump, as he needed to have surgery to repair the left inguinal hernia he had.  We got that scheduled for a few weeks later – at a different hospital an hour away from home again.  All went very well with his surgery and his recovery made him a whole new boy!  The child development specialist that comes to see him every 2 weeks was really amazed at how much better he felt and acted after that surgery!  Now, that he was doing so well, we could start to get him out of the house a little bit.  His first encounter with the public was on Easter Sunday when we took him to church for the very first time.

 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, “The LORD reigns!” 1 Chronicles 16:13

As I write this, Finn is almost 8 months old.  The last couple of months have been so great.  He is a wonderful baby to be around – when he’s happy!  We also suffered through a terrible case of colic, and while he is past that, he is still my fussiest baby!  But, his smiles, coos, laughs and just the miracle of his life make all the struggles so very worth it!  We are so lucky God chose us to be his family, and we can’t wait to hear how he changes the world in the future!  

We hope that sharing our story with you will help you on your journey.  We also want to thank you for letting us tell our story and letting us reach out to you.  We have been able to celebrate victories and grieve for sorrows of several families since we began our journey.  It is truly a blessing to be able to share this experience with others. “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.”  Romans 12:15

List of New Things

It's been a week of new things.  I woke up this morning thinking about all the "new" things I had either learned, done, or been introduced to, so I wanted to find a way to write it all down and share it.  I decided the best way would be a categorized list.  (What other way would a GOLD personality type do things!)  So, I started the list on paper while I contemplated going back to sleep, and now here I am.

Medical Professionals
Nurses I have had the same day nurse, Holly, pretty much the whole time I have been here.  I am pretty sure I love her and I will never forget her.  I've had a few others (Holly does go home occasionally), and have really liked some, but none are Holly.  And my night nurses seem to change a lot.  Unfortunately, the one I seem to have had the most is not my favorite.  Eh - you win some you loose some.
Nutritionist She's been the most comical so far.  She came in, introduced herself, then asked if I knew why she was here.  I said no, and she said neither did she.  We chatted a few seconds, and she was gone.
Chaplain - Sister MaryCatherine While not specifically a medical professional, still a member of the Mercy staff.  She came by to visit, and pray with/for me and the baby.  she had some great stories and was a wonderful departure from the normal visitors!
Physical Therapist This lady was super sweet!  She gave me a sheet with some "suitable for bed rest" exercises on it, went over it all with me, then we just talked.  She was very nice.
NICU Family Support Specialist I think I may have messed up this sweet lady's schedule!  After she explained who she was and what she did, we talked FOREVER!  She is also pregnant with a "surprise" baby, but she has triplets at home!  Her job is to help us feel at ease with our NICU experience (should we have one) and to help be a liaison between the family and the staff.
PICC Nurse Specialist The nurse that puts the PICC line in is certified in the procedure.  The woman who did mine was phenomenal.  I was pretty much terrified of this (even though the IV stick every 3 days made me cry), and she talked me through it before she started, and then we chatted all the way through the procedure, and it really kept me at ease.
Radiology Tech After the PICC insertion, I got a chest X-Ray with the portable machine to make sure it was in the right place.  Another great professionsal who was sweet and caring.

Also over the past week, I have gained some new "equipment."  I'll address that in the same way.

Equipment
Leg Compression Cuffs  I don't know exactly when I acquired these, almost a week ago now I suppose.  But, they tether me to the bed, practically, and I am still not a huge fan.  The purpose is to prevent blood clots in the legs. They are these large Velcro closure cuffs that wrap around my calf and have an air bladder in the back.  They are attached by flexible hoses to a motor that hangs off the foot board of my bed.  The bladders inflate alternately on each leg for a few seconds at a time.  And the motor vibrates the whole bed.  I was told to wear them 23 out of 24 hours - I would say I am averaging about 20.  Not to shabby when I seriously loathe them.
PICC line PICC stands for peripherally inserted central catheter.  Basically, it allows IV access for extended periods of time without having to move the IV port every three days (ouch).  It was inserted with ultrasound guidance right here in my room, then the portable X-ray came to make sure it was in the right place.  I knew nothing about them, so I Googled it.  Found this site to explain it to me and my family.  Once the insertion site stops hurting (nurse told me about 24 hours) I think I am going to like it.  Had my first blood draw from it last night, and I didn't feel a thing!
SKYPE So, I am just now catching up with technology.  Never had the need for it before, really.  My mom had it to talk to my brother and niece in Texas, and lots of other family members had it to talk to grand-kids and such, but I see my parents every day, and my in-laws don't even own a computer!  So, after a friend suggested it on Facebook, I was eager to get it going.  Only one problem - no web cams.  While they are readily available at a ton of retailers, and they are relatively cheap, every penny counts at this point, and it wasn't a priority.  Plus, we needed 2 - one for home and one for my laptop.  A week went by after I first mentioned it, then we were blessed with a Wal-Mart gift card that would cover the cost of 2 cameras, plus a tank of gas to come see me!  PERFECT.  I got it all set up Sunday night, and my kids LOVE it!  Me too.

Complaints
(I wouldn't be pregnant if I didn't have a few.)  Most of these relate to the fact that I feel a bit trapped.  I feel like my freedom has been taken from me, and some days I struggle with it more than others.
Bathroom trips I have to unhook my legs from the bed, wrestle my way out of this crazy auto-adjusting air bed, and without being too graphic, the process in the bathroom is not pleasant, either.
PICC line It does come with its own set of problems.  Like the 5am flush.  It requires a bit more maintenance than the traditional IV ports.
Showers I don't shower but every 4-5 days.  I hate that, too.  But, I feel like someone should be here with me when I do it, so I wait for family.  Plus, with the PICC line, it requires a bit of maintenance before I can just hop in there.
Can't be a mom to the 3 at home This one hurts.  We've had a couple of situations over the past week where it has just KILLED me to be here and not there.  Sometimes, no matter how good the people around you are taking care of you, you just need your Momma.
Allergies Ragweed.  Plus regular pregnancy congestion.  'Nuff said.
Failed the Test I found out last night I failed the 1 hour glucose tolerance test for gestational diabetes.  So, I am currently fasting to take the 3 hour test today.  JOY.

Praises
There is always a way to find God in all of this and to praise the One who paid my debt. 
Health Everyone tells me how good and how strong Finn looks on the monitor.  And my bleeding is back down to the minimal amount that is "typical" of most days after the incident last week.
PICC line Thankful that this procedure exists.  The repeated (hard, painful) sticks were getting depressing, and not to mention never ending since there is no telling how long I will be here.  I think even with the higher maintenance, this is a better option!
Revolving Door The nurses make fun of me for how often my door opens and closes!  I am blessed with deliveries, mail and visitors!  Not a day has gone by that I have not had at least one visitor.  Even when I thought no one was coming, I would be surprised!
New Fall TV I try not to watch TV during the day, but the evenings are filled with the new fall shows and returning series.  I have no DVR, so I miss parts due to nurses and visitors, but its still fun!
Countdown We are counting down the days to my due date, and I am grateful for my friend Kate on Twitter who is singing to me daily to remind me what day we are on!

My family is amazing.  The things they have had to endure I cannot imagine or speak for.  I do know my mom has had to pick kids up in the middle of her work day twice lately.  I know that they have had a few hectic mornings, and one grounding has occurred.  I know that every day brings its own challenges, and I am just so thankful for all they have done!  My mom reminds me often that the routine and pace she is keeping for my kids are why women her age don't have kids.  My dad has re-learned the skills of how to talk to elementary school kids about their day and how to play nurse to kids with their ailments.  And my husband has been completely immersed in the life of a single parent.  I remember those days; I only had 2 kids, but they were toddler twins, plus he has 2 more family members far away that he is worrying about.  ALL of our plates are full.  But we are ALL blessed by the many people who have reached out to us, cooked a meal for us, brought things back and forth for us, taken our kids for a few hours, and everyone who has prayed for us.  Keep it up!  There's still 94 days to go...

Double Digits

Well, lookie there!  My ticker is down to 99 days!  Double Digits!  I remember reaching this milestone in my pregnancy with Jake and being really excited!  While I am excited, it comes with a whole different meaning this time.  I have been in this hospital room 2 weeks today.  I will be 26 weeks pregnant tomorrow.  One week left in the 2nd trimester.  My birthday is next week.  All kinds of markers being reached in the next few days!  But, the only marker I want to recognize is that I am STILL pregnant!  Every day counts at this point!

I had some pretty serious bleeding overnight Tuesday night, which left me crampy, frustrated, and lethargic yesterday.  I got a surprise visit from my AMAZING husband in the middle of the day which helped my mood immensely, and we actually napped together for a bit while he was here, so that made me feel better not only for myself, but for his physical well being as well.  I know this whole ordeal has to be taking its toll on him, too.

I know he is physically tired - we were often tired from the wear and tear of 3 kids, 2 full time jobs, and a household to run when I was home.  I can only imagine what that’s like for him now.  We are blessed with the help of my wonderful parents, but coordinating everything can be just as tiring as actually carrying out the tasks.  I know he ismentally worn out as well.  He is sad and he misses us.  Two of the most important people in his life are far away, and there is nothing he can do to hold us or protect us.  That has to be heartbreaking (I know it is for me, too).  And then when he is able to come, it’s over 2 hours in the car round trip.  When you are already physically and mentally exhausted, that can be torturous.  I just want to take a moment to honor him here, publicly, and say THANK YOU to everyone who is trying (and succeeding) at lightening his load, but to also remind you to keep praying for him. And a surprise drink from Sonic might just make his day! Britt Weaver, I love you, and I think you are doing an AMAZING job with the lot you’ve been given the past 2 weeks, and I know you are strong and can do this!  Thank you for taking on this challenge so gracefully.  I pray for you constantly!

I also want to say thank you to everyone who has visited, send cards, brought gifts, and generally made this all a bit more bearable.  The guest book is getting full - and I’ve accidentally let a few people go without signing it!  I am overwhelmed with your generosity and your thoughtfulness.  This room is definitely a lot more homey today than the day I got here when there was no guest furniture, just a hospital bed and a bunch of equipment!  Also want to say thank you, again, to the folks from my LTC lifegroup who went the extra mile to set up the Weaver Support Fund.  This gesture was totally unexpected, and we are truly grateful for the blessing it will be in months to come.

PS - I woke up exhausted this morning.  I dreamed - more than once - that I was not pregnant with one son, but with triplet girls!  I guess it could ALWAYS be worse!

Emotional Weekend

Today is Monday, and I am 25 weeks 3 days pregnant, and mybaby is the size of an eggplant.  Thepast couple of days have been an emotional roller coaster!  Health wise, Baby Finn and I are bothgreat.  My bleeding has been minimal to nonexistent,and of course “Dance Party” has been moving and grooving like crazy.  Even gets the hiccups pretty regularly.  But, name an emotion, and I have had it overthe last few days.  Fear?  You bet! Exhaustion?  Comes with sleeplessnights.  Disappointment?  Beyond measure.  Joy? Have you met my son, he came to see me. Pride? I have 2 of the most well behaved red-heads you have evermet.  I could go on and on…

I have been continually blessed with visitors.  My parents came by themselves on Fridaynight, then my husband and 3 kids on Saturday. Emma and Lara were only here a couple of hours before a friend whiskedthem away to an event filled sleepover with a good friend who used to live inStillwater but is now here in the city. She texted me pictures throughout their day/night, and a good time was definitelyhad by all!  Britt and Jake stayed herewith me, and we watched our beloved OSU Cowboys beat Texas A&M.  It was so fun – and since Jake slept throughmost of the game, Britt and I enjoys some quiet time, too!  (Not took long after the game started, Jakeasked for a blanket, curled up on the couch with his Bobby, stuck his thumb inhis mouth, and was OUT for almost 3 hours!) Sunday, my parents came again to see me, and to pick up the Twisters aftertheir fun adventure.  They all hung outwith me for a couple of hours – the girls painted their fingernails while theywere here – then it was quiet for a little while.  Sunday evening, 2 families from my AMAZINGLifeGroup came by, too.  It just makesthe time go faster and also allows us all to build our relationships and stayconnected.  I am so thankful for their kindnessand diligence to help me through this crazy time in my life.

But, it was not all candy and roses this weekend.  We had a little “domestic disturbance” on thehall that left me scared, mad, helpless, and frustrated.  It actually happened the first time Thursdaynight.  Twice a day, they hook me up tothe monitor for an hour to gauge Finn’s heart tones and my contractions.  It’s a long hour every time as I have to layflat on my back and lie very still since he is such a wiggler and tends to getaway from the monitor at least once or twice a session.  So, imagine my frustration Thursday nightwhen my hour was up and my nurse was NOT coming back!  30 extra minutes, and a nursing student comesin, simply to turn off the machine and take the belts off me.  While that was a physical relief, I had heardthe ruckus in the hall, and it had “tied up” my nurse, so I was curious, naturally!  So, she did come in several minutes later toadminister meds, and she kinda of joked about the “domestic” we werehaving.  7 OKC police men were on thehall.  So, to small town Betsey, that wasa lot, and kind of raised my awareness. Fast Forward to Saturday night, late. Britt and Jake were in Stillwater at the airport welcoming the OSUCowboy football team and staff back to Stillwater when I started textinghim.  The lady next door was justHYSTERICAL!  She was screaming andyelling (cussing) and throwing things (that were breaking), there was a man’svoice dishing it out just as bad as she was. Mind you, I was hooked up to the baby monitor, basically TRAPPED to mybed, and it sounded like they were in this room with me (thin walls).  It escalated A LOT before I heard securityget involved.  Plus, I was texting Brittand my friend who had my girls like crazy. She offered to come up here, but they wouldn’t have let her in sincethey were dealing with this out in the hall. Again, I am well past my hour mark on monitoring, I am now scared,helpless and MAD!   Felt so helpless!  Strapped to my bed, can’t get up, weak frombeing on bed rest for weeks, no lock on my door, don’t feel safe, nurses can’tget to me… SCARED!  They finallyintervened and got the situation under control. But after about an hour, it started up AGAIN!  How did he get back up on the floor?  WHO let him in???  Long story short, Britt ended up on the phonewith the charge nurse for the shift at about 11:30 who came down and blew somehot air and told me they were trying to get the guy off the floor and bannedfrom coming back (not sure of the relationship, but come to find out this ladyis a bit coo coo for cocoa puffs and hates her husband/baby daddy).  She told me this patient was “not a threat tothe floor,” and that “she’s just angry” which I told her was fine and good, butshe was definitely a disturbance.  Sheasked if I wanted to move rooms to down the hall.  Um, NO! I am settled in here, I have decorated, all my STUFF is here, I’m notmoving.  To which she said, “We can bringa cart and we will help you.”  I declinedagain, and suggested the Crazy next door be moved.  She didn’t answer that and left thinking shehad pacified me, when all she had done was stirred my pot and left me with arestless, sleepless night.

The next morning, one of my doctors came in, and were-hashed the night’s events as well – I was making sure she too knew I was notpleased with the situation.  Shepatronized me and said it’s hard to witness something like that when you’re notused to living in a big city where things like that tend to happen.  UGH! Then, she offered me anti-depressants. REALLY?!?!  How ‘bout you justmake sure I am safe, and start the psycho next door on someanti-psychotics!  I am FINE – just needto feel safe and well cared for and that I am getting my money’s worth – which Idid not feel that night.

Anyway – I am better now. And NO – I am not on any anti-depressants.  I will not dwell on that awful 12 hours, andI slept much better the next night.  MyIV relocation went very well yesterday, and 2 of my doctors have now mentionedif my bleeding stays away for a week we may consider sending me home.  I am not pinning any hopes on that.  I’m not sure that is a good idea, since Iwould be back home on bed rest, and I would be home in my house alone all day,and that’s a scary prospect if something were to go wrong.  I feel safer (most of the time) here withnurses and doctors and medical care. But, we’re not even to that conversation yet, so I’m not even giving itmuch thought.  Just thought it wasinteresting that 2 of the 3 doctors have now mentioned it.

I am looking forward to a lunch guest today and a solo visitfrom my husband tonight.  I watched somegood football games and new fall TV series on the tube this week, and know I willcontinue to do that this week as well.  Iam also proud that I got my wedding rings off for the first time in MONTHS so Isent them back to Stillwater with Britt for a good cleaning and to bere-plated, as they were SO dirty.  Notsure if I will put them back on or not…

Also, notice the new link at the top of the page.  Members of my LifeGroup have started a bankaccount for us to help with medical bills. I would like to publicly thank Gabi Martin, Daniel Thrasher, JohnCrawford and the rest of LTC for making this happen for us.  We have no idea what the financial ramificationsof this ordeal will be, but it will be stressful for our family, and we aregrateful for the offer to help.

Friday - turning the calendar

Made it to Friday!  A great day for a TON of reasons!  My top 3 (for this specific Friday) are as follows: 1 - I made it to 25 weeks!  2 - It’s the first day of Fall - so glad to say good bye to the hottest, most oppressive summer on record! 3 - It’s “Field Day” at my kids’ elementary school, so they get to spend a few hours competing in friendly competitions with their friends outside, while raising money for school projects.  They look forward to it every year, and this one is no exception!  We usually work really hard at getting pledges to add to the fund drive, but it just wasn't in the cards this year!  But, they are taking the little bit they did raise, and I know it will make a difference in their school!


I’m a little sad to be missing things at home.  I missed several things this week, and it’s been a bit harder than I thought it would be.  Everything was left in VERY capable hands, but it was still a lonely feeling to know all this fun/exciting/different stuff was going on without me.  I missed my 2 days of set up out at the Fairgrounds for the Adorable Affordables sale - AND the pre-sale shopping frenzy that I love so much.  I missed the parent meeting for the math tutoring program Emma and Lara are participating in.  I missed Lara’s eye doctor appointment where she got to pick out new frames for her new glasses (I hear they are pink and sparkly and I can’t wait to see them!).  I missed Vision Night with Pastor Craig Groeschel at LifeChurch.tv Stillwater.  But most of all, I missed BEING with my family.  Jake called me 2 nights in a row in tears lamenting the fact that he had not seen me in DAYS!  A friend posted on my Facebook wall that we should try Skype.  I have never used it, but I think that might be a good idea.  I downloaded the software, but now I need 2 cameras with integrated mics - one for my laptop here and one for the desktop at home.


I am blessed by visitors, however!  And that is SO NICE on so many levels.  It not only makes the days go faster (which I love), it also helps me feel connected.  Plus, they bring me things I didn’t know I needed!  Like my sweet friend who used to live in Stillwater who is now in the City who had brought her 5 week old son to me TWICE for cuddle time.  Now THAT is a good visit!  :)  But the Lysol wipes, notepads, Diet Cokes, crackers, peanut butter and all the HUGS mean so much.  Thank you to ALL of you for making this more bearable.


I am still bleeding a tiny bit.  No new “incidents,” and I am still stable.  I have the IV in my arm “just in case,” but have had no fluids or meds other than my water I drink diligently, my prenatal vitamin, and the ever present Colace!  I did have some pretty painful (and annoying) groin pain last evening and last night (that is gone now due to a good night’s sleep and a shower) that the nurse helped me figure out was from Finn being LOW in my pelvis with “a body part” (we don’t know which one) that was hitting a nerve.  it was so painful it was making me nauseous!  But, sleeping on my side helped him move away from the area, and I feel fine this morning.

I hope everyone has a GREAT weekend!  I am really looking forward to seeing my family  I miss them so much!  And maybe we can get Sykpe set up and Jake and I can pray by computer each night instead of over the phone! 

(PS - Finn has the hiccups right now for the ump-teenth time in the last few days!)

Hospital Bed Rest

Livin’ in the OC!  OK - it’s not as glamorous or exciting as Orange County, CA, but Oklahoma City has is pluses!  I have been a (temporary) resident for 4 and a half days now.  And I gotta say, after the initial shock started to wear off, it’s not so bad.  Pretty sure I cried 15 out of the first 18 hours I was here, but things have evened out a bit, and I know this is the ONLY thing I can be doing right now.  I have been trying to get this blog entry penned typed for 2 days now, but being here is surprisingly time consuming and busy.  Let me unpack the last few days for you.

Last I blogged was on Wednesday of last week, and I was in the Stillwater hospital, being told I will probably go to Mercy in Oklahoma City either Thursday or Friday.  I woke up Thursday morning with nothing really going on.  Since Wednesday was kinda nuts, my mom had the kids and decided to skip a trip to see me before taking them to school.  Britt came by, hoping to catch the doctor on rounds, but left right about 8 to get to work.  Of course, my doctor came in at 8:10!  Nothing new was really said, just that he was going to consult with the specialists in OKC again and start talking about the transfer and how that was going to happen.  Still seemed like a pretty distant event, and after he left, I am pretty sure I went back to sleep.  At just past noon, he walked in again.  I remember being pretty surprised to see him so soon, and also thinking how strange it was that he was the last person in my room as well - I had no visitors that morning!  Surprise quickly turned to shock when he asked about Britt’s whereabouts and how quickly he could get here.  I knew that was not a good sign.  The doctor went on to tell me that as soon as we could get checked out and down the road, we needed to be seen at the specialists’ office, then we would be admitted from there.  *JAW DROP.*  This was happening, and NOW!


My first phone call was to Britt after the doctor left the room to get me discharged from SMC.  He, of course, was caught as much off guard as I was!  I told him not to hurry, but to wrap things up at work and get here ASAP.  Then, I called my mom.  She assumed I was wanting some lunch and was talking on top pf me offering me suggestions of what she was close to.  I finally got a word in and told her the situation.  I asked her to go to the school and get my babies so I could see them before I left.  Amazingly, she and the kids got to the hospital before Britt did, so I got to hug on them and hang out with them for a few (come to find out Britt had stopped by the house to get a few things).  It was about 12:45 when I was loaded up and the kids were headed back to school and I was headed to the city.  We stopped for food (I hadn’t eaten) and gas and were on our way.  I am not sure what time we arrived at the doctor’s office, but it was raining and parking was a mess.  I was a walk-in patient to the clinic, and when I checked in, they informed me that both doctors who were in clinic (there are 3 physicians on staff there) had been called to the hospital for deliveries, so they were an hour behind!  YIKES!  I was worried I would be sitting there an eternity.  Again, not sure how long we waited, but after awhile we were called back, and it was a quick “appointment.”  The technician did a quick ultrasound, the doctor came in and did one, too, then we were escorted by a nurse through back hall ways, building bridges, elevators and walkways to the antepartum wing of Labor and Delivery at Mercy Health Center.  They had been advised of my arrival from Stillwater, so after some minimal paperwork (standing up at a counter - I was getting light headed by this point after being down for weeks) I was in a gown in a room about 4:00pm.  That’s when the real fun began!


Let’s not sugar coat this.  This was (is) a traumatic experience.  By this point in the day, every nerve I have was frayed, my patience had been tested beyond its limits, my physical body had taken a beating, and I was scared.  Oh, and dehydrated.  So, the next few hours were a blur of tears, failed IV and/or blood draw attempts (2 nurses, 75 minutes, at least 6 sticks), instruction, confusion and more tears.  My admitting doctor came in on rounds during the IV fiasco and suggested a central line, but not too long after that a very “aggressive” nurse came in and basically jammed the IV into my right hand.  It still hurts like heck (they are moving it today - I have still not convinced myself the PIC line in the best alternative to having an IV and having it moved every 4 days, plus a blood draw every 3 days...)  While (trying to) get settled in, Britt ran to Target for a few things I needed - we had come from Stillwater basically empty handed.  Our room was void of furniture due to a baby boom and some furniture being sent out to be recovered.  So, that left no place for Britt to sleep that first night.  I started trying to send him home about 7:30 pm, but it was breaking his heart what they were doing to me and all my tears, so it was closer to 9:30 before he finally left.  I was expecting a call from him around 10:45 from home, so imagine my surprise when he called at that time declaring he was “finally back on the road.”  I was very confused, then SHOCKED to learn he had a blow out north of Guthrie on I-35 as he was headed home!  REALLY?!?!?  What more could we endure that day?


But, sleep finally came for all of us.  The shock and stress of the day started to fade away.  As my mother always says, “Tomorrow is another day.”  And it was.  Friday came and we all started adjusting to our new reality.  The last 4 days are kind of a blur of getting into a routine, learning about the hospital, deciding what works and doesn’t work for me from the menu, listening to Baby Finn’s heart tones on the monitor, tears, and VISITORS!  Whew!  Surprisingly, this bed rest is hard work!  It is pretty hard on your body.  God didn’t make us to be this idle, and it really tires you out!  Plus, my iPhone dings like crazy with texts, phone calls, voice mails, Twitter alerts mentioning me, Facebook status updates and notifications, plus the never ending emails!  So, managing all of that seems to keep me busy, too.  OH!  And Words with Friends.  You people KILL me every game, but I like playing!  My kids have been up here 3 times, my parents twice, Britt a few times (yesterday even by himself!  BLISS!), and almost countless others.  Britt got me a little guest book to have folks sign, and I know we are going to treasure that forever.  I also have some owl friends watching over me, and the big family portrait on canvas from my living room at home is now hanging over the couch (we finally got guest furniture on Sunday after some families were discharged).  I have snacks, books, magazines, gift cards, chocolate, jelly beans, plastic ware, chargers for all my electronics, toiletries, and pretty much everything I think I could need at this point in baskets and a cabinet near my bed.  My sister-in-law is determined to come decorate.  I hope to be here for a long, LONG time, so everyone is trying to make this place feel like a home.  It’s getting there!


As for our health.  Things are staying the course.  Today, I am back to spotting and bleeding a small amount.  I actually had 2 days of no blood at all, but on rounds one morning my doctor told me not to get too secure in that, as my pattern has been to be stable for a few days, then have a huge incident.  I have also not had any cramping or contractions since I have been here.  While I have an IV port in my hand, I have not had any IV fluids or meds.  They draw my blood every 3 days for basic tests, but I am totally stable.  They check my BP and temp every 5-6 hours, and they monitor Finn on the heart tone monitor for one hour 2x a day.  That little adventure can prove to be tiring - taking up to 2.5 hours depending on how active Finn is being!  He’s still so little and has so much room to move around, we lose his tracking several times during the hour and have to move the monitor and start over.  BUT!  Every time they do it the nurses are super impressed with his activity level and heart rare.  He is doing SO WELL and is SO STRONG!  The doctor who did rounds this morning even mentioned how great his tracks are!  Good job, Little Buddy!  The nurses and staff are EXCELLENT, and I have been blessed with the same (awesome) day nurse everyday that I have been here.  And when she’s on duty, she will be with me!  That’s such a comfort and a great way to establish a relationship!


And for what lies ahead.  I am to “Lay still and know that he is God.”  (Paraphrase of Psalm 46:10 - my Uncle wrote this in the guest book.)  I am 24 weeks 4 days today.  We are still a few days from that HUGE 25 week date which marks viability in my little world.  That’s Friday.  And we can breathe a *tiny* sign of relief. Each week, each 24 hours after that is a huge blessing and one step closer to a healthy baby.  The doctor told us on Thursday that we are on a sliding scale right now.  It would take a LARGE event to spur delivery at this point, but as time goes on and the baby continues to grow, it would take a smaller and smaller event to put us into delivery.  I really want to be here 6-10 weeks at least.  That’s 30- 32 weeks gestation.  I’m 4 days in.  I can do this, right?


Things are a bit chaotic on the home front in Stilly, but Britt and my parents are working it out with the help of our AMAZING LifeGroup and other friends.  They are still getting meals, help with kid transport, and tons of offers for babysitting.  I know this is hard on everyone, and I just pray as the weeks progress we can all find a routine.  Please continue to pray for Finn and I, but also those in Stillwater left to fill in the gaps created by my being here.  I obviously would  not be anywhere else, but I get sad thinking about all I am missing out on back home, and how hard others are working to make sure it all goes off smoothly.

I am in a good mood today and had a great day yesterday.  Right now I am in the last 30 minutes of my morning Finn monitoring, and he is doing great.  I am excited to see what the next few days bring so I can share that with you, too.  In the meantime, “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.”  James 5:16