An MRI and a Spike

Hello to you all and thank you for your support and prayers.

Rebecca and Xavier are doing well. Xavier has had his first MRI experience and he did not at all like it. Like his father, he seems to be a good swimmer and that is what he did during the scans trying to escape the noise and whatever else he did not care for. We did get a great picture of him, and he is cute as his mother.

Xavier has been exceedingly active today. Just minutes ago we were listening and watching his heart beat and saw a spike. The nurse was so excited she nearly squealed because the spike shows that Xavier has reserve enough to support an elevated heart rate. His rate is staying strong in the neighborhood of 150 BPM. Though his in utero environment is not ideal, he is thriving none-the-less.

The resident perinatal doctor (Dr. Mike Snyder, who has moved here from the South ten weeks ago) explained that in the South where he had been practicing, Rebecca is a fairly typical case of early pre-pre-eclampsia though she does not exhibit any of the typical symptoms. He explained that it is necessary for a woman's immune systems to decline at the cellular level when they become pregnant to allow the "invader" to thrive; it's much like accepting a new organ. It appears Rebecca's genetics are in this category of unwillingness to decline to allow free growth of the baby. He said this cellular level goings-on would explain why Rebecca is not really sick with what's going on, this is simply her body pregnant. That is their theory so far.

Rebecca will be transferred to University Hospital in Denver on Tuesday. Tuesday is the magic 24-week mark when they define Xavier as viable enough to monitor and treat. We have to go to Denver because if they must deliver him for his sake or Rebecca's, Denver has the ability to treat such a young Premie. He is only 13 oz right now but fully formed and functioning. Many have asked, will it be by ambulance or by helicopter. It will be by the boring ambulance.

The doctors have done several more tests (the afore mentioned MRI being one of them) to rule out some rarer possibilities for Rebecca's high BP. Some of her blood is en route to the Mayo Clinic. All of the results are coming back negative, which is good and as we expect.

God is truly answering all the prayers, and every day the doctors are growing calmer. Xavier Michael will live and not die, and declare the glory of God!

Again, thank you all for your prayers and support. Both are felt.

This is one of my favorite pictures, Xavier on February 20th, 2013. Great picture of his head, nose and mouth. One of his arms (probably his right) floats over his face.