Crawling Out of the Crater

Greetings to you all.

Today was a much better day for Rebecca. It began with another visit by the three doctors, but they had nothing new today. Rebecca did make the request that anything not immediately life threatening that is of the nature of what they brought to her yesterday should be told to me (her husband) and I will fill her in as necessary. She is sounding better tonight and her spirits are higher.

Another blood draw was done this morning. The labs came back negative except for one. A liver enzyme seems to be slowly on the rise, and is one of the markers they follow for pre-eclampsia. The enzyme amount is no where near the amount to be pre-exclampsic, however.

One of the nurses asked Rebecca if she wanted to be introduced to some of the other "long term" mothers on the floor. Rebecca agreed it would be fun and good to meet her neighbors.

Rebecca's BP meds have been adjusted again; she is now at 200 mg three times a day. This dosage has kept the nightly spikes at bay the last few days, so perhaps the balance has been found.

Rebecca entertained a visitor today. They went on a long walk around the hospital complex and Rebecca began to see the vastness of the place. I have been describing it as a city within a city. I joked with a nurse that I was looking for the train system to ferry me from place to place. One of Rebecca's doctors mentioned yesterday he would like to have a train system as it would really help him with his rounds. Upon her return to the room, her BP was in the low 140's, so the exercise did her well mentally and did not push her BP too high.

Xavier made another milestone today. It's day one of week 25 for him! He is still active and his heart rate where it should be. We expect to see some impressive things next Tuesday; I'm telling him 24 ounces is a good goal. That'll really give the doctors something positive to argue over. I wish I could report more on Xavier, but the doctors are not actively monitoring him now. They are waiting to week 26 to see how things are. We have to request daily the nurse to measure Xavier's heart rate. From the little data we do have and the intangibles of mother's sense and father's sense, we believe Xavier is doing well.

The window installation at the Northern Outpost (Fort Collins home) began yesterday and will continue through Thursday. The old windows were removed today and the new ones mounting into place. Tomorrow will finish the interior trim and most of the exterior work. After Wednesday, the installers will not need access to the house interior so I will pack the four-legged kiddos up along with several other items Rebecca has been texting me to collect and head down to Denver Wednesday evening (or that's the plan as of tonight). Poof the cat (the self-cloning fuzzball I mentioned a few updates back) has been extremely clingy these last few days. Please pray she have peace for the move and extended stay in the south (older cats, I am told, don't like change).

Always, thank you for your prayers, and your support. Rebecca had many calls today encouraging her, and we got many emails with strong messages of support and encouragement. Great is our God and He is with us in the flood and the fire, but never will He allow the waters to overcome us nor the smell of smoke to cling to us. Your prayers are a vital part in walking out that promise!