Week 30 Begins (with a Roller coaster Ride)
Hello to you all.
We had our NST and OBGYN appointments this morning. This was the first time we made our Tuesday appointment on time (we were :30 minutes early!), and the first time there was no snow storm hampering our journey to our Tuesday appointment. We even stopped at Einstein's Bagels for breakfast. Wow.
What excitement as we got to the NST station thirty minutes early! As I type this in, I am reminded of my one and only Space Mountain experience: I was afraid of roller coasters, but the first several minutes of Space Mountain was rather fun. Just as I thought to myself "this isn't so bad," that's when the car plunged into the spiral descent into the darkness. That sets the tone for this morning's exam. We got in early and things were looking good, then the plunge! But, like my Space Mountain experience, we came out OK.
Rebecca got "strapped in" to the monitoring devices. The nurse found Xavier quickly, propped the sensor with a rolled towel (normal because of the angle it takes to read his heartbeat). Rebecca was handed he "I felt him move" button and the nurse stepped away. Xavier's heartbeat started out around 145 bpm and stayed there for some time. Every so often his heart rate dropped below 110 and once to 98. The nurse popped in a few times to check the ticker tape, taking concern for the large dips in heart rate and the fact Rebecca had not registered any baby movement.
A few frequent checks later and the nurse tore the strip from the machine and went to see the attending doctor (Dr. Yong, the doctor we first met at the Perinatal clinic). Because of the concerning data, we were sent over to L&D (that's Labor and Delivery) for longer-term monitoring. L&D is the same place Rebecca spent her first three weeks at University Hospital). We spent nearly two and a half hours there.
Arriving, Rebecca gave a urine sample, then was strapped in to the monitoring harness again, plus the added bonus of the arm cuff for blood pressure. Xavier's heart rate stayed between 128 and 131 for a very long time. Rebecca's first BP measured 148/98, which was not too bad. The nurse left us to wait out the monitoring, saying she would return in :15 minutes to retake the BP measurement (she did not like the 98 diastolic value).
:15 minutes turned into nearly ninety while we watched Xavier's heart rate range from 102 to 149, while it centered around 130. Very rarely did Rebecca feel Xavier move. Rebecca was quietly concerned and I sat there watching the ticker chart fluctuate in ways we have never before seen. As I watched Xavier's heart rate fluctuate so widely and not have him show any movement, I fought back concern and fear.
Rebecca and I spent time speaking to Xavier and encouraging him. I read to him the story of Jonathan and his armor-bearer (1 Samuel 14, a great history of a man with incredible faith in God and His covenant). After that, Rebecca kinda zoned out as she listened to the heart rate ramble (I was totally impressed that she could tell, with great accuracy, what decade range his heart rate was in just from listening to the beat). I sat in front of the machine and watched the monitor and the growing pile of paper tape.
After a long time (maybe :45 minutes) Xavier began moving very occasionally. Though rare, still it helped encourage us. At one point, Rebecca looked down, cupped her tummy in her hands and told Xavier, "You need to be at least two pounds. Don't you force us to make a decision today!"
Our nurse, Gwen whom we have had the pleasure of working with when Rebecca was an in-patient, eventually returned. She brought Rebecca apple juice and gram crackers, and she thought to bring me a glass of water. As promised, she took Rebecca's BP again. It was 135/88, values she was comfortable with. At this time, she also tore the ninety minute plus paper heart rate tape to take to the attending doctor of that ward. By this time, Xavier was moving around a lot more and his heart rate had raised to the high 130s.
At this point, we asked her about the many dips in Xavier's heart rate and his seemingly (to us) erratic and far-ranging heart rate. Gwen unfolded the paper tape and looked over the graph (note: even though Rebecca and I were in a room alone for a very long time, the nurses were monitoring things from their station just outside the door). She smiled, and said there was nothing on the graph to worry over, and that this was normal for a baby in his thirtieth week. She continued to explain to us the "deep troughs" that so concerned Rebecca and me, how she expected to see them occasionally and what she would expect to see if there was some reason for concern.
This was a great relief for Rebecca and me. Both of us were privately churning over the thought that the placenta had finally reached its limit. Gwen gave us some more encouragement, then left to show the tape to the doctor. Shortly after, a woman came in rolling a mobile ultrasound unit. Her name was Pam, the resident mid-wife for the ward. She came in to measure Xavier's amniotic fluid. This woman was fantastic and completely shattered the pall which the out-patient folks put over us.
Pam was all over Xavier; nothing he could do to hide from her! She hunted all over to find four pockets of fluid. Her method of measurement was so different from what we have seen in the past, I had to ask her why. She explained that the doppler folks generally like to find a typical pocket and measure it, then multiply that number by 4 to get the actual amnio number. Pam likes to find four pockets of amnio and sum the measurements. She explained it's basically two ways of doing the same thing. The purpose of the amnio measurement was to rule out a number of bad things which also show the deep troughs in a heart rate graph. She explained a baby's amnio should be in the 8 cm range. Xavier's worked out to be close to 9 cm. Thank you, Jesus!
We watched Xavier's heart beating, saw his hands and arms, saw his feet and knees, saw his partly full bladder, his stomach, his rib cage. Even got a good view of the placenta. We got to view him from many angles today. It was as when you wait for a good friend to deplane: you wait and watch and wait and scan, and then you see them and you smile with great joy.
We asked Gwen later about the different mentalities of the doctors we encountered today. She happily helped us understand why the out-patient folks were so alarmed, but the in-patient folks stayed unflappable. The out-patient folks, she explained, are used to seeing the normal, text-book pregnancies and babies, so seeing abnormal things tends to upset them. The in-patient folks are used to seeing the not-so-normal pregnancies and babies. Also, the in-patient folks are very familiar with Rebecca's case and know better how to interpret the data.
We signed our papers, thanked Gwen and Pam and headed for lunch.
So, getting off the "Space Mountain" ride we thank our God and Father for His goodness! Xavier is healthy and his heart rate activity is normal for a baby at 30 weeks. Our concerns about the placenta quickly nearing the end of its ability to support Xavier have been assuaged. In fact, we learned Xavier has far more amnio fluid than we thought and the placenta is still strong in its support of him! We are looking forward to Thursday's doppler and growth exam. I am also thankful the start date for my contract was delayed a week. I would have missed this ride, and, more importantly, I would not have been there to stand with Rebecca during this ride.
Today is a wonderful example to point to and thank you all for your prayers! Great is our God, and awesome is He!
Return to the South
Hello and greeting to everyone.
We are back at the Southern Outpost; we returned in the early evening. While Rebecca rested this morning, I packed up the cars and prepared the Northern Outpost for our absence. Lena, our Dalmatian, mystically realized we were leaving the Northern Outpost. Excitedly, she kept racing between the house and the VW. She even figured out which car would ferry her south.
Before leaving Fort Collins, Rebecca had a chiropractor appointment. During the appointment, Rebecca's BP was measured to be 162/104. This was concerning. The situation was very similar to last Sunday, except without the headache.
Because everything was tracking like last Sunday, we decided not to go the the hospital for observation. Rebecca was feeling OK, only a little puffiness, so we drove south and Rebecca laid down. This is basically all that was done last Sunday. The high BP is most likely due to the severe lack of sleep over the past two nights. Tonight, we have access to Ambien again and we will use it! Already the puffiness has gone down quite a bit, and Rebecca is sleeping (without any pharmaceuticals yet).
We have a NST and OBGYN appointment tomorrow morning, so we will have the BP looked at again.
Xavier has been active, especially this afternoon during lunch. Apparently he also likes turkey.
Always, thank you all for your prayers.
Eastern Palm Sunday
Hello to you all and Happy Eastern Palm Sunday!
Today was a rough day on Rebecca as she got to bed about 4:30 and not much sleep afterward. We did get to celebrate the Sunday of Palms at St James with many friends. After lunch, Rebecca got some rack time to help ease her tiredness.
Xavier is still moving around (which, of course, is a very good thing :) ). Rebecca and I were discussing a friend of ours who is not suffering any of the doctor-warned side-effects of a recent surgery. We attribute this to all the prayer our friend had over him (and still has). After stating this conclusion at why the doctors were frustrated, Rebecca stated it's the prayer for her and Xavier that has carried them this far. For this, we thank our God and Father for his provision, power and grace in not only our lives, but also in the life of our aforementioned friend.
How awesome is our God, that He frustrates the wisdom of men! May He continue to do so, and may we see His glory in ever greater ways!
Thank you all for your prayers and support. As Rebecca stated earlier, they have carried us to this point and they will carry us through to a victorious end with a strong, healthy baby boy!
A Day in Cheyenne
Greetings to everyone.
Thank you for your prayers.
Little to report today. The day started a little late as getting to sleep last night took until 3:30 this morning (we forgot to pack the Ambien in our overnight). I drove Rebecca to her office in Cheyenne so she could clean up some things and organize some stuff. I think we will have one more trip to make there. It was nice to see the base and to see how much work on the hangar has been done (it's been 47 days since Rebecca last saw it). Also, it was nice to watch the guard at the gate welcome Rebecca back and salute her, even though she was in her civies.
It was nice to stay a night at the Northern Outpost. Our windows went in about 40 days ago and last night was the first time we got to sleep in the house and "try them out." Definitely worth the money.
Xavier is active, especially up in Cheyenne today and when Rebecca was resting on the couch this afternoon. Rebecca can feel him moving the most when she lays on her side. We are encouraging him to in his goal to exceed 800 grams by next Thursday.
Again, thank you all for your support.
A Trip North
Greetings and hello to you all.
Nothing exciting to report today. Rebecca and I have returned to the Northern Outpost this afternoon. Tomorrow I will drive Rebecca to Cheyenne to get her things from the office; coming up to FOCO tonight helps make the weekend easier on Rebecca.
After settling in, we took Rochelle, Rebecca's sister, out for a steak dinner to celebrate her birthday.
Xavier is still active; he was just kicking around a moment ago.
Always, thank you all for your prayers.
Rebecca and Rochelle enjoying the afterglow of a tender, juicy steak dinner.
Week 29 Doppler Check-up
Hello to you all.
Today's exam went very quickly, once we got to the clinic. Michelle was our sonographer, who has been doing this work for thirteen years. She was the quickest operator to date and the exam lasted maybe five minutes.
The exam was primarily a doppler check. Xavier's blood flow looked good, but his ratios are above the 95 percentile this week. What this means is he is having to work a little harder against his placenta. Though this is in the high range, the doctor (Dr. Scott, a new face for us today, and one who seemed overly bubbly) did not think there is any danger to Xavier just yet and that the current twice-a-week checkups are still OK for now.
As for Xavier, he looks healthy. Blood flow in his brain is good. His bladder was full today. We even got to see his little backside. Also, his amniotic fluid level measured at 3.34 cm today! Glory to God!
Always, thank you for your prayers. They certainly are being answered in Xavier's life.
Baby's First Clothes (Almost)
Greetings and hello to you all!
Well, Rebecca got good sleep in last night. The doctor yesterday said taking 10mg of Ambien would not be a problem for either mother or baby, so last night she popped 2 5mg tablets. She woke only once and was back to sleep shortly after.
Mid morning, as I went south to meet the recruiter who placed me at my new contract, Rebecca drove east to Babies R Us. We had wanted to choose a bedding theme for Xavier's crib so we could choose a painting scheme for the nursery. We planned the BRU trip for last Sunday, but that day had other plans. I knew, as I left Rebecca to her first unsupervised outing for such things, more than just bedding colors would come home. (I will point out, we do not have a crib, just wanted to select a theme for it so we can paint the nursery appropriately)
Before parting, Rebecca and I discussed in brief our thoughts and preferences on the design, color pallet and decor. Those choices are now set: cutesy dinosaurs with pastel greens and blues. Rebecca came home with three fuzzy blankets, one with dinosaurs, one with a cute inchworm with the sentence "As Cute as a Bug", and the third has sea horses. (The under the sea motif was Rebecca's second choice, but she did not like those designs as much. The other choice of various animals was discarded because the designs were too boring)
We also have about twenty outfits, some sized for a premie and some sized for a newborn. Plus we now have eight pairs of tiny socks. These are not Xavier's first clothes, but the first we have have bought for him. Rebecca's reason was "We're not having the baby shower until after he is born, and he needs something to wear." Can't argue with that logic.
The first clothing Xavier got was from my sister who sent a CSU logo-covered, full-body sleeper. His second set of clothing came from my 11 year old niece, Emmelia, who knit him a set of little booties and a scarf. Our friends, Brian and Leah, gave Xavier a few sleepers and socks. Penny and Dave, Rebecca's mom and step-father, informed us they have little Harley-Davidson outfits for him.
Rebecca also purchased a dinosaur mobile, a little triceratops "security blanket" and curtains. She also brought home two sets of flannel crib sheets (if you know Rebecca, you will understand her affinity for flannel bed sheets). What she did not bring home, but did order, was a quilted comforter and dinosaur pattern fitted sheets. We even have giant dinosaur wall decals (I thought about painting images on the walls myself, but this is easier and they are the same dinos as on the blankets and mobile)
I was excited when Rebecca pulled into the driveway, though a little sad I was not there to participate in the purchasing. As soon as we got everything into the house, I ripped into the bags like a kid on Christmas morning! I checked out all the clothes and then I found the hanger full of little socks! I assembled the mobile and mounted it to a chair (for quality control and performance testing of course). We "hung" the curtains to get a feel for them.
We now have a color scheme and can choose paint. I am excited to select the paint and paint the nursery! Alas, that might be a week away.
Xavier is moving around. We tried again this morning to use our stethoscope to listen to his heart beat. We're getting better at finding him, but our equipment is still not sensitive enough to hear anything clearly at this time.
Tomorrow we have a doppler exam in the afternoon. I am hoping to have another cute picture of our son to post, plus some exciting news to share. This week will not be a growth check week. We are encouraging Xavier to beat 800 grams by next Thursday, which is a growth exam.
Thank you all for your prayers. Great is our God, and Mighty is He!
Rebecca holds up the dinosaur blanket. The curtains are in the background, though the late afternoon sunlight overpowers most of the curtain.
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Here is the dinosaur mobile. All the clothing Rebecca bought today hangs around my waist or hangs in my right hand. Look how cute the socks are! (also, the curtains are better seen in the background)
Under the mobile attached to a chair, the two blankets and the "security blanket". I wanted to put up one of the big wall decals, but we were not sure how well they would "re-stick" after we paint.
Week 29 Begins!
Hello to you all.
Today was an extended event. We had the OBGYN appointment in the morning and the NST in the afternoon.
Due to poor road conditions and peak traffic time, we arrived thirty minutes late, but still we got in quickly. Rebecca was weighed, her temperature taken, blood oxygen levels measured. Her BP was 104/66. These are normally good numbers, except for this pregnancy. Her BP meds were adjusted again; they were lowered and she is now at 300 mg three times a day.
We spoke with one of the doctors (Dr. Nick, a Fellow) who was among those who worked Rebecca's and Xavier's case while they were in the hospital several weeks ago. He was among those who laid all the disruptive news on Rebecca when she first checked in. The conversation today was much different than weeks ago (I think he is still reeling from Rebecca's snap to the team's news that day :) )
Today's discussion was more positive. We discussed the various scenarios and cleared several things up which both Rebecca and I felt unsure about. Not to be tedious, here is the summary of the important facts.
- Always, the desire it to deliver the baby vaginally. Only if Xavier is in danger will he be taken by C-section. Though this is a possibility, it is something that will be determined on a day by day basis.
- The NICU (newborn ICU) will be more comfortable with Xavier being at least 750 grams (above 700, but 750 is better). Xavier was at 624 grams last week, so we think Xavier will make the 750 weight by next week at his current growth trend. Rebecca and I are challenging him to make 800 grams at least (it's good to have goals that stretch and challenge). Again, 1000 grams is an important milestone and one we have our eyes on constantly. 750 makes the NICU folks more able to care for him, but 1000+ is where they are more comfortable.
- It is expected Xavier will be delivered early simply due to him being growth-restricted. It will be better for Xavier to be outside the womb at some point. He will likely spend some time in the NICU. Our understanding is that as long as Rebecca's BP is controllable by oral meds, Xavier is better served being in the womb. When oral meds are no longer able to control her BP, then Xavier is better served being in the NICU. We still have a lot of play in the oral meds; the upper limit is 800 mg three times a day, or two and half times what Rebecca is taking today.
The NST exam (the afternoon appointment) we were actually an hour early and had a :45 minute wait (we didn't have to deal with unplowed roads with outrageously slow traffic since we were still in the area). The exam lasted nearly an hour instead of the expected :30 minutes. The reason for the longer stay was Xavier was not moving around during the first :25 minutes (he was napping). His heart rate was steady around 145 bpm during this time. To wake him up, we dosed mom with some cranberry juice. A few minutes later he began wiggling and his heart rate ranged between the high 130s and mid 150s. Once Xavier cooperated by bouncing around a little, we were let go (and a good thing too, as Rebecca was growing impatient with laying on the table).
So, good news for day one of week 29! We thank God for His goodness and His power!
Thank you for your prayers. We hope you are seeing Father's hand moving in these updates.
The Wonders of a Good Night's Sleep
Hello to you all. Thank you for your prayers and support.
First, praise God that Rebecca got nearly eight hours of deep, relaxing sleep last night! It did wonders for her today; she is down-right vibrant!
Tomorrow we have two appointments (the standard Tuesday ones). The first is with the OBGYN (mom's health) and the other is the NST (baby's health). I suspect Rebecca's BP will be looked at again.
Rebecca had a massage today from a person who specializes in working with pregnant women. This helped work out a number of sore and tight spots in her muscles. Her joints have been loosening the last few weeks and her muscles are having to figure out how to meet with new and changing demands.
Xavier has been active and moving around. I've promised him a story and will read the account of David and Goliath to him.
I accepted a job offer today, a six month contract. This will bring some relief, though it means I will be less available to attend doctors visits. I will be making all the ultrasounds, however. I will be starting some time next week probably.
I was reminded today that I have not been consistent with posting Xavier's goals to this mail list. So to correct that, here are the goals we are praying for and encouraging Xavier to make:
We'd like to see Xavier put on about 12 ounces in the next week and a half to two weeks. He has been growing about 2 ounces a week, so that is a stretch goal. We do want him to grow faster than he is, at least double or 4 ounces a week.
We definitely want him to make it to week 36 in the womb, and we are shooting for mid June or later (making him 3 to 4 weeks early--of course, if he can make it full term that would be awesome!). Based on his physical growth measurements, he is in week 24. We'd like to see his end goal birth weight meet or beat six pounds.
From all we can tell, he is developing well. We got to see him suckling last Friday and this shows good development of his nervous system. His developmental growth seems to be ahead of his weight growth. He needs to keep up his development also.
- Pray for his growth to continue and to increase (and to start catching up).
- Pray for the health of his placenta so it can supply him the nutrients he needs to grow at the pace he needs.
- Pray for more oxygen getting through the placenta to him.
- Pray for Rebecca and her health to sustain Xavier to meet his goals.
- Pray for wisdom for us, and for Xavier's doctors, also that we see what we need to see.
Great is our God and awesome are His works from the foundations of the world!
An Evening at the Hospital
Hello to you all.
Late yesterday Rebecca began to feel the slight twinge of a headache. This morning she awoke feeling "off" (a fact I observed throughout the day) and the headache had grown stronger. We gave Tylenol a chance to banish the headache, but after two doses, the headache grew stronger still. Both of these were signs of concern. At 6:00 PM I drove Rebecca to the hospital.
Rebecca's BP was 160/102 and stayed high the whole three hours of monitoring, never dropping below 150. All the standard labs were run. No protein in the urine and all the blood work came back negative, both good reports. The doctors found none of the signs of pre-eclampsia. The doctors feel that Rebecca had (probably) reached another level in this pregnancy which will require her BP meds to be adjusted. Apparently, this is common with pregnancies involving high BP.
Rebecca was given a heftier headache relief pill and told to double her BP meds, then return on Tuesday for a followup. Since we already have an appointment for Tuesday, this did not impact us further.
During tonight's stint in the hospital, Xavier was monitored. He was feisty and moved about a lot. His heart rate ranged from the low 130s to mid 150s. At several points he moved or kicked or punched hard enough to be felt on the surface of the belly instead of inside the body only. This is the strongest Rebecca has ever felt him move.
We are home now and Rebecca is resting. The headache is gone, only a feeling of a little pressure remains.
Always, we thank you profoundly for your prayers and support. Great is our God and He will bring us to the other side!
A Slow April Day
Hello to you all.
Today was a non-eventful day. After taking a dose and a half of Ambien, Rebecca was able to log five or so hours of sleep. While she slept, I walked the dog and quietly cleaned the kitchen and dining area. Once in the mood, I kicked in a whole-house vacuum once Rebecca got up. After completing this year's first of three furniture dustings, I spent the rest of the morning washing the windows.
In the afternoon Rebecca went in for a hair cut, then she had her car washed (inside and out). This evening she went out with two girl friends. She had been looking forward to this outing all day, and it helped her morale.
Xavier has been moving around today and he was especially active during dinner.
Thank you all for your prayers and support.
Week 28 Ultrasound Exam
Hello to you all and thank you for your prayers!
Today we had an ultrasound exam. The results were very favorable.
Our sonographer, Kathleen, had 11 years experience, proficient with the machine and she was informative. We also had a student, Penny, sit in on the exam.
Today's exam looked at mom's cervex, the placenta, and Xavier's brain, kidneys, stomach, bladder, amniotic fluid, heart, umbilical (with dopplers), femur length and humorous length. Xavier once again frustrated both sonographer and doctor from seeing his lips, now the one piece of data University Hospital still wants to get on film.
The cervex was strong and had a good thickness for this point in the pregnancy.
This is the first sonogram I remember that looked at the placenta (if it was looked at previously, I didn't know what we were looking at). By the time the doctor came in to explain the results to us, I forgot these measurements were done, so did not ask about them. The doctor did not comment.
Xavier's brain looks good. No abnormal amounts of fluid and blood flow clean and strong.
His kidneys looked fine, his bladder was nearly empty today (unlike mom's. Rebecca wanted to address that problem, but Kathleen said a full bladder would give her better images of several items). This is the first time we've seen an empty bladder. At this point, I will report his amnio fluid measurement was at 3.1 cm, a slight increase over last week, the bulk of the fluid still around his head and chest.
His heart was strong (150+ bpm) and well-formed, his femur and humorous well-formed. His stomach appeared healthy.
His dopplers were good, and back on the normal range (last week they were in the high end of normal). I asked to have a printout of one of the dopplers so I could post it, but we learned that the technicians are not allowed to print out anything that needs to be interpreted by a doctor.
We spent several minutes watching Xavier practice his suckling, his mouth and chin moving so wonderfully. At one point he was sucking on his umbilical. Because his umbilical was so near his mouth today no clean lip images could be obtained.
The waist measurement put Xavier at 1 lb and 7 oz, an increase of more than 4 ounces (140 grams) and puts Xavier in the second percentile. Xavier's growth development is at about 24 weeks, which means in two weeks since his last growth measurement he has grown two weeks worth. (last growth measurement had Xavier at 22 weeks). The doctor, though still terse, seemed more amiable today. She did underscore Xavier is still small (he is about a pound behind where he should be)
I was a little disappointed at the 2% value, but excited by everything else, especially since Xavier nearly met his goal of 200 grams!
Rebecca is doing well. She has learned when to recognize (without the use of a clock) when her blood pressure meds are needed. This has been helpful the last couple of days when we've missed the afternoon time a bit because we were otherwise occupied.
Once again, thank you for your prayers! We worship the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for His goodness, thanking Him for His hand on both Rebecca and Xavier.
A profile of Xavier. You can see one of his hands below his chin and a good shot of his nose.
This is another profile, a still shot of him suckling. There is a bit of his umbilical in the shot (it's not his hand this time)
This is a nice shot of Xavier's face from an angle looking from the top of the head.
A Spicy Day
Hello to you all.
Tomorrow is another ultrasound exam. Not only do we expect the dopplers to be measured, but also the growth measurements as it has been two weeks. We are hopeful and expectant to learn good things (we've been telling and encouraging Xavier to make 200g over his last weight measurement!)
Rebecca did well today after finally getting some sleep after 4:00 AM. She took half an Ambien, which we learned takes a longer time to kick in than a whole pill, an that helped her get to sleep. We did a little shopping this morning after she got up, then went out later to Penzey's to get some spices (we had coupons) and we "needed" more Penzey's cocoa! After Penzey's, we spent another wedding gift certificate at William-Sanoma and purchased a set of pasta bowls (which Rebecca has wanted for some time).
Xavier was particularly active this afternoon, shortly after Rebecca ate a wedge of her from-scratch chocolate cake (it's really good). So, we figure he likes chocolate (or, like with the orange juice on Tuesday, the carbs woke him up).
Thank you all for your prayers. Great is our God!
A Day Without Michael
Hello to you all.
Rebecca did not get much sleep last night. She did get to sleep about 7:00 and up at 10:00. She spent the day on her own while I went to several interviews. I came home to a refrigerator and freezer with all "science experiments" relocated to the trash.
We went to church tonight. The storm and roads looked passable at 5:30. The roads took a turn for the worse during our time in church, but we made it back without incident.
Xavier has been active today.
Not much to report other than this.
Always, thank you for your prayers and support.
Week 28
Hello to you all.
Today is day one of week 28! I wish I had exciting news to report today. Rebecca and I got to the hospital late due to the traffic on the roads (we tried to anticipate the traffic, but it was a little insane--we had a lot of snow here in Denver, over 12 inches at the Southern Outpost). Upon arrival, we discovered the hospital was not expecting us, and here Rebecca and I learned how scheduling is done.
They found us an opening and we did not have to wait long. Mom was hooked up to a fetal monitor and a contraction monitor for :30 minutes. About ten minutes in, the nurse offered Rebecca orange juice to help wake Xavier up. His heart rate fluctuated between 130 and 149 bpm, centering around 135. The MFM doctor who examined the chart said everything looked good (the doctor, we were told, generally works over at Children's, but was covering someone today). Xavier moved around some during the thirty minutes, which is also good.
Rebecca's BP was measured at 150/84. The doctors thought this OK since Rebecca had taken her meds this morning.
We did not meet with the OBGYN doctor today because of the scheduling issue. After the appointment, Rebecca rested while I, armed with our new-found understanding, scheduled the next six weeks of NST and OBGYN appointments. We still have a scheduling issue for the ultrasounds, but I will address it on Friday.
That is today's update. I was hoping for something more exciting. Apparently, our scheduling issue filled that role today.
Thank you for your prayers and support.
A Snowy Tax Day
Hello to you all.
Thank you for your prayers and support.
Rebecca slept well last night with the aid of 5mg of a sleeping aid. She had to take Lena (our dog) to the vet to get stitches, but made it home before it began snowing heavily. Rebecca drove the dog while I went to an interview in south Denver where there was blue sky for a while and no snow. Lena is doing well and sleeping peaceably.
While waiting for Lena to get stitched up, I met Rebecca for lunch, then we strolled through a nearby Super Target. We found a body pillow and bought it as Rebecca is in need of it. We also looked at Target's selection of baby cloths. That was a lot of fun.
Xavier has been active today, particularly this morning. We think he is growing and hope to see evidence of this tomorrow. Tuesday's doctor's visit is a prenatal exam like last Tuesday (which also had a lot of snow), but we might be able to gauge some things. Friday's doctor visit will look at Xavier's growth in detail.
That is all there is to report today.
This is our new maternity toy (a body pillow). We bought it with the agreement that Rebecca will not draw eyes on it (that's a reference to the movie "The Backup Plan", which I suggest no one watch as it is not an entertaining story)
Our Garden Begins
Hello to you all.
Today was an busy day for Rebecca. She did not get to sleep until 3:30 AM and up before 8:00. We headed to church stopping at Einstein's Bagels first. We caught up with several friends after service, some of whom prayed over Rebecca and Xavier.
By the time we left church, the pumpernickel bagel Rebecca ate had run its course, so off to find lunch. I hankered for a burger so I introduced Rebecca to Juicy Burger: one of the best burgers in Denver. (my taste buds are still reliving the experience). Rebecca agrees, the burger was top-notch (especially since they offer their burgers on a pumpernickel bun)
On the way home we stopped off at O'Tooles to see what plants and seeds they had available. The wind was too cold to walk the yard, so we shopped for seeds. Rebecca now has a few plants to get started this week. This is good, as being bed-ridden has started bothering Rebecca more this weekend.
Too further get out of the house, we took in a movie. ("Admission"; we thought it was going to be a stock romantic comedy, but turned out to be a better movie than that). Though active, Rebecca did not get tired out.
During all of this, Xavier has been active (he also really liked Juicy Burger). I was able to feel him flutter or kick a few times this afternoon; this is a rare event, but one I hope to soon grow less rare.
Always, thank you for your prayers. We are feeling them and so is Xavier.Hello to you all.
Our booty from O'Tooles.
First Day Out Unsupervised
Hello to you all.
Today has little news to report. Rebecca is doing well. We started the morning trying to listen to Xavier's heartbeat with our stethoscope. After not hearing anything we thought was his heart, I decided to read the instructions. Definitely better results, though we still may not have heard Xavier's heart. He may still be too small for our twenty dollar device, or he was on to us and moved around (he did move around shortly after we started looking for his heartbeat ).
Rebecca went out this afternoon on her first "unsupervised" outing to attend a seminar at a local church. She held up nicely and had a nice time. She could feel Xavier moving about today quite a lot as she sat.
Always, thank you for your prayers
Rebecca wanted to cook dinner last night. After finding my "bachelor bottle" of lemon juice, she informed me brown is not a good color for lemon juice.
Week 27's Doppler Exam
Hello to you all and thank you for your prayers.
Today's trip to the hospital was surprisingly quick; we were out in less than an hour. Our sonographer had ten years of experience and she knew her way around not only the machine, but she knew how to find the baby!
Our first sight of Xavier this morning was seeing him wiggle around. We had a great view of his spine and got to watch it flex and bend as he wiggled. The hospital does not have any images of Xavier's heart or his lips, so they wanted to get some images of both. (Note, we have already seen his heart and lips clearly at the Platte River facility several weeks back; everything was well formed and working as expected).
We were not able to get a great image of his lips as he kept them pushed up against the uterine wall most of the exam.
We did get a good view of his heart. We saw it through his shoulder blade (the ultrasound technology is impressive in how it can "see through" flesh and bone). We watched his heart beat (147 bpm) and all four chambers pumping away. The arteries leaving/entering the heart are well-formed and functioning properly.
The amniotic fluid was measured again today. On Tuesday, the nurses had difficulty finding decent pockets of the fluid (though they felt there was more there), but today it was very easy to spot. (I had a lot more confidence in today's sonographer than those on Tuesday--they were "in training"). Tuesday's measurement was 2 cm. Today's was 3 cm! Praise God! The pocket measured was still around Xavier's head and face. We learned that good measurements of amnio is between 2 and 8 cm.
The primary purpose of this exam today was the dopplers, which measure the blood flow in and out of the umbilical. All three vessels show strong flow, which is good news to both hear and report. The main measure done on each vessel is similar to a blood pressure measurement. There is a systolic and a diastolic number which are combined into a ratio.
Xavier's ratio, though in the normal range, is on the higher end of the normal scale. Nothing to worry over at this time, but the doctors will be keeping a watch on this. The diastolic value may be growing smaller, which suggests that Xavier is having to work a little harder against the placenta. If the ratio gets too high, it will mean that the placenta cannot keep up with Xavier's demands (perhaps another way of saying that is to say Xavier's growth will exceed the placenta's ability to supply his need)
The placenta is part of Xavier; it's one of his organs. Rebecca and I have started praying over it like we would any other organ or body part that is sick. We are speaking life to it, reading Scripture over it and encouraging it just as we are with Xavier; we've even given it goals of its own.
Though I did not ask the doctor to confirm this (because I didn't think of it until later), but the fact that the doppler ratio has increased suggests Xavier is growing! Rebecca did say yesterday that she feels more "sloshy". Perhaps this is a more weightier Xavier as well as more amniotic fluid?
We have much to be thankful for with today's report. Even the potential concerns are good news in that we now have more information on how to better pray.
Thank you all for your prayers. Today's exam once again confirmed Father's hand on both Rebecca and Xavier Michael.
A picture of Xavier's face; his nose was pressed against the uterine wall, so it looks a little funky. Also, the ultrasound is "slicing" a little below the skin layer. I wanted to get a printout of the dopplers, but did not get a chance to ask for one. Next time, perhaps.
Some Good Sleep
Greetings to you all.
Nothing new to report today. Rebecca took a sleep aid last night and got in seven hours of continuous sleep. That is a miracle even with this particular (doctor-prescribed) sleep aid!
For an outing to today, Rebecca and I drove into Golden to pick up our wedding album. (Yes, it's been over a year and we just got around to having it done). Since we were in the area, we visited a friend to catch him up on some things. Then we had to find lunch! 1:30 PM and Rebecca's breakfast had been used up. She is sleeping deeply now; I think we may have overdone it a little today.
Xavier is doing well from all we can tell.
Tomorrow is another appointment, this one to check on the health of the baby and his organs. This will include a doppler exam (using the ultrasound) to check the blood flow in the umbilical.
Always, thank you all for your prayers. Of course I will let you all know the results of the exam(s).
A Quiet Wednesday
Hello to you all.
Today was a relaxing day for Rebecca. She spent the morning sleeping to catch up on the sleep she did not get last night. Her spirits were propped up when a close friend called; they spent over two hours talking. We toured Flatirons Mall this afternoon, but did not spend too much time there.
Xavier has been active today.
Not much news to report today, but we still thank you for your prayers and support.
Week 27
Greetings and hello to you all.
Today began Xavier's 27th week! Braving the roads early this morning, I drove Rebecca to her appointment. We arrived only a few minutes late and took advantage of the hospital's valet parking service. Very nice, especially in today's weather!
Today's exam consisted of an ultrasound to measure amniotic fluid, fetal heart rate monitoring, BP measurements on Rebecca and protein tests on mom's urine, plus the added bonus of ironing out an insurance glitch.
Two nurses started the ultrasound exam, but had to eventually find a doctor with more skill. The ultrasound machine was not as precise as ones used in the past, and both nurses had trouble finding fluid pockets. One remarked to the other "I feel there is more fluid there" and the other agreed. The amniotic fluid measured at 11.9 mm. This is smaller than the last measurement a few weeks ago. This may or may not be concerning because of the machine's lesser accuracy and comparing its readings to the readings from more sensitive machines. It will, at least, create a baseline for this style of machine, as it will be used weekly for the non-stress test exam.
Xavier's heart rate ranged from 128 to 155, but generally stayed at 144ish. This, at first glance by Dr Donnelly, was concerning and her comment about the "baby not doing so well" brought a pall into the room. She returned later after comparing the chart with previous charts and decided today's measurements are in line with what they have been and her concern lessened.
As Dr. Donnelly told us the baby's measurements were in line with previous measurements, the heart monitor was still attached to Rebecca. We heard several pops, which I thought was just background noise from the monitor, but Dr Donnelly lit up with a smile. (I like Dr Donnelly. She is very expressive and her thoughts and emotions transmit to her face fluidly. When she is concerned, you feel it from her, but when she is excited about something it jumps across to you. She is the doctor who was so excited about the amniotic fluid being around Xavier's head while his lungs formed) She explained these were not background noise, but hiccups! Xavier was hiccuping! She explained this was a very good thing. It demonstrates his nervous system and reflex system are developing well. This was a great blessing to hear, not only the hiccups, but their meaning. Father gave us a wonderful gift this morning!
Rebecca's heart rate was 136/84, and that's a solidly good place for it to be for this pregnancy. This was after hearing about the insurance glitch and Dr. Donnelly suggesting Xavier's health had taken a turn for the worse (which she recanted that opinion several minutes later)
No protein markers were found in Rebecca's urine. For that we also give thanks. Had protein markers been found, Rebecca would have been checked into the in-patient wing immediately.
The insurance glitch turned out to be a non-event; the hospital's insurance person took care of it without us having to get involved other than to explain to her a couple of facts she didn't know.
While waiting for a prescription to be filled, a friend of ours--Liz, the wife of my good friend and college room mate--saw us and came over to say hello. She was visiting the hospital for follow-up on her recent surgery. She and Rebecca spoke for some time while I waited for the prescription. Liz had a glowing testimony about the hospital and its staff. She also explained how to listen to the various types of doctors we will encounter there. Depending on their position with the hospital, some will have better "people skills" than others, so they will deliver facts, ideas and news better than others. Boy, have we learned that! Now we have another means to better interpret a report based on the doctor being a researcher or a fellow, etc. Thanks, Liz!
Our prayers are still focused on Xavier's growth (I am still saying 100 grams), the health of the placenta and its strength to feed Xavier and fuel his growth, and on Xavier getting more oxygen. We are also praying for an increase in amniotic fluid production, the afore-mentioned points will greatly help this last point.
Thank you all for your prayers. They are producing wonderful fruit, and today they allowed us to hear Xavier hiccup! Great is our God!
Sleep and a Movie
Hello and greetings to you all.
Not much to report today. Rebecca spent the morning sleeping to catch up on the sleep she did not get last night. She slept deeply and had no idea I left for a couple of hours to run errands, nor did the incessant clacking of the dog's nails as she paced over the wood floors or her random barking disturb her sleep. When she did wake, she organized her closets and dresser drawers. To get a change of scenery, we went to a late matinee (Olympus Has Fallen) and were two of six people in the theater. Leaving the theater, Rebecca suggested steak instead of our planned smoked salmon, so we stopped at the grocer on the way home. As I type, Rebecca is sleeping soundly while a news special about Margaret Thatcher plays in the background.
Xavier has been moving quite a bit today. We are greatly encouraged by this and by the growth of mom's belly. No notable weight gain for mom, but we see impressive growth in the shape of mom's tummy. We look forward to week 27 for Xavier!
Tomorrow Rebecca and Xavier have one of their weekly perinatal checkups. The appointment is early in the morning. We are watching a spring storm move into the metro area which is expected to be in full swing Tuesday morning, so that may cause our schedule to change.
The first weekly ultrasound is scheduled for Friday morning. This will not be a "growth" check because of the margin of error in the equipment, but will be looking at Xavier's overall health.
Always, thank you all for your prayers. Strong is our God!
First Sunday Out of the Hospital
Hello to you all.
I needed to get some tax information from the Northern Outpost, so Rebecca and I went north this morning. We made it in time for Liturgy at St. James and got to reconnect with many. Everyone was excited to see Rebecca (it's been four weeks).
After church, we stopped at the Northern Outpost to pick up the documents. It was Rebecca's first time to see the renovations to the house in person. She was pleased with all she saw. She toured the yards and enjoyed the early Spring blooms.
After leaving the Northern Outpost, we dined at Culver's. I highly recommend the triple cheese with bacon! We arrived at the Southern Outpost in time for Rebecca's BP meds, and she was a little tired. We are still trying to balance activity with rest; we're getting better at it.
While Rebecca rested, I broke down the sectional couch (the uncomfortable one) and replaced the longer part with our guest twin bed. Now Rebecca has a place to relax and watch TV. As I write, we are enjoying the 1962 movie "Hatari" from a two-tape VHS set.
Xavier has been quite active, which is always wonderful to hear. We are still praying over Xavier's growth (I'm encouraging him to gain 100 grams by Friday), and we are praying for the placenta that it is strong and healthy and fully able to supply Xavier what he needs.
Thank you all for your prayers. We greatly covet them.
A good friend visits with Rebecca (in red) after Liturgy. This morning was one of Rebecca's favorite services in the Eastern Lenten calendar, so it was a blessing to us we were able attend.
The twin bed setup from the TV's point of view.
Checking Out Strollers
Hello to everyone.
Not much to update today. After a late breakfast, we spent the morning looking at baby furniture. We may have decided upon the immediately necessary items. Now we need to do a little comparative shopping.
Rebecca's sister, Rochelle, drove down from Fort Collins to take Rebecca to lunch and a little shopping. The girls headed into Olde Town Arvada where they found a fancy hotdog place. They also visited Pensey's. It was a little too much activity, perhaps. Rebecca is sleeping now as I write.
Xavier Michael has been active. He is something of a night owl, especially since moving south.
To you all, thank you for your prayers and support.
Rebecca's First Home-cooked Meal in Weeks
Hello to you all.
Thank you for your prayers.
Today was an easy-going day. Rebecca finally got to sleep about three AM, but slept until nine-ish. We went grocery shopping and to Pensey's Spices. The trip, though relatively short, was draining. Returning home, Rebecca laid down while I worked on lunch/dinner.
Xavier has been active today, we're telling him "100 grams, buddy".
We are praying over Xavier's growth and health, and also the strength and health of the placenta. Great is our God!
Thank you all for your support.
Rebecca shops for food stuff so the Southern Outpost had something else besides shelf-stable bachelor meals. We started with a list of four items, but the store just called to us!
Prepared and cooked while Rebecca slept and rested. Manicotti, fresh-baked Italian bread and steamed broccoli.
Dinner is served
Rebecca Goes Home
Hello to you all.
Today is the day Rebecca was discharged from the hospital. When I arrived and headed to the elevator, I heard a "Hey" yelled from down the hall. Turning, I saw Rebecca with a breakfast burrito in hand and headed for a sunny place to enjoy it. After breakfast, we packed up the hospital room. It is amazing how much stuff we brought into the room over the last three weeks!
Rebecca was hooked up to a fetal monitor and watched and listened to Xavier's heart for the next twenty minutes. It ranged from the high 130s to mid 150s.
Team Xavier met with us again so we could ask any questions we thought of since yesterday and to schedule next week's appointments. They were all happy that Rebecca and Xavier are well enough to be outpatients.
Before leaving, we toured the NICU. What an amazing place! The nurse who gave us the tour explained what they do and how care is given. The wing we toured had nearly fifty preemies. I asked about the number of babies under their care, and learned that this hospital is a regional preemie center; they even had a baby from England. This further underscored to us University Hospital's reputation and quality of care.
We left the hospital about 12:45, and the breakfast burrito had run its course. We considered Culver's, but did not want to drive into Thornton. Instead, we spent two hours at Three Margaritas, a restaurant closer to home. It was nearly empty at 1:30 and the place was quiet and comfortable to decompress from the morning.
When we pulled into the Southern Outpost's garage, we were greeted by our neighbor, then by Lena as we opened the front door. Rebecca rested a couple of hours after getting home, while I unloaded the car. Later, we took the dog for a short walk, then retired to the living room to watch TV while Rebecca lays on her left side. Rebecca says "after the hospital bed, this couch isn't that bad." That is a statement because the couch has seen its better days!
Xavier, we think, likes it at home, too. He has been active much of the evening.
Always, thank you for your prayers and support.
It took a while, but we got the room packed up and ready to go. We collected a lot in three weeks.
Trying to remain incognito, Rebecca arrives home.
After the neighbor across the street, Lena is the first to welcome Rebecca to the Southern Outpost. Poof the cat just looked on, then found another room to be in; eventually, she decided to welcome mom home.
Week 26 Ultrasound
Hello to you all and glory to our God!
Today was anticipated for the past two weeks, and we looked forward to it with hope and excitement. Our patience was rewarded! There is much information, so I will only hit the highlights. This is Xavier Michael's 26th week, and the week when the doctors were to re-evaluate his viability outside the womb.
The day began with another blood draw from Rebecca because of her two above 150 spikes yesterday. Rebecca had a small breakdown at this, especially since they had to poke her so many times to get blood (one vein collapsed as soon as the needle entered it).
After indulging in Lamar's donuts I brought in, an ultrasound exam was done. Due to construction at the hospital, there are only two rooms for the exam, but three ultrasound machines. Though we waited a little, the third (mobile) unit was wheeled into Rebecca's hospital room by Amanda, a sonographer of ten years. She knew how to work the machine, but she also liked to explain what she was doing. The exam was quick, but informative.
After the exam, Rebecca and I rested a few hours, then took a walk and went to lunch. Soon after our return to the room, five doctors paid us a visit. Team Xavier has expanded! We spent nearly ninety minutes with them. Here is a synopsis of what we learned:
- Xavier gained 4 ounces (90 grams) in the past two weeks. Dr. Winn (who is the leading expert in the state of Colorado on the placenta and pre-eclampsia) said she did not expect Xavier to grow so much in two weeks. That is a great praise report! Two weeks ago Rebecca and I wrote on the white board in the room Xavier's weight goals for the two weeks leading to this ultrasound. Their total: 4 ounces, or 90 grams. I feel a little embarrassed we did not set slightly larger goals.
- Xavier's current weight is about 527 grams, or 1 pound, 3 ounces.
- Xavier's physical development is at 24 weeks; his weight is at 22 weeks. Everything looks healthy.
- Resuscitation will be offered if the baby needs to be delivered. We have made it known that we will accept resuscitation, though Rebecca and I do not feel such an event will occur.
- Xavier's lungs are nearly to a point of being fully formed. His amnio fluid, though low, has been centered around his head. This is another miracle because the fluid was where it needed to be when it needed to be there. There is something about inhaling/exhaling the fluid during the formation of the lungs that strengthens them and gets them to grow and develop properly. During the window his lungs were developing, he had what he needed. Praise God!
These are the highlights for Xavier. I will discuss what he needs later. Xavier is not the only one who got good news today, but his mother also.
Rebecca will be allowed to go home (the Southern Outpost in Westminster). She will be discharged Thursday morning. She will have to remain inactive, spending four to six hours a day laying on her left side (makes me think of Ezekiel). And she will have to drink plenty of liquids. Both of these will greatly enhance the flow of nutrients to Xavier. Also, she will have to perform several self exams and baby exams.
Twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays, Rebecca will have to return to the hospital for tests and exams. Tuesdays will generally be fetal monitoring, blood and urine samples, prenatal checkups, etc. Fridays will be ultrasound exams. Both doctors, the one she will see on Tuesdays and the one she will see on Fridays are top in their fields. Dr. Winn will be our Friday doctor and will interpret the ultrasound results for us. This is another praise report!
It was explained to Rebecca to imagine she was 400 pounds over weight and that she should do no more activity than someone at that weight could do. The doctors also have determined Rebecca does not have pre-eclampsia nor does she have chronic hypertension. This, too, is a praise report--not only because she does not have these, but that the doctors are comfortable in saying so out loud and to others.
Dr. Winn did stress that she expects Rebecca will develop pre-eclampsia and will have to return to a 7x24 hospital stay later in the pregnancy. When this will occur is not predicable and is one of the things we at home and the doctors during her checkups will be looking for.
Xavier is not "out of the woods". Here are some of the issues:
- At his current weight and level of development, he has a 20 to 30 percent survival rate outside the womb. This is survival only and it will come with an indeterminate list of neural developmental issues such as motor problems, cognitive problems, etc. That is, if he had to be delivered right now.
- Every 100 grams of weight he puts on is a major milestone. 1000 grams gives Xavier a 90 percent chance of survival and a greatly reduced percentage of neural developmental issues.
- Xavier needs to get more oxygen so his kidneys will make more amniotic fluid. The 4-6 hours of Rebecca laying on her left side will greatly help this, as will increasing her fluid intake.
- There may/will come a point when Xavier's growth rate will exceed the placenta's ability to supply him with what he needs. At this point, delivering him will better serve his needs. At what point this will be is not known. It is one of the things the doctors will keep a close eye on.
- The problem, Dr. Winn explained, is that the placenta did not fully integrate into Rebecca's uterine wall (we learned more about the placenta today than I even knew there was to know! The psalmist knew well when he wrote we are "fearfully and wonderfully made"). This is the source of the restricted blood flow. I know we have reported this a few times over the past few weeks, but now it's official and no more a working theory.
Rebecca and I are so thankful for today's report and we give praise and glory to God our Father! We know there is more road to travel, but He has brought us this far, He won't abandon us now.
Thank you all for your prayers. I cannot convey our gratitude for them!
Profile of Xavier at 26 weeks, 2 days (03-Apr-13). You can see both hands in this picture.
This is the white board. The night nurse on April 2nd gave Rebecca her goal. We updated Xavier's today.
Rebecca at lunch in one of the cafeterias. Chicken pot pie, and it was delicious.
This is a quilt Rebecca's mother, Penny, made for Rebecca and me as a one year anniversary gift. It has helped make the hospital room feel more like home and helped Rebecca stay warm through the nights.
Week 26
Greetings to you all and thank you for your prayers and support.
Not much to report today; we are waiting for tomorrow's ultrasound (scheduled for 9:00 AM). It's results will help map out the next few months of our lives.
Rebecca is in good spirits. A good friend spent two hours with her over lunch, where they discussed many things including chicken husbandry. Rebecca's BP has crept back up tonight, and tested above 150. No explanation for this, but we suspect too much sugar from the Sunday Bunny.
Rebecca had another round of blood drawn for her weekly tests. No information about the labs at this time.
Xavier is moving about strongly, his heart rate where it has been these past weeks. We are looking forward to see how much he has grown in the past two weeks. This is week 26 for Xavier, and he has met yet another of his goals! He is already taking after his father and mother in being an over-achiever, so we expect to report exciting news tomorrow! After all, he is being bathed in prayer and love.
The window work at the Northern Outpost finished this afternoon. They all look good. I will definitely be rating the window company highly on the Angie's List survey. The painter/finisher who did the staining and paint touchup also did a fantastic job. Yes, this is a shameless plug as both companies did excellent work.
With the windows in a state of drying, I packed the dog and cat, a jar of Rebecca's homemade pickles, some cosmetics and some clothes into the car and headed south. Lena knew almost immediately she was getting a car ride and tried helping me pack. Poof caterwauled a few minutes after I loaded her into the car, but calmed down quickly and looked content in her carrying cage.
Lena, an old pro at visiting the Southern Outpost, raced me to the front door, then raced up the stairs into the dining area. She stared expectantly, as only dogs can stare, at the place her food dish should be. It would be several minutes before one actually appeared.
Poof was a little timid as she checked out her new surroundings, but has grown relaxed. She never hid. A little more clingy to me tonight, but that's OK for now. Thank you for praying peace over her; she had it even from the start of the car ride.
Always, thank you for your prayers. They are the greatest gift we can ask for.
A view of most of the hospital room as seen from the threshold of the bathroom.
Lena making herself at home at the Southern Outpost. She really is not as pitiable as this picture makes her look.
Poof, our self-cloning fuzzball, seems to be adjusting to her new environment. She has picked this chair as her own. It's the best chair in the room; it also happens to be my chair.
A Lazy First of April
Hello and greetings to all of you. I hope the first day of April did not get the better of you.
Very little to report today.
Rebecca had a visit from one of the three doctors this morning, but she had nothing new to report, nor did she have any new ideas. She stopped by just to check in. Rebecca spent the day cat-napping as she did not get a lot of sleep last night. I had sympathy cat-naps because I did not get much sleep either.
Xavier has been active. Rebecca mentioned to me last night she is feeling him differently, that he has more weight to him. That is exciting!
The window woodwork was stained today. Tuesday the crew is expected to seal the wood and paint the walls. If plans hold, that will lead to Lena and Poof going on a road trip Tuesday night.
Your prayers and support are precious to us all. Thank you for them both.