Another Day Down

I figured if we are going to have many pictures from this summer, we better get started taking some each day at the hospital.

Ella trying out my leg massagers.  She told me she was about to have surgery. 

The best part of visiting mommy....

is a daily treat from the gift shop!

We had a good day today.  Kev had some appointments this morning and I spent a little time alone.  Each day I am determined to get up and to feel as normal as possible.  Generally each day someone comes in my room and sees me and says, "Oh, it looks like you are about to be discharged."  I wish!  I always feel better when I am showered, dressed and ready for the day...even if that only involves sitting!

We had several sweet visitors today who helped us pass some time.  We are so thankful for so many sweet, sweet friends who are such a blessing to us. 

We also got to meet with a Neonatologist from the NICU today.  I felt a lot better after meeting her .  I know you can never really know what to expect and having SB will complicate things even more, but I feel like I better know what to expect. She said that every day that he is inside counts.  She did even say that if he comes out breathing on his own he can go straight to the level 2 nursery!!  You can pray about that if you'd like!!

It is really surreal to me that I will be having a baby (my very last baby)  in less than 3 weeks.  This has been such a different pregnancy.  Normally, I would have everything completely ready for the baby. Tiny clothes would be washed in Dreft and waiting.  Packs of tiny, sweet smelling Swaddler diapers would be lining the closet.  I would have been nesting for weeks.  Our home would be clean and organized.  There would be matching big sister and little brother shirts.  There would be some new toiletries and a new Bath and Body lotion for me, carefully packed in my hospital bag.  There would probably be tears and extra close snuggles, as I treasured my last night with Eliza being the baby.  Needless to say, this is all so different and none of that really matters at all.  I know the feeling will be the same the moment I see my baby! 

31 Weeks

I haven't taken many pregnant pictures this pregnancy.  I figured I better while I still can! 

My two favorite visitors.  Poor daddy...he dressed Ella in Eliza's shorts and I have no clue what Eliza is wearing.
He did try and he did bring bows for me to fix their hair.  Too bad he brought Eliza a red bow for her mismatch outfit!  This definitely made me laugh and brightened our day!

The soon to be big sisters!! Poor Eli...he has no idea what is waiting for him!


Well, the good news is that another day is almost over.  I look at the clock every evening and say, "Yes, this day is over!"   So far so good! 

Monday almost to 31

Today has been a good day at the hospital.  Well, as good as a day of hospital bedrest can be!  We were thankful to have some sweet friends come and visit us today and that helped to make the day pass faster.  Daddy went home tonight to spend some time with our girls and gather some needed supplies. 

I will be 31 weeks tomorrow.  So far things continue to be stable with no signs of a problem.  I am trying my best to get further, but there is really not much I can do at this point.  Our nurse told us last night that about 50% of women deliver within the first week of PROM(premature rupture of membranes) and another 50% will deliver in the second week.  Some make it even further.  Really, no one knows how long it will be. 

We met with a developmental pediatrician and nurse from the Spina Bifida clinic here this afternoon.  We had planned to go visit on the next clinic day just to get an idea of what it is like...but obviously we aren't going to make it so they came to visit us.  It is overwhelming when I think that once we get through the delivery and all the NICU issues, we are just beginning our journey with Spina Bifida.  I am continuing to pray for the best as any parent would. 

So, that was our day. Here's to 31 weeks tomorrow! 

Buying Time

Thankfully yesterday was a much quieter day in the life of our family.  Kev and I spent the day with him laying in the hospital chair reclined and me in the bed.  He is very bruised and very sore. Yet,  I continue to be so thankful that he was able to walk away from such a terrible accident.  When I look at the pictures of the accident on-line and from the news I cannot believe it is our car that I am looking at.  I also cannot believe that he was in there.  I am so thankful that he is alive and only just sore and bruised.

Things with Eli seem to be pretty good so far.  I have received both of my steroid shots to aid in his lung development and they have both had time to take full effect. I have been on antibiotics since I got here and so far there are no signs of infection.  My contractions seem to be laying low today, which is good.  It is hard because we are just waiting....pretty much waiting for something to go wrong and immediately off to surgery I will go.  I don't really like the idea of an emergency C-section, but I guess nothing about this pregnancy normal.

I feel so torn.  I know Eli needs as much time as possible to grow and gain weight inside of me, but being here is really hard!  I think knowing that I could possibly have another 3 weeks and two days before my c-section plus my recovery days plus all of Eli's NICU days....I am thinking I may never leave.   The doctor did say this morning that starting tomorrow I can have some wheelchair privileges around the hospital and maybe a short time outside for my sanity.  That sounds really nice....this little room is getting really little! 

I am also a bit of a germaphobe at a hospital.   I hate for anything to touch the floor.  I just never feel like anything is clean.  I am just plain paranoid!  Not a good thing when this is your living quarters for a while. I may be requesting my own can of Lysol before this is all over!!
The hardest part of it all is missing my girls.  I miss them terribly even though they have come for several short visits so far.  Ella brought me about 15 pictures she had colored and I couldn't help but cry.  We are really trying our best to keep them in a normal routine with as little change as possible.  This is best for them as well as mommy and daddy. 

Finally, Happy Father's day to my wonderful Dad!  You once again exemplified why you are such a great dad on Friday when you sprinted down hwy. 61 to get to Kevin right after his accident (traffic was very backed up and he had to park and run a ways to the scene of the accident).  We are so thankful for your unconditional love for all of us. 

If we've ever needed you....

If I have said it once I have said it several times in the past few weeks, "I am so thankful that I don't know ahead of time what a day will hold."  God gives His grace when it is needed and not ahead.  Before you worry, Eli is still tucked away inside and things are going well so far with him. 

Kev left the hospital today around 12:45 to run home and see our girls who were missing mommy and daddy, pick up a few things we needed at the hospital and take a shower.  My mom, older sister, and niece came to visit with me while he left for a bit.  He also had plans to drop by Costco for diapers, milk and apple juice...you know the necessities!  He walked out the door and told me he loved me as he closed the door.

At 1:02 my cell rang and it was Kev.  He said in a very shaky voice, "Julie, something bad has happened.  I have been in a terrible wreck.  I am hurt very badly."  I think I first thought he was joking because if you know Kevin, it would be possible....although he wouldn't normally do something like that with me in pre-term labor.  Then I could hear the fear in his voice and said, "We have to call 911 not me!"  It was one of those freak out moments that you never want to live.  I tried asking him where he was hurting, if he was bleeding, and said over and over that I loved him and I needed him to be okay.   He said he was hurting and bleeding a lot and thought he might be bleeding internally.  My mom called my dad and told him to get there asap and they tried to calm me while I talked to him.  I could hear sirens in the background.  He then started getting confused and was asking me where he was going and if I was still at the hospital on the 5th floor.  I was really getting concerned because he was getting very disoriented.  I then heard the medic get to him and tell him that he was lucky and that the car that had hit him head on had a fatality.  I knew it was bad and I don't know if I have ever felt so helpless in my life.

I sat on my hospital bed and his cell phone died.  His phone charger was one of the items on the list to get from the house.  Thankfully, my dad arrived on the scene and we were able to talk to him as he was with Kev.  He was bleeding really badly from his face and nose and they had to cut him out of our SUV which was totaled.  They put him in the ambulance and brought him to the same hospital that I was at.  It was misery being confined to my room knowing he was down in the ER hurting.  Thankfully, as always... God provides the fellowship of believers.  As soon as texts and messages were sent out friends gathered in the ER waiting area to be with him.  Friends and family gathered with me in my room.  I called my dad probably 100 times trying to get updates.

They did a CT and X-ray and it looked good PRAISE THE LORD!!  He is really really bruised and really really sore.  He has bruises where his seat belts restrained him.  His nose is swollen and cut and he has several abrasions.  Thankfully, after several hours he walked to my room wearing a pair of paper scrubs and looking a little different from the man who exited my room five hours earlier. 

I have never in my life been so glad to see his face to hold his hand and love on him.  He was stinky (sorry babe) and so was I. Neither of us had showered in two days (which I must say is not the norm).  He was bleeding and had blood on his clothes, skin, and shoes.  He was worn-out and still a bit in shock.  I thank God that even though it feels like we are in the midst of such strange and on-going trials and testing...that he provided protection for my sweet and Godly husband.  I praise the Lord...oh I praise the Lord,  that our girls were not in the car and I thank the Lord that he is going to be okay.

He is heartbroken over the life that was lost today.  Even though the wreck was not at all his fault....the other driver ran over a concrete median and hit him head on....he is so burdened for this man's family.  He has said over and over...I know where I am going, it should have been me.  Once again, I praise the Lord for his protection over Kevin.  His driver side airbag did not deploy although the passenger side did.  We don't know why but I am so thankful that he is okay.

Now if all of today's events didn't throw me into labor, I am thinking little Eli might just be good to hang for a while.  I think I even forgot for a while today that I am pregnant! If you feel inclined we would covet your prayers for for Kevin.  He is going to be really really sore in the next few days.  Please pray for the family of the man who lost his life today.  I cannot imagine.  Please pray for a hedge of protection around our family.  Life will settle down again, right???  I think I am forgetting what normal feels like.

If we've ever needed You
Lord, it's now, Lord, it's now
We are desperate for Your hand
We're reaching out, we're reaching out

All our hearts, all our strength
With all our minds, we're at Your feet
Let Your church arise, let Your church arise

Admitted

It is 8 o'clock and I am typing from a bed I hadn't planned on laying in today.  Last night I started thinking that I might be leaking a little fluid.  I am sorry, I am sure that is way TMI and it is way more info. than I normally would share.  Well, it is part of the lovely pregnancy journey.  I really wasn't convinced though.  I am not one to over-react and I was hoping that it was only my bladder that couldn't take the pressure of a little head sitting on it for the fourth time and well you know.  Now that is really TMI!  I knew today that I needed to get checked even though my normal weekly appointment would have been tom. 

I really didn't think it was my fluid...perhaps I was in denial.   Thankfully, I think the Lord prompted me to get a few things together this morning just in case.  I am so glad now.  Sure enough, it was my fluid leaking.  I think we are still in shock that I will not leave the hospital until Eli has arrived.  I am 30 weeks and 3 days.  I am praying to get to 32.  If I make it there and further, they will deliver him at 34 weeks which is July 12.  Honestly, I feel a little doubtful that I will make it there.

I am all hooked up to the monitors and we are listening to little Eli's heart beating away.  I have started contracting some...about every 13-20 min.  I am praying that they will stop soon.  I have my IV and have been reintroducded to my old pal "Mag" or magnesium...seems like it hasn't been that long since we spent a few long nights together.  If you've never had it, it makes you feel like you are on fire from the inside and makes me really nauseous.  So far so good.  I think I will only be on it for 12 hours.  I am also on a few antibotics and I have recevied my first steriod shot to help Eli's lungs. 

I cannot help but think that God continues to be at work in our lives.  Once we were admitted and the nurse was taking us to our room she said it was room 9.  I knew immediately that room 9 was the very room that I spent a very long and painful night in 5 1/2 years ago.  It is the room that I delivered my first child in.  It is the only place I ever saw him and the only place that he was ever alive.  I never thought I 'd ever grace the doors of room 9 again. 

If that is not God ordained enough, we got into the room and saw on the board that our Nurse's name was Becky.  Sure enough, it was the very sweet and caring nurse Becky who guided me through my first ever labor and delivery.  She was such an amazing nurse that day and her care meant so much to us.  She was the very person that I handed my precious newborn baby to for the last time ever.  She remembered us immediately as well.  I was able to once again thank her for helping us through a very hard day many years ago. 

Okay, so I can only think that God is going a head of us and walking with us on this journey.  Thank you for your prayers.  I miss being at home tucking in my girls in their beds already.  Please pray for Eli that he can hang in there a little while longer!

Oh and one more thing!! Last week they were unable to get an accurate measurement on his left ventricle due to positioning.  We knew today that it would have been almost two weeks since we'd gotten a measurement.  Today it measured 14 which is exactly what it measured two weeks ago.  It is the first time we hadn't seen an increase since my surgery. We were very thankful for that!  His right ventricle is still holding stable at 9.  They also estimated him to weigh around 3lbs 2 oz.  He will be a peanut for sure. 

Thanks again for your prayers for Eli and our family!

Getting out of the boat...

Kev and I are in the midst of trying to discern God's plan for our family.  As most of you know we found out a few months ago that his job of 10 years was ending due to the company closing the local office.  Let me back up a bit.  My husband Kevin has worked in small business sales for almost ten years now. He is really good at it.  Sales comes very naturally to him since he loves talking to people and is a hard worker.  He has been successful and has moved up in his company as much as he wanted too. 

A few years ago after we lost Samuel, the Lord placed a very clear call in Kevin's heart for full-time ministry.  It is so funny to me because I always for some strange reason thought I would grow up and marry a preacher...maybe because my dad has been a pastor all my life..maybe it was the Lord.  Anyways, when I met Kevin and knew he was God's plan for my life he had no plans of being a preacher.  I was actually really good with that plan.  I had complete peace about marrying him and just figured I'd misheard God's voice, and once again, I was really good with that.

Being in the ministry is very different from having a normal job.  I know this well from growing up my entire life in a pastor's family.  You don't choose a church or ministry job based on which one pays the most.  You don't choose to move your family to a new city because you "like" the area.  You choose to make those decisions based on the Lord's leading.  As a child I saw my parents do this many times.  I also experienced many, many blessings based on their faithfulness and obedience to the Lord.

Okay, back to my title.  So, Kev has been working full-time, going to seminary, teaching Sunday School. helping with our youth group, and most recently hired on part-time at our church to work to get small groups organized for families.  He has a lot of irons in the fire so to speak.  He is constantly busy trying to serve.  His full-time sales job was really just our income and insurance.  It was not his passion or his calling.  Yet, income and insurance are really important when you have a soon to be family of five.

I am getting somewhere....I think!  We have been really praying and trying to discern what God's plan is for Him as far as a job.  A door has opened and some have closed.  This weekend we spent a lot of time talking and praying over this.  All weekend my mind kept going back to the story when Peter got out of the boat and walked on water to Jesus (Matt. 14:22-33).  It is a story I have heard over and over throughout my life, but this weekend the Lord kept bringing it to my mind.

Kev is so much more like Peter than I am.  He would totally be the disciple to get out of the boat.  Me on the other hand....I really like the security and comfort of the boat. I really don't like the water and I would be one of the terrified ones sobbing in the boat.  Our personalities are very different, which usually is a very good thing. 

As the Lord brought this story to my mind over and over this weekend I kept thinking...."Lord, getting out of the boat is hard enough  for me when the water is smooth and clear.  It is quite a different thing to get out of the boat in the midst of a terrible storm."  To be honest, getting out of the boat seems quite contrary to what I want to do.  It also seems a little reckless and like those huge waves might be more than I can handle. 

I had to go back and re-read Matthew 14 to remember that it was the wind that also caused Peter to be afraid and lose his footing too.

When I got home this evening and opened our mail from yesterday there was a card inside.  It was sent to us from a lady who I have never met but who has been praying for us. This is what the card said, "I BELIEVE if Jesus calls me to get out of the boat, He is going to be there to help me walk on the water.  If I start to sink, which I sometimes do, He'll reach His hand down and He'll lift me up.   God will give you everything you need to do everything He has called you to do.  You are in His hands and in His will, and there is no better place to be."