35 WEEKS AT THE PARK

THE KIDS AT THE PARK NEAR THE HOSPITAL

35 WEEK OLD LEVI.... I THINK I AM SQUISHING GREG:)

DADDY AND HIS GIRLS

TYPICAL WINDY DAY IN OKLAHOMA

HOPE ENJOYING SOME OUTDOOR TIME



I AM SOOOOOO VERY THANKFUL TO HAVE MADE IT TO 35 WEEKS... GROW LEVI GROW:)

YESTERDAY WAS BEAUTIFUL OUTSIDE SO WE TOOK A WALK TO A PARK CLOSE BY. IT WAS SO NICE OUT... SUCH A TREAT TO SMELL THE FRESH AIR OF DOWNTOWN:) Haha! (I CAN'T WAIT TO GET BACK TO OUR COUNTRY AIR AT HOME:) AND BE OUTSIDE OF MY ROOM:)

THEY ALSO BROUGHT ME SOME TACO BELL FROM THE OUTSIDE:) THE HOSPITAL FOOD IS NOT BAD, BUT IT DOES SORT OF ALL TASTE SOMEWHAT THE SAME AFTER 5 WEEKS... I CAN'T COMPLAIN, IT IS JUST REALLY NICE TO HAVE SOMEONE ELSE COOK FOR ME:) I HAD FRIENDS THE OTHER DAY BRING ME PEI WEI... YUMMO, SUCH A TREAT:)

LAST NIGHT I DID WATCH THE OSCARS. I THINK THAT IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE REALLY EVER WATCHED THE WHOLE SHOW. I WAS CROCHETING WHILE I WATCHED...(I FINISHED THE BABY BOY AND BABY GIRL HATS THAT LOUIS WANTED ME TO DONATE FOR THE TEEN AUCTION AT CHURCH THIS WEEKEND) HONESTLY, I REALLY ONLY WATCHED TO SEE ALL THE DRESSES, IS THAT SILLY OR WHAT? I LIKE TO GO TO THE MOVIES, IT IS JUST A REAL RARITY FOR US, SO I AM NEVER THAT FAMILIAR WITH ALL THE ACTORS OR EVEN THE MOVIES...

THEY SHOULD TAKE ME DOWN FOR MY BIO PHYSICAL PROFILE SHORTLY... I WILL TRY TO FILL YOU IN ON THAT IN A BIT... OTHERWISE NOT TOO MUCH IS GOING ON TODAY... THE BIG BOYS HAVE SOCCER PRACTICE TONIGHT SO THEY WILL NOT GET TO COME UP AND VISIT TODAY.
ROOM:)



THEY SHOULD TAKE ME DOWN FOR MY BIO PHYSICAL PROFILE SHORTLY... I WILL TRY TO FILL YOU IN ON THAT IN A BIT... OTHERWISE NOT TOO MUCH IS GOING ON TODAY... THE BIG BOYS HAVE SOCCER PRACTICE TONIGHT SO THEY WILL NOT GET TO COME UP AND VISIT TODAY.



THE BIO PHYSICAL PROFILE WENT FINE. HE SCORED FINE ON EVERYTHING. THE FLUID LEVEL WAS A LITTLE ABOVE NORMAL, SO I WILL ASK MY DOCTOR IN THE MORNING IF THAT IS OK. LEVI WAS HEAD DOWN TODAY. USUALLY HE IS HEAD DOWN WITH ONE BPP ON A MONDAY AND HEAD UP BY THE NEXT BPP ON THURSDAY. HE HAS STAYED HEAD DOWN NOW TWICE, SO MAYBE HE IS THERE TO STAY. HE HAS TO RUNNING OUT OF ROOM I WOULD THINK. THE TECH ALSO SHOWED ME HIS HAIR. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANYONE POINT THAT OUT TO ME... SO APPARENTLY LEVI WILL HAVE HAIR:) I CAN NOT WAIT TO SEE IT!!

CAREGIVERS:)

This may sound a little bizarre, but there are parts of this hospital stay that have been such a blessing to me....

When ever I feel like I could lose my mind with missing the kids and Greg soooo sooo much, I try to remind myself that I probably will not have time to myself like this anywhere in the near future. Now, I would never want to go on with this much time of my own... yet at the same time, I remember days where it truly was difficult to find 10 minutes of quiet. I am thankful to have time to read my bible for as long as I want, or to take up a new hobby like crocheting... I am really trying to focus on all of the positives.

I have had lots of people visiting from church or my MEND group. It has really been nice to have time to get to know some of the people from our church better. It is a gift to just have time to visit with them without interruptions, that is really hard to come by for me at church normally, so I have enjoyed that part of these days. I also have treasured my visits from my MEND friends. It has been nice to process and talk about all that has been going on in my mind with people that fully understand. 3 of these gals have had the anniversaries of their babies deaths in the last couple of weeks or in the coming couple of weeks. It is so nice to share what we are feeling and to know that it is normal. ( I have really missed the regular MEND meetings while I have been on bed rest)


I have to tell you I have been so blessed by the nurses. There have only been a couple that I haven't been real fond of, or that were not very friendly. It is amazing what a difference a friendly nurse makes. I had one the other night that was so short with me. When she would monitor me, she would come in look at the strip tell me she was leaving me on longer and walk out... I had been watching the strip myself and it seemed good comparing it to all the others I have seen since here... Just the fact that she was so quiet sort of made me nervous. It was all fine, but just their demeanor can make a big difference in how I feel at times.

But for the most part they have been so awesome, and so caring. I have had so many nice conversations with so many of them. They are great care givers as well. The first couple of weeks, whenever they would come in and check my swelling the nurses would ask about my tattoo of Samuel's footprint. I loved sharing about it and my sweet Samuel... and the neat thing was that they really wanted to know about him:) They were very compassionate as well:)

I have had a lot of neat conversations also about how sweet little Levi came to be. This automatically gives me the chance to share about our view on life and when it begins and how much we value it:) Of course sharing about Samuel and Levi have given me many opportunities to share about my faith and how that has come into play with everything that has happened with our family over the last 2+ years. That has been such a sweet part of this hospital stay... I find it almost humorous that I can look at parts of this 5 weeks hospital stay so far as sweet:) I love how God can do that:)

Greg's parents have been here all this past week and will leave the beginning of this coming week. I know the kids have loved it and hopefully the inlaws have too:) I know it was a lot of work for them to be in charge of all of the kids for the week... but we are so very thankful for their help.

My parents are planning on coming next weekend and then they will be here hopefully when Levi arrives, if we make it to the 14th of March:) It will be great for Greg to feel like part of the load of taking care of the kids will be lifted that last week before Levi arrives, Lord willing:)

My doctor actually said they may induce me in the evening of the 13th depending on how things look... That means only 15 more sleeps for me if that were to be the case. Now that makes me smile:)

He also did mention that the hospital case worker wondered if we would have any issues with inducing me at 37 weeks if for some reason Levi needs any NICU time... Typically they will take a baby 3 weeks before when you lost your previous baby. 37 weeks is considered full term. I would think that it would be a slam dunk given my previous still birth, my placenta issues, high blood pressure, etc. I would think that they have plenty of medical reasons to induce at that point. Would you please pray that they will not want to go beyond the 14th... and that we can all joyfully agree on that if something doesn't happen before? I would so appreciate it!

I know that so many of my viewpoints have changed from my previous natural childbirth class teaching days... I still totally love all that, but at this point, I am in a totally different place. We don't want to take a single chance as Levi's parents. We are praying for the Lord to lead and guide us in making any decisions we might need to and for complete wisdom for the doctors who are caring for Levi and me. It is in His hands. Thanks for praying for Levi and our family these last couple of months....

FOR YOU CREATED MY INMOST BEING; YOU KNIT ME TOGETHER IN MY MOTHER'S WOMB. I PRAISE YOU BECAUSE I AM FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE; YOUR WORKS ARE WONDERFUL, I KNOW THAT FULL WELL! PSALM 139:13-14

HOPE'S BIRTHDAY AND 34 WEEKS 2 DAYS

BIRTHDAY GIRL and HER BIRTHDAY CAKE:)

LAST SATURDAY WE HAD A LITTLE BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR HOPE UP HERE AT THE HOSPITAL. SHE WAS PRETTY CLUELESS AS FAR AS IT BEING FOR HER. SHE SANG ALONG AS WE SANG TO HER... BUT REALLY DIDN'T GET THAT IT WAS HER BIRTHDAY.

IT REALLY SEEMS LIKE SHE IS MATURING AND TURNING A CORNER... SHE IS LISTENING AND OBEYING A LOT BETTER. SHE GENERALLY IS DOING SO WELL AND MAKES US LAUGH A LOT... SHE IS TURNING MORE INTO A HAM WITH EACH PASSING DAY AND THAT OF COURSE GETS LOTS OF ATTENTION FROM THE BIGGER KIDS. WE ARE SO THANKFUL THAT GOD CHOSE US TO BE HER PARENTS.

As usual, I accidentally lost one of the pictures that Louis loaded on here... I can't figure out what I keep doing... and then to be honest, I purposely deleted 3 pictures of my belly after the kids had painted it... The stretch marks and the size... TOO BIG to post bare at this point:) (When the kids were here this past Sunday they had fun putting their hand prints all over my ever enlarging tummy... We did the same thing with Samuel, so they were looking forward to putting their little hands all over Levi.)


Honestly, I have had so many things on my mind lately, that I sort of have been avoiding posting because I can't quite articulate it all... HMMMMM...

Tomorrow, or actually by the time this posts, I will be 34 weeks 2 days pregnant. That brings me great comfort. I feel like if he is born now or even a week from now we should be in pretty good shape... obviously there are never any guarantees... But I feel like I will at some point feel like he will be safer outside of me than in me... I know that may not make total sense to many... but I can feel myself getting closer and closer to being at that point.

Yesterday at Levi's biophysical profile, he did great:) His non stress tests been fine. I have been having contractions off and on, but nothing big and WAY less than I was having, so that is a good thing. The really fun and exciting part is that they estimated him to be 5 lbs. 7 oz. Yay... for big boy Levi:) Obviously, that is + or - up to 13 oz. But she said that the machines are pretty new and they have found them to be more accurate than what they used to have. So he is measuring a little big for his age:) The doctor was really happy with his size.

So the plan is still March 14th unless he comes earlier or isn't getting what he needs. Please continue to pray for God's will to be done in his precious little life Our hope and prayer is that he will be kept safe inside of my womb and that they will catch anything that seems amiss. I am looking a lot bigger all of a sudden and he is really feeling a lot bigger too... I feel it when he moves and wiggles around. I love to feel him move.

Greg's parents stayed with the kids tonight so Greg brought dinner up to me. We had such a nice night... it was so nice to be able to talk uninterrupted and to not have to share the time with all the kiddos. I miss the kids like crazy, but when they all come it is jam packed trying to give them all attention. I loved the one on one time with my honey:) We are very thankful to have his parent's help this week. I am sure they will be ready for a vacation when they leave this weekend.

Thanks for all of the prayers and love... I will try to post soon about all the thoughts, feelings, and emotions that are accompanying me these days:)

WHEELCHAIR RIDE PRIVILEDGES:)

MY BUDDY JO AND I:) I THINK THE DAYS ARE ARRIVING WHEN I WILL HAVE TO START LOOKING INTO SOME ANTI-AGING CREAM... OH MY THE WRINKLES UNDER THOSE EYES:) YIKES! WILL ALMOST 8 WEEKS ON BED REST DO THAT TO YOU?? I THOUGHT IT WOULD DO THE OPPOSITE:)

AS GREG AND I SAT WHILE THE KIDS RAN AROUND, WE WERE BOTH REMARKING ON HOW MUCH TALLER ANNA HAS GOTTEN... WHERE DID THE LITTLE GIRL GO???

SWEET PRECIOUS BROTHERS... JUST WAITING TO WELCOME ANOTHER...

LOUIS AND TOOTS:)

YAY, The big news this week is that I got wheelchair privileges...(I know not such big news... which means it has been a quiet week... Praise God!!) Basically now I can 2 times a day go for wheelchair rides around the hospital or even outside.... ahhhhh... it has been so nice!!



I love being outside... honestly when we had the last BIG snowstorm I was dying to put on some boots and head out for a long walk in the snow. I really don't think that I have ever been inside for this many days in a row. I am not at all complaining... I am right where I need and want to be for now:)

It is funny though... whenever I have visitors that is usually one of their questions, what am I doing to keep busy? and How am I doing in here for so long away from the kids and Greg? Honestly, that again has totally been the grace of God. I know this will sound crazy, but it hasn't been bad at all and the time is really passing by quickly. (Probably a whole lot more quickly for me than for Greg:) I am used to being with my kids pretty much 24/7 so really, I thought I would be going crazy. I have had a few brief moments where I have thought, I don't think I can be away from them or locked up here for another minute... But quickly I remind myself that in the big picture it really is for such a short time and that the Lord will carry us through this time, with hopefully great memories and Lord willing a good outcome in the end. So all in all, it hasn't been bad at all... I think He is blessing me with some quiet which I know will be a rarity for the next 18 years of life after I leave here:) (I can't wait for that:)

My in-laws arrived safely. They all came for a visit yesterday and we took a walk just outside the hospital to a sort of park like area where we took the pictures above. The kids ran around and it was gorgeous out... For me, it was such a treat to see the kids run and play. In the hospital room, it is controlled play and poor Hope, just can't really get all the wiggles out in here, so it was really fun to have a change of scenery together:)

Speaking of Toots:) , She is 2 today. I believe they are all going to bring up a cake this afternoon and we will celebrate her precious life together this afternoon. It will be so different than last year when there was so much wondering and hoping that she would be ours. Ahhhh... Praise be to God for how that all worked out.

This week I found out some interesting info on the outcome for the whole reason why her adoption was held up for so long and why there were so many delays and court dealings. I was glad to get this info as it is finally some sort of closure on that end, but at the same time it does leave me wondering for her safety and even the rest of us at times. But, that being said, I have to continually put her life into God's hands and trust Him with what He has in store for her and us. (Not always easy as we all know:)

LOOKING FORWARD TO CELEBRATING SWEET BABY GIRL TODAY... AND ALL THE OTHER SWEET LITTLE BLESSINGS HE HAS GIVEN TO ME:)

QUIET ON THE HOSPITAL FRONT...

IT HAS BEEN A REAL BLESSING TO HAVE GONE 6 DAYS WITH OUT A TRIP TO LABOR AND DELIVERY. I HAVE BEEN HAVING WAY LESS CONTRACTIONS THE LAST FEW DAYS, WHICH HAS BEEN NICE:) IS IT THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM? PROBABLY NOT... THE STORM WILL COME EVENTUALLY:)

MY SISTER IN LAW IS HAVING HER SCHEDULED C-SECTION TOMORROW MORNING. PLEASE PRAY THAT THEIR BABY ARRIVES SAFE AND SOUND AND THAT THINGS GO ACCORDING TO THE PLAN.

LEVI'S BIO PHYSICAL PROFILE CAME BACK GOOD YESTERDAY. YAY LEVI:) I HAVE TO ADMIT THOUGH EACH TIME WE GO BACK IN I SORT OF WONDER IS THIS IS THE TIME WHERE SOMETHING WILL BE NOT QUITE RIGHT AND WE WILL NEED TO TAKE HIM...

I HAVE A HARD TIME BELIEVING THAT IF HE HOLDS OFF FOR JUST A COUPLE MORE WEEKS THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY THAT HE MAY NOT EVEN NEED NICU TIME. I KNOW BABY BOYS TEND TO NOT BE AS STRONG AS BABY GIRLS... IT JUST ALL SEEMS LIKE IT IS FAR OFF, YET AT THE SAME TIME SOOOO SOOOO CLOSE:)

I HADN'T PLANNED ON SEEING THE KIDS AND GREG YESTERDAY, SINCE WE HAD SPENT A LOT OF TIME TOGETHER ON SUNDAY. BUT MY HONEY HAD A SURPRISE FOR ME. HE CAME UP WITH SPARKLING CIDER, CHOCOLATE, ROSES, AND EVEN ROSE PETALS TO SPREAD ON THE HOSPITAL FOOD TRAY... JUST PRECIOUS. IT WAS SUCH A NICE SURPRISE... I KNEW OTHERWISE IT WAS GOING TO BE A BIT OF A LONELY DAY... I AM SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE HIM IN MY LIFE... AND HE IS HANDLING THINGS SOOOO WELL AT HOME.

MY IN-LAWS ARE COMING IN TO HELP THIS THURSDAY FOR AT LEAST A WEEK, MAYBE A LITTLE MORE. WE HAVE HAD SUCH GREAT HELP FROM FRIENDS AND PEOPLE AT CHURCH, BUT I KNOW THAT HAVING HIS PARENTS HERE WILL REALLY GIVE GREG A BREAK. FROM DOING EVERYTHING FOR EVERYBODY EACH EVENING. I AM SO GLAD THAT THIS WILL WORK OUT. I KNOW THE KIDS WILL HAVE A GREAT TIME TOO:) IT WILL ALSO GIVE OUR OTHER HELPERS A BREAK FOR A WEEK AS WELL:) AND THEN AFTER THEY LEAVE IT WILL BE 2 WEEKS AT THE MOST THAT WE WILL NEED HELP UNTIL LEVI MAKES HIS ARRIVAL, LORD WILLING.

WHEN WE BREAK IT DOWN IT ALL SEEMS MORE MANAGEABLE:)

I ALSO WANT TO ASK THAT YOU PRAY FOR LOUIS... HE HAS BEEN STRUGGLING WITH SOME THINGS... HE IS SUCH A BLESSING AND AN AMAZING KID. GREG AND I ARE REALLY SEEKING THE LORD'S GUIDANCE IN HOW TO HELP HIM THROUGH THIS... THANK YOU FOR PRAYING WITH US...


ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I MOST LOOK FORWARD TO AFTER LEAVING THE HOSPITAL IS TO BE ABLE TO SPEND THAT ONE ON ONE TIME WITH EACH OF THE KIDS. WHEN THEY COME FOR A VISIT, IT IS JAM PACKED WITH TRYING TO LOVE ON THEM ALL... I MISS THOSE SPECIAL MOMENTS WITH EACH ONE.... PRAY THAT THEY FEEL THE LOVE WE HAVE FOR EACH OF THEM AND THAT THE LORD BLESSES THEIR LITTLE HEARTS DURING THIS TIME AWAY FROM MOM:)

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING ALONG SIDE ME DURING THIS TIME AND LIFTING US UP BEFORE THE LORD IN PRAYER.... YOU CAN NOT KNOW HOW MUCH THAT MEANS TO US.

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO LEAVE ANY PRAYER REQUESTS OF YOUR OWN THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE. I WOULD LOVE TO PRAY FOR YOU THIS WEEK:)

TIME ON MY HANDS...

WHEN I ASK LOU TO PICK SOME PICTURES AND POST THEM... YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WHAT HE WILL COME UP WITH... MAKES ME WONDER A LITTLE BIT WHAT HAS BEEN GOING ON AT THE HOME FRONT:) THIS IS SO JOJO... LOOKS LIKE IN ADDITION TO THE HUNTING ATTIRE HE HAS SOME BLUE MARKER AND CHOCOLATE ON HIS FACE:)

MY SWEET ANNA... GETTING SO BIG...

32 WEEKS 5 DAYS WITH LEVI... LOUIS JUST TOOK THIS PICTURE TONIGHT WHEN THEY CAME TO SEE ME AT THE HOSPITAL...

BECAUSE I AM ON BEDREST, I AM USUALLY RECLINING... IT SEEMS LIKE I AM MUCH SMALLER THAN NORMAL... I THINK IT IS BECAUSE I AM NOT UP AND ABOUT. NORMALLY WITH MY PREGNANCIES I HAVE FELT HUGE AND EVEN HUGER BY THE END OF THE DAY:)

IT WAS FUNNY THOUGH BECAUSE THIS MORNING WHEN MY NURSE, SWEET DEZRA CAME IN, RIGHT AWAY SHE SAID, "WOW, YOU ARE GETTING BIGGER" YAY!!! IT MADE MY HEART SWELL... I LOVE THIS LITTLE GUY SOOOO MUCH!

TWO LITTLE GOOFBALLS... I LOVE HOW HOPE'S HAIR IS GROWING, IT MAKES HER LOOK SO MUCH OLDER AND DIFFERENT IN LOTS OF WAYS... I LOVE HER CURLS:)



I MET ANOTHER OF MY DOCTOR'S ASSOCIATES TODAY... I LIKED HER, WE DIDN'T TALK LONG, BUT SHE SEEMED NICE ENOUGH...

I HAVE HAD A LOT OF TIME ON MY HANDS, AND YESTERDAY I GOT A BETTER IDEA OF HOW MUCH TIME I MAY REALLY HAVE BEFORE HE ARRIVES.

WHEN MY DOCTOR COME IN YESTERDAY MORNING, I ASKED HIM WHAT THE CHANCES ARE THAT I WILL ACTUALLY GET HIM TO DELIVER LEVI. HE SAID THAT GIVEN THE ISSUES I HAVE GOING ON AND THE PREVIOUS STILLBIRTH THAT HE WOULDN'T LET ME GO PAST MONDAY MARCH 14TH, WHICH WOULD BE 37 WEEKS. (MY GUT FEELING IS THAT I WON'T MAKE IT THAT FAR... BUT I COULD BE TOTALLY WRONG:) MARCH 14TH WOULD PUT ME AT JUST 29 DAYS AWAY... IT IS SO NICE TO FEEL LIKE THE END IS IN SIGHT.

HE DID SAY TOO, THAT HE FEELS LIKE MOST LIKELY WE WILL HAVE TO INDUCE ME, SO THAT WOULD MAKE IT MORE LIKELY TOO, THAT HE WOULD BE THE ONE TO DELIVER LEVI. THAT IS ONE OF MY BIG PRAYER REQUESTS RIGHT NOW. TRULY, I HAVEN'T BEEN IMPRESSED WITH ANY OF HIS ASSOC. BUT AT LEAST A COUPLE HAVE BEEN OK:)

I HAVE NOT REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT THE DELIVERY MUCH. I USED TO BE A NATURAL CHILDBIRTH TEACHER AND BIRTH DOULA... I LOVED THAT ALL, IT WAS TOTALLY ONE OF MY PASSIONS. HONESTLY THOUGH, WITH SAMUEL'S BIRTH BEING AS SAD, SCARY, AND TRAUMATIC IN MANY WAYS AS IT WAS, I HAVE JUST CHOSEN NOT TO THINK ABOUT IT THE DETAILS OF THE UPCOMING BIRTH.

NOW THAT I KNOW THAT WE ARE GETTING CLOSER AND THE END IS IN SIGHT, I AM GETTING A LITTLE SCARED ABOUT THE BIRTH ITSELF. I HAVE PRETTY MUCH RESOLVED MYSELF TO THE FACT THAT IT WON'T BE MY "DREAM" BIRTH AS FAR AS THE PROCESS GOES, AND REALLY I AM TOTALLY FINE WITH THAT. I JUST WANT HIM TO ARRIVE SAFE AND SOUND AND HOWEVER THAT HAPPENS, I CAN BE FINE WITH SURRENDERING TO HOWEVER IT GOES DOWN... BUT I AM A LITTLE LEARY ABOUT THE PROCESS ITSELF.

IT WAS JUST REALLY NICE TO TALK WITH HIM ABOUT MORE DETAILS OF WHEN THIS LITTLE GUY MIGHT ARRIVE.


I HAVE MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR TODAY. I WANT TO TRY TO POST SOON ABOUT ALL THE NEAT AND INTERESTING DISCUSSIONS I HAVE HAD WITH THE NURSES LATELY. I HAVE BEEN SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE REALLY KIND NURSES:)

MUCH LOVE!! SPEAKING OF LOVE... WITH VALENTINE'S DAY, I AM KEEPING BUSY TRYING TO COME UP WITH SOME HOMEMADE VALENTINES FOR GREG AND THE KIDS... SHOULD BE INTERESTING:)

MY SWEET LEVI

Tonight I had quite a scare...

Please know that I never share with you to share the "drama" part of life. Really I never felt like we had much drama in our life until the last couple of years. I only share so that you can know what is going on and so that you can pray.


I was on the monitor for the non stress test and I was contracting a fair amount again. They wouldn't let me eat and then kept me on the monitor. I continued to have them for about 2 1/2 hours and then the doc on call ordered an IV again and a shot of Terbutaline... just like the other night, to slow it all down.

Probably 40 minutes after that Levi's heart rate started to drop... I could hear that it was much slower... He will do that on occasion, but normally he will drop to about 105 at the lowest and pops back up in seconds... This was different. He dropped to the low 90's and then the nurse couldn't find him at all. He moves around a lot when they monitor me so we are constantly adjusting the belts to get him back on... that happens often, but it only takes a short while to get him back on.

Tonight the nurse tried for like a minute, left the room to get another nurse to try, she couldn't find it ANYWHERE.. I could see their concern and just said, "You know my history, please do whatever you need to do for the baby and don't waste any time." They started to sort of panic and pulled all the plugs and rushed me down to labor and delivery. When I got there, it had probably been at least 4 minutes since we heard his heartbeat. I was starting to PANIC...

The whole time I was alone, praying for God to protect Levi, and asking them to hurry, and not waste any time. When we got to the room it took them 3 minutes to finally locate his heart rate and make sure it wasn't mine. There were probably 7 nurses in the room rushing around. They pushed more fluids and monitored Levi and the contractions on the monitor until the Doc on call came in to see me. Levi's heart rate recovered great... Thank God!!


Well the doctor on call said he probably laid on his cord, but he was fine and he wasn't concerned at all. He basically said that maybe it slowed or they could not find it but that I paniced and that caused the nurses to panic. (The funny thing was that the nurse called Greg and a couple friends for me that live really close to the hospital and told them they couldn't locate the heart rate and they may have to do a quick C-section. I was so thankful to have my friends get here so that I wasn't alone. When I came back to my room, the nurses were as sweet as pie and she admitted that they were worried and that normally if they can't locate a baby right a way... it just takes a bit and that this was much longer than normal.


It just made me mad at the doctor that he was implying my worry was the problem.
(Honestly, before his slowed heartrate... I was chilling watching American Idol just as calm as can be. ) After the doctor left one of the nurses from Labor and Delivery came back in and was REALLY nice... God totally had her there. She said that many of the nurses had experienced losses in the past and I had done nothing wrong... Levi had done a little something, bad position, laying on his cord, whatever but that he had done that and was fine now. It turns out the nurse had lost a baby 3 days after birth 6 years ago and now has a 7 year old with Leukemia. She was incredibly nice and supportive. She validated all the fears and worries I had with Levi's heart rate dropping like that. She made all the difference in the world. Please pray for Karen's 7 year old son if you think of it.

So, I am back in my regular room for now... I would appreciate your prayers for my heart. I will admit that I totally lost it after they found his heart beat and after the doctor left and Greg had arrived. My emotions are high...


Really, I am at peace for the most part, but there is still concern in my heart for Levi. Please continue to pray for his protection... and pray that my visit with my doctor goes well tomorrow and that he wouldn't make me feel stupid for what happened tonight, but would validate my feelings as this little guys mama! Please pray too, thanking
God that Levi was safe and protected through that scary time tonight. Thankyou!

THOUGHTS...

32 WEEKS 2 DAYS:)

EMBARKING ON DAY 37 OF BED REST ... DAY 16 OF HOSPITAL BED REST

AWAITING ANOTHER 5-12 INCHES OF SNOW IN THE NEXT 24 HOURS:)

SO WISH I COULD GET OUT THERE WITH THE KIDS AND PLAY IN IT:)

AT THE SAME TIME SOOOOO HAPPY TO BE SAFE AT THE HOSPITAL...

ANOTHER GOOD BIOPHYSICAL PROFILE YESTERDAY

GOOD NON STRESS TESTS TODAY::)

I HAVE OCCASIONAL CONTRACTIONS, BUT THANKFULLY NOTHING LIKE LAST SATURDAY NIGHT.

YESTERDAY HE WAS BREECH... HE SEEMS TO BE BACK AND FORTH WITH EACH ULTRASOUND

TURN BACK HEAD DOWN AND SETTLE IN LITTLE GUY:)

ABSOLUTELY LOVE FEELING LEVI WIGGLE AROUND DURING THE DAY

STILL WISH HE WOULD MOVE MORE AT NIGHT...

TRYING TO TEACH MYSELF TO CROCHET

WANTED TO MAKE LEVI A HAT...

TURNS OUT, I AM NOT VERY GOOD AT FOLLOWING THE YOU TUBE DIRECTIONS AND IT WILL BE ANNA WHO ENDS UP WITH THIS FIRST HAT:)

I THINK I HAVE MADE A PERMANENT REAR END INDENTATION IN MY HOSPITAL BED

I LOVE TALKING WITH THE KIDS AT NIGHT AND HEARING ALL ABOUT THEIR FAVORITE PARTS OF THE DAY

THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF FORT BUILDING AT THE HINTZ HOUSE LATELY:)

I HAVE ENJOYED THE FREEDOM TO HAVE MORE QUIET TIME WITH MY SAVIOR

I HAVE MISSED HAVING UNLIMITED TIME WITH MY KIDDOS

TALKED OVER THE BIRTH WITH THE DOCTOR TODAY FOR THE FIRST TIME

WONDERING HOW I WILL DO EMOTIONALLY ON DELIVERY DAY...

I HAD A LACTATION CONSULTANT DELIVER MY LUNCH TODAY AND WAS ABLE TO TALK WITH HER ABOUT NURSING A PREMATURE BABY

HAVE STRUGGLED WITH A LITTLE MORE FEAR TODAY OF LOSING ANOTHER CHILD....

TRYING TO TAKE EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE AND MAKE IT OBEDIENT TO CHRIST...

HOPEFULLY ONLY 34 DAYS UNTIL WE MEET THIS SWEET LITTLE MIRACLE PUMPKIN FACE TO FACE... MAYBE LESS:)

SO THANKFUL THAT HE IS THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND FOREVER... REGARDLESS OF MY CIRCUMSTANCES AT THE MOMENT...

RESTING IN HIM <>< TONIGHT AS I HIT THE HAY...:)

A LITTLE EXCITEMENT LAST NIGHT

Here is the update on the little bit of excitement around my room last night.

I was on the phone with Greg around 8:45 when I started to feel some contractions. I really thought that they were just Braxton Hicks... the nurse later came in and was asking me how painful they were... really they weren't painful... the tightening was just a little uncomfortable. About a 1/2 an hour later I called the nurse in just to see if they could monitor me because I had about 6 of them in that 1/2 hour.

She came back in and said..."Ahhh , those aren't Braxton Hicks, those are real contractions." Hmmmm... they made me use the bathroom, drink more fluids as sometimes those 2 things will get them to stop... NOPE!

They then tried a shot of Terbutaline to stop them... NOPE! So they took me down to labor and delivery around midnight. They checked to make sure I didn't have a UTI that was causing the contractions. They checked and I was dilated 1 cm. and only 25 % effaced. They also did a fetalfibronectin test that determines if you are likely to deliver your baby in the next two weeks. Thankfully that came back negative... so that was a good sign:) They then gave me an IV with lots fluids and another shot of the Terbutaline and thankfully that worked to slow them down.

I was so thankful to God, because the next step was going to be to put me on Magnesium Sulfate and give me more steroids for Levi's lungs... and from everything that I have heard... Magnesium Sulfate is really a big bummer.

They moved me back to my room around 4:30 am. And then I got some sleep:) My doctor came back in this morning and had them cap off my iv. So we will see what happens from here...

Sometimes I wonder if maybe I am having some of these complications or different things happening that haven't ever happened in pregnancy for me before, because Levi isn't genetically ours. Just a thought... Levi has handled it all great... Thank you God for this precious little guy... I just can not wait to set my eyes on him... Will he have blue or brown eyes? Will he have any hair or none at all? Will it be light or dark if he does have hair... oh my... my curiosity kills me sometimes :)

I have been reading Hebrews lately... When I read about the great heroes of the faith in Chapter 11, I am always amazed how it mentions, I think 2 different times, how each of them were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things they were promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance... It goes on to talk about them being strangers here on earth and longing for another home... a heavenly home... It just strikes me that they welcome the things that they were promised from a distance... but do not receive them before they die! That is the true faith... faith when you don't receive what you want... Tried and true faith... faith through the mountaintops and deep despairing valleys of life... Hmmmm I know that I have that faith... but I will be the first to say that my sinful human side does get in the way... Oh Lord keep working in my heart this journey of faith that you have me on...

Here is another verse from Hebrews that I love... lets keep runnning the race friends!!

HEBREWS 12:1-2
THEREFORE, SINCE WE ARE SURROUNDED BY SUCH A GREAT CLOUD OF WITNESSES, LET US THROW OFF EVERYTHING THAT HINDERS AND THE SIN THAT SO EASILY ENTANGLES, AND LET US RUN WITH PERSEVERANCE THE RACE MARKED OUT FOR US. LET US FIX OUR EYES ON JESUS, THE AUTHOR AND PERFECTER OF OUR FAITH...

MELT MY MOMMY HEART

I LOVE HOW HER EYES SMILE!

I TOTALLY LOVE THE MISMATCHING HAT AND SCARF... PRECIOUS!!

SWEET LITTLE HOPE JUBILEE NOT SO SURE ABOUT THE SNOW:)

I AM GOING TO POST THIS REAL QUICK... I HAVE BEEN HAVING A LITTLE TROUBLE POSTING LATELY AND HAVING MY PICTURES ALL OF A SUDDEN BE DELETED FROM THE POST.

SO I THINK THAT I WILL GET THIS POSTED AND THEN ANOTHER POST UP TELLING ABOUT MY HAPPY DAY TODAY... AND MY NOT SO HAPPY UTERUS FROM LAST NIGHT...

Apparently...

Apparently... this is what the home front looks like...

I asked Lou to upload some pictures so I could see what it looked like back at home. I have a beautiful view of the parking structure and the helipad from my hospital window... Actually seeing the flight for life helicopters land there has been a highlight for the kids when they come to visit. (It is sad though to know that so many are in need of urgent care and healing when they come) This totally makes me mindful to pray for all the other people here)


It was really nice to see some pictures from home. I told him tonight though that I wanted to see some pictures of the kids tomorrow. I haven't seen them since Monday night and I miss them all like crazy... We are hoping that they can make it here either Saturday or Sunday. They have not left the neighborhood yet, but have been kept very busy by shoveling lots of walkways and driveways for our neighbors, a widow and a single mother. I think that they did get to our driveway today.

It was so nice, I got a surprise visit from our friends the Tiews on Tuesday just after the snow stopped falling. They walked here from their house about a 1/2 mile away... and then today the Fausts, our small group friends, came to play cards with me... It has been sort of a lonely week:( So both of those visits were extremely unexpected and a real treat.

I had another bpp done today on Levi. He didn't do as well as all of the other ones. He didn't do the string of practice breathing movements that they need him to do to get a perfect score. Apparently, that shows that the lungs are maturing. Our usual tech always says that at this age it can be hit or miss, because it is almost like they are so distracted by just moving around that they can forget to do the breathing movements. The doctor said it wasn't anything to worry about... but he scheduled me to go over to the medical building tomorrow to have another bpp done just to be on the safe side. The funny thing was that after I got back to my room, Levi had the hiccups for a few minutes and that would have shown up on the ultrasound as practice breathing movements...

So they will wheel me across the parking lot over there, sometime tomorrow. Greg was a little concerned because it is so cold out. I told him I was thrilled. It will be so nice to have a change of scenery and to breathe some fresh air (if you can call parking lot air fresh:) And of course I had to reinform him of my native northern roots... "THIS IS NOTHING BABE!"

So that will be the excitement for tomorrow:)

After the emotional weekend I had last weekend... I have had 3 really nice visits with my doctor and I am sooooooo thankful. I also had a great chat with my little sister yesterday which just reassured me in many ways that this is the best place for Levi and me to be right now.

I am so thankful for the Lord providing in so many ways. As much as the snowstorm has been crazy and has literally crippled the city for much of this week, I am thankful that Greg has been able to be at home with the kids. We are blessed to have people who are willing to help with the kids and that is such a gift, but it is nice to know that we aren't over working them all at the moment:) And the kids have been blessed by extra time with their daddy. I know God will provide for all of the changes that come with a new baby, Lord willing, but also for the special transitions that will take place when I return home eventually.



LET US HOLD UNSWERVINGLY TO THE HOPE THAT WE PROFESS, FOR HE WHO PROMISED IS FAITHFUL. HEBREWS 10:24