Baby Update

Hello! Here are the two updates just to fill everyone in...

From Sander on Thursay night:

Hi everyone,

I decided to just send a mass update. I know tons of you have called/texted to ask how she's doing - sorry we haven't been responding to many. The cell phone service isn't good in the room, and we've had doctors & nurses coming in and out all day. If this is the first time you've heard anything at all, we're also sorry - some of the texts wouldn't go through.

A bit more detail about the situation: Whitney's been having mild contractions for about a month. Unfortunately, some of her physical traits also make her at a slightly higher risk for pre-term labor. Our midwives & doctors have been aware the whole time and have been keeping pretty close tabs on her. Yesterday, she began having some more severe contractions. The midwives brought her in, and recommended that she be admitted to the hospital's antepartum (pre-delivery) department where a specialist could check her out and try to see what's going on. They were worried that she would go into labor, so they gave her some medication that was supposed to stop the contractions. That didn't work. So they've given her a stronger medicine that has helped but hasn't stopped everything. She also underwent tests that can effectively show whether or not she would give birth in the next two weeks. The good news is that she
came back negative on that tests, but since they can't figure out what's causing the contractions, they want to keep her in the hospital until Saturday. As far as we know right now, she could potentially give birth at any time, and any movement whatsoever seems to cause more contractions. If she gets to go home, she'll be on strict bed rest until the birth, and we need to do whatever we can to keep that from happening as long as we can. Even a week can make a huge difference in his chance for healthy survival.

Through it all, we've actually felt very much at peace. From the beginning of the pregnancy, we've been reminding each other how little control we have over the whole process. It's God, not us, who creates, sustains, and determines the fate of this little guy. It's so sad to have to experience this, but God's grace, comfort, and "coincidental" providence has already shone through in ways that would take way too long to detail out here. Your messages, texts, and emails have been so encouraging, and we're honored to have all of you asking God to heal Whitney and show Himself for all of His greatness. We know it's not some hocus-pocus that will convince Him to do what we want, but a way for us all to rally around a common cause and see what God's up to. Should our
situation take a turn for the worse, we know it's not because God's abandoned us, but because something much bigger is going on. Jesus was all about getting this message across, as with the blind guy in John 9 - the disciples are like "Hey Jesus, whose fault is it that this guy's blind? Did he sin or did his parents?" But Jesus goes, "neither - he was made blind so that the God's power could be shown through his life." And BAM, Jesus heals him, and tons of the people in the city turn back to God. The blind guy had to go through the pain and cultural shame of being blind his whole life so that God's power could be displayed. But it was amazing in the end, so keep your eyes peeled for whatever God's going to do in this situation. It's going to be sweet.

Again, we can't say enough how much we appreciate each of you and your care & concern for us. We're incredibly fortunate to have you all as friends and family, and don't take you for granted. We'll update again as we know more. Please feel free to forward this on if we've forgotten anyone (if you're one of the forgotten, we're sorry...).

Sander

Update from Whitney as of today, Sunday, January 25th:

I am still on side bed rest at the hospital, which means its somewhat hard for me to type. I have so much more to say of course, but just wanted to send a quick update. I am still at St Luke's, but hope to be out tomorrow. Everyone is really positive and think i am doing much better and not at risk for labor immediately (praise the Lord- such a turn around from Wed night!!). The perinatologist (specialist in antepardum issues) saw me again yesterday and thinks everything looks much better now that the contractions have
slowed down. Before he releases me though he wants to do anther test that is 99%
accurate for predicting whether I will go into labor in the next two weeks. He said my contractions are still too frequent and too early on in my pregnancy to not make him worried, so doesn't want to send me home without that test. You have to wait 48hr from his other exam or you will get a false positive, so here I am.

I already feel so much better as the IV is out (!!!) and I get to wear my own clothes now.

As far as they have told me I will definitely be on bed rest the next 10 weeks (I'm just 24 weeks along right now), but being through everything the last few days helps put it in perspective. 1) I talked to the neonatal doctors and DO NOT want to do anything to cause this little boy to have to face the world any earlier than need be, 2) just taking the IV out makes it all seem much more manageable, 3) being at home with my own things around me will be so much more relaxing than the hospital...I'll want to do whatever I can to stay home.

Amazingly enough I have been in pretty good spirits. I have been trying as much as possible to just keep my mind on today and not think of what I am missing. I found this quote yesterday on a bed rest website: "While on bed rest you have to develop the right state of mind. Be peaceful and calm and know life will be okay without you for a little while." Good advice as I probably tend to think I am more "needed" in life than I really am. I am also convinced everyone's prayers have made such a difference too. I am not usually this peaceful about anything, so I can definitely feel the Lord working. Its
actually pretty exhilarating, if that's the right way to say it. I am still thinking it out, but I really feel blessed to get this chance to sense the Lord so clearly and know He is here and at work!

Sander has been amazing and will be able to work from home somewhat, which will help so much. He wants to try and keep life fun and as normal as possible. I am so encouraged by him and he has really helped me feel so much better about the whole process. I'm so glad to have a friend like I do in Sander who is taking on this new challenge as something for us to take on together. That isn't something every husband is able to communicate, so I am incredibly thankful for it!

I certainly didn't think this would be me, other people go through these types of things... But, I am thankful the pregnancy has been uneventful to this point and that it could be much worse now.

I'll keep updating, but hopefully there won't be much to report anytime soon!