Peter’s Post, September 15, 2008

 

Hi everyone,

Thank you for your prayers and thoughts. It has been a trying few days, but there is a time for respite and waiting. Here is a breakdown of events for your reading. On Saturday morning, Jamie and I were going to our Birthing Center orientation and tour at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital. In the morning, Jamie mentioned that she had some more than usual discharge. We didn’t think much of it. But by the time the afternoon was upon us, it was more than just a simple discharge but rather more of a trickle. We made a call to our doctor and she told us to to go to St. Luke’s Labor and Delivery. We thought that it was a formality and it was just so we can be sure everything is okay. The resident took a look at us and said that Jamie’s water broke and she would be admitted into the hospital.

The next few hours were the most difficult as our OB/GYN told us that Jamie had to stay and be monitored because there was risk to the baby and to Jamie. They told us that it is important that the baby needs to stay in the womb because the baby’s lungs are still not developed yet and can lead to a lot of complications. As we learned more, we had a preterm, premature rupture of the membrane (PPROM).

We will be in the hospital until Thumper arrives so it could be a week or up to 4 weeks. The later our baby stays there the more ideal it is. When the baby arrives he will be in the neo natal unit where they will help him breathe and eat. Depending how the little one does he might be in the neo natal unit for 3-4 weeks until he is home with us. The neo natal pediatrician met with us yesterday reassured us that our baby has a good chance of being healthy but there is a small chance that the child will have some disabilities or complications. It is something that is hard to predict but wanted to make sure we know our facts.

Today we had some consultations and meeting with some doctors to see how his weight is, his lungs and also how Jamie is doing with the treatments, she had pain from one of the antibiotics. They told us everything is good including his weight so far and that the baby seems to be staying put. Jamie’s amnio is good and there is enough fluid there for our little baby. The OB GYN told us that if the baby can stay put for three to four weeks, then they will deliver the baby. But if he comes sooner they will deliver as well but it will be more complicated.

It has been a taxing journey for us emotionally and we had a lot of visitors which was nice but it was tiring as well since we didn’t have much time to take in everything. We are mourning a for our baby’s journey being so complicated and having the idea of tubes going in him at the beginning of his journey here on earth does bring us to tears but we trust that it will be an encouragement to our community and that it is just the Prologue for our little one not the complete story.

We ask for prayer for strength and trust in our Lord. Please pray for Jamie as she will be on bedrest till the little one comes…she has been such a beautifully strong woman during all of this and she inspires me with the joy that is in heart and the strength she has. Pray for me as I am trying to figure out ministry, seminary and preparation of the home. Spiritually, I am trusting deeply on His goodness but emotionally I am having moments of complete joy and courage but also moments when we realize how much we love this baby and want so much for him.

We are pretty spent right now and could use your encouragement and prayers.

I wanted to say thank you for your love. So many of our tears are for our baby but many of them are tears of joy of how much love we have received and again reminds us that we are such tremendous objects of grace. If you want to visit us please feel free to, we are at St. Luke’s Roosevelt on 58th Street and 10th avenue, just give us a call and we will let you know where to go to find us.

We love you very much. And thumper is going to love you very much too! Please pray with us…remember us in your thoughts and moments of reflection.

If you want to visit us, please give me or Jamie a call. Visiting hours at St. Luke is from 10 am to 8 pm. So please come as Jamie will be knitting, reading and finally finishing our wedding album!

Remaining in Him,

Jamie, Peter and our little Thumper.

 

 

Jamie’s Post, September 19, 2008

 

Dear Family-

 

My time on hospital bedrest has been going by surprisingly fast.  Most of my day is spent talking to doctors and nurses, reading books and magazines, and receiving our many visitors!  We’ve settled down from the chaos of the weekend, where we were afraid that I would go into labor and our little one would be born premature at 31 weeks, to waiting and hoping that Thumper will sit tight until 34 or 35 weeks, which would put us at the end of September or the beginning of October.  Every day that passes means less time that our baby has to spend in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, where he would need a lot of help breathing and eating.  Of all the emotions I felt over the weekend, it was hardest for me to think of Thumper starting out his life in this way.  I was relieved and incredibly thankful to hear that if he were born between 34-35 weeks, he would probably only need a few days of monitoring in the NICU before coming home with us.

 

At the same time, there are other women here who have different stories and prayer needs.  I am glad that my child is not yet in the NICU but I mourn and pray for those whose first days are such a struggle.  As you pray for us, please pray for them as well.   

 

I am thankful for

Every extra day of growth and development for little Thumper.

 

Peter’s patient and servant heart in loving Thumper and I through this time.  He has been incredibly selfless throughout a difficult and challenging week.  Please pray for Peter as well, that he may experience rest, refreshment, and redemption in unexpected and lasting ways.

 

The overwhelming response of prayer and well wishes from our community…games of Go Fish, hanging a Giants football from my IV pole, and more snacks than I can possibly eat!  It would have been so easy for us as new parents to enter into this journey by ourselves, but this time has really forced us to appreciate and praise God for the depth of love that surrounds us.  We want to continue to invite you in as we begin the work of raising this child.

 

Small freedoms

Shower and bathroom privileges.  Moving about without the hindrance of being hooked up to a machine or an IV.  Eating a solid meal after twenty-four hours of being on a liquid diet.  Peeking out into the hallway as I wash my hands at the sink in my room, knowing that I am unable to explore that suddenly fascinating domain.

 

Mommy & Thumper time

I have had a lot of Mommy and Thumper time, getting more acquainted with his motions and wondering what his personality will be like, especially since he has chosen to assert himself so early!  As the nurses monitor his heartbeat daily and we will have weekly ultrasounds, we are able to see and hear Thumper much more than we normally would.  I am in awe at this little gift that God has given us, and hope to decide on a name for him soon!

 

Looking ahead

Please continue to pray for our preparations for the labor, delivery and receiving the child into our home, especially as I will not be able to help Peter in setting up a place for Thumper.  This new time frame has changed my perspective a lot…I am no longer stressing out about getting our home in perfect order as much as trusting that the truly important things will be taken care of.  I pray for patience through the small challenges of being on bedrest and that I would make the most of this unexpected time to rest, reflect, and revel in the love that God lavishes on me.