May 18 Email Update

Hi Friends!

I believe it is fair to say that your prayers are working! There are no enormous changes with Claire or the baby, but today the sun just seemed to come out :)

Last night was the best night they have had... only two episodes of the baby's heart decel-ing (I think that is what the nurses call it), when the heartrate drops suddenly for any length of time. Apparently this happens when the baby puts any pressure on his cord; since there is no amniotic fluid to absorb the pressure, it causes the baby to react suddenly. The previous nights had been much worse, and therefore very stressful for everyone.

Claire is still in the High Risk Labor & Delivery Unit. She has been told that unless the decels stop, she will not be downgraded to the "more civilized" High Risk Pregnancy Unit upstairs. I think we are all quite comfortable with this... she has a wonderful team of ob/gyn's, perinatologists & neonatologists making decisions regarding their care, and we certainly trust their experienced & thoughtful decisions.

There has been some concern voiced over the state of the baby's kidneys. Tomorrow morning, at 7:30am, Claire will have an ultrasound in her perinatologist's office (downstairs in the hospital- they will wheel her down there in her bed!) and they will hopefully have a more clear picture of what is going on with the kidneys then. They hope to see continued growth of the baby, more mature lungs, etc. They are understandably a little anxious about this appointment.

Today, Claire got her IV out, as she is done with the IV antibiotics. That was a wonderful thing- one less thing for the children to trip over :) Lydie was able to visit both days this weekend, and I smuggled my boys in twice today. They were thrilled to see their Aunt Claire, and happy to watch Scooby Doo movies while we chatted.

Please say a prayer for great results from the ultrasound in the morning. I will keep everyone posted on that. Also, she has really enjoyed the notes, calls, thoughts & prayers that everyone has been sending- thank you, thank you, thank you. Regardless of how you look at it, it must be extremely difficult to lay in a hospital bed for any length of time, but especially so under such emotional conditions.

Keep up the thoughts & prayers, they are enormously appreciated!

Love Kathie