a bit of a scare

Well, I had an interesting day yesterday. I am writing to ask you to pray specifically for the baby. Friday night from 7.00-10.00pm I was very tight across my belly -- about the size of a dinner plate just on the front (not on the sides or below my belly). Every time that I would sit down it would lighten up, every time that I would stand up or move around it would get tight. (Mom S, when you called, the reason I was trying to get off the phone was because I was in the kitchen as getting very tight and needed to sit down.)

So, yesterday afternoon I called Jenn Carroll (she is with AIM, and a professional doula) to ask her what to do next time. She told me that I was in pre-term labor and that I needed to STOP. Stop everything, “call in the troops” to take care of C, to just STOP . . . EVERYTHING. Then, I told her that I also thought that I was getting sick with a little bit of diahrrea. She asked a few more questions about whether I thought I had a urinary tract infection or anything, I did not think so. She said that with her third baby when she was at 28 weeks (where I am on Monday) she was hospitalized for THREE weeks on bed rest and given the meds to stop the contractions. She did NOT want me going down that road.

Anyway, as soon as I told her about the diahrrea (which was really more just loose stool and gone this morning), she said that she was going to tell me something that I would not like to hear: I needed to get to the hospital, right away. Rod left for four days yesterday morning, and is too far away to be able to get back and have someone else finish the flight. So, I got Mendy (who lives here on the compound) to watch Cristiana, and Carie (one of my best friends) to came over to take me to the hospital. Poor Cristiana, she knew something was wrong and she cried really hard when I was leaving. She usually is the one to just say, “okay, see you later Mama”. But, she cried . . . hard. (Mendy said that she also came running after the truck all the way to the gate. I am glad that I did not see that! It was hard enough to leave her, much less if I had to see that!)

Got to the hospital, went into the labor ward, told them all about it, and the nurse just felt around on my belly and got the heart monitor to hear the heartbeat. The doc that I just started with two weeks ago said he did not think it was a problem, that it was probably just Braxton-Hicks contractions, and to go home and rest. So they released me and Carie drove me home.

I really feel okay. I wish that Rod were here. But am glad to be home with Cristiana. I know that she was concerned. When I got home she had been talking a MILE a minute with Mendy, and never stopped until just about ten minutes before getting in bed. Carie made some dinner and did the dishes while Mendy read with Cristiana some more.

So, here are the prayer requests.
• Obviously, the first is that the baby stays inside and is well.
• That the contractions don't start again.
• That Cristiana would be good and helpful with me for the next days.
• That Rod would be able to concentrate on what he is doing. He does not fly again until Tuesday to come home, but that he is well and not worrying while away.
• That I get rest and am able to let people take care of us (it is hard letting OTHERS do that, but easy with Rod!).
• That Cristiana would sleep well, that I would sleep well.
• That the Lord would give me peace -- which He has. :-)
• That . . . ! You get it.

Please do not worry, just pray. And, know that our “family” here is taking good care of us. And that the Lord has it ALL in His hands, in His perfect plan. That He knew this was going to happen, and knows what is coming next.

I plan to go into the doc tomorrow. Cristiana will go over to Carie's house for the morning (or whenever the appointment is) and she will play with her kids. She has house help on Mondays (I do not), and then Carie will take me in to the doc. Dr Patel is the same doc that she had, so she knows him.