Christmas News
We hope everyone is having a fulfilling Christmas this year. As for us, we have a bit of news.
Early Saturday morning, 2 am to be exact. Helen awoke to a wet bed. Her first thought was, "Did I just wet the bed?". You know occasionally you have one of those dreams where you're going to the restroom, only to wake up ALMOST going to the restroom. Never fun. Anyways, she hadn't had one of those dreams and soon after she changed clothes, she felt another gush of fluid. Definitely not an accident.
This was followed by several nervous calls to the Doctor and searches on the internet for possible causes.
We found one.
Helen's amniotic sac had ruptured. Causing amniotic fluid to slowly drain out.
What do you do at 2-3am, knowing you have to go to the hospital while having 3 sleeping children in the other room. We had several options.
Option #1: Wake the kids and take them with us.
-While entirely do-able, the prospects of waking all 3 getting them suited for travel and stay to a hospital for an undetermined amount of time was not appealing to us.
Option #2: Helen goes to the hospital and I stay with the kids.
-Also very do-able but I was not going to allow Helen to go through that virtually alone, sitting in an examination room to fret, while I worried at home.
Option #3: Find a babysitter.
-Easier said that done at 2-3 in the morning. This was the choice that we settled on. We made several frantic phone calls to families we felt close to and who might be willing to take this responsibility for us that early in the morning. Well, I forgot throw in one key component, try getting a hold of someone at 3am on December 23rd. Heh! We were calling people who were out of town, or for some reasons, phones had been turned off accidentally or left in other parts of the house. Once we were able to get someone, 45 nerve racking minutes had passed.
Thankfully, one of Helen's Visiting Teachers was able to come over and watch the kids. And we raced to the hospital. The traffic is light at 345am which let us make up a couple minutes on the way to there.
At the hospital, they ran a series of test to determine that the fluid was in fact amniotic fluid as well as an ultrasound to assess how much fluid remained. I'm not exactly sure what it is measured in but we were told that we would need to be concerned if the levels dropped to below 5.0, at the time, she was at a 10.8.
So, I'll answer a couple of questions you've probably thought and we've already asked.
Can you "patch" the rupture.
-No. To even explore for the rupture might cause it to worsen.
Does the body replenish it's supply of amniotic fluid.
-Yes and no. The body will produce amniotic fluid but not enough to compensate for the loss.
What's the cause for the rupture?
-We/they don't know. It's "one of those things".
So back to the narrative. After all the tests, nurses, doctors, ultrasounds we were placed in the labor and delivery ward of the hospital with a window view of the Timpanogos Temple. Helen and I dozed off for some uncomfortable and wary sleep.
The prognosis is not good for the baby. If he were to come now, he'd have a 30% chance of survival. Helen has been placed under bedrest and is to remain under 24 hour hospital care until the baby is delivered. Which brings us to two tricky situations. The hospital we're admitted to does not have the capabilities to care for a 16 week pre-mature baby. (Helen's 24 weeks along. Give or take) So, while she and the baby are stable, they'll stay at the current hospital (American Fork). After the holidays (tuesday or wednesday) she will be moved to Utah Valley Regional, where they have larger facilities and staff to cope with a 4 month pre-mature baby.
The second issue is, we have 3 kids that need supervision while I work (12am-7am) and sleep. Thankfully, we've received tremendous support from members of our ward (that's part of our Church for you non-LDS types, don't worry, we forgive you). They've already scheduled meals to be prepared and a list and schedule of people to watch the kids while I'm at work. We've also received many gifts and offers of other support to help in any way possible. We are so overwhelmed with gratitude for everyone that has gone out of the their way, especially with the holidays, to make sure that we're taken care of.
It's been interesting emotionally. Hard really. One of our biggest concerns is for Josh. Yeah, I said Josh. You see, he's claimed this baby. It's not Helen's, mine or the family's. It's his. He was so looking forward to having a baby brother that we're not sure how losing the baby might effect him. We haven't discussed exactly why Mommy is in the hospital and what the possibilities might be, for now, they just know that Helen has to stay with the doctors.
We're both drained but are trying to remain strong and "in control" although I believe for different reasons. Helen's doing so to not worry the children, I'm doing so for Helen. It works well while we're all together, not so well when we're apart. I know that after we've left and the kids have been put to bed, that a sudden weight rests upon us. And being separated leaves us to cope with this alone. Don't ask how we're doing, cause I'm not sure we know. Of course you'll get the same "Oh we're doing alright." song and dance but that's to be expected. We don't want anyone to worry or be burdened.
Anyways, back to the fluid. The last ultrasound that was done, showed a fluid content level of 9.2. That's a 1.6 drop from the first ultrasound.
Reasoned to be concerned?
Maybe.
It's difficult to determine the exact amount of fluid when you have to factor in, the change of the baby and Helen's position. So, while Helen may have lost 1.6, it could also be attributed to the change in positions. If we were to assume that a 1.6 daily loss remained constant, that would give us 4 days before something would have to be done for the baby's safety.
Everyday that the baby stays put, adds another 2 - 2.5% increase in survivability. So postponing the birth 10 days, odds increase to 50%, 20 days to 70%, etc. The catch is, they aren't able to predict when the baby will come. If could be now, it could be 4 months from now (keep in mind Helen has to stay in bed rest for the entire time).
Today (Sunday) was difficult. First, I had to get everyone ready for Church AND comb Morgan's hair. So naturally, we were late for Church but in time for the announcement to the congregation about our situation and who to contact for assistance. It was hard for me to remain composed with all this talk about sacrifice, and helping others and other Christmasy type stuff, when we had been the recipients of all of those things that very day. Not the mention answering all the same questions.
How's Helen doing?
Fine.
Which hospital is she at?
AF
What the matter?
She's sprung a leak.
What are they going to do?
Wait.
Answer than a dozen times and it gets strained. Everyone offers to help but realistically, we'll call the least amount of people possible. If you're one of the one's we don't/haven't called, it's nothing personal, we just would like to shoulder as much of the responsibility ourselves.
On the bright side, since Helen was admitted we decided to open some presents early. Yesterday and today, I took a large box of presents to the hospital for us (mainly the kids) to open. Which reminds me, everyone who send gifts, both named and anonymously, thank you very much but you could seriously half what you've send and we'd be happy. Even after taking 2 boxes loaded with presents, we still have 2 more boxes for Christmas day. And we got the kids 1 to 2 toys each and an outfit, plus Helen made jammies for each of them and a Christmas dress (finished by Aunt Johanna) for Morgan. I made of couple of small things for Helen to use with the business and I'm good. I got a free iPod at the end of November. Thank you KeyBank.
So that pretty much brings us current, I have a couple of things to wrap, some boxes to fill, dishes to clean and the house to tidy up. All before I can fall asleep on the couch, I dislike sleeping in the bed without Helen.
So, thank you in advance for your prayers, thoughts, gifts and otherwise. We really do appreciate it. Getting a hold of us is easy, we have the home phone set up to forward all calls to one of our cell phones. If you'd like to visit Helen, she's currently at American Fork Hospital, in order to see her, you will need to know her room number and pass code. Both you can get by calling us first.
Again, thanks for everything and may you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Early Saturday morning, 2 am to be exact. Helen awoke to a wet bed. Her first thought was, "Did I just wet the bed?". You know occasionally you have one of those dreams where you're going to the restroom, only to wake up ALMOST going to the restroom. Never fun. Anyways, she hadn't had one of those dreams and soon after she changed clothes, she felt another gush of fluid. Definitely not an accident.
This was followed by several nervous calls to the Doctor and searches on the internet for possible causes.
We found one.
Helen's amniotic sac had ruptured. Causing amniotic fluid to slowly drain out.
What do you do at 2-3am, knowing you have to go to the hospital while having 3 sleeping children in the other room. We had several options.
Option #1: Wake the kids and take them with us.
-While entirely do-able, the prospects of waking all 3 getting them suited for travel and stay to a hospital for an undetermined amount of time was not appealing to us.
Option #2: Helen goes to the hospital and I stay with the kids.
-Also very do-able but I was not going to allow Helen to go through that virtually alone, sitting in an examination room to fret, while I worried at home.
Option #3: Find a babysitter.
-Easier said that done at 2-3 in the morning. This was the choice that we settled on. We made several frantic phone calls to families we felt close to and who might be willing to take this responsibility for us that early in the morning. Well, I forgot throw in one key component, try getting a hold of someone at 3am on December 23rd. Heh! We were calling people who were out of town, or for some reasons, phones had been turned off accidentally or left in other parts of the house. Once we were able to get someone, 45 nerve racking minutes had passed.
Thankfully, one of Helen's Visiting Teachers was able to come over and watch the kids. And we raced to the hospital. The traffic is light at 345am which let us make up a couple minutes on the way to there.
At the hospital, they ran a series of test to determine that the fluid was in fact amniotic fluid as well as an ultrasound to assess how much fluid remained. I'm not exactly sure what it is measured in but we were told that we would need to be concerned if the levels dropped to below 5.0, at the time, she was at a 10.8.
So, I'll answer a couple of questions you've probably thought and we've already asked.
Can you "patch" the rupture.
-No. To even explore for the rupture might cause it to worsen.
Does the body replenish it's supply of amniotic fluid.
-Yes and no. The body will produce amniotic fluid but not enough to compensate for the loss.
What's the cause for the rupture?
-We/they don't know. It's "one of those things".
So back to the narrative. After all the tests, nurses, doctors, ultrasounds we were placed in the labor and delivery ward of the hospital with a window view of the Timpanogos Temple. Helen and I dozed off for some uncomfortable and wary sleep.
The prognosis is not good for the baby. If he were to come now, he'd have a 30% chance of survival. Helen has been placed under bedrest and is to remain under 24 hour hospital care until the baby is delivered. Which brings us to two tricky situations. The hospital we're admitted to does not have the capabilities to care for a 16 week pre-mature baby. (Helen's 24 weeks along. Give or take) So, while she and the baby are stable, they'll stay at the current hospital (American Fork). After the holidays (tuesday or wednesday) she will be moved to Utah Valley Regional, where they have larger facilities and staff to cope with a 4 month pre-mature baby.
The second issue is, we have 3 kids that need supervision while I work (12am-7am) and sleep. Thankfully, we've received tremendous support from members of our ward (that's part of our Church for you non-LDS types, don't worry, we forgive you). They've already scheduled meals to be prepared and a list and schedule of people to watch the kids while I'm at work. We've also received many gifts and offers of other support to help in any way possible. We are so overwhelmed with gratitude for everyone that has gone out of the their way, especially with the holidays, to make sure that we're taken care of.
It's been interesting emotionally. Hard really. One of our biggest concerns is for Josh. Yeah, I said Josh. You see, he's claimed this baby. It's not Helen's, mine or the family's. It's his. He was so looking forward to having a baby brother that we're not sure how losing the baby might effect him. We haven't discussed exactly why Mommy is in the hospital and what the possibilities might be, for now, they just know that Helen has to stay with the doctors.
We're both drained but are trying to remain strong and "in control" although I believe for different reasons. Helen's doing so to not worry the children, I'm doing so for Helen. It works well while we're all together, not so well when we're apart. I know that after we've left and the kids have been put to bed, that a sudden weight rests upon us. And being separated leaves us to cope with this alone. Don't ask how we're doing, cause I'm not sure we know. Of course you'll get the same "Oh we're doing alright." song and dance but that's to be expected. We don't want anyone to worry or be burdened.
Anyways, back to the fluid. The last ultrasound that was done, showed a fluid content level of 9.2. That's a 1.6 drop from the first ultrasound.
Reasoned to be concerned?
Maybe.
It's difficult to determine the exact amount of fluid when you have to factor in, the change of the baby and Helen's position. So, while Helen may have lost 1.6, it could also be attributed to the change in positions. If we were to assume that a 1.6 daily loss remained constant, that would give us 4 days before something would have to be done for the baby's safety.
Everyday that the baby stays put, adds another 2 - 2.5% increase in survivability. So postponing the birth 10 days, odds increase to 50%, 20 days to 70%, etc. The catch is, they aren't able to predict when the baby will come. If could be now, it could be 4 months from now (keep in mind Helen has to stay in bed rest for the entire time).
Today (Sunday) was difficult. First, I had to get everyone ready for Church AND comb Morgan's hair. So naturally, we were late for Church but in time for the announcement to the congregation about our situation and who to contact for assistance. It was hard for me to remain composed with all this talk about sacrifice, and helping others and other Christmasy type stuff, when we had been the recipients of all of those things that very day. Not the mention answering all the same questions.
How's Helen doing?
Fine.
Which hospital is she at?
AF
What the matter?
She's sprung a leak.
What are they going to do?
Wait.
Answer than a dozen times and it gets strained. Everyone offers to help but realistically, we'll call the least amount of people possible. If you're one of the one's we don't/haven't called, it's nothing personal, we just would like to shoulder as much of the responsibility ourselves.
On the bright side, since Helen was admitted we decided to open some presents early. Yesterday and today, I took a large box of presents to the hospital for us (mainly the kids) to open. Which reminds me, everyone who send gifts, both named and anonymously, thank you very much but you could seriously half what you've send and we'd be happy. Even after taking 2 boxes loaded with presents, we still have 2 more boxes for Christmas day. And we got the kids 1 to 2 toys each and an outfit, plus Helen made jammies for each of them and a Christmas dress (finished by Aunt Johanna) for Morgan. I made of couple of small things for Helen to use with the business and I'm good. I got a free iPod at the end of November. Thank you KeyBank.
So that pretty much brings us current, I have a couple of things to wrap, some boxes to fill, dishes to clean and the house to tidy up. All before I can fall asleep on the couch, I dislike sleeping in the bed without Helen.
So, thank you in advance for your prayers, thoughts, gifts and otherwise. We really do appreciate it. Getting a hold of us is easy, we have the home phone set up to forward all calls to one of our cell phones. If you'd like to visit Helen, she's currently at American Fork Hospital, in order to see her, you will need to know her room number and pass code. Both you can get by calling us first.
Again, thanks for everything and may you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
posted by Mike at Sunday, December 24, 2006
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