Hospital Stay/So Now We Wait

Friday was heartbeat/ sonogram day. The technician detected all 4 heartbeats. There was a change in cervical length--5.8 down to 4.5. That was disconcerting, but still above the shortest they like it to be--2.5. Appointments are difficult. They involve getting presentable, walking to the car, riding in the car, riding in the wheelchair, sitting in the waiting room, and lying on an exam table--all of which are uncomfortable due to the weight of the babies. Then we do it all over again to get Sarah home.

Sarah usually feels bad for a day or two after an appointment. This time she not only felt bad, but started having contractions that wouldn't go away. Callie had been sick with a virus all week, running a 104 temperature. We thought that Sarah was getting sick,too. After hearing the details, the doctor wanted Sarah in the hospital. So on Saturday morning, we repeated the whole "trip to the doctor" experience of the day before. This time, however, I had to leave Sarah there.

Her contractions were 5 minutes apart. Oral medication was not working, so they gave her steroid shots to speed lung development of the babies. The nurse explained that being almost 24 weeks is an advantage, because the doctors will work harder to save the babies. Apparently, 24 weeks is a line for viability. She is 24 weeks on Monday.

Next, they gave her magnesium through an IV. The nurse monitored her for the 30 minutes it took for the initial magnesium bullet of the medication to get in her system. It made her very hot and nauseated. The nurse searched for a fan, but could not find one anywhere. So I
stood and fanned her for a long time; then Tony took over. An orderly walked by and saw us fanning. She scoured the hospital and returned with a fan. Since the heat index was 99, she said she had to fight for it. It's funny how a small act of kindness like that can make me want to cry, but it did. I know that God sent her our way at just the right time when the door was accidentally left ajar. It seems as if He wants to
remind us that He's at the hospital, too. We've had the fan ever since.

The nurses are fascinated by the quadruplets. One nurse stated that it was unheard of to conceive quads on the medication that Sarah was taking. She repeated the "one in a million" statistic. She said that the egg must have split. Another nurse was in awe of Sarah's ability to show them where each baby is located and who is moving. The whole experience is so hard to comprehend.

Today is Sunday. The doctor said that she will be here through Monday at least, but probably for the remainder of her pregnancy. One nurse
said maybe she could leave after a week. I don't think anyone knows for sure. Sarah was very upset by the news and desperately wants to go home. She is worried about Callie, who keeps asking for her mama. I keep reminding myself that God picked out the day these babies are supposed to arrive. I am trying to rest in that fact, but I have to admit that I didn't sleep much last night.

Right now, am waiting with Sarah for the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) people to arrive. They are going to prepare us--as best they can--for the birth of four premature infants. Please pray that their preparations are premature, and that Sarah is right where she needs to be, whether here or at home. In the meantime, we wait.

"Since ancient times
no one has heard,
no ear has perceived,
no eye has seen any God besides you,
who acts on behalf of those
who wait for him."

Isaiah 64:4