Just an Ordinary Day

There was this day in mid April. A day that was ordinary enough in my world. I'd been working on a tutorial that was just barely going to make it's deadline for another blog. I'd finished the dress, put the little one down for her nap and was about to yank the dress onto the kid and run outside to bribe and photograph, when the phone rang. One of those calls you don't expect.

It was my friend Katie, or at least that's what the caller ID said. She's in her much-celebrated first pregnancy. Katie's husband is away on a work trip, and I thought she'd be calling to talk about the 19-week ultrasound I was planning to attend with her that Friday. The voice began with "You don't know me, but I'm Katie's doctor. She needs someone calm with her. Can you come to my office?" Big, big, big deep breath. I asked a few questions, and there were no real answers, just directions to reach her. As far as my escape, the timing was good. My good friend Sylvie who would have normally been at work was at home and could come right over. I ran out in a jacket with only my ID and my phone. Note: a phone charger would have been a good idea.

I cut off a whole lot of people in traffic (sorry, people) and got there in under an hour. Considering the time of day and DC beltway traffic, that was nothing short of amazing. I wound my way through the doctor's office to find Katie. She had only just that week had her first encounter with a stranger who had asked "When are you due?" Her baby bump was still compact, and her membranes had ruptured for no apparent reason at 19 weeks. From there we were to go over to the hospital to check in, without much idea of what might come, and with a boatload of anxiety.

The first few hours of being there was a blur of check-in, sign-in, procedural things that weren't informative or reassuring and a few people that were either decidedly unhelpful or looked at us blankly. Katie and I have joked about my mental list of people I plan to go back and kick when this is all over.  Now that we know more about "preterm PROM" we know that she and the baby were so very, very lucky in those first few days. The IV antibiotics that were administered initially slowly wiped out the low fever that was trying to creep up. The directions from the doctor were simple. Lay down, relax, and wait. And if things go well, you'll be waiting a very long time-- because whatever happens, you're in this hospital until you deliver. Of all of the impossible assignments- relax? Really?

If you were to ask any mother in this situation to relax, there would be problems. But Katie is the most flexible, patient and let-go-and-let-God woman I know. I knew this already, but her strength in the face of this is downright staggering. We found out at the first ultrasound the day after checkin that this baby is a boy. A little, tiny, perfect, finger-waving little boy. You're ready for the good news update, aren't you? I have one.

A lot of folks are shocked at first to realize that this is good news, but it is. She has been in the hospital, lying down except to eat, shower, and use the restroom, since April 13. That's almost 3 months now. She has left her room four times for ultrasounds. She has windows with a view of trees and sky, thankfully, and even though she's been in 24/7 temperature control for 12 weeks, at least she can see what's happening outside. The longer she's there, the bigger her baby grows. The ultrasounds have confirmed his expansion-- first just 10 ounces, then 1 lb 3 oz, then 1 lb 15 oz, and most recently 2 lb 14 oz.

So it's been in the last few weeks that the "normal" pregnancy things are starting to pick up again. We've taken some belly pictures, worked on her registries, started assembling a few post-delivery essentials, and, most happily in my crafty world, we're beginning to work on her nursery.

I hope you don't mind me sharing the context of the crafting that's to come. It's not nearly as light as most things are around here, and it's a strange follow-up to yesterday's alien hot dogs, for sure. I can't wait to show you what we've been working on. And in the meantime, your prayers for this little guy's safe delivery sure are welcomed.