mikeshelton

We'll be heading back to Owensboro today. Jennifer will not be able to go back to work until she is past 34 weeks (if then), which means she'll be home taking it easy for about a month. It'll be great to sleep in our own bed and to just stop living like refugees. Jennifer still has some contractions, but as long as they aren't "early labor" causing things to change her physically, we will deal with that until baby Trinity joins us on the outside.

Can't wait to see our kids. I promise never to yell at them again for the first few days.

The doctor's visit this morning was encouraging. Today they will tinker with Jennifer's medicine to try to strike a good balance. Not enough medicine = contractions. Too much medicine = blood pressure too low. If things go well they will contact the Owensboro OBoyGyn and see about getting us home tomorrow (Friday) or Saturday. Yay! I have slept in one of these fold-out chairs since Sunday and we miss our kids.

Even if we do go home this weekend there is still a chance that if Jennifer goes into labor within the next 2 weeks we will have to come back up here, but we're encouraged that the doctors are trying to get us home.

Today the doctor came by to see us. Jennifer is responding to the medicine well, with only a few sporadic contractions this morning, none of them intense. The really good news is that she is not progressing (dialating). They are going to remove her IV and let her eat an unrestricted diet (no more jello). If things continue to go well it looks like we will only have to be here for "a few more days" after which Jennifer will be home on bedrest.

I forgot to post yesterday that the sonogram revealed that baby Trinity is apparently healthy and thriving at around three pounds.

It would be great to be home this weekend. If we can keep baby Trinity from showing up for a few more weeks we will probably be able to have the birth in Owensboro. Thanks for all of your prayers and help. I'm gonna check my email and watch the rest of "Coneheads" on Comedy Central. You can't beat the classics.

Jennifer ate a light supper (her first meal in two days) and is resting comfortably now. They have taken her off of the contraction monitor for tonight. This makes things a lot more comfortable for her. The medicine that she is now on is actually a blood pressure medication, but it works well for quelling contractions too. They will have to monitor her blood pressure from time to time because Jen's BP usually runs a bit lower than normal, but so far she is doing OK with this new treatment. It's nice to see her resting peacefully after having watched her struggle with contractions or medicine that makes her sick for the past two nights.

It's 11:30 at night here. I hate the Eastern Time Zone.

I'm reviving this old livejournal blog because I want my friends to be able to get updates on how Jennifer and our pre-born daughter Trinity are. I don't, however, want all of this on facebook for everyone to see, so I'm using livejournal because fewer people are on it. So if you're reading this I either sent you the link or a friend of ours sent you the link. I plan to update on Jen's status often. I know lots of you are praying for her and are concerned. Many of you have asked to be kept in the loop and have offered to help with anything. If that's you, check this site often. There's wireless in the room and I can update from my ipod touch as well. And feel free to post replies on here, which I'll read to Jennifer.

SO FAR..

We went to the hospital in Owensboro Sunday afternoon of Memorial Day weekend when Jen's contractions became intense and close together. Currently, she's right around 30 weeks along. When this happened on Mother's Day a round of Breathine(sp?) shots stopped the contractions. That didn't work this time.

Jennifer was placed on a magnesium sulfate drip, which stopped most of the contractions, but makes her sick. Over the course of two days, every time they take her off the drip, she immediately goes into pre-term labor.

Early this morning (Tuesday, June 1) her doctor talked to us about going to Norton's in Louisville, where they specialize in early deliveries, stopping early deliveries, etc. They are better equipped to handle a 30 week preemie if it comes to that. Two hours later Jennifer was in an ambulance headed for Louisville.

Currently it's almost 8 pm CST and Jennifer is resting comfortably. She's off of the drip and is now taking different medication. She has a few contractions, but right now they are only sporadic. If this medicine works through the night and tomorrow this may not be a prolonged stay.

Our 3 kids at home are all taken care of for the next day or two.

God can do anything, you know - far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! he does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.
--Ephesians 3.20 The Message

Today is Double-Bob day! The digital representation for today’s date is 8.08.08 which looks a lot like “Bob-ob” or “Bob-Bob”. My son and I often set deadlines for what we call “Bob-time”, so our household is already familiar with the concept. “Make sure your room is clean by Bob-time, son” or “You can play Super Mario Smash Brothers until Bob-time, then you have to get ready for bed.” He knows that 8:08 is Bob-time. When I told him this morning that today is Double-Bob Day, he was excited. Tonight around 8:08 we’re going to have a Sponge-Bob DVD party.


Since this is the only Double-Bob Day in this century, why not take advantage of it? Call someone that you know named Bob and tell them how much they mean to you – or just harass them or something. Download pictures of Bob Hope and Bob Dole and use them as your desktop background. Bob for apples with a guy named Robert. Play some music that you can bob your head to. Plan a weekend Bob-B-Q.

It's Mike Week. My wedding anniversary (8 years) was on Tuesday, my birthday (42) is Saturday, and Father's Day is Sunday. I'm honored 3 different ways in one week, which happens every year. I like Mike Week a lot because I like me. But this year I'm using this week to reflect upon one thing: how do I make my life NOT about me?


As a husband, I shouldn't be selfish. The same thing goes for being a dad. The entire belief system that I ascribe to lends itself to selflessness. In fact, as a follower and servant of Jesus, this ongoing relationship should be the cure for selfish living. I'm inspired by the lives of others, both living and promoted, who fully understand and live selfless lives. While the concept of piety gives me a warm-glow kind of feeling, I find it hard to focus otherward in my day to day life. So.. happy Mike Week to me. May I somehow become less this week. Maybe I should make my user pic smaller. Nah.