Update

I'm kind of jumping into the middle with this post. Hopefully at some point I'll have this whole journey documented.

Today I am 27 weeks and 5 days pregnant. Last night was our weekly sonogram. I SO look forward to Thursdays and seeing what's actually going on in there. I'm 50% excited and 50% anxious each week. I'm excited to see progress, but afraid of what might be there/or not be there at the same time. I love my new high-risk pregnancy doctor, she's delightful.

Once again, our prayers were answered and we had good news. My Amniotic Fluid Index (AFI) was a 5.25. When I arrived here at the hospital, it was a 0 and has continued to increase each week. We are so thankful for every tiny bit. So thankful to see our baby's bladder full on the screen! (Did you know that amniotic fluid is baby's urine? And they "breathe" it in and it is essential to their lung development? It still blows my mind.)

The doctor also looks for certain movements from baby. Last week she saw 8/8 and one more, so the teacher in me requested extra credit on that one!! 9/8 sounds great to me! Last night we saw them again--mouth opening and closing, chest cavity expanding and contracting, and other various baby wiggles.

I'm by no means in the clear, but have come so far since arriving 4 1/2 weeks ago.

Dr. Akin arrived this morning for our morning visit and said he wrote up some orders for me to begin some physical therapy. This was great news as I have been worried about my body just sitting here for 30 days. It may take me a month to recuperate from being here. I'm sure my family will be thrilled!

Russ and I have also met some new friends while here--patients in a very similar situation. They arrived here at 23 weeks and 4 days with PROM (Premature Rupture of Membranes) which was exactly where I was when I arrived. We've been able to meet and laugh, compare stories, share hospital secrets (how to sit comfortably in bed, where the good coffee is, compare nurse stories, and recommend rooms with a view and remote controls), and become allies. It's comforting to know we aren't the only ones. Pray for our new friends too, please.