We've really been here a week already?

A week in this place where we look out the window and know we are definitely a minority. In this place where I get my daily thrills pulling out into traffic on 94. (But seeing Rachel light up when we walk in the door is even better) In this place where for a moment I wasn't sure I had the right country's currency for the drive-thru (we must be feeling a little out of place!). Yet there are commonalities here too - we are among many families with medical issues who are housed in this hotel. We even rode the hospital elevator the other day with a relative of a relative of the S______ in __________!
Anyways, we had a good day. Emily started off her monitoring with a round of hiccups and generally performed well for the nurse. Still looking forward to Monday's inducement with a little anxiety. Renee and I spent some time at an art museum on the U campus. Had short but quality time with the kids and helped get the programs ready for the wedding tomorrow. Got Joshua dressed up in his suspenders and bow tie, black pants and shoes and white shirt - dashing. We are excited for Ryan and Emily. God has definitely placed them together and they balance each other well.
Pray for us that we make it safely through the wedding!
Grace, Joel

Thursday.

Thursday proves also to be uneventful (so far). We went in for our daily non-stress test and then the scheduled ultrasound (with a possibility of being induced). Emily is doing great, She weighs about 5 3/4 pounds, which is more than I (Renee) expected. No signs of heart failure, she is active, she is doing that practice breathing thing. The doctor was completely unconcerned about Emily Grace. See you on Monday! was what she said as we exited the room. Monday is our scheduled induction.
So Joel and I are off to where the rest of the family is for some homemade burgers for supper!
Thank you all (again) for praying and all of your encouragement, emails, and phone calls. The Church of Christ is truly an amazing thing.

Suspenders!

We found suspenders! Where else but good ol' Ben Franklin in _________? You don't need to solicit the Hutterites, thank-you Dad.
What a joy to see the kids again today! Although Joshua said he wanted to stay with Bill and Evelyn, I think deep down he was glad to see me, and later on Mama too. Rachel didn't hide her excitement. We had a fun day with Papa stopping at the big lake for lunch and a park later on. We all came together at Pat and Clyde's (the in-law's in-laws) for supper. Pat is so sweet and generous and the kids warmed up to her quickly. We look forward to time to just play with the kids over the next few days after our morning appointments at the hospital down here. Its a 35 min drive, but the kids are in a good place, and with Neena and Papa. Thankyou again and again to Bill and Evelyn back home! And may Emily arrive at exactly the time the Lord has for her. He is good.

.Tuesday.

Renee went into the hospital (The Maternal Assessment Center) for her daily appt this morning. There was some delay, but once in, everything seemed to be normal with Emily. Until the doctor walked in. Uh-oh. 'So can I go home?' No, they wouldn't let me go back to the hotel, there was a slight concern with Emily's heart rate/beat. It seemed to be spiking up and down in a sawtooth pattern which was a small red flag. After about another hour of being monitored, they let me go. It seems that with this Anomaly that kind of pattern is not a concern, but to be expected. So Renee will be in tomorrow and then an ultrasound on Thursday.
Joel, James (Renee's dad), Joshua, and Rachel are not back yet, but Debbie (Renee's mom) and Renee will be meeting them in a few hours in Hugo (North of Minneapolis). Hugo is where Pat and Clyde live, Ryan's future parents-in-law. It will be nice to get to know them and spend the evening with them. Tonight Joel and Renee will travel back to the hotel, and everyone else will stay at the in-law's place.


Anyone know where I can buy a pair of black suspenders for a three year old? Joshua needs them for the wedding on Saturday.

Memorial Monday

So instead of saying nothing at all (no news is good news, right?) we thought it would be more fun to give a recap of our day, waiting for Emily to be born. (Something new to read!)
This morning we had our daily 'non-stress test' at the hospital to check on Emily's heart rate/beat and contractions. Everything is fine, very quiet. Then Joel and I met Alfie and Maria at the Sculpture Garden in Minneapolis, then on to the Quaking Bog (Don't ask me where that was, I don't remember). We went out to lunch and had a good time with them.
Joel and I came back to our hotel, and Renee's parents were there! Hurrah! They had arrived at about noon and were recooperating in our hotel room from an all night drive. About an hour later Joel and James (Renee's dad) left to go get Joshua and Rachel back in __________. They will arrive there sometime tonight, pack (don't lose that list Joel!!), spend the night, then pick up the kids in the morning and head back down to Minneapolis. Now, Emily will NOT be born during this time right? Right. So right now Mom and I are just chilling in the hotel room, talking and figuring out what to do for supper.