Day 31 - A Whole Month

Today is Julie's 31st straight day in the hospital and 40th day overall.  It is hard to believe that my wife left our home early in the morning on Sunday, July 1st and has not been home since.  On the other hand, that is good news since her and the baby are still hanging in there.  Today we are 32 weeks and 4 days along in the pregnancy and Julie is doing very well.  She has had little to no bleeding recently and her leaking is minimal as well.  Her fluid level is steady and everything continues to look good.

Day 22 - A Change For The Better

Today is the 22nd day that Julie has been at Mercy Hospital this second time around.  It is hard to believe that we are beginning our fourth week having her there.  She is doing well and symptoms of bleeding and leaking have minimized these past couple days and for this we are thankful and excited.  Also, the doctors have adjusted her expected delivery date.  Instead of today, Sunday completing her 31st week, they have adjusted that day to have been Friday.  Today is 31 weeks and 2 days which is great.  We get two days for free and we will take them.  These are two positive changes in our overall journey to bring this baby into the world and into our home.  He or she is already in our hearts. :-)

Day 19 - The Grind

I wanted to give an update since it has been four days since the last one.  I am at home alone with the family this week, since my sister Katie returned to Michigan, so things have been a bit busier.  The children are all doing well and thanks to the generosity of many people, are getting chances to see and spend time with Julie at the hospital.  Thank you to those of you who continue visiting Julie and encouraging her during your visits.  It is difficult to just sit in a hospital bed while your family and life moves along for the most part without you.  Please pray for Julie as we wait, which seems to be one of biggest challenges we are facing in all of this.

A development over the past several days is that Julie's bleeding has increased but then not decreased as we had hoped.  The doctors have begun discussions about what to do if it continues over the next week or so.  Things are so fluid...one day this then another day that.  All we have is today and all God will ever give to us is today.  We may presume upon tomorrow or next Friday or whenever, but we do so without any assurances from the Lord.  He will give us our "daily bread" and care of our needs today and today alone.  When doctors begin thinking about the future, we need to listen and value their insights and wisdom, but we also need to remember that we ultimately rest in God's hands.  Our lives are first and foremost spiritual in nature, but this is especially hard to see in such a physically, clinically, and academically dominated world like a hospital.  So, please pray that Julie's bleeding will stop and that the concerns therein will diminish.  But more than that, pray that she and we will trust fully in the Lord, regardless of what symptoms or circumstances come along.

Day 15 - 30 Weeks

Since we have officially reached 30 weeks in Julie's pregnancy, which is a vastly better place to be than 24 to 28 weeks, I want to take a moment and once again give thanks.  These past couple of days have been a little erratic but things have once again settled down and Julie has been downgraded to periodic monitoring once again as well.  

Day 14 - Anxious Evening

Last night Julie and I made our most serious preparations for an emergency delivery of the baby.  The increase in difficulties from yesterday increased our concerns that they would make it through the night with the baby intact in the womb.  Yet, once again it is morning and Mama and Baby are still hanging in there.  The bleeding continues and is quite disconcerting.  Our primary prayer is that the bleeding would cease or diminish significantly.

Today marks two weeks Julie has been admitted into the hospital this go-around.  She also spent nine days in the hospital back in June.  And then tomorrow is a sort of milestone for us as she will reach 30 Weeks in her pregnancy.  The days move slowly, but we are thankful and keep taking them one at a time.

Day 13 - Possible Setback This Morning

This morning (Friday) Julie had her first setback since being admitted to the hospital.  She had been doing fine and progressing along nicely and then a little while ago she began bleeding much more heavily.  They are moving her from antepartum, probably back to labor and delivery.  The bleeding will move her risk level up as they continue monitoring her throughout the day.

As expected we all are concerned with this new development and Julie especially.  Please pray for her and for the baby.  They have done so well since this all began and we are going to be at 30 weeks on Sunday and that is a praise.  As we have stated, one day at a time is all we can ask for and live in.  So we pray for her and for what will transpire today.  Thanks for your support!

Day 11 - On the Move

Last night while I was visiting Julie they notified her that they felt her condition had improved and stabilized enough to move her out of labor and delivery and up to antepartum.  This is where Julie spent days 4-9 her first visit in the hospital before being released back in June.  We are not expecting her to be released this time because she still has lingering some fluid loss and bleeding but this is a good sign nonetheless.  She is sad to leave all of her friends who work in labor and delivery, there is much less interaction with the medical and nursing staff up in antepartum.  For those of you interested, her room number is now 558 at Mercy/St. Johns Hospital and her phone number is 314-567-2558.  The best way to contact her is still through her email - zilkie4@yahoo.com.

Day 10 - 29 Weeks and 2 Days

Good news, Julie is stable and faring well at Mercy Hospital on this her 10th day there.  There continues to be a little bleeding but the baby's monitoring has gone quite well so she is no longer on 24 hour monitoring, but has been moved to periodic monitoring throughout the day.  Because Julie's condition was downgraded from serious when she checked in, she lost the big room they initially gave her.  Most importantly, she is stable and the baby is stable as well.  

Things at home are good.  Aunt Katie and Uncle Kent came last Tuesday and spent their vacation here with us in 105 degree temperatures all week.  Kent returned to Michigan while Katie and the girls are going to stay this week to help out...and a wonderful help she has been.  

Thanks again to all of you who are praying for us and checking in on the Zilkies.  We GREATLY appreciate it!!!

Steady As She Goes & Julie Speaks - Day 5 (Round 2)

I apologize for the sparse updates since Julie checked into the hospital again on Sunday.  The good news is that there is no bad news to report.    We Zilkies fervently believe that all healing comes from the Lord as the Bible calls God the great healer.  At the same time, God is sovereign above all things and should somebody not receive the healing they are praying for, we can have great confidence that God has a greater purpose in mind. He is not some distant and maniacal deity smiting some and blessing others.  Rather, He is the eternal God who sees the end from the beginning.  He is outside time and our temporal life on this earth is but a vapor to Him...here one moment and gone the next.  It is in this God whom we entrust ourselves, both for the vapor-life we live on earth and for the eternal life awaiting us thereafter.

Back In The Hospital - Day 1 (Round 2)

After 3 weeks of things going very well, the past couple of days Julie has had a number of smaller negative issues.  She has had some inexplicable bleeding, leaking of fluid has returned in small amounts, she felt her abdomen contracting more then before, and this morning she experienced serious pain in her lower abdomen.  All of those combined led us to take the precautionary step of readmitting her into the hospital today.  This was a good choice.