We CELEBRATED 28 Week Goal!

Yesterday Amber hit the 28 week mark and Boy, Oh, BOY, did we CELEBRATE!

Mike arrived Friday evening in anticipation of the gala event!

He is such a good guy!! Every time he walks through that hospital door he brings Amber some little - and sometimes BIG - special something!

Amber has not missed one single week of her Quad Pregnancy Pics since she started at 8 weeks. Still beautiful!

We are never one to miss a party!

Mike and LD brought up burgers, fries and onion rings from the cafeteria for lunch.

This is Amby......Amber's all time favorite nurse!

ALL of the nurses, staff, doctors -  all have been so kind and professional.

Amby is an amazing lady. Hardworking and always gentle and kind.

"Nurses are the heart of health care."

~Donna Wilk Cardillo

We enjoyed our visit and was happy Amby was on duty to celebrate with us!

I made a Dr Pepper cake and everyone who came in the room was offered a piece!

I left Amber and Mike to their afternoon and the celebration dinner......

This is one of their favorite Steak Houses and Mike arranged to pick up their meal so they could dine together in the elegance of a hospital room!

OK! I get carried away but each milestone week has been celebrated by a special meal.

24, 25, 26, 27, and now the all important 28!!

What's for 29? Peanut Butter and Jelly, anyone??

Just kidding! I don't think anyone has planned that far.

No more counting DOWN! It's all counting UP from here on out!

Yesterday went very well. You seldom get two good days in a row, though.

This is from her Facebook status update last evening.....

"Have had a great day followed by a rough evening. Really painful contractions every six minutes for awhile now. Doctor starting me on Indocin again, should help and will hopefully quiet things down and help me get some rest. Glad Mike is here tonight, its always something!"

Then this update about an hour ago......

"Contractions have increased to every five minutes, so doctor is upping my mag to 3g (my highest dose yet) coupled with Demerol. Wants me to get at least another week, let's hope all this works..."
 
While LD has been scouting out some area resources I have been doing my Susie Homemaker routine......laundry, cleaning, sewing, cooking. These routine activities seem to calm my mind and still my heart. I listened to Joel Osteen as I worked. I am reminded God has a plan and we are exactly where we need to be at this very moment in time. When I get all concerned and scared it's a comfort to know that I should simply 'do the next right thing. Do the next thing that needs to be done.' Keep on keeping on. That's what Mothers DO!
 
Hospitals are sobering places. Today is Amber's 50th day up there. As I come and go each day I am reminded what needy people we are. So much pain and sorrow. So many 'angels' among us serving the needs of so very many. The other day I went for a walk and looked up at another huge hospital - and then over at MD Anderson and I was overcome with a need to pray for those I will never meet or know. Ours is a happy story. Not all are. I pray for those I pass in the halls and offer them a smile and a silent prayer as I go by.
 
OK.....enough!!! I will close this post with a picture of my beautiful daughter. I am so happy she felt well enough to enjoy her special day of reaching 28 weeks.
 

Her doctor told her the statistics for all four babies going home with Amber and Mike IN THIS HOSPITAL and at 28 weeks are 92%!

Love that!!! SO much better than the 13% of all four surviving if born at 24 weeks!

You can read Amber's happy post: Quad Squad - 28 Weeks!

Thanks to all of you who have been such a source of strength, comfort and encouragement to all of us! Glad to have you with us on this journey!!