Hopeful Expecting Dad - reporting to you live from Cat's bedside.....

We saw Cat's OBGYN this evening who provided a much appreciated synopsis and view of what to potentially expect in the days to come. While we have been getting excellent medical care, sometimes it is just nice to see a familiar face and talk with someone who is in it with you for the long haul.

She observed that Cat is doing GREAT (my take is top 10 percentile!) with all of the drugs and electronic paraphernalia hook ups. Not bad for a woman's first overnight in the hospital eyh! Yeah, go ahead and say it...I know how to pick 'em! The Magnesium Sulfate has essentially stopped the contractions (down to none or 3/hr) and Cat is feeling better (coincidental, she also looks marvelous) as the amount of this drug is reduced. Assuming she has a good night, they will stop the IV drug completely tomorrow morning (48 hrs max allowed) while continuing to monitor her contractions (or hopefully lack there of; finger's crossed please). She is fantasizing about being able to eat solid foods sometime tomorrow per the doctor's orders (I'm going to suggest pepperoni pizza and Starbuck's Java Chip ice cream because this would be my first choice!). An upgrade from a high risk labor and delivery room with no window (what time of day/season is it?) and lots of noisy electronics, poking and prodding hourly to a standard room with a window (all low risk pregnant smucks off the street welcome!) is also in our future. If all this goes well (finger's crossed again please) she will be released Thursday morning with strict bed rest orders (aka: Oprah, bonbons & Chez Jacques' cooking...thank goodness Domino's delivers!) as long as possible. First goal would be to get to 32 weeks but every day inside the womb helps reduce the risk of complications outside the womb (what is wrong with this kid not wanting to hang out in this cozy place another 12 weeks?). Through all of this, the baby continues to look perfect (like its dad?) and is in Cat's incredibly capable and caring hands...or should I say incubator? To Cat, I am forever indebted (I wonder how may expensive dinners or diaper changes this comment will cost me?) as I know it will be decades, if ever, before the pigglet appreciates the nurturing (ah, I know only the very most tip of the iceberg for those of you with kids will attest).

Let the experience continue to unravel into a rich tapestry of life. I do recall that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Thank you all for your wonderful support.

(pls use your best Walter Cronkite voice here) Signing off for now...live from Cat's bedside this has been Jack, the hopeful expecting (not yet please) dad. Good night.