July's Developments

Not much to report for this month. The doctors visits were allowed to be seperated by 7-10 days and everything looked as it should be for the first time in the entire pregnancy. It was, perhaps, the first time that we were able to enjoy the experience for the sake of the experience.

To this point Gwynne has still been able to swim 4-5 days per week, lift weights on occasion, and spend some time on the stationary bike. The most enjoyable workout she was able to do each week was ride her road bike with me when I did my long runs. We were able to talk and catch up/reflect on the happenings of the week...a bit of rare time for just the two of us. We knew the time for these ride-runs together was drawing short as her knees were hitting her belly and it was getting increasingly difficult to reach the handle bars. We didn't know that time would run out with a screaching halt on the 31st.

We went to the perinatologist appointment as regularly scheduled; both of us taking the usual 1.5 hour break from the work week to get the latest pictures and check the health of the girls. During that appointment we noticed that the smaller baby had fallen below the 10th percentile for fetal growth development. We were instructed to keep the OB appointment we had later in the day, but Gwynne was then to be immediately admitted to the hospital for a steroid injection and fetal monitoring. We were also instructed that bed rest would be immediately implamented.

Here we go again...more stress...more worrying...and extreme changes to our work/workout/life schedules. Talk about major freak out moment! We didn't really know what was going on. Leaving to be admitted we were thinking that an emergency C-section could be immanent at any moment. Trying to put on a strong face for our friends, family, peers, and staff the usual pins and needles were quickly becoming daggers and spears.

The hospital room was humble by today's standards, but clean and sufficient. We had no complaints. The nursing staff was exceptionally friendly, attentive, and at times entertaining. They stopped in just enough to get the jobs done the nurses were required to do, but left Gwynne alone enough to allow her to work on the computer, watch TV, and sleep soundly. We were left looking forward to being cared for post-delivery.

Catch up with the remainder of the story in the first August update...