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The Latest
Updates (newest to oldest)
Monday Night, 3rd of February 2003...
Monday night 2/3/2003, Jill went
into labor. At 9:56PM Michael Nathaniel Attwood was born 12-1/2 inches
long, weighing 1 lb - 1 oz. However, in the process of labor, Michael
went home to be with his Heavenly Father. Please keep us in your
prayers and check back soon for further updates.
Weekly Dr. Visit on Monday Morning, 3rd of
February
2003...
Thank you all for your prayers for Graeme's sister, Harmony, and her
family. Many of you know that her 14 year old son, Timothy, began a
battle with cancer--Non Hodgkins Lymphoma--less that a year ago. After
many ups and downs, he died on Thursday, January 30th. Graeme spoke to
Jonathan and Harmony this past Sunday and, while they obviously are
grief stricken, they are experiencing the grace and peace of the Lord.
They expressed their pride in the fruit borne for the Kingdom of God in
both Tim's life, and his death. Please continue to pray for their whole
family, especially Tim's two younger brothers, David and John, as they
face the days and weeks ahead.
On this side of the ocean, we rejoice as the news about our little
one seems to get better each week. Our appointment today (2/3/03) was
very encouraging. Dr. Wagner once again said everything looks just great
and instructed us to keep on doing what we're doing. There's still no
amniotic fluid, but the baby is growing and I gained another two pounds.
(It's so fun being a girl and TRYING to gain weight!) The occasional
bleeding I have is related to activity, and just reinforces that
complete bed rest is the best thing we can be doing for Michael. We
asked the Doctor about the possibility of delaying my hospital
admission, for Callie's sake. He said, "Sure, whatever you're
comfortable with." When Graeme asked how long we could delay, the Dr.
said we could go to 26-28 weeks instead of 24 (I'm 22 weeks now). Now I
can stay home another 4-6 weeks!!!!! That's a huge load off our minds
for the time being. Please continue to use this time to pray for Callie
in that transit! ion!
One side note . . . Graeme's Dad, David, called me from England on
Sunday and said, "I've been wanting to tell you a little story.
Sixty-five years ago, a young mother in Coventry was advised by her
doctor to abort her baby to save her life. (Obviously, in those days,
abortion was NOT a common recommendation.) The mother and her husband
decided not to take the life of their baby and trust in the Lord to do
His will. The product of that decision lives in your house today." I
still get goose bumps thinking that Graeme's Grannie Caroline could have
aborted David, and the man of my dreams would never have been born. It's
also interesting to note that Graeme nearly died in infancy due to
complications from jaundice. What a legacy for our little man to be born
into! He was named Michael at just 6 weeks in utero because Graeme had a
strong sense he'd be a fighter, like the archangel Michael. And what a
fighter he is!
We're really enjoying the emails, cards, phone calls, and support
from all of you. I now have access to our email from the laptop, so I'll
try to respond in a timely manner! I can't guarantee how prompt I'll be;
it's still very busy in the house every day and Graeme RARELY lets me
use the computer! But please write, it keeps me in company with those of
you I can't come to visit!
As always, thanks to loved ones and strangers around the world for
your prayers. God is good.
Weekly Dr. Visit on Monday, 27th of January
2003...
First of all, please be in prayer for Graeme's
sister, Harmony, her husband, Jonathan, and their 3 sons, Timothy,
David, and John. Our hearts are with them in England as their family is
going through a very difficult time.
Our appointment today showed what a difference 3
weeks can make! We weren't treated as a "hopeless case" today. We saw
Cr. Wagner again, who, two weeks ago talked of "throwing in the towel."
But today, he was actually quite optimistic. I gained 3 ½ pounds this
week, and 1 ½ pounds last week, for a two week total gain of 5 pounds!
That’s so excellent, considering I lost 10 pounds in the first 4 ½
months of pregnancy! The ultrasound shows the baby is growing just
fine, despite the lack of amniotic fluid. I can feel him moving around
every day, and we can even watch my tummy jump as he kicks. So, we came
away from our appointment today feeling excited and expectant to bring a
baby home with us one day. Especially since Dr. Wagner’s last word to
us today was a hearty, “Congratulations!”
Now we remain on “cruise” for 3 more weeks until
I’m hospitalized. We’ve always had a strong sense of hope that this
baby will survive, and now we seem to have tangible, medical reason to
continue hoping. In the meantime, I remain horizontal as much as
possible, getting up only to use the bathroom and sing Callie a bedtime
song. That means rarely sitting up, no baths or showers, no grazing in
the kitchen, no lifting Callie, and whatever else you care to imagine.
As for Graeme ~ he now must do all of the above in
the triplicate as he cares for Callie and me after work. He has 2 days
“off” per week, but he probably works harder on those 2 days than when
he’s at work. Pray for patience and endurance for him. With everything
that’s happening with our family here and in England, the stress is
telling on him physically. Pray for his back and neck, and that he’ll
have restful nights.
We also ask you to pray especially for Callie as we
head towards my hospitalization. We are very uneasy about that
transition, but we’re beginning to plan ways to make it as smooth as
possible. (Keep in mind; the longer that baby is inside, the better.
So we could be looking at 10-15 weeks in the hospital. YIKES!)
We are so grateful to the “Bethel Crew” – our
church family who not only cares and prays for us constantly, but even
tells us they are blessed and honored to be a part of this time in our
lives! Thanks again to all of you for every little (and big) thing.
Every card, phone call, email, visit, meal, chore, prayer, gift for
Callie ... nothing goes unnoticed. And we trust God will bless you in
return!
Love to
everyone until next week. Please email us. I can’t promise a response
– my computer access is limited, and some of you know better than to
hold your breath ‘til Graeme responds! But we’d appreciate hearing from
you nonetheless!
Weekly Dr. Visit on
Monday, 20th of January 2003...
Praise the Lord! We
see a team of specialists at United and never know which Doctor we'll
have. This visit happened to be with Dr. Calvin, a Christian
Pro-life doctor with a different perspective than the other doctors so
far. He understands our values and supports our decision to do
everything we can to give this baby a chance of life. He sees each
baby as a valuable human life, worthy of a fight no matter what the
outcome may be. While other doctors and even other mothers in our
position may decide to "throw in the towel" (an
phrase used by one doctor!), we will not take the life of our own child
unless we're left with no choice because of risk to me. Dr. Calvin
stands behind us and even offered his support if other doctors are
pushing us other directions!
Michael Nathaniel
(Nathaniel Michael, if you ask Graeme) is doing great - growing at least
5 days ahead of schedule - and there's very little chance he'll die in
utero. The risk still lies with my developing an infection that
will send me into labor too early. Pray the Lord will keep my womb
sterile, and even heal the amniotic sac.
If I make it to 24 weeks
(Feb. 18), the baby is considered potentially viable, and I'll be
hospitalized until delivery at that point. We were VERY uneasy
about the impact on Callie, but Dr. Calvin said I'd be in a private room
where Callie could spend the night. So, we feel much better, and
Callie has been and will continue to be in good hands!
So, two weeks ago, the
medical community was recommending an abortion to preserve my life.
But, here we are with a living baby, a moved placenta, and no infection
two weeks later. Where there's life, there's hope - and we'll
carry on hoping with all those around us who love us!
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