TRIPLETS 5/31/04 EMAIL

Kirk & Kim have welcomed  their babies into the world!

Kim delivered the babies via C-section  this morning.  The babies are
arriving 12 weeks ahead of schedule and will  spend the coming weeks in the
NICU at Emmanuel Hospital until they are strong  enough to come home.  All
3 girls are stable at this time... here's the  breakdown of what I know
about them individuality at this time.  As I  get more information, I will
pass it on to you.

Katelyn:  3 pounds 2  ounces due to all the fluid she is retaining (she's
probably be closer to  1 1/2 pounds if she didn't have all the fluid) and
13 1/2" long.   She's still in critical condition and the doctors are
watching her  closely.  The doctors don't give a lot of hope in how she
will progress at  this time so please keep praying for God's will over
Katelyn's  life.

Kendra:  1 pounds 4 ounces and 11  1/2" long.  The doctors will focus on
getting her nutrients to help her  grow.

Kiersten:  1 pound 15 ounces and 13  1/2" long.  She's doing very well.
She didn't even require intubation  because she's breathing well on her
own.

This is an exhausting time for Kirk  & Kim and I know that they really
appreciate all of your prayers and  positive thinking.  Please continue to
keep them in your prayers.   Please call ahead before making any visits
later in the week just to make  sure it will be a good time.  In the first
few weeks, they will be trying  to spend as much time with the babies as
possible in the NICU and won't be  available for a lot of visitors.

There are always potential complications  when dealing with premature
babies and the coming months will no doubt be filled  with anxiety so I ask
you to keep praying for a calming over both Kirk & Kim  and strength for
their baby girls.

The Lord has heard our prayers and has  been faithful in caring for this
family.  Both Kirk & Kim have  been comforted by knowing that God has them
and their babies in His almighty  hands.  His plan is always for the good
and they trust in that  wholeheartedly.

Praise God!

Blessings to you,
Jennifer

Triplets 5/29/04 email

I was on vacation all last week and just got up to date myself on the Triplets.  There is no time to correct spelling or grammar, so forgive some minor errors as I am cutting and pasting straight from email:

 Dear all,
Kimberly has been scheduled for a c-section on Monday the 31st; hopefully she will not go into labor before then.  The doctors have had to increase her medications to fight off the contractions and calm her uterus down.  Our doctor is concerned with her health and it is not helping the twins by staying in her any longer.  Kimberly got another round of steroid shots to help the lungs and intestines of the babies develop faster.  We met with a lot of different doctors yesterday and we all worked together to come up with this plan to get the babies out on Monday.  Kimberly has not been feeling well and she needs her rest more now than ever.  Some of you have talked with Kimberly and I and have made arrangements for a visit these are still OK, but the rest of you I would like to please ask you to not come and visit.  These visits though enjoyable are very draining on Kimberly and for this reason I ask that you please respect our wishes.  Now to the babies, Kiersten is doing very well as always and the doctors don't feel she is at any added risk to be born at 28 weeks.  She is just over 2 lbs. now and at the last ultra-sound she got a perfect 8 out of 8 score.  Kendra is not growing any more and they feel she will do much better once they get her out.  They are concerned about her size and can't tell us what to expect because they won't know how she will do until she is born.  Kaytlyn is still in bad shape the doctors don't hold much hope for her but they also did not expect her to make it this long, she is quite the little fighter.  Kimberly and I had to make some hard decisions yesterday about how far we want the doctors to go to try and save her; needless to say this was very hard for us.  We still have much hope and pray that through Gods grace she will survive.  Do to the possible out come on Monday I would also ask the for those of you who have not already made arrangements with us about Monday PLEASE let Kimberly and I have this time to be together and deal with what ever the out come.  This has been a VERY LONG road for us and we could not have done it with out all of your support and prayers.  We love all of you and just want to say THANK YOU for being such good friends and loving family.  There will be a select few of you that I will call with information, once you receive it we would ask that you pass it on so everyone can be up to date.  Once again thank you all so very much for understanding.
 
Love
Kirk, Kimberly, Kaytlyn, Kendra and Kiersten      

Potpourri

This past week was significant in many ways.  I welcomed most, was saddened by some, celebrated a few, was made more than a little uncomfortable by one, and said goodbye to yet another.  I laughed, I sweated, I relaxed some and I cried a little.  I'll leave it up to the reader to decide what emotion went with what event. 

So I don't forget any, (yeah, like that's going to happen) I am going to list them in the order they happened during the week.

Monday was uneventful and relaxing.  I BBQ'd steaks for Jeri and I (and the girls of course).  Later that evening the girls and I piled up on the couch and watched some a couple of movies, retiring early.

Tuesday was the New Year's promise I kept to myself about getting caught up on doctor and dentist appointments.  I had an MRI and a Mammogram, an entire profile of blood work, my teeth cleaned and a 20 year old filling replaced.  What a day!  I was running from one office to another all day it seemed, but got everything done.  It felt good although I must admit that I was a bit apprehensive about the outcome of some of the bloodwork and the MRI.  Friday morning the doctor's office called and said the blood work came back with flying colors!  My cholesteral isn't high at all, and everything else from sugars to potassium is great.  Also, my prolactin level (another way they test for the growth of the pituitary tumor) was 100 points lower than in 1998.  The MRI substantiated the  blood work and reflected that the tumor had not grown.  Generally these tumors are benign and very slow growing.  Many stop growing after a while like mine has.  Autopsies indicate that 25% of the people have such a tumor, but never know it.  I found out I had one because I stopped having a period when I was in my mid 20's.  Saturday's mail brough news that the mammogram came back negative. It was all welcomed news.

Wednesday I ran the mini-van out to the mechanic's shop to have the passenger side door handle replaced.  While I was there Steve called and said that he and Danelle were having to put there beloved cat tosleep because it had cancer.  He and Danelle were both very upset.  Later, I stopped by a a couple thrift shops and went to dinner with Jeri. 

Thursday morning I dropped my car off at the mechanic's to have the oil pan gasket and a worn belt replaced.  I also had the driver's side window fixed because I wasn't able to roll it down all the way.  Steve came over around noon and we spent most of the afternoon trimming the hedge that runs in front of my house.  He always does such a good job, although this year the hedge isn't as pretty because the ice storm last winter played a nasty little number on it in a couple of spots.

Friday I ran a few errands and picked up one of Madison's gifts.  I barely got them all wrapped before the party!  I was very apprehensive about the party because Steve's dad was probably going to be there.  And he was.  I really didn't want him to see me with this extra weight that I've been carrying around, but it was that or miss the party and this was Madison's day and not all about me.  (Oh let's be real here a minute!  Privately it was all about me!  It was!  I admit it!  Damn, why do I have to be so vain?  Better yet, why couldn't I have kept that nice slim figure I used to have?  I would love to have waltzed in there looking like I was still in my 20's or even 30's, but for God's sake who am I trying to fool?  ha!  It was humbling, uncomfortable and I guess even a bit refreshing because he didn't look like any spring chicken either!  He was still slim, but his face had seen better days.  But then again, I wasn't slim any longer and my face had seen better days too......oh, my self esteem did several nose dives that afternoon and I am only now recovering.  Funny thing I noticed though, he did pay particular attention to me-later I reasoned with myself that he was probably using that time, stalling if you will, and really giving me a once over.  In fact, he stood next to me nearly the entire time!  He could have gone and sat somewhere else, but instead he stood near me instead of sitting on the sofa or in a chair.  He also made it a point to say what a goodjob I'd done with Steve and how he wished he'd have done things differently and spent more time with him when he was younger.  Oh, more about this later.  I have a lot to say about this one.)

Saturday I worked in the front yard with Kevin's help and got it completely weeded, edged and barkdusted.  We also got my pink dogwood tree planted!  I worked  in my yard from 9am until 7:30pm that night.  I was throughly exhausted and slept fitfully because I was overly tired.

At some point between Saturday and Sunday I was saddened by the news that Presdent Reagan had passed away.  Thank God he is out of his misery and his loving family can finally move on.  What a devastating illness!  It doesn't affect just the person afflicted, but the whole family suffers the long agonizing death too.  God Bless Nancy for sticking by him all these years.  It couldn't have been easy.  She bears the true spirit of a Saint. 

Sunday I was so sore I could hardly walk!  I took a couple Tylenol and got my housework done and headed for the Mall for a baby shower gift for my niece, Stacie.  Her shower was at 1pm.  We had a great time and I finally left at 5pm with Madison!  I'd asked Danelle to pack her a bag so she could spend the afternoon with Grammy.  We had so much fun!

I'm sure I'm missing some stuff.  If I think of anything else I'll update later.

It's back to work this week for me and I am kind of glad.  It's not as hard on me,  you know?

  

In Memory To A Great President

 

 

When I saddle up and ride into the sunset it will be with the
knowledge that we’ve done great things. We kept faith with a
promise as old as this land we love and as big as the sky. A
brilliant vision of America as a shining city on a hill. Thanks
to all of you, and with God's help, America’s greatest chapter
is still to be written, for the best is yet to come.

Ronald Wilson Reagan
December 1, 1988

HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY, MADISON!!!!!

Madison's Birthday...........pictures to follow

Daily Affirmation...........

Far away there in the
sunshine are my highest
aspirations. I may not reach
them, but I can look up and
see their beauty, believe in
them, and try to follow
where they lead.
Louisa May Alcott


The journey in between
what you once were and
who you are now becoming
is where the dance of life
really takes place.
~ Barbara De Angelis ~ 
 

Potpourri

I am on vacation all this week and I swear there is so much I'd like to get done , but just not enough time in the day to do it all.  The girls are loving my presence though!

I took the mini-van in and had the passenger side door handle replaced yesterday.  While I was at the mechanic's Steve called me and said that they were having to have their cat, Jaygar put down.  He has been ill for several months now and the vet finally determined it was cancer.  The cat was only 5 years old and such a sweetie pie.  He was an inside cat and Steve and Danelle's baby.  They are both pretty upset.  That kind of news just kind of sets the tone for the day, but luckily I got the news toward the end of the day so I didn't have the whole day to dwell on it. 

I'm keeping my News Year Resolution about the doctor's appointments.  I have changed doctors and seen my new one once so far.  Today I have two appointments; 9am for a mammogram (fun!) and 10:30 for a MRI to monitor a small pituatary (sp?) tumor.  Then, I have a 12:00 appointment at the dentist for a semi-annual cleaning.  If the doctor's office is backed up at all I may have to reschedule the dental appointment. 

Tomorrow I have an appointment to take my car and get a gasket changed.  The darn thing is leaking oil on my driveway!  Always something - you know?

I should try to fit some painting in and get my living room and dining room painted.  I just don't thnk that's going to happen though.  I still have spring cleanup in my front yard.

Eddy was over at Mom's doing yardwork yesterday.  I stopped in and took him some lunch and visited a bit before rushing off to a  appointment.  The yard really looks great!  He does such a good job!

I haven't heard anything on the triplets since last week. 

My sister Kim's job situation is this:  her boss decided not to give the Lead postion  to anyone right now.  Instead, he is giving each of them projects and depending on how well they do.....................you get the picture.  I didn't say this to my sister, but I think the guy is incompetent as a Manager or Supervisor.  He obviously can't make a decision.  More about that later.

I've got to get ready for the doctor's!  Talk with you all later.