Home Sweet Home for the Sandridge Family!!!!

Taylor Grace and Savannah Hope are 3 weeks old as of today! Thankfully, they both were only in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) at St. Mary's for less than a week due to minor reasons. We brought Taylor home on Monday, May 19th and Savannah came home two days later on Wednesday, May 21st (my dad's birthday). Words cannot describe how refreshed and joyful Dan and I feel to finally be at home together with our healthy beautiful baby girls as well as our 3 year old golden retriever, Micah! It has been quite the adjustment to say the least with being new parents of two newborn babies, but Dan has been super dad. I was still in pain when I first came home, so Dan and our parents really helped us out a lot during the first week. This is the third week, and other than lack of sleep and feeling like I am feeding non stop, I am feeling very good physically. I still have a ways to go to get back in shape and I am really looking forward to using our jogging stroller this summer with the girls. They are so beautiful and it still is amazing as we look at them to know that they are our children and that they both fit in my tummy. We had our first peditrician appointment last week and the doctor said the girls are perfect...that truly melted our hearts after all we have been through with my pregnancy. They continue to grow and change so quickly that I am sure Taylor is now over 6 lbs. and Savannah is probably close to 5 lbs. which we will find out at our next weight check appointment next week. The girls started out in one crib, but they are both very strong and like to kick and move their arms and feet so they began to move so that one would be kicking the head of the other as they were lying in their crib. Now, we have them in their own cribs, which they are content since they are young enough not to know the difference.

I had a family baby shower last weekend when I introduced the girls to family and I have another shower this Saturday. We have been blessed by so many people and I am excited to continue to show off our girls to various friends and family this summer. Thank you again for all of your continued prayers and support every step of the way. At this time, it is a challenge for me to post new blogs weekly, let alone answer the telephone or email, but I will do my best when ever I get a spare moment. Dan and I will continue to take lots of pictures and post recent photos on the blog when we can, so continue to check our blog if you are interested in seeing our girls grow.

Enjoy some of these recent photos of the girls below and God Bless you and your family!

Love,

Jenny & Dan

Taylor with Daddy

Savannah is smiling in her sleep!

Taylor is on the left and Savannah is on the right for both pics above

Grand Entrance into the World

Wow, the day has finally come!!

This last Thursday May 15th ended up being a day to remember. We were originally scheduled for an induction early Thursday morning, but we decided to cancel, figuring God had a better plan. I had actually been praying about when Jenny would deliver when we first got into week 37. I felt like the Lord said "not today...Thursday." I assumed He meant that same Thursday but it ended up being a week later.

Jenny went to the hospital to have the babies monitored at 1pm. The babies weren't very active like they have been in the past, so the nurse had Jenny on the monitor longer than usual. Our neighbor, Heather, took Jenny to the appointment as I was working in the Milwaukee area at my in-laws finishing some painting. I had just finished painting the last room at about 2pm when my phone rang and I heard, "well, it's time! My water just broke!". Jenny's water broke in the doctor's office while she was being monitored! I of course left everything and sped home to switch cars and rushed to the hospital. About ten minutes after her water broke contractions started about 2-3 minutes apart and never let up. Everything moved at a very rapid pace and within about 2 1/2 hours she was ready to start pushing. We rushed to the OR and within minutes Jenny had pushed Taylor out! Savannah, true to form kept things exciting by turning around and 4 minutes later was delivered feet first! Jenny was truly amazing. She delivered the girls so fast that the anesthesiologist didn't even know to come back until everything was over. Taylor Grace was born at 4:58 pm. She was 5lbs 12 oz. and 18 1/2 in. long. Savannah Hope was born at 5:02 pm. She was 4lbs 9 oz. and 18 in. long. Both are beautiful miracles and we hope to bring them home very soon. They are currently doing very well in the NICU and we are adjusting to our new roles as Mommy and Daddy. Please pray for continued health for the babies, quick recovery for Jenny, rest for all of us, and a speedy exit from the NICU to our home. Below are a few pics of the girls. We love you all and are so appreciative of your prayers and support. It has made all the difference in making this a truly amazing time in our lives.

With love and gratitude,

Dan, Jenny, Taylor, and Savannah

ps The first two are Savannah and the last two are of Taylor!

Week 38 & No Baby News Yet!

God must have a sense of humor because we have now broken another record for making it to 38 weeks after all of the earlier complications that we went through! The joke has been that since I have consistently told the girls to "stay inside" they must be confused as I now tell them that it is okay to come out. So, far everything looks great with the twins as well as myself so we continue to wait for the Lord's time for their arrival.

Since returning home, I have regained a lot of strength back (I still have a ways to go) and my spirit has been uplifted as it has been so refreshing being back at home. I have been able to take short walks with Dan or my neighbor as well as experience "nesting" by getting the nursery ready for when we do bring them home. My tummy is so big and I feel READY to have these girls any moment now!!

So, please continue to pray for patience, perserverence and health for Dan, myself and the girls as we await their arrival. Stay tuned in the days to come.

Blessings and love,
Jenny

We Made it to FULL TERM - Week 37!!!

Wow...I am just more and more amazed at the blessings we continue to receive as we are now at full term! This past weekend was a very special time for Dan and I as after being on bed rest for 3 months in the hospital, I was able to celebrate my birthday at home with family and friends!

The girls have become famous during this pregnancy...we made at least the Madison and Milwaukee local news last Wednesday, April 30th! I had two interviews with Channel 3 and Channel 15 as well as a phone interview for the News Talk 1310 AM Radio Station here in Madison because I broke the record for being the longest maternity patient on bed rest at St. Mary's Hospital! I hope that my story and this beautiful testimony impacts others, especially women in a similar situation that there is always hope for a miracle! We have a DVD with each of the news interviews to share with the girls when they are older. Feel free to check out the news' stations Web sites to view the footage.

I have now been home since last Wednesday evening and I am gradually regaining my strength as I move around the house and walk up stairs etc. I still have a ways to go, but little by little my muscles are improving! I go to the hospital 3 days/week to have the twins' heart tones monitored and so far they are very healthy! It is neat to return to the hospital since that has been my second home for so long because I know all of the staff and that is comforting for when we do return for the labor and birth. Dan and I know that this is a significant week and we believe that they will arrive sometime this week. We are working with a Doula (a labor/birth assistant) as we still plan to have a natural birth with the on call OBGYN and we will definately deliver in the OR at St. Mary's Hospital since that is protocol for any birth of multiples.

I also want to thank all of you who have sent me cards, gifts, flowers, food, baby clothes etc. Dan and I definately have felt your love and support every step of the way! We ask for your continued prayers, especially this week for a spontaneous and healthy natural labor and birth in God's time! Please also pray for strength, perserverence and complete health for our girls and a smooth recovery for me!

We love you all dearly and we will keep you posted on the twins' arrival in the days to come!
Blessings to you and your family,
Jenny

Homeward Bound!

It is Week 36....a HUGE milestone!!!! I had another ultrasound this morning and both babies look great! I am happy to announce that our bigger girl is 5 lb. 14 oz. and our smaller girl is still our peanut at 4 lb. 9 oz. Both of their hearts look normal as well as the dopplers and they are still head down...so a natural birth is what we have planned.

So far, my cervix is not dilated and my water has not broke. My doctor thinks that I will make it to at least next week, which is term. Both Dan and I believe that it will be another week or so and our babies will be born healthy at term...another part of the Lord's miraculous testimony!!!

Another fun surprise is that since everything looks stable, my doctor has approved me going home tomorrow for the duration of the pregnancy until it comes time for me to deliver. I will still return to the hospital 3 days a week to have the babies monitored for a short time. It is just amazing that I can finally return home after 3 months of being at the hospital on bed rest. My birthday is this coming Saturday, May 3 and I will get to celebrate at home and all I want for my birthday are two healthy babies born at term (not on my birthday, though).

I will continue to post updates even from home as we get closer and closer to the actual birth. I can't thank you enough for your love and support and most of all your prayers during every step of the way. Please continue to pray for the girls and Dan and I especially as we near the end.

Love and Blessings,
Jenny

3rd Move due to Flooding...It's Just Hilarious!

Greetings,

Due to last night's rain storm, this morning I had water leaking down the walls and from a light on the ceiling, so there was a large puddle on my floor. So, for the 3rd time I had to move to a new room today...the adventure continues! Thankfully, none of my belongings got damaged and I moved to a larger room on the other wing of the 1st floor with a double bed as well as a nice view of the garden! I am now in room 1130 and my direct phone number is #608/259-3006.

This will be my new home for now, hopefully for not much longer as May is just around the corner!

Have a wonderful weekend and as always thanks for your continued prayers and support!
Jenny

Week 35 Update

It's week 35 and only two more weeks to go to make it to term which is beginning at 37 weeks! Everyone is blown away on how far we have come...our girls are true fighters! As of Saturday, I moved back down to my old room on the first floor. I have had my window open and the tree outside my window is budding as well as the flowers and shrubs in the garden. Yesterday, my brother took me for a short wheel chair ride to sit outside in the garden for a while...it was so refreshing to feel the warm breeze and sunshine!!

I have continued telling the girls that we are going to get through the next two weeks, so far they have listened to their mommy. Our hope is to have them born healthy at term and weighing at least 5 lbs. as well as skipping the NICU.

As we come down the home stretch during the upcoming weeks, I ask for your continued prayers for the Lord's timing, health, smooth natural birth as well as strength and perserverence for all of us!

Enjoy the beautiful spring weather this week and stay tuned for future updates.
Blessings,
Jenny

Ultrasound Update for Week 34!

I had an unexpected ultrasound today as they were able to fit me in especially since I am not going anywhere! I had a fabulous ultrasound...the news gets better and better! Both babies are vertex (head down) which is what I want. Our bigger girl is an astonishing 4 lb. 13 oz. (almost 5 lbs.)! Our smaller peanut is 4 lb. which is huge that she has made that mark! Their hearts look great, so we have good news all around, thanks to your continued prayers!

Now that I am closer to term, which is 37 weeks for me carrying twins...I really want to get to that milestone or 36 weeks. But, for now I will shoot for next week and take it from there.

Please keep the prayers coming, especially now as we come down the home stretch!!!
Have a wonderful rest of the week and stay tuned for future updates.
Love,
Jenny

Another Major Milestone to Celebrate - 34 Weeks!

As I write this update, I am sipping on a strawberry smoothie...thanks to Tara, one of my favorite nurses in celebration of making it to 34 Weeks! The staff, especially my doctor are just amazed that we have come this far...it clearly is a true testimony of what the Lord can do!

This past Sunday, I moved upstairs to the second floor because once again I was the only patient so they closed my floor for the week. I am in the same room as last time, Rm 2130 and my phone number is #259-5839. I will let you know when I return back to my old room. I am going to have another ultrasound this week, so I will post another report soon.

Dan and I want to thank my mom and her friend, Karen for cleaning our house and starting to organize the nursery this past weekend...I look forward to seeing it when I return home.

Enjoy the warmer weather this week and please continue to pray for perserverence for Dan and I and health for the babies!
Jenny

Week 33 Update

Another week down! This past weekend was very special...I got to have a photo shoot as well as my first baby shower! One of my nurses has her own photography business, so she came and took various pregnancy photos of Dan and myself, my mom and I and lots of single shots of me with my big tummy! I even wore make-up and curled my hair which I have not done in a very long time! Eric, who is a golden retriever and therapy dog for the hospital even came and sat in one of the pictures with me as a rememberance since he comes a few times a week to visit me.

I want to thank all of you who showered me with prayer and generous gifts this past Sunday and a special thanks to Sarah and Hannah for coordinating this special shower. My mom and I both were truly touched. Dan and I had a very nice private gift opening in my room and we received some really nice things.

Dan has now painted the nursery, set up our two cribs and even put in organized shelfing units in the closet in the nursery, so things are coming along! My main goal is 37 weeks and I keep telling the girls we are going the distance!

The girls and I are doing very well and the next ultrasound will be later next week. Please continue to pray for health for the girls, continued weight gain, and a smooth natural pregnancy close to term!

Have a good rest of the week and stay tuned for future updates!
Love,
Jenny

Ultrasound Update

Happy Friday!

I had another ultrasound and the girls are continuing to grow! Our bigger girl is now 3 lb. 12 oz. which is great and our smaller peanut is about 3 lb. My doctor said that in regards to our smaller girl's heart, if this was the first time she saw it, she confirmed that it looks normal...a true miracle!!! Also, another blessing is that they are both vertex (head down), so a natural birth is still an option. We agreed not to check the size of my cervix since it is very short and we have no control over when it comes time to deliver. The girls will now be monitored using the fetal monitor to check their heart rates every other day since I am now into the thirties! Earilier this morning, they were monitored and my doctor said that the results were fantastic...10 out of 10!

This weekend, my friends, Sarah and Hannah are throwing me my first baby shower here at the hospital! It will be a shorter shower since I am in this delicate state, but I am very excited and blessed to have the opportunity to share this time with my friends. Dan and I decided to have our other baby showers after the twins are here.

Prayer Request: Please keep your powerful prayers coming that my cervix will stay closed throughout this month because my hope is to make it to Week 36 or Week 37! My friend, Sara from Seattle had a dream last week that I delivered at Week 37...so let it be, God willing! Also, the more time the girls are able to grow and develop, the less time they will need to stay in the NICU, especially since the size of our smaller girl's stomach is smaller than normal. My friends who have babies in the NICU upstairs are doing very well and continue to grow and feed nicely! Also, please pray for my sister-in-law, Janet and her family as they have lost her mom this week from battling cancer!

Blessings to you and your family! Enjoy the warmer spring weather!
Jenny

It's 32 Weeks and April is here!

I am very excited for today...it is finally April and I have reached my next huge goal of 32 Weeks! Yesterday, I returned to my "home" down on the first floor in Rm 1122 so I am sitting in my nice room with a double bed and view of the garden.

During the past week, I continued to have visitors including celebrating my mom's birthday! One of my favorite nurses got balloons and a small gift for me to surprise my mom since my parents were going to spend her birthday with me at the hospital and she was definitely surprised! Also, my friend Ali is helping me create a scrapbook for the girls...she is so creative and I am excited to see the final outcome. I had a surprise visit from Sigita, the woman I see at the salon I go to and she brought me beautiful fuchsia/red tulips to brighten my room. I have also had a visit from my childhood friend Krista and her 5 week old son, Nolan...the nurses could not keep their eyes off him! I have stayed quite busy every day researching baby items as I complete my registry and I even have a photographer lined up to take newborn pictures once the time comes. I tell the girls every day how proud I am of them and today I told them that we are going to stay here as they nest for at least another month! As many people have been curious about my pregnancy story, I have been inspired to begin writing my story. I began a couple of days ago and I hope to get most of it, if not all written throughout this month.

The twins heart rates were monitored again yesterday for a half hour and they did so well! I felt both of them move under the monitors, but thankfully their heart rates were able to be tracked the full time. The doctors that reviewed the results said that it was refreshing to see and everything looks great! I will have my next ultrasound on Friday, so I will post another update shortly after that.

Please continue to pray for the babies growth and health during the upcoming weeks! Stay tuned for future updates.

Blessings and Happy April!
Jenny

Moving On Up!

Happy Easter!!!

This weekend I have been officially titled the VIP on the floor since I have been the ONLY PATIENT on my floor! Everyone else including the other woman, Tammy who is carrying twins was discharged on Friday. So, yesterday and today I had two nurses all to myself...and I was fortunate to get a back massage from one of the nurses as they were looking for things to do! Today, I had to move to a new room on the 2nd floor temporarily until they get more patients this week. I only brought my necessities up here and I plan to be back to my old room again later this week (I will miss my double bed and room with a view of the garden)!

At this time, I am residing upstairs in room 2130 and my direct phone number is #608/259-5839. I will post another update as soon as I move back down to my old room.

Dan and I as well as our precious girls are doing very well. Please continue to pray that they will remain nesting inside my womb to April which is my next goal of Week 32! Stay tuned for future updates.

Happy Easter!
Jenny

It's Spring and Week 30!

Happy Spring!!!

The girls are nesting nicely as we have now reached a HUGE milestone and are into Week 30! It has been a great week so far. On St. Patrick's Day, I wore my new shamrock socks (thanks to my sister-in-law, Janet) and two of my favorite nurses purchased a shamrock shake for me (a must have on St. Patty's Day)! On Tuesday, my brother who is getting his master's degree and has off this week for spring break baked homemade mint brownies and brought them to me (what a sweet guy), which have not lasted very long! Also, I became reconnected with a childhood friend, Krista that came to visit me after she learned of my situation. It was great to reconnect and meet her 3 week old son. I am more and more amazed as to how trials in our lives can unite and even bring new people into our lives! The nursing staff in my unit surprised me with a small cake that says "Best Wishes" since I have reached 30 weeks which is a big deal around here! I told the doctors and nurses when I first got here that I wanted to be the veteran on the floor and now my wish has come true.

Yesterday, was a busy day as I had quite a few visitors including my friend, Sarah and her son Jackson as well as my neighbor and I also colored Easter eggs with Tammy who is also carrying twin girls on the floor. Today, I have had a relaxing day knitting and listening to music. This was also the first day when they monitored our baby girls' heart rates for 20-30 minutes which is normal routine once they are at the 30 week gestational stage. I was proud of the girls, but our smaller twin was on the move and did not seem to like the monitor. So, every Monday and Thursday the babies will be monitored to make sure everything looks good.

This weekend, Dan will paint the nursery and both of our families will come visit me for Easter. My parents are even going to bring Micah again to come see me...I miss him so much! My prayer requests remain the same and I know that there are more people praying than I can imagine...THANK YOU!

I hope you and your family have a blessed Easter weekend!
Love,
Jenny

Praise God...ANOTHER MIRACLE!

Today is a great day! This afternoon I had another ultrasound and my doctor said, "this is remarkable!" Our bigger twin is 3 lbs. and our smaller girl is 2 lb. 8 oz. so they continue to grow! Our smaller girl's heart is looking normal...the right side is now contracting like it should which is another huge miracle!!! :) A few tears were sliding down my cheek as I saw this before my eyes. So, both of our precious angels are doing VERY WELL. PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY BECAUSE THIS IS A TESTIMONY THAT YOUR PRAYERS ARE VERY POWERFUL!!!

Prayer Request: my main prayer request at this time is that my cervix remains closed for as long as possible so I can get into April and allow more time for the girls to get to at least 4 lbs. and mature enough so that I can breast feed. The size of my cervix has shortened again, so there is not much left, but I am very hopeful that we will make it much further. Also, both babies' heads are face down so my doctor said that I could deliver them vaginally (which is what I want) as long as everything looks good by the time they are ready to come into this world. Please pray that God will make a way for that to happen.

The pediatric cardiologist is on vacation next week, so I expect that he will do another echo cardiogram to get a detailed analysis of our smaller girl's heart either the last week of March or in the beginning of April. I will continue to include updates in the weeks to come.

I just can't say enough to all of you for your continued love, support and prayers. We love you all and always believe that all things are possible with God!

Love and blessings,
Jenny

Last week in the Twenties!

The girls and I are still hanging on strong as we are in Week 29 of the pregnancy almost into the 30 something weeks!!! Our twins are very active and I cherish these moments of feeling them kick and dance within my womb every day! :) My tummy continues to expand and Dan and I look forward to our next ultrasound to learn how much the girls have grown. My doctor returns tomorrow from Cuba and most likely she will plan to have another ultrasound next week. There have been quite a few women on my floor carrying twins and my friend, Tricia just delivered her twin girls this past weekend. Tricia was a week ahead of me in her pregnancy and she has shared pictures of her two little girls as they continue to grow in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). I plan to visit them upstairs next week (in a wheel chair...no walking privledges yet)! It is comforting to share this experience with Tricia since we both have been on bedrest here and are becoming mothers for the first time with twins! Please pray for Jim and Tricia and their twin girls during this time as well.

I told our girls that they need to remain nesting inside until the right time which will be at least through April...God willing! :) Dan and I continue to be blessed with meals and visits from family and friends most days and we appreciate your continued support and prayers every step of the way.

Stay tuned for more updates about our twin girls and keep the prayers coming!
Love,
Jenny

Made it to another Milestone - Week 28!

Yeah...another milestone met! I have now been at St. Mary's Hospital for over a month and I can honestly say that I have not been bored yet! God continues to bring miracles for our twin girls along the way, which has been so encouraging for Dan and I and has amazed our doctors to say the least! :) We continue to be witnesses of how all of the prayers for us and our twins are so powerful and we thank you for standing alongside us during this time!

The twins are doing well! A week ago, we had another ultrasound and our bigger twin was 1 1b. 15 oz. (should be at least 2 lb. by now) and her sister was lagging at 1 1b. 9 oz. (but we are hopeful that she will catch up more now that there is a smooth, normal flow through the umbilical cord which will give her more nutrients! As I mentioned in my last blog, there were some significant improvements within our smaller twin's heart, which happened over 2 weeks so it is very important that they stay inside my womb for as long as possible! April is a HUGE month for us as April 1st is Week 32...this is a tremendous milestone that I hope to reach and beyond.

This is vacation time for many staff including my doctor, some nurses, my occupational therapist as well as my family! My parents just returned home from Las Vegas, my doctor is in Cuba for two weeks giving a lecture with a group of other doctors and one of my regular nurses is in Florida and my OT is in Arizona. So, I am just sitting back, keeping busy as I promised all of them that I would be right here in bed when they return beginning next week. I am halfway done with knitting a scarf...my first knitting project ever! Last Friday, Micah came to visit me again and was so excited to see me that he jumped right up in bed with me and licked me all over (he probably is relieved to know that I am still alive)!

This experience has changed me for the better as I am now even more filled with hope, faith, strength and love and there have been so many wonderful people who have for the first time come into my life. For instance, my neighbor next to me, Trish is an expected mother of twin girls also and we had the opportunity to chat after our last class and also we recently learned that my brother & sister-in-laws' (Joel and Janet) friends Mike and Darcy (I stood up with Mike in Joel & Janet's wedding) is expecting a baby girl in May as well and Darcy is now admitted to the hospital and is on my floor...what a small world! I have also talked with Darcy and shared with her how I am managing bed rest in the hospital. Also, the duola that we are working with, Wendy is a kindred spirit and has brought many resourceful books and videos about child birth and the joy of twins.

Prayer Requests: that our twins will be delivered close to term which is around 36 weeks for twins and will both be completely healthy...no complications! For peace, wisdom, strength, perserverence and continued unity for Dan and I every step of the way!

Love and blessings to you and your family!
Jennifer

Week 27 Begins...

Tomorrow begins Week 27 which is one week closer to our next milestone! The Lord is continuing to make miraculous improvements every step of the way!!!

Last week, we met with our Pediatric Cardiologist for another echo cardiogram to check our little girl's heart. God is so good...for there was significant improvement within her heart that surprised both him and my doctor! The right side has begun to contract (not quite normal, but better) and a major improvement is that the blood flow is now going in a forward direction which is normal AS WELL AS there is no longer excess fluid around her heart AND the flow through the umbilical cord from the placenta to her is smooth which is good! The Cardiologist was so excited with the improvements that he called my doctor while she was still in a meeting. However, she still has a leaky valve on the right side of her heart. The improvements that have now been made was over a two week time period as she has grown inside my womb which is just another proof that God is in control and can do the impossible!

Dan and I just had a meeting today with our doctor, the Cardiologist and one of the Neonatal doctors to discuss a game plan for this stage in the pregnancy. It was good to have everyone on the same page and we know that TIME IS CRITICAL!!! So, I have set the bar high and we hope to make it to 36 weeks which would be the end of April. We are very hopeful that we will make it to 30-something weeks.

PRAYER REQUESTS: Keep the prayers coming because they are working!!!! We ask that you pray for the girls to stay inside my womb at least through April as well as pray that over time our smaller twin's heart will no longer have a leaky valve and for complete health for both of the girls!

Exciting moments of Week 26:
1. The miraculous improvements of our little girl's heart within a short amount of time!
Also, the babies are moving around a lot more daily which is very fun to feel!
2. My dear friend and "sister", Betsy and her adorable little girl, Olivia flew in from Arkansas and came to visit me along with her mom and sister. Thanks to Bets, I now have a clean and organized hospital room!
3. Visits from neighbors as well as friends from church including Rachael, Hattie and Justine from youth group.
4. I am knitting for the first time a beautiful teal wool scarf thanks to Sarah for the wool and for Joan's daily instruction.
5. I finished two novels so far and I went to my weekly class with all eight of us women on bed rest (biggest class I have gone to so far).
6. Busy weekend with family visiting...Mom & Dad, Uncle Pete & Aunt Sharon, my in-laws along with my brother and sister-in law, Joel and Janet as well as my Aunt Mary and our friend from church, Jeannie.

Dan and I are truly blessed with all of the support including meals or gift certificates for restaurants...especially for both of us as Dan is too busy to cook and it is such a treat for me to have non-hospital food! If you still wish to provide a home-cooked meal, our meal coordinator, Grace Welham is currently on vacation in New Zealand. So, I ask that during this time you contact Jerry & Judy Buser at #608/831-9465 or jbx2@tds.net and they will manage coordinating and delivering meals to us.

Stay tuned for more updates as time goes by. Blessings to you and your family!
~Jenny

Week 25 Update

Another week has past and we made it beyond our first milestone of 24 weeks!!! Our next milestone is 28 weeks...so keep the prayers coming!!! The babies and I are doing very well and so far everything is stable. It has been decided by my doctor and us that we will have a meeting in two weeks to check the status of the babies as well as meet other doctors to discuss a game plan for that stage in the pregnancy. Our goal is to get as close to term as possible so I plan to be here until at least the end of April...God Willing!!! I have incredible nurses that I have be-friended as well as other staff such as my occupational therapist who keeps me busy with daily excercises (don't worry, I am not training for a marathon) that I do in bed as well as activities such as arts/crafts/knitting etc. I have established a daily routine which helps pass the time and I refuse to get sucked into daytime TV! :)

This past weekend, my doctor and nurses approved our dog, Micah to come visit me whenever, so my parents brought him back to our house and then Dan came with Micah. It was such a fun visit and he always puts a smile on my face. We allowed him to lay next to me and he was so well behaved while he was here at the hospital...we are so proud! I also had my first class last week so I got to meet a couple of other young pregnant women on my floor who are also on bed rest. It was a great opportunity to share our stories and learn from them how they have survived bed rest since I am one of the newbies and they have been here for quite some time. I look forward to attending future classes which are held once/week.

My room has brightened up with beautiful bouquet of flowers thanks to Rob, Luann and my in-laws as well as an adorable cookie bouquet from Mike and Karen. I have also received other nice gifts such as a basket full of goodies and magazines from three families who are special clients of Dan as well as a journal from Carl and Charlene which I am grateful for. Thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers every step of the way! Dan and I are truly blessed to have each and everyone of you in our lives.

Our prayer requests remain the same and we know that all of your prayers so far have made a difference for the better during my pregnancy. Also, I have a new email address while I am at the hospital which is sandridgejennifer@yahoo.com. Please use this email address for future reference since I do not have access to my other email addresses.

Stay warm and be safe as you travel in our record breaking weather conditions. Have a Happy Valentine's Day and Blessings!
Jenny

New Home - St. Mary's Hospital

News update....the road that I am on has curved and led me to a new home for the duration of my pregnancy. As of last Thursday, Jan. 31 I am now admitted to St. Mary's Hospital so that they can closely monitor the babies and my pregnancy. The main reason why I came into the hospital late last week was because I was experiencing some minor contractions (tightening of the abdomen) so they have me on medication to manage the contractions as well as an antibotic for a urinary tract infection. Thankfully, the contractions are what they call false contractions meaning that they are mild and I don't feel any pain or have any other signs of going into labor at this time!!!

Since my time here, I have met a wonderful set of doctors and nursing staff who are all curious to hear my pregnancy story since it sure has been eventful and quite rare. They help me to keep the hope alive and are taking good care of me. My doctor says they gave me the best room on the floor with a double bed (instead of a normal hospital bed) so Dan can spend the night when available as well as a nice window view of their courtyard.

This past weekend, we had some family and friends visit...parents, our friends Bob, Katie and their kids Isaac and Maya from Duluth, our friends, Nathan and Grace, my aunt Mary and cousin Audra as well as a group of our friends from church who prayed with me...Matt & Sue, Mary & Terry, Mike, Judy & Jerry. My friend, Sara from Seattle also sent me a personalized notebook of resources, activities and things to make me laugh. One of the sections that she wrote in the notebook was called "Reasons to be thankful for bed rest." One of the points that I wanted to share with you is bed rest makes you appreciate the little things - a cardinal outside the window or a beautiful snowfall. This is so true and it happened to me this weekend, I got to see blue jays and morning doves as well as a light snow fall right outside my window. :)

Continued Prayer Requests: that our little girl's heart would heal (the right side is still not contracting like it should) and that Lord willing I will carry the girls close to term. Our pediatric cardiologist said that there are surgical treatment options for her heart, but that will not be an option until she is much bigger and close to term (since heart surgery is major for anyone let alone a newborn). We are putting all of our trust and hope in the Lord and only He can make all things possible.

If you wish to still provide meals for Dan during this time or during the duration of the pregnancy, please still contact Grace Welham (her contact info is posted in the blog below), we greatly appreciate it! I also welcome visitors here at the hospital, however, I ask that you call me first to schedule a time the day of since I do nap quite a bit more now that I am on bed rest.

My contact information at St. Mary's Hospital:
Room 1122 (1st floor)
Direct room number: #608/259-3373

It means so much to Dan and I to have all of your love, support and most importantly prayers during this time. We love you all dearly.

God bless you,
Jenny

Bed Rest Highlights

Bed rest as you can imagine has been a challenge for me being outgoing and usually having lots of energy and on the go! However, I have been very humbled during this time on bed rest as I have felt very loved and I know that I need to take advantage of extra needed rest for the babies and I.

Some highlights while on bed rest that I wanted to share with you so far...

• Visitors (various family, friends and neighbors) have come every day to provide meals, household assistance, movies and laughs! :)
• Beautiful bouquet of flowers delivered the first day back at home from Uncle John and Aunt Judy (they are still in full bloom)!
• Hand Knit Prayer Shawl with a rosary ring attached made by a sweet woman who I have never met but she felt that it was for the twins as a remembrance of all the prayers made for us!
• My friend Mary began to teach me how to crochet a baby blanket (I still have more to learn before I complete this task)!
• Unexpected visit and homemade chocolate chip cookies from Kandl, one of my student employees.
• Famous delicious cucumber sandwiches from "Grandma" Joan! :)
• Full afternoon spent with my friend, Grace who is our meal coordinator and plans to visit weekly.
• Unexpected "girls" morning pajama party with my friend and neighbor Ali and her mom.
• Mantle full of cards from family, friends, co-workers and neighbors.
• A new pink cell phone with blue tooth that I enjoy using daily.
• Kisses and company from Micah our golden retriever.

Last, but not least...breakfast in bed every morning (varying from 5am-7am weekdays) and being pampered by my amazing hubby!!! :)

So, don't feel too sorry for me, so far I can't complain!

Jenny :)

Week 23 Update

The prayers keep coming and we feel the love and support by all! Yesterday, we had another doctor's appointment for an ultra sound. There are improvements to be thankful for which are that our bigger twin is 1lb. and our smaller twin is 14oz. (just two oz. smaller), both babies have plenty of amnionic fluid in their sacs and our doctor confirmed that the TTTS syndrome has stabilized...PRAISE GOD! Also, the blood flow through the umbilical cord to our smaller baby girl has improved and is normal.

Prayer Requests:
Our smaller baby girl still has heart complications and it may be a structural defect that is causing the right side not to contract like it should. We will see our Pediatric Cardiologist next Tuesday, Feb. 5 to check her heart again and discuss any progress. We pray that her heart condition will not worsen so that she and her sister can remain inside my womb for as long as possible! We are now a week away from our first milestone of 24 weeks, however, please pray that the babies will remain in my womb to at least our next milestone of 28 weeks or later. The doctor is seriously considering having me stay at St. Mary's Hospital beginning later next week (Week 24) until I deliver. This way they can closely monitor the babies and if something were to happen I would be right there.

The other main prayer request is that my cervix will cooperate and remain closed, even though it is shorter while I am on bed rest (either at home here or while in the hospital)! Please also pray for Dan during this time as he continues to take excellent care of me on top of managing his own business! I am truly blessed to have him as my husband and best friend...the Lord has united us even more during this time as we continue to battle this through and carry our cross. Both Dan and I do not feel alone and we continue to lean on the Lord as HE IS IN CONTROL.

Please keep the prayers coming and stay tuned for more updates in the days/weeks to come!
May the Lord shower you and your family with abundant love, peace and joy!
Jenny

Offering Meals

Many people have contacted us to help in various ways, such as providing meals. Dan and I now have an extra freezer to store meals for the upcoming weeks/months while I am on bed rest.

We gladly welcome meals or other household assistance. If you are interested and willing to provide a meal, please contact our friend, Grace Welham at gcwelham@yahoo.com (prefer email) or call #608/358-1241. She is our meal coordinator during this time so she will be able to answer any questions or help plan a meal for a designated date.

Thank you so much for your willingness to help Dan and I during this time. We are so blessed to have many wonderful, caring people in our lives!

Blessings and love,
Jenny

As you know, Dan and I received a double blessing in early September as we are expecting twin girls!! My pregnancy has not been dull to say the least as it was a surprise to learn we are having twins and recently I was diagnosed with having Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS). This is a syndrome that may occur for identical twins since they share the same placenta, which is the case for our twin girls. Basically, one of the babies was receiving her sister's amniotic fluid and nutrients so the other baby was not growing at a normal rate. To give you a brief update, on Jan. 7, we headed to Cinncinati Children's Hospital to receive treatment at the Fetal Care Center, which is the center for twins as they are one of the top in the world as well as the best in the nation to treat this particular syndrome! I received phenominal care during our time there and undergone laser surgery to treat the syndrome. The surgery went as well as they could expect and there are already some significant improvements with the babies. The babies currently have close to equal placental share as well as amniontic fluid :). They continue to grow...one is 14 oz. and the other is 12 oz. (she is catching up to her sister). Their brains are normal and the larger twin's heart is normal (slightly thick wall of the heart, but that should go away over time). The smaller twin's heart is working, however, the right side of her heart is not contracting like it should so the left side is doing all of the work. We meet with our pediatric cardiologist in two weeks to monitor her heart and see if there is any improvement.



Also, my cervix has shortened since the surgery so I am on strict bed rest. I can shower occasionally and get up to go to the bathroom, but that is all. The rest of the time I am laying on our couch in the living room with a station of my necessaties next to me (bible, laptop, phones, basket of books, magazines, remote, cooler, prayer shawl and blanket).



Prayer Requests:

We truly appreciate all of the love, prayers and support from our family, friends, neighbors and co-workers!!! During this time, we specifically ask for continued prayer that my cervix will remain closed so that the twins can stay inside my womb and continue to grow as long as they can. Our next milestone to achieve is 24 weeks (I am currently at 22 weeks for their gestational stage)...two more weeks to go to make it to that milestone! Also, we ask that you pray for healing of our smaller twin's heart before I deliver!


Verses that have pierced my heart during this time: Psalm 26 and Jeremiah 29:11.

Dan and I continue to trust in the Lord without wavering and we grow in our faith and hope that the twins will be delivered in His time and healthy!


Feel free to visit this site for future updates about our little angels! We love you all dearly.

Blessings to you and your family,

Jenny & Dan