August 21, 2002

Dear Friends and Family,

Well, some of you have been able to keep step with our progress as parents to be, but not all. We've got a major update for you today, though, and wanted to be sure you had the latest news so you can be thinking and praying for us and our little one.

As of our appointment yesterday, it looks like we're going to be parents about a month before we had hoped.... Baggins (our nickname for the baby) just hasn't been growing at the right rate--she's really small--and so our doctor feels it would be much better for her outside the womb than inside. This means we're heading toward an early delivery--I'll start treatments tomorrow that will get my body to start toward labor, and once I'm far enough along, they'll induce (kinda scary thought, but hopefully this way we won't have to do a c-section). Our doctor's goal is to have the baby born by the end of next week at the latest.... The earliest things could happen is tomorrow!

> Our doctor was really good about talking through the various scenarios with us, but it is still a bit of a blur. Even though we've known this was one of the possibilities, now that it's reality it's hard to adjust. We know that once Baggins is born she'll have to stay in the NICU (baby intensive care unit) for however long is necessary, and she'll have to undergo all kinds of tests, probably. We still don't have a reason for why she's not growing--that's one of the main reasons why we have to do the early delivery. What we DO know, is that she has continued to be very active, and Dr. F said her other signs looked good too: she's "breathing" at the proper rate, the heart rate is continually good, and kidneys are functioning properly.

> We're doing okay overall--I mean, we still know that God's in total control here and we have that peace. But the waves do come. We're very nervous about becoming parents, especially in this way, but we know God will help us there as well. I guess our biggest fear and concern is whether all will be well with Baggins, so that's probably where you can be praying most for our peace of mind and trust in God.

> I think that's about it. All we know for now, anyway. We'll keep you updated as to what's happening. Oh yes, remember Kraig as he's still plowing away at his proposal for his PhD. I think he's supposed to present it the second week of September. Be praying for him! This is definitely one of those moments where we're wondering, "Okay, Lord, what exactly is your point in bringing our baby early?" I know Kraig will make it, but it's exhausting for him. At least all I need to focus on is the baby right now.

Thanks so much for your prayers and I hope to see you soon!

Love,

Loren (for Kraig and Baggins, too!)