From: Kraig Warnemuende <ad6075@wayne.edu>

Sent: Tuesday, September 24, 2002 6:34 PM

Subject: 09/24/02 Update from Kraig & Loren

Dear all,

> Well! Is it really the final week or are we just fooling ourselves? It's funny how now that we are so close to our official due date (Friday, September 27), it seems all the more unreal that we actually will be parents--probably sooner than later, and in any case, in the unavoidable future!!! Yikes!!! Exciting, but definitely mind-boggling.

> So, what's the scoop for this week? Today we went in for another appointment (NST, gel, and ultrasound)--we've gotten to know our nurse extremely well :) -- with the same types of results for both me and Baggins. I haven't progressed much, and she's still enjoying life in her bubble. The ultrasound showed that she has continued to grow (hurrah!) and is now just a tad over five pounds. Fluids still look good, heartbeat and reactivity are still good as well.

> Our doctor does feel that it would be best to go ahead and attempt another induction before we get into potential issues related to postdate pregnancy. We feel confident that his decision is wise--he certainly has had ours and Baby Baggins best interests in mind from day one. The plan, then, is that we'll go in early Thursday morning (this Thursday) and the doctor will begin to administer Cytotec, an inducing drug which has proven VERY effective on women whose cervix is not prepared for labor. When we went in last month, our doctor had hoped to use this, but since I had mild contractions related to the overnight treatment, they had to use pitocin instead. Cytotec can only be used if you aren't having any contractions. I've been reading up on it a bit, and it's pretty interesting--it was created originally for ulcers, but was found to cause labor in pregnant women--oops! So now it's much more frequently used to induce! Amazing what they discover. It also does really seem to be effective, and in some ways is not as harsh as pitocin. Guess we'll see! Our ideal would be to just go naturally, but looks like we won't have that option.

> So we MAY have Baggins Thursday! Obviously, we can't guarantee it, but that is our hope and prayer. We continue to feel great peace about all of this, and we know it's because you have been praying. Thank you again!!! Hopefully the next time we write to you it will be to introduce you to "Miss Baggins" (with real name attached :) ).

Ø In Him with love,

Ø Loren (for Kraig and Baggins too!)

>