Forty-something days in the hospital

Family & Friends:

Here is a quick update as to what is going on with Heather and 88 Clay
while she is away.

Well its week 5 (34 days) and she is still in the hospital. So when
we last left our brave heroine she was about a couple of weeks in.
Since we last spoke - Heather was hospitalized for pre-eclampsyia.
Since then people with various letters after their name have
speculated weekly that this was her week. Well according to them this
week is her week again. She is now 33 weeks 4 days. Closing in on
the magic 34 where one way or another those kids are coming out.

As one doctor said, we have no idea what's going on, I thought you
were going to deliver Black Friday. So just keep doing what you are
doing. So we are left to ponder if medical school makes you a
terrible gambler, doesn't prepare you enough for dealing with Heather,
or some of my cancer fighitng mojo has infected heather and she is now
able to defy medical expectations like your narrarator. Anyway they
have no explanation for what's going on so neither do I. So let's get
to the important stuff. SHE IS DOING WELL. THE BABIES ARE DOING
WELL.

So maybe this week Goose and Maverick will land. I have taken to
using call signs and reciting lines from Top Gun to describe the
monitoring process. The use of goose and maverick should not be
interperted to mean that I know the genders of the two little ones or
am wishing for two boys. We don't know the genders so call signs
seemed cooler than baby a and b. I usually save my best, Engine one
is out, Engine two is out for when both babies start to move and
disappear off the monitor. You have to be there it kills everytime.

As for the two tikes they are growing at a fast rate. Baby A is about
4 lbs 1 oz and Baby B is tipping the scales at 4 lbs 8 oz. They are
both transverse meaning they are laying horizontally - think bunk beds
folks - with their heads touching much of the time. (Collective
awww). Oh and this happens maybe less than 1% of the time. Like
their father they like to do things the hard way.

They are also quite impressive movers and kickers. Sometimes I wonder
why we pay $3.50/day for tv when we can just watch the babies punch
and kick their way through heather's belly. (Important note - i have
belly shots). Oh the faces she makes.

Thanks to all the folks who have sent along gifts. For those who have
sent emails with shower and registry questions, here is the scoop.
Obviously Heather won and there will be no shower. Our plans are to
have something in March for people to get together and welcome (Goose)
A & (Maverick) B into the world - by then they will have names and
stuff and people who like pink and blue will be able to comfortable
buy them without fear of scarring infants for life. In the meantime
folks can send her gifts, if they want, or they can wait if their
superstitious, or whatever folks desire.

The little lady took the time to make some lists over at babiesrus,
pottery barn kids and believe it or not, amazon.com. I swear check it
out.

As for me, chava and the cats: 88 Clay has been under rennovations
for the last few weeks, so we all have slight respitory infections.
Just kidding but there has been a lot of nose blowing from the
plaster. So the little lady will come back to a house she can barely
recognize.

Chava has been adjusting to not being the center of the world rather
poorly. Its understandable but we discovered if you give him enough
treats and bones he forgets all the pain in his world. The cats after
living in a bathroom for a few days, really appreciate me now and
spend most of their time promising to never do it again.

Me. Life is just never a dull moment. Chemotherapy is done. Scans
are clean. Might be featured in the NY times. Looking forward to a
72 hour sleep binge in the year 2028. I never wanted an ordinary life
so this is what I get...

Keep your cell phones charged because rumor has it we're having some
babies this week, or next, or maybe the week after.

Thank you so much to all the folks who sent along cards, hugs and
prayers. Those have helped us so much. Seriously. Although I didn't
know so many of you prayed.

lots of love.

richie

p.s. don't tell heather I told you about the goose and maverick thing.
She is not a big fan so let's just keep that between you, me and the
forty or so folks.

p.p.s. To those who love the reply all (I am looking at you gebhardts)
- for this email just reply to yours truly.

p.p.p.s. please note the new email address.

p.p.p.p.s please forward to anyone you think i didn't get