Another Day of Grace

Thank you all very much for the continued support and constant barrage of prayers. I read to Nina all the comments on the blog and the emails and texts we are receiving and they have been very encouraging. Your prayers are invaluable. Thank you - each one of you.

As today comes to a close Killian is still safe inside Nina, and Nina is asleep and well. The pendulum swung back and forth all day - several hours of strong contractions about 5 minutes apart, and then hours at 15 minutes apart. As evening set in the contractions gradually subsided and are less frequent now so it looks like she will stay this way through the night. It appears both are still free of infection. The nurses did an ultra sound today and found a little pocket of water under Killian's head in the womb - Our Lord left him a pillow! Just one more sign of the wonderful intercession from all of you, and one of the reasons why he has remained so calm in the midst of all this.

As you can imagine, it is an emotional roller coaster with all the factors involved and the frequent adjustments, changes, visits from medical staff, and so on. Nina has been very strong through it all and is doing very well with it all. Her two sisters and her mom have been with her constantly and are a great support.

One of the disappointments for the day was finding out that we couldn't get the OSU football game on the hospital TV. It turns out OSU lost so maybe it was better she didn't see it to get all worked up! I tried to make it up for her by showing her and her sister a funny clip of the Colbert Report...she started laughing at one point and it caused her a large contraction...we're learning as we go!

We are trying to follow the saints of each day to draw some inspiration and spiritual growth from their example and writings, and to invoke their intercession. Thursday was the feast of St. Teresa of Avila. Friday was St. Gerard Majella who is the patron saint of expectant mothers. Today was the feast of St. Ignatius of Antioch. We read together his Epistle to the Romans which contains this gem: "Only request in my behalf both inward and outward strength, that I may not only speak, but truly will; and that I may not merely be called a Christian, but really be found to be one. For if I be truly found a Christian, I may also be called one, and be then deemed faithful, when I shall no longer appear to the world." Serves as a reminder for us to keep our trust and hope in Christ whom we profess to follow. We are in good hands. Good night and God bless.