Good morning; we're going to induce you...

By Joel on August 4, 2006

Those were the bittersweet words we heard as we awoke this morning in "Hotel Mercy". Oh yeah, we're at the hospital right now, because yesterday Heather was admitted to Labor and Delivery after discovering that her amniotic fluid levels had dropped below 5 cm. When we went to sleep last night, we expected that the next few days would be spent reading and playing board games as we waited for 37 weeks. But, we were rudely awakened this morning with another game plan.

So, this morning they administered Cervadil, which prepares the cervix for the beginning stages of labor. Some 12 hours later, they will either administer more Cervadil, or go straight to Pitocin, which stimulates contractions. Then, we hope that her body will agree with all this activity and jump-start right into "normal" labor.

Today just happens to be First Friday, so, like Christ, we will surrender our will to that of the Father. And tomorrow, on First Saturday, we will ask for Mary's special intercession during what will probably be the birthday of our first child!

No names on the boy front, though we have a few ideas. (Feel free to drop suggestions in the comments below...) Our girl name is locked in. Please keep Heather and I in your prayers, and especially ask for the intercession of St. Girard (patron of expectant mothers), Sts. Joachim and Ann (Mary's parents), and St. Kateri Tekakwitha (a Casper family favorite).

And many thanks to all those who have been praying for us. Your prayers have certainly helped the pregnancy along, kept us sane and confident in God's will, and will protect us in these final hours.

» Joel's blog | 8 comments

Comments

1. Opa on Aug 4, 06 at 4:21 am

thanx for the info.

Adrian Zachary Stein? Adrian was the name of seven (or so) Popes. Adrian James?

2. Jay Heddell on Aug 4, 06 at 5:07 am

Oh, anything with James is just dynamite! Go with James!

3. Bernadette on Aug 4, 06 at 5:09 am

Joel and Heather, My prayers are with you and your baby. I know I can not wait to meet the newest member of the Stein family. I will be praying for the three of you all day. I hope that everything goes well. Know that my heart is with you.
Bernadette

4. Teresa on Aug 4, 06 at 5:14 am

You are in my prayers! I'm excited be able to see the little one before I move back to Michigan!

5. Christine Peters on Aug 4, 06 at 6:45 am

The three of you are in my prayers to the Sacred Heart today. God bless, and I can't wait to meet baby Stein!!

6. Emily Sellers on Aug 4, 06 at 6:50 am

AHHH!!!! I'm so glad for the update... I was beginning to wonder what was going on! Know that I will be praying for you--How beautiful that all this is happening on a First Friday/Saturday (especially with the girl name you picked out!)

I will definitely ask for the intercession of Mama Maurita as well. There is a really cool miraculous story about someone asking for Mama Maurita's intercession while this person's friend was in labor. I'll type it here, but I'll keep it quick. Basically, there was a very traumatic labor & delivery--bad things were happening. The woman who was delivering had a friend who was asking for Mama Maurita's intercession. When no one else was in the delivery room, an older female nurse came in and said everything was going to be fine and left. After that, the delivery went normally and the situation righted itself.

Later, the woman who had the baby saw a picture of Mama Maurita that her friend showed her, and told her that was the nurse that came in.

So basically, she's awesome... Especially for Mama Heathita!

As for boy names, I've always thought my dad and brother were cool, with good names at that: Thomas and Stephen. Well, Steve Stein.... hmmmm.... Tom Stein is cool, though!

There was a Saint named Bruno. It's actually my grandpa's middle name (who is really great). :) That's a less serious suggestion, but you never know.

Please count on my prayers!!!!!!!!!!! I will offer my masses and my rosaries for you today and tomorrow!

Love, Emily

ps. I CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR HOW EVERYTHING WENT!!!

7. Christine on Aug 4, 06 at 8:52 am

WOW! All this is happening very fast. A similar situation happened when my godson, Gus, was born. We thought his mom was going to be in the hospital for weeks on bedrest, then I called to stop by to visit and they said she was scheduled for a C-section that night! Fortunately, everything went well and we all know how cute Gus is today.

My prayers will be with you, Heather, Joel and Baby Stein. As for boy names...let me see...I'm partial to Jose Luis and you can call him Joey. Of course, Joe and Joel sound pretty similar. Hey! Why not make him a Joel, Jr., named after a very holy man!

8. Rachel on Aug 5, 06 at 5:24 am

I'm praying for all three of you! Incidentally, Mary has told the visionaries in Medjugorje that today, Aug. 5th is her true birthday! I'm sure she'll wrap you all in her mantle!

Add Your Comment