You're doing good, Nathan!

Well, we made yet another trip to the doctor's office this morning. It was actually very uneventful which is good. She basically said everything was going well, all things considered. I did get to stay out a little longer today because I had to take a 3 hour glucose test due to my failing the one hour one. (We will find out more about that later.) I'm not worried...it took me 3 times to pass driver's ed.

So, for now, I will continue my reclined position on the couch and look forward to my outing next week. Thanks to everyone for all your prayers! We are truly blessed!

kg

Congrats to the Lair's!!

Friends of ours from home found out that they will be having a little GIRL coming in October! We are so excited for them and look forward to meeting this precious baby. See their blog at lairfamilyadventures.blogspot.com.

Congratulations Jonathan and Suzanne! We love you guys!

Potty Training

Nathan, holding on

Kedra's weekly check-up showed no signs of progress in labor, which is most definitely a good thing. The doctor hinted that she will most likely remain on bed rest until 34 weeks, a slight change from our previous understanding that she would be up and around after 32 weeks. Every two weeks is its own milestone in regards to Nathan's development. We are currently extremely thankful we have already made it to 30. Thanks for your continued prayers.

This will serve as just a quick fly-by for right now. Blogging requires thinking, something that I am lacking at the moment. I will update at a greater length in the near future. That should keep everybody on the edge of their seats.

Tory

Nathan in 4D

The doctor's appointment went well today. Kedra hasn't progressed any; however, she remains on bed rest until she is at least 32 weeks along. I think everyone will agree that Nathan looks pretty cozy and doesn't appear to be in a hurry to go anywhere. Maybe it is because of how well he is eating. As an aside, the 4D Sonogram is definitely worth it.

tdg

“Punish him with the rod and save his soul from death.”

April 17, 2007, is a day I will never forget. Yes, I had to introduce “the rod” to my child. Tory and I had been talking about this for several months and knew that not only would this be a part of our discipline for our children, but that Abigail was quickly approaching its implementation.

So it begins! In my search for more wise counsel on the issue of discipline, I ran across this book, recommended to me by a seminary professor’s wife. Tedd Tripp does an excellent job of explaining the mandate we as parents have been given through the Proverbs. He encourages getting into the heart of the child by directing them in obedience to God -- which necessitates obedience to Mom and Dad. Obedience to our Heavenly Father means loving Him with our whole hearts as well as loving our neighbor. So, were my intentions on that April morning appropriate? I hope so. My prayer is that the next time my child has difficulty sharing her Mr. Potato head, I can boldly explain that she should share not because her mom wants her to be a good kid, but because God has called her to love her neighbor, and that her Mr. Potato head, together with the cattle on the a thousand hills, belongs to God alone.

With all that being said, I highly recommend this source to all parents who long to train their children to live in honor and obedience to our loving and gracious God.

Mr. What?!?!

Kedra is learning to knit, I have finished my exegesis paper, and Abigail is now the proud owner of a toy I didn't even know existed, Mr. Potato Head's, I guess, next door neighbor, Mr. Carrot Head. I'm a purist at heart... Tecmo Bowl, Contra, Picture Page, and the Big Mac, so Mr. Carrot Head is going to take some getting used to. Some things just should not be touched or altered in anyway... Mr. Potato Head is one of them (The Ninja Turtles are another, but that's a different blog for a different day.) While Mr. Potato Head still exists, I'm afraid he will fade into the shadows amidst some of these more contemporary vegetables.

On a more serious note, Kedra and Nathan are doing well. We have a doctor's appointment next Tuesday, followed by a 4D sonogram. Hopefully, we'll be posting some of Nathan's first pictures soon, perhaps catching him in the middle of what Kedra identifies as "punting practice."

tdg

The Playhouse Papa Built... and the Thumb He Almost Lost

Meanwhile, in Louisville, everything is going great, comparitively, now that Kedra is on bed rest at home. Nana is down helping out with Abigail as I finish up the semester. Our friends at Ninth and O are incredible, dropping by to visit and making themselves available if we are in need of anything. Incredible people... Okay, back to exegesis.

tdg

Test = Negative

The fetal fibronectin test was negative. 99 percent of negative tests do not go into labor in the next 2 weeks... I'm no statistician, but those are good numbers. We are going home; however, Kedra has to remain on bed rest. Just wanted to provide a quick update. Thanks for your prayers. PTL!

Blessings,

Tory

Nathan's Trying to Come Too Early

Kedra is only 28 weeks pregnant; however, Sunday as we were getting ready for church, she showed some minor signs of preterm labor. We called the doctor, thinking she would tell us not to worry about it... but to our surprise, she had us make a trip to the emergency room. On exam, she showed to have dilated to 1 cm, a red flag to the OB triage nurse who called the doctor. The doctor told Kedra she could go on home for the night, on bed rest, with a scheduled office appointment for the next day. So, we went in for the exam today where the doctor confirmed the nurse's diagnosis from the night before. She felt it necessary to go ahead and admit Kedra for a few days in order to monitor her and the baby, while at the same time giving Kedra medicine to prevent labor and Nathan steroids to assist in developing his lungs-- just in case things started progressing.

Currently, we await the results of a fetal fibronectin test that is geared to predicting with a fairly high level of accuracy whether or not Kedra's body is wanting to go into pre-term labor within the next 7 to 14 days. If the results come back positive... well, we'll call this little room "home" for the next 4 weeks, as the goal will then be to hold everything back until 32 weeks.

Pray the test comes back negative... This would be the best case scenario for Kedra and Nathan. Though she will likely be placed on bed rest regardless, we'll at least be able to wait this out at home and have the comfort in knowing that nothing appears to be imminent, giving Nathan the much needed extra time to develop. Pray for Abigail who is probably wondering why mom is hooked up to an 8 track player. Pray, also, that our presence here as those who hope in the living God would be an encouragement to our believing family, friends, and hospital staff... and a point of intrigue for those who've not yet know him. There is not one of us who is resolved of our need for him.

Thanks in advance for your prayers. We'll keep you updated.

Blessings,

The Giddens'

Derby

Having resided in Louisville during the Kentucky Derby, we are officially Louisvillians... and, I might add, really stinkin' close to being members of the Royal Family. Her Majesty the Queen had to have cruised down I-65 and exited Crittenden on her way to the Derby. I drive down I-65 right past the Crittenden exit any time I go to the seminary. So maybe that doesn't qualify someone for royalty... but no doubt, the queen would smile and nod if we passed each other at the Jefferson Mall. I might say, "Remember that time you watched the derby just a few miles from my house?"... and she'd just chuckle without relinquishing any of her queenliness.

It reminds me of the time Tom Hanks shot the final scene of Cast Away just an hour away from our home in Texas... My friends, we have arrived.

Tory

Everybody else is doing it...

That's right...I must do this because I currently sit outside of the loop when it comes to blog sites amongst our friends. I can see that it may turn into something that I enjoy very much and would be very beneficial to my mom and mother-in-law, yet at the same time it could end up like many of my other projects....a memory.

Today has been a very gloomy, rainy day here in Jefferson County. Seems like days like these can easily turn into a drepressing and unproductive day. But never put it past a child to remind you to live it to it's fullest and appreciate each blessing given even when it doesn't fit in your own plans. Abigail took every opportunity to experience the puddles and can now confindently open the front and back doors on her own to get to those puddles. Yes mother, I will remember to keep them locked. Enjoy the pics...