11/16/2008 - The Journey Begins

Hi, my name is David Phillips and I started this blog to update friends and family about my daughter Serena. Serena is 16 and became pregnant earlier this year. She is about 6 1/2 months along and we were expecting the arrival of our new grand daughter, Nevaeh next February. All this changed suddenly yesterday, Sunday 11/16/08. Serena woke up that morning cramping, so we called her doctor who told us to take her to the hospital. When we arrived at the hospital, they examined her and did some tests. They gave her a couple shots to help stop the cramping, which were actually contractions. They did a sonogram and all came out OK, the baby was strong and healthy, and the placenta is intact. However they did not do a pelvic examine. They sent us home about 5pm. Later on that evening Serena was starting to cramp again, except this time much worse, Verena (mom) took her back to the hospital. About an hour later she called and said "Get up here quick, you and Crystal ( Serena's sister). We arrived to find out they had admitted Serena and she was dialated 4 centimeters and the ambionic sack was showing. They put her in bed with her feet elevated and started her on magnesium sulfate to help stop the contractions. This can be toxic for Serena, so they are monitoring her very closely. They started Serena on steroids every 12 hours to help the babies lungs develope faster. Their goal is to keep Serena from delivering as long as possible. This could be days or weeks, sounds like they are hoping for at least 2 weeks. We were also told because the baby is a girl, she has a better chance of surviving. Serena will stay in the hospital until the baby is born and the baby will stay until full term, approximately mid February. Pastor Kathy and Richard came to the hospital and prayed with us, they are so wonderful, God Bless them!! Verena will be staying at the hospital with Serena. They are at Baylor hospital in downtown Ft. Worth, in a new and modern womens hospital wing. There is a fold out type bed for Verena to sleep on and she has her own bathroom with shower. I am confident God will get us through this all and we will have a healthy grand daughter. Please keep us in your prayers!!!