New Room

I've moved! I wish I had moved back home, but alas, it was just down the hall. My nurse came in this morning and said there were a couple of bigger rooms available with refrigerators. I was then allowed to get in a wheelchair and see these rooms to choose which one I wanted. Hilarious. And even more so that I was excited to take a tour of the hallways! The rooms were indeed larger, and I figured it would be nice to have more space for Allison to run around when she comes to visit. So now I'm in the deluxe suite of Hoblitzelle Room 313, with my own refrigerator and two windows! The only downside is, this means I'm going to be here a while.

Grace Upon Grace

Today marks Day 11 of my hospital stay. I can't believe I've been here this long. Truth be told, I haven't been as bored as I thought I would be. It's amazing how much time you can kill surfing the web. I miss Allison terribly and had hoped that I could spend lots of quality time with her while it was JUST her. Life will soon change as we become a family of five. So, instead, I'm trying to use my time in the hospital getting to know these two tiny babies growing inside of me. Every kick, every ultrasound, I get to see a little bit of what their personalities are going to be like.

Today I am feeling overwhelmingly grateful. Actually, that is how I have felt every day since being put on bedrest. So many people have stepped up and cared for me, Phil, and Allison--through providing meals, sending cards/emails, calling, and praying. I have had friends visit me in the hospital and bring delicious food from the "outside" as well as homebaked sweets. My room is filled with bright flowers. Yesterday, a dear friend drove all the way from College Station to visit, and she brought me a huge box of boy clothes (Thanks, Andrea!)

From Christ's fullness, we have received grace upon grace--one blessing piled upon another (John 1:16). So thank you to everyone who has drenched me with grace.

There are three people, though, that I want to particularly acknowledge. First is my wonderful husband Phil. Even with the stress of medical school, he has joyfully prioritized his responsibility as a Dad. Though he may not always dress Allison in the most coordinated outfits, he is taking great care of her in my absence! Feeding, bathing, putting to sleep, playing, caring for her while she's been sick, doing laundry--it's a huge job being a single parent. Thank you honey for all that you're doing. You are an awesome father! I love you.

Second, our friends, Russell and Laura. Russell is the music minister at our church and he has been driving Allison to (and sometimes from) her preschool, three days a week. Laura has been watching Allison all day on Mondays and Russell has been watching her all day on Fridays (his day off). Phil has been dropping Allison off at their house at 7 a.m. every day, and he picks her up again around 5:30 when he's done with school. When I was on bedrest at home, Laura drove me to my doctor's appointments in Dallas. She was with me when I was admitted to the hospital. Russell brought Allison and his one-year-old son up to the hospital to visit because he knew I had not seen Allison. And this past Friday, they discovered that Allison had an ear infection, so Russell drove her all the way to Dallas to her pediatrician (at least 30-45 minutes away) and then brought her to the hospital again since I had not seen her all week. Such amazing friends! I am so much more at ease knowing there are great people taking care of my little girl. Thanks, Russell and Laura. You know there are no words to express our gratitude to you for loving Allison like your own!

And finally, my sister. There is too much to list that Sarah has done for us. She has come over to our house to clear out the twins' room and set up their cribs (which she and Jun bought for us). She cleaned and organized our house. She and Jun have taken care of Allison on the weekends so Phil can have time to study. Allison LOVES her Aunt "Ssssss". Sarah has spoiled me rotten--Not only has she come most often to the hospital to visit (always with goodies in hand, like Starbucks!), she sent over someone to give me a massage and then yesterday, another person to give me a manicure and pedicure!! Sarah, you are the best friend and sister a girl could ask for. I cannot thank you enough for everything you do for me. I pray Allison and her little sister will have the bond that you and I have, and I am so SO overjoyed that you are their precious Aunt.

Thursday's sonogram showed that my cervix was about the same--it had not shortened, but it didn't lengthen significantly either. At least I'm stable, but they're not releasing me to go home. So I guess I'll hunker down and get cozy in my new home, Hoblitzelle 304. I will choose each day to be grateful because it means it's one more day that I'm pregnant. And I will praise God that he is piling on me, grace upon abundant grace. I am beyond blessed.

One Week

It's Wednesday, and that means I've survived being in the hospital for one week. Tomorrow, the babies will be 29 weeks old! I'll have another sonogram where they'll measure my cervix and see if there is any change. Hopefully any change will be for the better, not worse!

I asked the resident who came to see me what the difference was between being on bedrest at the hospital versus at home. He confessed there wasn't much difference, but they feel more comfortable keeping a close eye on me just in case I were to go into labor, so they would have a chance to stop it. Dr. Romberg is especially cautious because, as she says, my labor with Allison was "precipitous." I don't think I ever got around to blogging my experience with her delivery, so here it is:

At about 6:30 on Wednesday morning, June 13, 2007, I was awakened by a strange "popping" sensation. It felt like an enormous kick from the baby. I got up to use the bathroom and wondered if my water had broken. Not noticing any particular gushing, I went back to sleep. I woke up 30 or 45 minutes later and realized I was having some contractions. Maybe this is the beginning of labor, I thought. I told Phil, "I think we might be having a baby either late today or tomorrow." He didn't seem too ruffled but said, "I really hope she comes today. It would work out best for my schedule." He had a big test coming up and had been worried he might have to miss it. I called my doula to let her know that I thought I might be at the beginning of labor. She told me this could go on for a while and to call and check in with her every three hours.

It was the Wednesday before Allison's due date, so I had expected to have another week for last minute preparations. I was completely unready! So I immediately threw in a load of baby clothes in the laundry. Hmm, the contractions were getting stronger, and I wondered if I should call my doula again. I started to pack a bag for the hospital and I jumped in the shower. By this point, the contractions were taking my breath away and I had to stop and try to breathe through them. I called my doula again and she said she didn't think I was in active labor yet because even though I was out of breath, I was still able to talk/carry on a conversation with her. She told me she'd come over in about an hour to check on me. So I kept running around the house getting things ready, stopping more frequently to breathe through contractions. We were staying with my sister last summer while Phil was in school, and that morning her husband (a doctor) happened to be home because he had a 1/2 day off. He saw me downstairs doubled over from a contraction and started counting how far apart they were...about 3-4 minutes, maybe 2. He could tell I was in pain and said I should probably call the doctor.

Jun went upstairs to tell Phil to call, and Phil asked, "Why? Doesn't she have a while?" The ob's office told us to go to Maternity Observation at Baylor. Jun said he'd wait for the doula to get to their house so he could tell her we had already gone to the hospital. Then he planned on making his way down there as well, but he said, "Unless it's the fastest delivery in the world, it will probably be another hour or so till you deliver." By the time we were in the car on the way to the hospital, I was really in pain, sweating, and had the urge to push. With a panicked look Phil said, "Don't push! Hold that baby in!" He tried to hold my hand or pat me on the back for support and I said, "Don't touch me!! Drive faster!"

It was the classic movie scene: Our car came careening around the circle drive in front of the hospital entrance. I don't remember Phil parking the car, but I could hardly get out of the car and walk to Maternity Observation. They took one look at me and said, "She's obviously in pain. Go straight across the hall to Labor and Delivery." They had to push me in a wheelchair just the few yards through the double doors and into a room. I was thinking, "If this is just the beginning of labor, I think I'm going to need an epidural." It was probably around 9:30 a.m. or so.

I barely got on the bed, the nurse checked me and said, "You're fully dilated and ready to push." Everything was happening so fast, Phil was in shock and he joked, "So I guess it's too late for an epidural???" The nurse kinda laughed and said, "She's having the baby right now." Thankfully my midwife Susan was just down the hall with another patient who was laboring. Just about the time that she walked into the room and had me start pushing, my doula appeared. She stood by Phil and patted him on the back and reassured him while he was watching me struggle through the pain. I don't know how long I pushed, but it wasn't very long, and the next thing we know, at 10:02 a.m., we heard the first cries of our newborn daughter. They wrapped her up and placed her on my belly, and when Phil got his first gaze at her, he cried. Then he got to do the honors and cut her umbilical cord. He was still in shock and kept saying, "What the heck just happened?" He called Jun to let him know we just had a baby and to ask him to bring a camera, since we had forgotten it in our haste. Jun was surprised, as well as our midwife, doula, and nurses, at how fast my labor and delivery was. It wasn't until AFTER I had Allison that they officially admitted me into the hospital!

So you can see why my doctor now is a bit concerned about me going into labor. We can't wait to meet you sweet babies--just not yet!!

In the hospital

I haven't posted much about this pregnancy just because it has gone by so fast and life with a toddler keeps me busy! But I just wanted to update you on my current situation and ask for prayers for me and the twins.

On Wednesday, I went to my routine ob appointment and they measured my cervix as they have been doing for the past month. It had shortened from two weeks ago to the point that my doctor sent me straight down to labor and delivery and had me admitted to the hospital. They put me on magnesium, a drug that stops contractions but makes you really sick. Didn't realize it, but this is what they consider pre-term labor!

I am now on the antepartum floor of Baylor Hospital in Dallas (Hoblitzelle 304, if you want to come visit!). There are a lot of women here who are in the same boat as me. I was hoping they'd let me go home on Monday, but today's sonogram showed that in spite of the medicine, my cervix continued to shorten from even two days ago. The doctor's comment to me: "It looks like you'll be here a while."

I know this is for the best...we want these babies to stay put a few more weeks longer, preferably to 36 weeks. I'm only 28 weeks now. But it's really hard to be here at the hospital when Phil and Allison are at home and I'm worried about who is going to take care of Allison when Phil's at school all day. Our church has been wonderful, but it has been hard for me to receive/ask for help. Now it looks like we're going to be in this for the long haul. What can we do but be humbly grateful for everyone who has helped us thus far and who continue to be there for us?

Please pray for my body to keep these babies inside. Every day and week counts for their health. And pray for Phil and Allison, too. It's been difficult for them as well.

All Choi's Eve, aka Halloween!

When Esther lived with the Quans in Houston, they started a new tradition called Quanoween, which involved eating barbeque, carving pumpkins, and making ginger snaps while waiting for trick-or-treaters. Oh, and of course, listening to Christmas music. Now that we've started our own family, Halloween is referred to as "All Choi's Eve." Because Esther was on bedrest this year, we weren't able to celebrate in style, but we hope to keep the Quanoween traditions going in the future.

On the day before Halloween, Allison's preschool had a Crazy Hat Parade. Here she is before school in her pumpkin hat. Thanks to Harmony (Phil's mom) for the adorable sweater! Unfortunately, she came down with a fever in the afternoon and came home early. Poor baby was sick on Halloween.


Allison was an adorable butterfly for Halloween. We took her to Pantego's Halloween Carnival at Bicentennial Park just a few blocks from our home. We love living in a neighborhood that has such a community feel. Allison loved playing with the plastic ducks. She was supposed to pick one up and get a prize, but she just wanted to play in the water. Notice her pigtail "antennae". Here she is, the cutest child there!



Cousin Gracie came over last weekend so she and Allison could pose for pictures in their costumes. As you can see, they were both sweet butterflies.

Pumpkin Patch

I love fall! Allison and I (Esther) went to Country Critters Farm with my moms' group on Monday. We went on a tractor ride, saw animals at the petting zoo, watched the big kids in the bounce house, played in the wooden train, and of course, "picked" a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch. It's so fun to watch her take it all in and discover new things in the world. I can't believe it's her second October, but last year she wasn't even able to sit up on her own. Now she's practically running!

Pumpkin monkey

Sleepy head

Happy updates!

White coat ceremony! Daddy is on his way to becoming a doctor...


Hurricane refugees! Uncle Sam (Esther's brother) and Aunt Denise had to evacuate from New Orleans during Hurricane Gustav. We were glad they came to Dallas so we could see them.


This morning! Allison was just too cute this morning to pass up a photo op. She's a full-blown toddler now, walking everywhere like a big girl and oh so many teeth, including molars. She is also developing quite an independent streak. Don't know where she gets that from...

We found out...

that we're having a boy and a girl!!!

Oh, and for those who didn't know, we are expecting TWINS, due sometime in January!

Allison Updates (at grandma's request)

Babystrollers of Fire!