Letter #47 January 13, 2008 Dear Devan,

We just walked in from the hospital – congratulations, you have another nephew! Well, I’ll try and sum up quickly some of the details. Things really didn’t go as planned today. Linda and I were awakened early this morning at 5:30 am with a call from the hospital asking where Amanda was… Well, we got that straightened out and Sunday morning life proceeded as normal. Jeff and I gave Amanda a blessing at 10:00 and then they left for the hospital. I went to my meetings and then came home around 11:30. Linda called at 12:30 and talked with Amanda – they had just started the pit drops and they anticipated the labor to take quite awhile. So, we finished getting ready and left for church at 1:00. Linda tried to call Jeff several times from the church, but no answer. We finished up church and headed home. Linda was then able to get a hold of Jeff (Jeff called) and learned of their frightening adventure. I guess around 12:30, Amanda had just come out from the bathroom when she noticed some blood. The nurse came in and thought that wasn’t normal as well. Amanda then noticed the baby’s heartbeat falling rapidly and I guess the rest was one big blur. Things really starting happening fast – Jeff was given a “gown” and Amanda was quickly wheeled into the operating room. At first Jeff thought he would be able to stay, but when they put the mask on Amanda, he was ushered into the next room. We still don’t know who did the “cutting”. Anyway, the next thing Jeff remembered was the nurses coming in to where he was with the baby which had no life signs! They immediately went to work on him (the baby), messaging, poking needles, and inflating his lungs. I guess it didn’t take too long before the baby started to respond with a heart beat and breathing on his own. That was at 12:56 am – I guess this had all happened before we had left for church. When we got home from church, Christina stayed with the girls while Linda, Gina, Catherine (Jeff’s mom), and I drove to the hospital. Amanda is in a lot of pain, drowsy from the anesthesia and morphine, but resting. Shauna and Rich soon joined us and after visiting with Amanda for a few minutes, Jeff took us up to the NICU to see the baby. He really looks pretty good considering all the tubes down his throat, in his arms, and in his belly button. Jeff and I gave him a blessing and we took some pictures. So, right now, things are on the mend. Amanda will probably have to stay at the hospital for a few days and the baby undoubtedly longer. The doctors just want him stabilized and then after that, they will take a look at the what’s between his liver and diaphragm. Other than that, the doctor said he sees a very “normal” looking, 3-week pre-mature, baby – 4 pounds, 14 ounces and 17 inches long. It was very scary. They had to give the baby blood (and probably should have Amanda). They believe the placenta ruptured and had they not been at the hospital, we could have lost both of them – 85% chance for the baby not to survive if there had not been such quick action. Our prayers were definitely answered and we can all be very thankful tonight for the favorable events of today. Well, don’t know what else to tell you. We’ll keep you informed. I’ll attach some pictures – hope you can look at them. Hope your day was great – email you on Saturday.

Love, Mom and Dad