Two Pictures

Cool Shades?

Steph is being discharged today (Friday). We're really glad she's out of the hospital, but it's really strange to leave Kristell here! Kristell is doing well. They took her off the ventilator yesterday. Now she's on a CPAP machine that assists her breathing a little, but doesn't do it for her. She's starting with a little jaundice, so she's wearing shades and catching some rays. Yesterday the pediatrician said it looks like it will be a longer haul than he had first hoped. We don't know how long she'll be in the NICU, but it sounds like it will be a while. The nurse told us we should consider anything short of September 24 (the due date) a miracle, but God specializes in those!

Three Days Old

We praise God that everything is going well here. Steph has been up and around today and to the NICU twice. We were hoping that she would be discharged tomorrow, but I think the doctor wants her to rest and recover a little longer. Kristell is about the same. She sleeps all the time, but she does move or respond a little when we talk to her. We think some of the medicine she is on makes her drowsy. There's not much new to take pictures of, but this picture shows her long fingers. Thank you so much for praying!

From the NICU

Steph is up today and feeling a little stronger this afternoon. We went to the NICU to see Kristell together. Of course that was a very emotional time. She was having a little difficulty breathing, so the doctor had turned up the ventilator a little bit to support her. Overall it seems like she's doing well. Her breathing is good enough that they put her on her tummy for part of the day.

Praise the Lord!

Just a quick update to let you know that the pediatrician is very pleased with Kristell's progress. He said she "took a dramatic turn for the better" today. She is breathing 21% oxygen (the same as the rest of us breathe), and the settings on the ventilator are being turned down because she's beginning to take over.

This is Kristell's place in the NICU. Most of the time she's covered up with bubble wrap to keep her precious body heat in.

Kristell Madeleine

Kristell Madeleine was born by emergency c-section around 3:00am Central Africa Time! She had a rough introduction to this world, but we thank God that the doctors were able to resuscitate her and she is stable now in the NICU. She weighed 2 kilograms. I think that's around 4 lbs 6 oz. She arrived 9 weeks early. I'm sorry that we don't know how long she was yet. When a baby doesn't breathe and has no heart beat, some of the details slip by! Praise God that Stephanie came through the operation as well as can be expected.

Please pray that Kristell will gain strength quickly and will learn to breathe on her own!

Welcome back!

Hi,

It's always a bad sign when the nurse in the hospital says, "Welcome
back!" Even though we got a good report from Steph's doctor yesterday,
she had quite a bit of bleeding in the night, and the receptionist at
the doctor's office (we're pretty sure it's the doctor's wife) wanted
her to go right to the labour ward to have things checked out. The
doctor came from the operating theater to check on her and quickly
decided to have her admitted. It seemed like one of the big reasons
that influenced that decision was that Steph was having some low back
pain and tightness or very mild contractions. The bleeding hasn't
stopped quite as quick as it has in the past, so overall we're glad that
she's in a safe place.

Well, I don't have much more news than that. We'll try to keep you
updated.

Love,
Glenn

Update on Steph

Hi,

Steph had an appointment with her doctor today. We were so thankful that he said everything is going as good as can be expected. The ultra sound shows that the placenta is not moving (bad), but baby weighs approx. 1.9 kg now (good). He said the pediatricians are quite comfortable with a baby being born once it has reached 2 kg, so she's getting close to that mark now. He wants Steph to move around the house, but stay home and take life very easy, still. Her next
appointment is in two weeks.

We don't have much other news besides that. Thanks so much for your
prayers.

Glenn

Lesotho Update

Dear Praying Friends,

We are still having some technical problems being able to send out e-mails to large groups.  While we are trying to resolve those, we will at least put a prayer update on our blog.

Praise:

• Though Stephanie still has complications with the pregnancy, praise the Lord that the baby is doing fine and that she is out of the hospital still.  Also praise the Lord for the Louws who have graciously taken us into their home while we must stay near the hospital in Bloemfontein.  As you think of it, pray God's rich blessing on these dear Christians.
  
• Glenn went back to Lesotho on Saturday and found the ladies of the Matukeng church holding a fasting and prayer service.  We are very encouraged with the way some of the Christians are growing spiritually!

Prayer:

• Please continue to pray for Stephanie and the baby.  The doctor made it very clear that the situation is dangerous and that Stephanie was be within minutes of the hospital and take life VERY easy.  She can be out of bed, but not out of the house.
• Pray against a concerted attack by Satan against the pastors in Lesotho.  Some of them are growing spiritually and doing very well, but others are really struggling.  Please pray particularly for one pastor who is going through some very difficult times spiritually and  in his home.
• A tent meeting is in progress this week in the town of Roma near the church.  Pray that God will unite the believers through this effort and bring sinners to salvation. 
  

Thank you so much for the tremendous prayer support we have experienced since Stephanie began having problems.  We deeply appreciate it and we can feel God working!

Glenn, Stephanie, and Kaitlyn Gault
Hope International Missions

Steph out of Hospital

Hi,

Just a quick note to let you know that the doctor discharged Stephanie from the hospital. He said she MUST stay in Bloemfontein until the baby comes. The ultrasound showed that the placenta is not moving up, and the doctor says that it is unlikely to move up now. He said that typically the bleeding mostly stops for a while, then starts again around the 34th week. It can be much more serious then, but baby will be much more ready for the world by then.

We are staying with Attie and Muriel Louw for the time being. They have been so good to help us out during this time. Pray that the Lord will bless them in a special way! Below is a picture of their house.

Thanks for your prayers!

From the Labor Ward

Hi,

Nothing new from Steph at the moment. The doctor said he MIGHT let her out tomorrow if we stay in Bloemfontein, but we're not getting our hopes up. The bleeding still hasn't stopped, and a nurse was just telling us that placenta previa can turn very dangerous with very little warning.

Here's a few pix:Kaitlyn and Heidi (the Louw's schnauzer puppy) love playing tug-o-war.

Nana left this set of "Pocket Ponies" for Kaitlyn when they were here. It sure came in handy for "such a time as this!"

Since TLC was here, combing hair has been a big thing to Kaitlyn. She learned a lot of new techniques from the girls!

Lesotho Update

Dear Praying Friends,

Probably many of you already know that Stephanie has been having some complications with her pregnancy. We have felt your prayers and want to thank you.

In short, the doctor has diagnosed her with a placenta previa which is causing some bleeding. So far the baby is doing fine, but the doctor has Stephanie in the hospital on bed rest. Because of the stroke associated with when Kaitlyn was born, she is on Clexane, a blood thinner. Now the doctor is trying to balance a problem with bleeding against the danger of stroke. Please pray that God will keep His hand on Stephanie and the little one, and that the doctor would have wisdom to find the right balance between these two dangerous problems.

Sincerely,

Glenn Gault
Hope International Missions

Steph still in Hospital

Hi,

At the moment things are going worse for Steph, but we still thank the Lord that the baby is doing great and the situation isn't yet threatening to either Steph or the baby. In the night last night she had worse bleeding so she is on complete bed rest in the hospital. From there there's really not much more news. The doctor just says we have to be patient and very careful. Every day counts right now because it's a time when the baby is really growing a lot.

Of course the turn for the worse was a disappointment. Yesterday the bleeding had stopped and the doctor seemed somewhat hopeful that he might release Stephanie today or tomorrow knowing that we have a place to stay within fifteen minutes of the hospital. I assume now that
she'll be in the hospital into the first of next week at least.

Thank you so much for your prayers. It seems like the trend is towards the worse, so we really appreciate knowing many people are praying for us and that God is in control.

Love,

Glenn

Update on Steph

Hi everyone,

I think most of you know already, but Steph's back in the hospital in Bloem again because of more bleeding. :-( Fortunately it's still not serious, but it must be monitored. The doctor said the baby weighs between 1.5 and 1.6 kilograms now, and he hopes it will reach 2 kg at least if it is born before full term. It seems that there is still a good chance that the problem will fix itself, so we must just be patient. I assume she'll be in the hospital several days again, and we'll probably stay in Bloem until we're fairly sure the problem is fixed. Hopefully that won't be until September!!!!

Love to all,

Glenn

Steph

Hi Everyone,

Just a quick note to let you know that Steph is out of the hospital and
we are back home at Matukeng. We are much relieved that she got out.
The doctor wants to see her in just over a week and he told her to take
it easy. She's not supposed to lift anything heavy, exercise, etc. I
think kind of jokingly the doctor said she could make tea and knit or
crochet.

Maybe later we can write more, but this will let you know what's going on.

Thanks so much for your prayers!

Glenn

Update on Steph

Hi everyone!

We were hoping maybe Steph would be released today, but her doctor is off, and I think he'll want to see her before they let her out. So she's in another day. The bleeding has stopped and both her and the baby are doing great. The doctor said the placenta is not covering the cervix at all, and he hopes that it will move up like it normally does. The problem occurs when the placenta is too low and the stretching uterus starts to pull a little bit of it loose causing the bleeding.

Kaitlyn and I stayed with friends (Uncle Attie and Aunt Meriel Louw) who used to live in Ladybrand but have moved to Bloemfontein recently. They live in a retirement community/game park. It is very nice. We saw springbok, gemsbok, and red hartebees this morning before breakfast.

Love to all and thanks for your prayers!

Glenn

Steph in Hospital

Hi everyone,

I'm at an internet cafe, and I'm not sure I have everyone's e-mail
addresses correct. Feel free to pass this on to anyone who would be
interested. Mr. Howard, could you please pass this on to Michelle
Asbell. I don't have her e-mail address.

Thursday night Steph had some bleeding. It wasn't a lot, but her doctor
wanted to see her asap on Friday. He put her in the hospital for
observation until the bleeding stops. She has a placenta previa, but it
is only a grade 1. The placenta is not covering the cervix at all, but
it is lower than it should be. This problem should fix itself
hopefully. There's nothing the doctor can do to treat it, and there's
nothing Steph could have done to prevent it. At the moment it is not
terribly serious, but if the placenta doesn't move up like it should,
then it could result in serious bleeding. If that happens, then of
course the doctor will have to take the baby. Fortunately the baby is
far enough along that with the neo-natal ICU in Bloemfontein at the
hospital where we go the baby has a a very good chance to live even
now. Every day improves that outlook.

As far as we can tell the bleeding has stopped. Steph's doctor is off
this weekend and a partner saw her this morning and said everything
seems OK. I doubt if she will be discharged until Monday, however. The
doctor may limit her activity at least some once he discharges her, and
I'm sure he will be seeing her pretty often. We'll try to keep in touch
one way or another to let you know what is happening.

Steph is feeling fine and doing well emotionally. She said she got a
good night's rest last night in spite of the nurses checking her and the
baby every four hours. Fortunately Kaitlyn is a daddy's girl, so we're
doing fine, too. I tried to do her hair this morning and that didn't go
so well. It looked about the same after I finished as before! :-)

Love to all. Thanks for your prayers!

Glenn