Dr told my wife she is 2cm already and anything other than bedrest could push this baby out, and we need it to make two more weeks for it to be considerred full term, even though Oct 1 is the actual due date.

Dr says no more work, no more picking up the 20 month old, no doing house work. My wife asked what is it she actually can do, and the Dr replied, "You can go to the bathroom, can shower, can lay on your right side, lay on your left side, and occassionally go out and lay on the chaise lounge. This baby needs to stay inside for atleast two more weeks."

I've been a stay at home dad with the 20 month old. Good thing I've had a great summer: Something tells me I'm about to get super busy. Wish me luck.

Whoa boy! Good luck! Maybe some duct tape is in order? You know, for safety's sake.

T. Low - Good luck and hang in there. You are going to earn the title of SuperDad.

You guys still hanging in there?

I know you are hoping to go full term , but as the dad of a preemie, I can tell you that if that little one decides to come early, that can be okay, too.

Keep us updated.

Well, everyhing went as good as could be expected, and the baby girl was deliverred healthy as can be, thank God.

Lilja Peircen; 8 lbs, 4 oz.

Lilja (Lil-ya): Wanted something to celebrate my wife's Scandinavian Heritage, and when watching one of my favorite Detroit Red Wing's, Andreas Lilja (Sweden), I thought his last name would make a great girl's first name.

Peircen: We have a very best female friend, a gal that mtn bikes with us, paddles with us, played on our hockey team with us, goes camping, and comes over after working with challenged children all day to play help out with our household, 3 to 5 times a week. She is family. We decided if we were to have a boy, would use her last name for his first. Then it dawned on us that her last name would also make a great middle name paired with Lilja. So it shall be. Lilja Peircen

Aside from both of us having a major case of cabin fever, we survived although with a 23 month old and a newborn, it has been taxing as you all could understand.

The pregnancy really did a number on my wife's bad back, and she has been in a great deal of pain, so I have been staying very busy doing all the work and any and all lifting.

The bad news, however, is that two weeks ago I was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS). This puts a major rewrite into our Life Plan, and we seem to have a case of writer's block at the moment, as, of course, we are still a bit awestruck.

I've had a bit of a problem with my right hand, losing strength and cramping and such. It began last winter when riding in the cold rain, so I thought it was an old mtn bike injury getting arthritic on me or something.

Telling my wife I had been dignosed with ALS was the most difficult thing I've ever had to do. It was all I could do to get the words out. She and my daughters deserve so much more than this, and I feel so horrible to bring this upon them.

Luckily, my own research has turned up a current unfinished study (clinicaltrials.gov)hypothisizing that a ketogenic diet helps slow the progression of ALS and as some of you may know, I've been on a Ketogenic diet since last spring and felt absolutely amazing all summer long. The study conclusions are suppossed to be finalized this December.

We will be booking an appointment at the Mayo Clinic to have them look over all the evidence and do some testing, as they sometimes find things other's have missed.

I'll be spending a lot of time holding my girls while I am still able to, I just wish they'd be able to remember it.

Fun TidBit for the day: I did not know that Steven Hawking's nickname is "Rolling Thunder". He is a bit of a bad ass in more ways than one.

Cheers.

T.Low Tom

T. Low

Wow.

Words fail.

I know you and your wife are doing a lot of soul searching -- I wish you strength and clarity.

Congratulations on the birth of your daughter. To have all this going on at the same time...just boggles the mind.

I've read some of the reporting on ketonics and ALS -- it does look promising and you have a jump start there.

If there is anything we can do, in addition to sending our thoughts, let us know. Anything -- if there is ever any baby gear or anything that might make things easier down the road, don't hesitate to ask. It would make us happy to help. So don't be shy about asking.

I had a good friend that fought this disease very bravely. Not sure there's a guy I admire more, come to think of it.

Let's keep talking.

Tom,

I want to echo Clay's sentiments... I wish you and your family lots of strength, and lots of support, during this time. I'm glad you've got a head start with the ketogenic diet. I want the very best for you guys.

And congratulations on the birth of Lilja, she sounds like an absolutely beautiful baby girl. What a great addition to your family.

Roger

Thanks guys. It's a strange time indeed.

I've always tried to plan for the future while living for the day and being in the moment, so it's just doing it more intensely,now.

Starting a famly in thedeep end of my mid-forties, I took steps to better my chances of to meet a goal of someday being able to walk my girls down the isle. Now, my goal is to walk my oldest (just turned two) to the bus stop on her first day of school. Percentages are not on my side, but I've never been good with percentages so that's good.

I've embraced the noise of crying babies and a chaotic household because when it's quiet, I think of a favorite Ben Franklin quote I tend to use often, especially when travelling: "There'll be time enough for sleeping (or substitute "quiet")in the grave". The noise is life, so I embrace it.

It's been a roller coaster already. Telling family has been met with huge wave of emotion and in itself is very exhausting.

Still mtn biking. My lites are worn out, so instead of buying new batteries for $150, I bought the MagicShine mj880 tht turns night into day so I've been on the mountain at night (in the rain at our elevation) or in the wee morning hours before every else gets up. I can't imagine the trails in heaven being much better than the trails on Galbraith Mtn.

I'll need to get Grip Shift soon, as it's getting difficult to down shift with my thumb, especially after riding in the cold rain for an hour or so.

Gotta go change dipes, talk later...

Thanks guys.

Tom