stay put, little girl

I've written before about the heart-wrenching few years my sister, W2, has had. It seems they aren't over yet: at 22 weeks pregnant, she's been put on 100% bedrest because her cervix is shortening (which precedes actual dilation). 

We know that this is happening because Bumblebee was born at 26.5 weeks about eighteen months ago.  There's no clear medical reason for his premature arrival (the technical diagnosis was "spontaneous cervical dilation"), but as a result this pregnancy has been monitored closely.  And that has turned out to be a deeply good thing, since her doctor thinks that this little girl is trying to follow her big brother's path into the world.  And right now, we're all hoping really hard that she won't.

I'm off across the country the day after tomorrow to try to help out.  I think of it as buying them the time to find a nanny they're fully comfortable with.  My mother will arrive a few days after I leave, while Top Gun goes to New State to close on their house. (They move in June -- and, yes, we're all trying to figure out how that one' s going to work.)

In short term, what I need most for W2 are book recommendations: all-absorbing, take-your-mind-off-it pleasure reads.  Any ideas?  She's partial to young adult fantasy, but, really, it's all about sending her to another world every night after Bumblebee goes to bed.

Update, 11:30 AM Friday: In the round-robin that is familial communication at such times, I just heard from my mother, who heard from Top Gun, that W2 is currently in the hospital having a cerclage done.  The ultrasound showed that she'd responded quickly and well to the two days of complete bed rest, so there's reason to be hopeful. 

Comments

[Pam]

Hi there, de-lurking to offer some reading material -- I've just finished China Mieville's Un Lun Dun which is fabulous, and light enough to meet the current needs. And for being utterly transported I have to recommend Patrick O'Brian, starting with Master and Commander. I know the standard demographic for this is probably men over 50 with naval fixations, but the books are beautifully written, astoundingly well-researched and completely compelling. You just have to skip over some 18thC naval terminology. And if she likes that I can also recommend Naomi Novik's series starting with Temeraire, which is like O'Brian but with dragons.

[Oonae]

YA fantasy will keep her awake all night. But what the hell. I'd pick up a couple of volumes of Gaiman's Sandman series (avoiding ultimate sandman) and also Margaret Mahy's Alchemy (or any of her other YA fiction). I wish your sister all the best!

[KT]

Oh god, not again. So so sorry. Hope it all turns out for the best again.

I've been reading YA writer Libba Bray who is both purple in tone and completely enjoyable. I'll be thinking of you both...

[Jay]

Oh, good luck to both of you...no brilliant ideas for bed-rest books, but I'll keep thinking. My own tastes run more to mysteries, though.