You may have noticed that Yours Truly has been absent from Berkley Patch, its Facebook and Twitter accounts, and the community during the past week, so I'd like to fill you in on where I've been and what's ahead.

My husband and I are expecting our first child at the end of April, and many of you have kindly wished me well as I've begun to waddle around town. Now, I'm putting those good wishes to use! On Feb. 3, during a routine ultrasound, it was discovered that I was in preterm labor, and a short break in my regular work day for the appointment turned into a hospitalization. In fact, I am writing this note from my hospital bed almost a week later!

Now, don't fret. Baby Boy Ellis and I are both doing just fine and are in good spirits! We are here for monitoring and so the doctors can do everything to, as they say, "keep him cooking." We have been showered with love and attention from friends, family, hospital staff and most of all Mr. Ellis, my sweet husband.

And, we are not alone. Preterm labor occurs in approximately 12 percent of pregnancies, according to the American Pregnancy Association. There are many possible risk factors – in my case, uterine fibroids – but the exact cause of preterm labor remains elusive. Sometimes the universe just has a different plan for us than we envision and, when that happens, it's best to just go with the flow. Fortunately, we are receiving excellent care and remain optimistic.

In the meanwhile, my Patch colleagues will take care of the site and do their best to give you the scoop on what's new in Berkley and Huntington Woods. Please help them out by adding events to the calendar, posting announcements, and commenting on stories and via social media. News tips can be e-mailed to Regional Editor Nancy Hanus and Assistant Regional Editor Beth Valone. It is my intent to return to the helm of Berkley Patch as soon as I can.

For those of you who are curious, I can assure you bed rest is not as fun as it sounds. It is actually an exercise in mental discipline to be still; I can't tell you how much I miss being out and about talking with you and being an active member of our community! But, the doctors say every sunrise we see with the baby still snuggled safely inside the womb is three days he won't have to spend in the neonatal intensive care unit. So, we remind ourselves that each day is a gift.

Each day is a gift.