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| Our sweet baby's profile at 28 weeks. |
Hello all,
Thank you again for all your powerful and effective prayers!!! I am so encouraged by all of you. Thank you! So how do I sum up a long appt.? Let me start with we left our appt. very encouraged. Two encouraging appts. this week! While I would like to say that the malformation in our baby's cerebellum is gone, that is not the case. But what I can say is:
~ The cerebellum, despite it's malformation is continuing to grow!!! Both sides are maturing at equal rates along with the rest of the brain anatomy. Our Dr. expressed, that she was "surprised" to see that and that she wasn't expecting to see what she saw in this follow-up ultrasound (u/s). She referred to the rest of the brain development as looking, "gorgeous"!!! That was nice to hear.
~ The rest of the babies body appears to be developing great and there appears to be no problems any where else! She is measuring a whopping 3lbs + at this stage and like Avery and Ben, most likely will be a big baby! My amniotic fluid is measuring on the high end of normal, which makes me a little nervous...and physically uncomfortable. But our Dr. was not concerned about it and doesn't plan to want to see us back for 5 more weeks. So I am trying to relax about that and not worry. Just hard with having a history of too much amniotic fluid with Payton.
~ She also reviewed our baby's heart and said that it looked great and she did not detect any obvious defects or complications in her little heart!!!
~ Therefore all this truly leads her to think that the cerebellum malformation is highly likely an isolated event and that it is perhaps not linked to a chromosomal or gene related complication. Though we will not know for certain until she is born and we can do a chromosome analysis.
~ We will also truly not really know about the true development of our baby's brain and the effects it will have on her life, until she is born and we can do an MRI, and even then, according to her and the neurosurgeon.... we might not really know. It will take watching our little one grow and as time reveals, our answers will come. That is hard. But again, I rest in the Truth of not worrying about tomorrow, for today has enough problems of it's own and that none of us knows what tomorrow brings. It is just hard looking ahead with the knowledge we have. I really do think ignorance is bliss sometimes. I am grateful that none of us really knows what tomorrow brings... as only our Father does. Because really it can feel like more than we can handle when we do know a little information... I am sure many of you can relate in your own ways.
~ Lastly, another really great thing that came out of yesterdays appt. was... I had asked our Dr. the question of, "What about other patients with similar experiences and what were their outcomes"? And she said, "most of the patients she loses knowledge of after about the first month after birth, due to her position of just caring prenatally for the mothers". So she had nothing to share with us. So I asked if, "we could stay in touch so we can update her on our baby's progress" (because I am putting my hope in and resting on a great outcome for her). I said, "if there's anything positive and hope giving that we can bring to her, that might encourage another family to make the decision to carry their baby to term and not terminate because of such a prenatal diagnosis, that we would love that"!! She expressed, what seemed to be very genuine enthusiasm towards our keeping in touch.
And I really mean it!!! I will... I have read way too many things on-line where people have aborted their babies because of the Dr's influence and a similar diagnosis... I pray that we can prevent this for someone else and save some lives! During this conversation with the Dr. I was reminded of something that was said in one of our pastors sermons two weeks ago at church. He said, "sometimes you are allowed to go through something in life, so that later on you can be an encourager to someone else who is being obedient in their situation". If there is one thing I have been sure of since our first appt. when we learned of our baby's possible condition and that is, "It is 100% God's Will for us to carry her to term, to delight in her and to place her in His hands". I have never felt more obedient about something in my entire life and know it is the right thing to do. I told Aren, that night on the way home, that I felt that was a statement I was meant to hear and it was encouraging to me. So now as I look back, on that sermon and the conversation I had with the Dr... I am certain it was intended for me to hear and that is good!
So given the week and weekend... with Payton's birthday and two big appts... it has been an overall positive and peaceful week. I felt like I was on a bit of an emotional high yesterday after the appt. and for some reason I plummeted a bit later last night. So please... continued prayers would be so appreciated!!!
Here are our specific prayer requests:
1. Praises for the growth and health we are seeing thus far!!! Continued prayer for baby to develop and grow in a "healthy" pattern. Complete healing for her cerebellum.
2. For the Lord's peace to be in our hearts and souls. Sometimes it is hard to fight off the fear, anxiety and grief. But overall we are truly peaceful and hopeful!
3. For Full-term pregnancy and for amniotic fluid to maintain a healthy range for what my body and the baby needs.
4. For joy in the waiting...
5. For our next appt. which will be towards the end of June. And for our Dr. to be just as thorough as she has been and for her to have the wisdom and discernment she needs in caring for us. If there is a problem or something she needs to catch or see, that she will see it!
6. For God to receive the Glory through all of this... for His faithfulness to be seen and for His love to be felt by all of us. Jeremiah 29:11...
Thank you everyone, we are truly so grateful for your support!
Love you all!
