Thank you!!

This post is for all of you and all about you!!!

John and I feel so incredibly encouraged, supported, and loved!! We thank all of you for your prayers.

This week was definitely one of the slowest ever but it wasn't spent in agony or despair. We feel very assured that we did the right thing by sharing what is going on. Family, friends, and even strangers have said the most encouraging things.

I found a forum online at i-am-pregnant.com that caters specifically to parents who are or have been through this diagnosis. The stories have been uplifting and provides a support to me and John. No, we don't know of these people but it is comforting to know that we are not the only ones out there.

This past week has been a test of faith for us (and we know this journey will continue to be a test of faith) but I know now more than ever God is taking us through this for a reason. I was given a scripture this evening Ecclesiastes 7:14 (NIV) "When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future."

God created good times and bad, and I know it's easy to be happy when things are good. I think we all find it easier to be happy when things are going right. But God did create the bad. Not as a punishment but to give us perspective. I don't know God's plan or understand His ways all the time. But I do know if He is bringing us to it, He will bring us through it.

Again we just want to say thank you. Family, friends, and strangers we do love you and appreciate the support.

Update on Baby Carl

Okay, so this email is an update on Baby Carl. John and I wanted to fill everyone in on what is going because we know how much he is already loved and right now he needs lots of love and prayer sent his way.

Back in November we had our gender ultrasound. During that time they thought his kidneys were a bit dilated and they were not able to get all the views of his heart like they wanted to. So our OB doctor referred us to NW Perinatal Center to do a follow up ultrasound. November 23rd was our first appointment. At this appointment they found his kidneys were fine and they conducted an eco on his heart, this too yielded a positive result (that being good, everything was fine). However they did find he had mild ventriculomegaly. Ventriculomegaly is a condition in which the ventricular system of the brain is enlarged. His measurements were at 15 mm. The doctor discussed our options including conducting an amnio so we could make the decision on termination. Of course that is not even an option for us! The doctor discussed that this abnormality could be caused by an infection, chromosomal abnormality like Downs, or be nothing. They drew my blood to see if there was an infection and there was not. So the doctor had us follow back up in seven weeks to re-measure the ventricles.

Our appointment was this past Monday January 11th. Unfortunately the ultrasound showed that the measurement increased to 17mm, now moving the diagnosis from mild to moderate ventriculomegaly. This is now eliminating the doctor’s option of this being nothing. At this appointment they discussed also that his kidneys are slightly dilated they are supposed to be at 6mm, and they are measuring at 7mm. He isn’t too worried about the kidneys but they are going to keep an eye on that now too. They are not too worried about it being a chromosomal abnormality; there is only a 5% chance of that being the issue. We can do an amnio in March or he can be tested for that after he is born. We have a follow up on February 22nd. That might seem far away and you might be wondering why we are not getting seen more often. The fact is though, there is nothing they can do inutero. In addition to our follow up in February they have referred us to Dr. Monica Wehby a Pediatric Neurosurgeon. She will look at the images and discuss with us what Baby Carl might need done after he is born. Our doctor through NW Perinatal talked a bit with us that he might need a shunt to drain the fluid after he is born. (At the end of this you will find a hyperlink to an article on ventriculomegaly in case you want to read on it).

As you can imagine this is very scary for us because there is still so much that we don’t know yet. There are many emotions that we are cycling through. Despite the emotions and any crazy thoughts that might go through our head we are leaning on God in this. We are remembering God’s promise in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Even in this crisis we are going through God has a plan for me, John, and even Baby Carl. God knows Carl more than we do and He is still forming and creating him. Through this whole experience God keeps whispering in my soul, “I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End.” God is the final authority and we need to trust in Him.

We are asking everyone to pray for complete health for Carl. We believe in miracles and we believe God is greater than medical technology. In addition could you please pray for me and John that during this time we stay connected and lean on God? Let us not lean on our own understanding and trust the Lord throughout all of this. (Proverbs 3:5)

We love all of you so much and we thank you for the support.

Here is an article from the Children's Hospital in Boston. Ventriculomegaly