Greetings!

We are rejoicing tonight over another encouraging visit with the perinatologist! The doctor was able to get a great look at our sweet baby girl, and based on the scan, she appears to be doing great.

The doctor got a good look at everything she needed to see today – specifically, the development and structure of the brain and heart, and the placenta. We were again able to see her practice breathing, and at one point, even saw her yawn! It was a special moment. Again today, our baby girl was very active and moving around.

Today, our baby measured right on schedule – actually, about 10 days ahead, and is weighing-in at 5 pounds, 11 ounces! With an expected growth of ½ pound a week from this point forward, she’ll make her entry into our arms at about 8 pounds!

So, at this point, we continue to be encouraged, though we still have the screening showing high risk for Trisomy 13. One thing is clear – this doctor is fighting with us!

During our first visit, she was a bit reserved, and fairly clinical. All along, we have been praying for God to change the hearts of our doctors, and He has answered our prayers. As we have seen more and more of her, she has been so reassuring and helpful. Today, when she came into the room, she announced that she’d had a dream about us last night. She went on to say that the representative from the company that makes the Panorama screening test – the test that is predicting our baby’s risk for T13, had visited her office on Monday. We asked the doctor what the rep had to say, and she said that the rep was talking about their “always being right”. That’s when our doctor inferred that she had mentioned our case to the rep, and said, “Well, we’re fighting to prove you wrong on this one”. Our hope and prayer is that this is exactly what happens.

We are headed-in to the final few weeks. If we don’t go into labor on our own, the plan is to induce no later than the January 5^th due date – and maybe a week earlier.

Since babies with a chromosomal abnormality are at higher risk for stillbirth, they won’t let her go beyond the due date. Our prayer is that we would go into labor naturally, in God’s perfect timing, when it is safe for her to be born, and that she would be born a healthy little girl. We would appreciate your praying for this as well.

Our next ultrasound with the perinatologist is next Tuesday, December 2^nd. This is the beginning of our weekly visits with both the perinatologist and the obstetrician. We will continue to keep you updated. Thanks again for your prayers for us, and for your encouragement to us. It means so very much.

One final thought before I close… Shortly after we learned of our baby’s risk for Trisomy 13, we were introduced to a special fraternity of people – those who understand from experience, what it means to have a child or loved one with a severe chromosomal abnormality. It opened our eyes to a whole realm of wonderfully supportive people who are either walking the road we are walking, or who have paved the road ahead for us. They understand what it means to wrestle with this difficult diagnosis. Many deal with the searing pain of loss, others with the uncertainty and pain of living life on borrowed time. A few we have met, and they have instantly supported us. Others, we can only observe from a distance, and can see and feel the pain of their broken heartedness. As God brings them to your mind, please pray for them as well.

As we approach Thanksgiving, we are aware that there are many opportunities for us to give thanks to God. We hope that you and yours have a happy and safe Thanksgiving. As always, please let us know how we can pray for you.

Andy & Jennifer

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4-6