It has been 4 weeks since our last post and we are approaching our 24-week ultrasound on Tuesday, September 16th at 11:00 am.

This month has been full of wonderful moments as I feel our sweet baby girl kicking more and more.  She kicks through the day.   However, she tends to be quite the night owl.  Just about the time we settle down for bed, she starts her exercise routine.  She kicks, and kicks and kicks – seemingly all night long. I LOVE it!!!  It is as though she is saying: “I am here and I am ok.”

She loves to lay on the left side of my stomach and one morning I woke up to a lopsided stomach as she was all balled up on the left side.  I could actually feel her little body with my hands!!!

Also this month, we took her on one of our favorite date outings at River Sweet Treats at Phipps Plaza here in Atlanta.  They have lots of treats, but are most famous for their Pecan Pralines – at least that’s all we really care about!  Its not our practice to take the children with us on date nights, but we wanted to take our baby girl so that she could check out the pralines.  We start out with a sample, then, we buy a praline to eat while we’re there, and we buy some to take home.  Guess what?  She approved!  We discovered that baby likes them just as much as we do!

Andy & Jennifer at Phipps Plaza in Atlanta

Baby’s big sister, Bridgette, is in 9th grade and was inducted into the BETA club this year, so we brought baby along for the induction ceremony.  She had fun watching Bridgette receive this honor and of course, we had to take a picture to mark the moment.

Andy, Jennifer & Bridgette – at the BETA Induction ceremony

This pregnancy, even with the genetic tests, has been such a blessing.  I LOVE being pregnant and feeling this little life growing inside of me.  God has truly brought Andy and I closer to Him through this trial and we are so thankful. We are so grateful for all of you and your prayers and notes that you send to us.  It really helps us get through the days.

We are also thankful that we have received normal ultrasounds so far and ask that you join us in prayer that the genetic test is wrong and, that if it is right, that God will heal our little girl before she is born.

Although most days are filled with happiness and “peace that transcends all understanding,” we are still human and have breakdowns from time to time.  As the days draw closer to the next ultrasound, our hearts have a tendency to grow more anxious.  This fear is always rooted in the unknown.  We constantly have to fight the fear of not knowing what we are facing.  The truth is, while it is unknown to us, it is not unknown to God. We are confident that He is writing our story, and we trust Him.

I (Jennifer) like to remind myself of an excerpt poem called “Footprints.”

“Lord, You told me when I decided to follow You, You would walk and talk with me all the way.

But I’m aware that during the most troublesome times of my life there is only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why, when I needed You the most, You leave me.

He whispered, “My precious child, I love you and will never leave you never, ever, during the trials and testings. When you saw only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”

The doctors have told us all along, that even though our ultrasounds have been normal that the baby is still developing and things can show up and that the ultrasounds are not always 100 percent accurate and that they still hold the blood test superior.  We will not know anything for sure until the baby is born and receives genetic testing.  However, with each normal ultrasound our chances look better and better.  In the same sense, we do not want to be naive and want to be well prepared as well and feel that God has made doctors, people and support groups available to help us and want to take full advantage of this wonderful blessing.

God has been so kind to connect us to a new friend who lives in the local area, and who has a baby girl who was born with full Trisomy 13.  Her baby is thriving at 18 months old!  Having walked this path before, she has been instrumental in giving us great counsel around our options as it relates to physicians, hospitals, assistance programs, and even the right questions to ask.  She has better equipped us to know how to fight, so that, should our baby have Trisomy 13, we can ensure that she has the best medical care available.  And, thanks to her, we are getting connected with several Trisomy support groups.  These support groups have also been of enormous benefit.  We have found them to be a great source of encouragement and a great resource in helping us better understand the way forward.  The disposition of so many in the medical community has been disappointing, but not surprising.  We are learning that there is much preparation that must be done.

When I (Andy) contemplate all that is ahead of us, I am easily overwhelmed.  Over the last few weeks, the Lord has brought to mind a favorite song of mine – “God Moves in a Mysterious Way“.  These words minister to me, and serve as a reminder that, no matter the circumstance, God is “working all things together” in his sovereignty, and my role is simply to trust his heart for the things I don’t understand.

God Moves in a Mysterious Way

God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm
Deep in His dark and hidden mines
With never-failing skill
He fashions all His bright designs
And works His sovereign will

So God we trust in You
O God we trust in You

O fearful saints new courage take
The clouds that you now dread
Are big with mercy and will break
In blessings on your head
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense
But trust Him for His grace
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face

So God we trust in You
O God we trust in You
When tears are great
And comforts few
We hope in mercies ever new
We trust in You

God’s purposes will ripen fast
Unfolding every hour
The bud may have a bitter taste
But sweet will be the flower
Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain
God is His own interpreter
And He will make it plain

So God we trust in You
O God we trust in You
When tears are great
And comforts few
We hope in mercies ever new
We trust in You

Original words by William Cowper… Additional words by Bob Kauflin

As I mentioned at the start, our next ultrasound is on this upcoming Tuesday September 16^th at 11:00 AM.   We’d be grateful for your prayer during this time.  Of course, we are praying that the initial test was wrong, and that we will continue to get a good report.  We would also appreciate your prayers as we plan for our baby’s arrival.   We have much planning and preparation ahead of us.  Here is a list of specific items:

• For continued good report at this week’s visit
• For wisdom in decisions we must make regarding our baby’s care during and after birth.
• For preparations we need to make at home to get ready for our baby’s arrival.
• For continued good health for Jennifer as she enters the back half of the pregnancy.

We would love to hear from you – particularly if you have specific prayer requests.  We take to opportunity to pray together each morning and evening, and would count it a privilege to pray for you.  You can respond here on the blog, or send either of us a message on Facebook.

Thanks so much for checking-in with us, and for carrying us on your heart.  We will post another update late Tuesday after the appointment.

Andy & Jennifer