Another Ultrasound and a dose of hope...

TODAY we went to yet another ultrasound with the perinatologist from Missoula. I had mixed feelings about this appointment, excitement and fear ranked toward the top. Amazingly Nick was off work on time to make it to the appointment, Tuesdays are typically long hard days for him. We drove to the labor and delivery department at KRH and walked in the same doors you usually only go through to take the final steps in bringing your baby into the world. We were told to wait in the waiting room and our doctor would be out shortly. The waiting room walls were covered in perfect portraits of perfect babies and without saying a word to eachother, we knew, we knew the other was crying out for our baby to be like those, not even for us, but for him. A woman walked in looking like she was in labor, others came in with big smiles and teddy bears to greet the new additions to their world. We tried to smile at them and for them, but our insides were being turned inside out with fears for our baby boy. FINALLY the doctor came and got us and lead us into a room and told me to go ahead and get on the table. He started the scan and it was only seconds before our sweet little boys face appeared on the screen, so clear and perfect to us. I asked if it was 3d because it looked like a pudgy little baby face. He said it wasn't 3d, just a good shot! During the last ultrasound one of the doctors concerns was his mouth didn't appear able to close, it was always open, well these little lips were closed and looked perfect to us. (maybe we are partial, who knows) The dr then scanned more, measuring the baby's head, which measured right on track. Then to the most important... the chest measurement... it was perfect! The heart was also perfect size and a good ratio to his chest. A lot of times with the lethal skeletal dysplasias the heart takes way over it's share of the chest. This was the measurement I had been praying for and God has been so faithful. The ribs looked good, and really everything was near perfect until he got to the legs. Poor lil peanut, one of his femurs is quite bent, and both femurs measure short still, BUT they have both grown a lot since our last ultraound. It's a good sign that they are continuing to grow. The lower legs are worse than the upper legs in growth and are even further behind. BUT they HAVE grown since the last ultraound as well. The arms look better than the legs, the upper arms again are better than the forearms, but he is growing and his arms look to have good movement. He opens and closes his little hands and moves them about freely. His feet still appear to be clubbed, but this is something that they can fix. At the last u/s the dr was concerned about the babies pinkies being curled in and this time they appeared perfectly normal. Another answer to prayer! I have been praying so much for specific healings and can't help but rejoice in that they have happened. We are so GRATEFUL to all of you that have prayed for our baby. GOD IS LISTENING!!! So you cannot stop now. Please keep praying for his legs to grow and straighten! The same for his arms! Pray for continued growth of his chest too. We accept our baby and will love him just as God gives him to us, we just want him to live, and if we are granted that, we want him to be comfortable and happy. Thank you Jesus for the work you are doing in our lives even now. Today I got the only mothers day present I need. HOPE. Hope for our babies life. The doctor even said, he looks like a normal baby, except for his arms and legs. That may not sound like much to you, but to me, that was BEAUTIFUL! He said that it's hard to say but things are pointing towards a non-lethal dysplasia. There are still a few test results we are waiting for. They will be another two weeks. Ughh! They are also going to cost 1500.00 ! We are hoping the insurance will cover a portion of it, the dr said they probably won't want to, but he will write a letter indicating the need for the tests and that might help to get them to pay. THANK YOU ALL FOR PRAYING... PLEASE CONTINUE.... GOD IS AT WORK AND YOU ARE A PART OF THIS MIRACLE.