Better Than Expected

Today we had a "routine" prenatal appointment. My OB and I both chuckle everytime she marks that on her sheet because nothing about this pregnancy seems routine.

Not many details to share... boring things like my blood pressure looks good, and the fact I gained six pounds in five weeks (seriously?!?!). Then there are the not so boring things, like the little man's heartbeat being found right away and it beating healthfully in the 150's.

We talked about the perinatologist's report from a few weeks ago and she was delighted to see in the report that so far the brain looks good and that there are no signs of neural tube defects. I also mentioned to her that the hygroma had shrunk and she seemed glad to hear that. She mentioned that "this isn't good..." referring to the omphalocele, but we already knew that.

What was encouraging was to hear her saying at the beginning of the appointment, "You guys are taking a real leap of faith here, and we want to support you in any way we can." Then, after our discussion of the perinatologist's report, she said, "This all looks a lot better than I expected it to."

You could have picked my jaw up off the floor. Of course, there wasn't any new information to speak of. But, she was surprised... surprised that what she is reading is better than she originally thought.

That's God at work!

I told her, "Well, we've been praying, and maybe those prayers are really working!" She politely smiled, nodded, and said, "Mmmhmmm." I don't know where this doctor stands with any of that. But I knew it was God at work, and knew that He deserves the praise for the good things that are happening (even in the midst of some ugly, not so good things). Would you pray for her that she would recognize that, too?

God is a God who delivers the "better than expected." There's a great promise in Jeremiah 29:11 when God declares to prosper us and not to harm us, and promises to give us a hope and a future.

So, would you pray with us that next week we would be fortunate enough to hear those same words from the other doctors with whom we meet? That things look "better than expected," and that our little boy is free of any heart defects, issues with his lungs or any other major organs, and that despite the omphalocele, he is continuing to grow healthy and strong? Would you pray that Spencer and I would remain joyful in hope, and for a bright future with our little guy... however long that may be? And would you pray for the grace for Spencer and I to handle what we hear that day with courage and peace in our hearts?