baby update

Yesterday, we found out at the specialist appointment that our baby girl has what they call a coarctation of the aorta which means that the aorta, the main artery of the heart, is narrowed, and is causing an obstruction for the blood flow of her heart. Right now she is doing fine inside me because I am picking up the "slack" for what she may not do on her own. The main concern is going to be when she is born and her heart will have to function on its own. Because of this concern, we are going to have to deliver at a hospital that has the medical staff needed for all the different possibilities that may occur at birth. My doctor is trying to get us into UAB in Birmingham right now, with a induction scheduled within the next two weeks. Another cause of concern, is the slight (less than 25%) possibility that this heart defect is connected to a genetic disorder. They performed an amniocentesis yesterday to check for those disorders and we will start getting back those results in the next 2-7 days.

We ask for many prayers for our baby girl, for Jim and I to have peace and to stay calm, for Mary Varner to adapt to all the changes to her world in the next few months, and especially for the doctors to have wisdom about how to take care of both of us, and for my health during recovery (had a hard recovery last pregnancy)!! We are putting all our trust in our gracious Lord, and know that all of this is in His plan and He is in control! Thank goodness!!!