a spot of sun

So much has happened since I last wrote! Chris, Brayden and I packed up and headed to Florida for Christmas 2010...and MISSED OUR FIRST EVER WHITE CHRISTMAS here in Atlanta! I couldn't believe the pictures of local snow, especially since Atlanta weathermen are known for forcasting snow flurries or wintry mix or even accumulation, and what happens? Nothing! We enjoyed our time in FL though, seeing family we hadn't seen in almost 3 years. It was doubly fun when B's cousins arrived; he and Aubs followed each other around for 2 days and sat only to play with toys, read books, or watch an Elmo video from Santa. It was, however, a certainly different kind of Christmas. I am usually enthusiastic about driving around to see various light displays and enjoying the color and lights of the tree, but this year, before we left for Florida and even a week before Christmas I commented that I was "sick of all the lights and decor." I was ready to strip it down. My heart has been all over--ready to have a simpler celebration and ponder the significance of the birth of Jesus, and at the same time somewhat disconnected and indifferent to all the "hubbub." We enjoyed watching Brayden smile and get excited over new toys, books, puzzles, but we just weren't "into it" this year.
Surprisingly though, on Christmas Eve, I received a phone call from the geneticist who I thought I wouldn't hear from until Monday after Christmas. She congratulated me that the CHROMOSOMES ARE NORMAL!!! and said my bloodwork revealed a 1/10,000 chance for the baby to have Downs, Trisomy 18 and Trisomy 13. I was honestly shocked. The doctor told us that the chances of us having a "normal" baby were between 2 and 4%. Of course, the reality is that we are still not quite out of the woods because we were also told that IF the CVS came back normal (which it did), it meant one of two things: the child was truly normal and healthy and the lymphatic system had been slow to develop (i.e. the cause of the cysts), OR the baby has an even rarer disease, not screened for with the CVS. After a 2nd lengthy conversation with the geneticist on the 27th, we have been advised to pursue further testing, in hopes of identifying what may be causing the additional fluid on both the neck and in the form of cysts at the base of the neck. Because abortion is not an option, we are not yet sure whether we will pursue these tests (2). The cells are due to be discarded on 1/8, so a decision is needed quickly. In the meantime we return to the doctor this Friday, 1/7, for another ultrasound and meeting with the genetic counselor. Depending on the result of that ultrasound, we will decide whether or not we will move forward with additional testing, as that is the last possible day to have it done. We have heard stories where all tests are normal, but the ultrasound has identified structural abnormalites or deformities. Because of this, the geneticist said they rely heavily on routine ultrasounds for information about the baby.
My prayer is that this Friday we would have a normal ultrasound, that all fluid would be gone and there would be no sign of additional cysts anywhere in the body. Please join me in praying the same. Until then, we are praising God for granting us a baby GIRL!!! and I frequently find my thoughts drifting toward pink and considerations of a new nursery. But I am also taking one day at a time and praying for a full-term, 100% healthy baby girl to bring home from the hospital.