Hurdle #2

I got a call today from the perinatologist that the rest of my amnio results were in.

They are NORMAL. No chromosomal anomalies or neural tube defects detected. HALLELUJAH to that, I say. Also confirmed is that he is a boy, as if the tremendous money shot we got last month left any doubt!

To be 100% honest, I had completely forgotten that there were more tests to be run. We got so swept away in the good news of initial "normalness" followed by a very Merry Christmas followed by a Happy Happy New Year's.

Christmas was perfect-- riding high on the news that Parker isn't dealing with big scary life-threatening genetic disorders. Mike had to work both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, which is stinky, but we have so much family around here that Jeremiah and I were anything but lonely.
Christmas Eve I got the surprise of my life-- my aunt Denise and uncle Greg, with their two girls, asked if they could take Jeremiah to Disney World for the week to give Mike and I some time alone.
Um... YES!
Jeremiah hitched a ride to Florida with my sister and her family, who were on the way down anyway. He was passed off to Nesie and Greg and proceeded to have the time of his life. It was so nice to have 3 Date Nights in a row with my husband-- we slept late every morning, went out to eat every night, and played ridiculous video games.

We also talked a lot about Parker. We had a blessed reprieve from doctors and tests during Christmas week, but today's phone call signaled the start of what I imagine is going to be 4 months of near constant appointments. And battles with the insurance company. And more and more hurdles for us and sweet baby Parker.

My biggest fear in the coming weeks is the inevitable "some people choose to terminate their pregnancies before 23 weeks" spiel (I am currently 20). I know doctors are honor bound to present all options, but that's just not an option for us. We have seen his sweet little hands and feet. We have his portrait on our fridge. His tiny little heart is most definitely beating, stronger than they would have thought for a baby with his condition. I feel him moving ALL THE TIME. I know when he is awake, I know when he is asleep, and I know when he wants a Krispy Kreme (maybe that's every day. And that's okay!) There is absolutely no way we are going to do anything other than trust God's plan for Parker's life and its timing. My nightmare is walking into any of our new doctors' offices and getting the feeling they've already given up the fight.

That's a big hypothetical worry, which, if indulged, can be a slippery slope. I will go completely bonkers between now and May if I let that start happening. So I won't.

Instead, we will sing praises that we are now over Hurdle #2.