God Moments

 The heart is a beautiful symbol and the most valuable organ in the body. 

I love when God gently talks to us. Last month we went to Oak Island, since Joshua had to help coach the High School baseball team. While we were there, we went shopping. I found this wonderful Bee ornament. I had to get it. I was anxious about not having my OBGYN, Evey's heart issues, delivering at Duke and the discontinuation of Makena, the injection that helps me not go into preterm labor. There was a poem attached to the ornament and when I read it, I immediatly started crying. It was God's way of saying: "Don't worry, Evey will be ok and everything will work out the way it's supposed to be." 

Over the past month, we have been going to lots of appointments and processing the transfer of my care over to Duke Hospital in Durham, NC. My husband and I are huge Duke fans and have been to the campus a few times. (FYI: Teachers get discounted tickets to football games!) We love the campus, but have never had to deal with the hospital. We are constantly writing down questions to ask and (me, especially) are trying to envision what it's going to be like to deliver there. We are going to have a child that is born in Wake County- not Guilford, which is already so weird to think about LOL. Our family lives close to 2 hours away from us which already causes some logistical problems with giving birth, however for the past two kiddos, induction was planned and my mother was able to come stay with the other kids. Induction is also planned for Evey, so I am hopeful that everything will work out for the best!

My mother was able to come with me to the first appointment at Duke. It was a special time for us to talk about all the things that come with communicating with Doctors and plans for when I have to deliver. The ultrasound technician was able to get all the measurements she needed, which was a first, because Little Miss Evey likes to stay scrunched up in a ball and cover her heart. At 28 weeks, she was measuring at 2.8 pounds in the 14 percentile.  They also saw that the issue with her kidneys have cleared up and there is no worry at this time that we will need to do anything about her kidneys. The only part of her body that measured right on target was her stomach. Atleast we know she likes to eat! YUM YUM eat 'em up! We then transitioned to talking to one of the Obgyns that could deliver Evey. He was a young Irish man that helped me figure out that I have pregnancy induced carpel tunnel. My mother went right away and got me a brace and extra pillows to help the carpel tunnel and swelling which was great, because I probably wouldn't have gotten it on my own, because I am stubborn like that. After looking at my blood flow and swelling he also recommended me to see a cardiologist to get an echocardiogram to rule out any other complications I may have. Thankfully they have an office in Burlington, so I will be going to that in the next week. 

I also got the glucose test done within the same week, which I did not pass. Before I got the test done, I was greeted at school by one of my students who has an intellectual disability and autism. She is in the Occupational Course of Study which helps students with disabilities learn job skills. She is a very talented seamstress. She made Evey a little bunny and blanket. It just goes to show that no matter the severity of the disability, students' passions and talents always outweigh their disability.

 I will have to do the 3 hr glucose later this week. I am praying that I pass it so that it will be one less thing I have to worry about. I was sad at this appointment because it was the last time I got to see my obgyn that I have seen for the past 11 years. This is another thing I have to wrap around my head about this delivery. Dr. Cousins delivered all three of my kids, even though she came in with a cucumber salad with the first and was almost late to deliver the other 2 kids. I had to hold my legs together for the last one until she came into the room because I was NOT going to have another OBGYN deliver him! It's going to be weird not knowing who is going to deliver Evey. It's going to be like spinning the wheel to see who wins the delivery! 

I went back for a fetal echo 4 days before going to Duke and nothing has changed. She still is diagnosed with Tetrology of Fallot and Atrioventricular Canal Defect. The doctor is hopeful that we will not have to do surgery until later in life and that at this point she said that we have a "wait and see" scenario. She wants to continue monitoring so that they have a plan for when/if they need to do surgery. She said that we really won't know until after she is born to get a better look at her heart. We pray every day that her heart heals on its own. It is a pretty cool, important organ that is  so strong! 

This past weekend, we went to a little town called Walnut Cove. It's a cute little town that has a cute antique shop called The Just Plain Country store. The owner is a great Christian lady. When we checked out, she asked if we were decorating our house as a bee theme. This gave me the opportunity to tell her our story. She said, "I'm going to tell you something, God can do anything." She then told us her story about her little sister. Her mother was diagnosed with a health concern at age 37 and the doctor told her she could not have any more babies. Well at her yearly check up, the doctor found that she was pregrant and tried to persuade them  to terminate. She went on to say that her mother and father both said no to termination and that God had a plan for this little baby. They got another OBGYN and her little sister was born as perfect as God made her. After she told us her story she came around the counter and touched my belly and said, "This precious baby is going to be ok!" 

In my heart, I know Evey will be ok no matter the outcome. Her brothers and sister already love her so much!  Please continue praying that her heart heals and that my anxiety about delivering at Duke will cease. 

Be like a Bee- hardworking, wise and delicate!