He's fearfully and wonderfully made...

Okay, so I've done it...I have started a blog.  I'm not someone who would make things public like this but our unborn son wants you all to know about how God made him special and how his mommy and daddy are preparing for his arrival.  With that said, this is Trae's story...

The week of Thanksgiving 2011 we found out that we were expecting our first child! Things were going and continue to go well.  On February 29, 2012 we found out that our little bundle was a little boy! Having already picked a name we immediately started calling him by his name Trae (short for Richard Thomas III).  The nurse conducting the ultrasound on that day was quiet.  I asked many questions which she answered...but once the doctor, Dr. James, came in she informed us that there were some concerns about his limbs.  First his arms were described as short and his femur (leg bone) was shorter than normal.  It also looked as if he had clubbed feet as they were swollen.  Finally his legs were turned out, or in a frog like position.  She explained that this could be a positioning issue and recommended that we have another ultrasound in three to four weeks with a different doctor.  I appreciated her explanation and her humbleness to suggest that another doctor should take a look.  We were sent on our way with encouraging words and a challenge to remain positive.  Luckily, we already had an appointment with our regular OB for the monthly check.  We called everyone we knew to start praying for God's will and for strength to be able to handle whatever He had in store for us and little Trae.

On March 1, 2012 we met with our regular OB, Dr. Sarkodie.  She did her regular questioning and inquired about our ultrasound.  We told her that we had it the day before this appointment; she told us that she did not have the reports from the doctor.  Thomas and I explained what had been expressed to us, she immediately called for the nurse so that she could hunt down the reports.  After reviewing it, she confirmed that there were some concerns and that they had nothing to do with his position.  She began providing us with a lot of information.  Basically, she said that this would be a chromosomal issue.  Our doctor scheduled us for a follow up ultrasound with another doctor, who had more experience reading ultrasounds, for March 5 - the following Monday.  She also recommended that I have a "QUAD screen" in which I would have blood drawn to test for some chromosomal disorders including Spina Bifida, Down's Syndrome, etc.  Thomas and I both realized at this point that it was definite, our child is going to have deformities.  We did not know what all this would mean and the hardest thing for me to stomach was the fact that the doctor could not tell us anything about his ability to be viable outside of the womb.  We emphasized to our doctor that no matter what all of this means we are supporting Trae's life whether that is for a day or a lifetime.  She was very supportive of this decision and agreed to help us get connected with additional doctors as needed to help us prepare for his birth and life.  Thomas and I left and began the mourning process...we mourned the idea of having a "normal" child.  To remain positive we focused on the fact that all of his organs were forming normally including his spine and heart.  God kept reminding me of Psalm 139:13-16...

 ¹³ For you created my inmost being;
   you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
   your works are wonderful,
   I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
   when I was made in the secret place,
   when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body;
   all the days ordained for me were written in your book
   before one of them came to be. 

We spent the weekend with our families processing the information we had.  Thomas and I got to a place of complete positivity and peace.  God has allowed us to have this child, His child, and we would be able to handle whatever needs he had.  

Today, March 5, we had the follow up ultrasound and met with a new doctor, Dr. Welt.  He looked at the ultrasound and confirmed that Trae has no arms; his hands are located at the shoulder.  Trae's legs are in an odd position but his feet were not clubbed, only swollen.  This swelling is due to too much space between the two lower leg bones (fibula and tibia) at the knee.  Normally they would be closer together and wouldn't be as free to move as Trae's are, explaining the strange leg positioning. The cartilage for Trae's knee will not form until about 38 weeks (18 weeks from now) but if this forms then the lower leg bones will be pulled together reducing the swelling.  Trae was diagnosed with a genetic syndrome called Phocomelia Syndrome.  This accounts for his arm abnormalities.

God knows what he is doing and we have full faith in that.  Sorry this initial post was so long but everyone should be up to date.  With this blog I plan to keep everyone informed of his growth and development from now (gestational age 19 1/2 weeks) through birth and beyond, as best as I can.  God will be glorified through the life of Trae. I only pray that we will also glorify Him as we parent the child He gave us.