46XX

the verdict is in! along with other tests that were run on Miss Harper this weekend, chromosomal tests were done. many times, if a baby isn't growing and everything else checks out, it means some type of chromosomal defect is involved. the full report will not be in until next week, but the preliminary results show a chromosomally normal female: 46XX. all sets of chromosomes are there and normal, including the sex chromosomes (the XX). that's FANTASTIC news...praise God! Thank you for praying!

As a result of normal chromosomes, the doctors think Harper's lack of growth is due to (in Amy's words) "a lousy placenta." Since Harper's not growing, she's under some stress (we could liken it to working hard because you have a pressing deadline at your job, but you're still functioning well) but all of the testing they've done shows that she's not in DIStress (which could be compared to you having a meltdown and being locked up in the psych ward, getting shots of psychotropic drugs in your rear as a result of previously mentioned project). So, Amy was allowed to go home (90 miles from the hospital) today, but her doctors are wanting to keep a very close watch on Miss Harper and want Amy to take it very easy to keep Harper's next few weeks as stress free as possible for optimal growth. She will be back in Lubbock for a non-stress test and sonogram on Saturday.

So...how to pray?? At this point, please continue to pray for Miss Harper to get bigger and to have a few more weeks "on the inside"...they are shooting for end of March/beginning of April-pray for April! Also, we want her heart's tricuspid valve (the valve that controls blood flow from the right atrium to the right ventricle) to get bigger. Please also pray that her VSD (hole between the ventricles that allows blood mixing) doesn't get bigger...we want it to be big enough to allow blood into the right ventricle but not so big that it can't be closed in order to create a two-chamber heart.

Please also continue to pray for Amy and Dustin; that God is preparing their hearts for this precious little heart that is coming. Pray for strength and courage for the days to come, and that they will lean wholly on Jesus in everything.