Anora

So, a few days have happened and the reality of Turner's is just beginning to settle in for me. A lot of people have taken the news in different ways.

Some shout for joy that we have a chance.
Some give their condolences that our little one has any hurdles at all.
Some don't have any idea what to do or say.

All of those responses are fine. And appropriate. And necessary. I'm just grateful you're all letting me talk about it- because it's IMPOSSIBLE for me to not.

I spent all day Friday with a smile on my face. Nothing was going to get me down because I was THRILLED that Nora has a chance!

Then, I spend Friday night looking at google. And that is the WORST idea ever. I should probably be banned from the internet. So, I finished the search by making sure that I read a plethora of happy endings with Turner's. That helped some.

Then, I woke up this morning and read a few more happy stories to keep me going strong.

Truth is, I am not even a little bit scared of Turner's in life. This is a diagnosis I can live with, I can be joyful with, and I TOTALLY do. I'm not even afraid of a potential heart surgery. Modern medicine , I am certain, can make sure our Nora lives a happy and full life.

But, Turner's in utero is something totally different. Statistics aren't on our side for making it to the end with this little one. I've read a million stories, statistics, outcomes, forums, etc. etc. etc. Though it has been written that many people lose their babies to Turner's much earlier in their pregnancies, it has also been written that some lose their babies further along than we are right now.

Needless to say, Nora's constant kicking brings me greater joy than I could have ever imagined. If so much as thirty minutes goes by and I don't feel a kick- I get a little crazy. But, don't worry- she is still kicking! Even as I type this. It is by the grace of God that Nora is still with us. And I just pray that God shines that grace upon us for the next 18.5 weeks (yup, I am counting the days that closely now).

Speaking of grace.
I met with a dear friend/pastor/mentor this past week. He said, "Nora Grace, what a lovely name." And I told him how I had planned Grace for many years (much because of his teachings to me in junior high) and that I fell in love with the name Nora more recently. At that point Grace took a middle name spot. His response: "Well, you know what Nora comes from, right? The word Nora is from Anora, which means grace in Hebrew."

Well, would you look at that! Grace Grace. :) Everyone, let's go ahead and take that as a good sign. We might as well, right?

So, for those of you wondering. We are living with this thought right now: If we make it to a safe delivery, we've made it. And Nora has made it. And all will be fine!, as far as we're concerned. Every ounce of my energy is going into praying we make it that far. That, Lord, is all I ask.

Help us out, would ya?
THANK YOU TO ALL. We checked our mail today, and found more love and support in that mailbox than we could have imagined. Thank you ALL for showing us that love right now.