I wanted to let you know what is happening with our little baby #3. I am nearly 20 weeks pregnant (tomorrow) and would like to share with you an email that I sent out to our family and friends - if you didn't get it, I apologize, I didn't mean it personally just must not have your email address.
Dear sweet family and friends,
Where to begin?
Ephesians 3:17b-21
". . .that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have the strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power within us to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 4:4-7
"There is one body and one Spirit - just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call - one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift."
Yesterday, Flavio and I had an appointment with a specialist - a perinatologist, two weeks ago I had awakened in the middle of the night to some extreme bleeding - we called the doctor, he told us to come in asap! We did, the ER ran tests, he did an ultrasound and just wasn't satisfied with what we were finding - which was NOTHING! I am so thankful for a very wise and godly doctor - he referred me to a perinatologist (just a doctor who specializes in babies around the time of birth) just to "make sure that we weren't missing anything." First we had to meet with a genetic counselor - it is her job to tells us all of our options with regards to tests one of which being the amniocentesis - which we declined - knowing that God created this precious baby before the foundations of the earth there is not a single thing we are going to do with the results and there is a 1 in 200 chance of miscarriage!!! Anyways, we were then sent in to have an ultrasound with the doctor - he did a very thorough exam and his findings were this:
1) our baby has a fairly large hole in its heart - it is called a ventricular septal defect (vsd) - it is a hole in the wall that separates the right and left ventricles of the heart. If the hole were small there would be a good chance that it would heal itself prior to birth, but since this hole seems to be larger it is most likely something that would need to be taken care of after birth.
2) the right kidney does not appear to be functioning at all and has a few cysts. How the cysts have gotten there I am not sure - the good news is that the left kidney is working great! And, praise the Lord, we can function perfectly fine with one working kidney. There is plenty of amniotic fluid around the baby - another proof that the left kidney is functioning as it should!
3) due to the fact that there are two abnormalities in our baby our chances (according to the doctor) are higher for a chromosomal abnormality - meaning, giving birth to a baby with either Down's Syndrome or Trisomy 18. With Down's they generally find that the skull is thicker, however, the doctor said that the thickness of our baby's skull is right where it should be!
Having said and shared all of this, we know WITHOUT A DOUBT, that the God we serve is a mighty God! He spoke the world into existence and He can, if He so chooses, heal our baby! We also know, that He has promised to never leave us (His children) or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6 & 8)! We also know, that He brings trials into our lives for a reason - to refine us and bring us closer to Him (James 1:2-5). We also know that He will never give us more than we can handle and He will give us the grace to get through it (Ephesians 3:20-21)! God, is far more knowing than we, and He knows that this is a trial that we can handle - I am thoroughly humbled by that fact!!!!! We also know that the prayer of a righteous man avails much (James 5:16b) and that when two or more are gathered together He is there in their midst (Matthew 18:19-20). We also know that God cares more for us and this baby than we could ever comprehend, for that we are so abundantly thankful!!!
We know all of this and yet our hearts ache for our baby - as you can imagine the past day and a half have been a whirlwind of emotions! We walked in to the doctor's office expecting a "well, all looks fine. have a great pregnancy" and came out with this! We are still processing all of this and yet, we come to Our Heavenly Father and to you, our most precious family and friends, asking that you bow before the Throne of Grace on our behalf and the behalf of our baby.
I can think of a few specific prayer requests - if God puts it on your heart, please pray for us.
1) That our baby would be healed and perfect!
2) If God, so chooses to keep our baby with a hole in its heart, that we would give us the grace and wisdom to go through this.
3) that we would lean upon the Lord - taking our strength from Him and Him alone!
4) that we would be wise in what to share with our girls
5) That God would be honored and glorified in ALL that transpires and that there might be souls that are won for Him through this! I can think of nothing greater than knowing He used us to advance His Kingdom!
TO GOD BE THE GLORY GREAT THINGS HE HATH DONE!!!!!!
We love you all more than you will ever know!
Love,
Flavio and Michelle
"For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6
--
Where to begin?
Ephesians 3:17b-21
". . .that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have the strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power within us to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 4:4-7
"There is one body and one Spirit - just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call - one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift."
Yesterday, Flavio and I had an appointment with a specialist - a perinatologist, two weeks ago I had awakened in the middle of the night to some extreme bleeding - we called the doctor, he told us to come in asap! We did, the ER ran tests, he did an ultrasound and just wasn't satisfied with what we were finding - which was NOTHING! I am so thankful for a very wise and godly doctor - he referred me to a perinatologist (just a doctor who specializes in babies around the time of birth) just to "make sure that we weren't missing anything." First we had to meet with a genetic counselor - it is her job to tells us all of our options with regards to tests one of which being the amniocentesis - which we declined - knowing that God created this precious baby before the foundations of the earth there is not a single thing we are going to do with the results and there is a 1 in 200 chance of miscarriage!!! Anyways, we were then sent in to have an ultrasound with the doctor - he did a very thorough exam and his findings were this:
1) our baby has a fairly large hole in its heart - it is called a ventricular septal defect (vsd) - it is a hole in the wall that separates the right and left ventricles of the heart. If the hole were small there would be a good chance that it would heal itself prior to birth, but since this hole seems to be larger it is most likely something that would need to be taken care of after birth.
2) the right kidney does not appear to be functioning at all and has a few cysts. How the cysts have gotten there I am not sure - the good news is that the left kidney is working great! And, praise the Lord, we can function perfectly fine with one working kidney. There is plenty of amniotic fluid around the baby - another proof that the left kidney is functioning as it should!
3) due to the fact that there are two abnormalities in our baby our chances (according to the doctor) are higher for a chromosomal abnormality - meaning, giving birth to a baby with either Down's Syndrome or Trisomy 18. With Down's they generally find that the skull is thicker, however, the doctor said that the thickness of our baby's skull is right where it should be!
Having said and shared all of this, we know WITHOUT A DOUBT, that the God we serve is a mighty God! He spoke the world into existence and He can, if He so chooses, heal our baby! We also know, that He has promised to never leave us (His children) or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6 & 8)! We also know, that He brings trials into our lives for a reason - to refine us and bring us closer to Him (James 1:2-5). We also know that He will never give us more than we can handle and He will give us the grace to get through it (Ephesians 3:20-21)! God, is far more knowing than we, and He knows that this is a trial that we can handle - I am thoroughly humbled by that fact!!!!! We also know that the prayer of a righteous man avails much (James 5:16b) and that when two or more are gathered together He is there in their midst (Matthew 18:19-20). We also know that God cares more for us and this baby than we could ever comprehend, for that we are so abundantly thankful!!!
We know all of this and yet our hearts ache for our baby - as you can imagine the past day and a half have been a whirlwind of emotions! We walked in to the doctor's office expecting a "well, all looks fine. have a great pregnancy" and came out with this! We are still processing all of this and yet, we come to Our Heavenly Father and to you, our most precious family and friends, asking that you bow before the Throne of Grace on our behalf and the behalf of our baby.
I can think of a few specific prayer requests - if God puts it on your heart, please pray for us.
1) That our baby would be healed and perfect!
2) If God, so chooses to keep our baby with a hole in its heart, that we would give us the grace and wisdom to go through this.
3) that we would lean upon the Lord - taking our strength from Him and Him alone!
4) that we would be wise in what to share with our girls
5) That God would be honored and glorified in ALL that transpires and that there might be souls that are won for Him through this! I can think of nothing greater than knowing He used us to advance His Kingdom!
TO GOD BE THE GLORY GREAT THINGS HE HATH DONE!!!!!!
We love you all more than you will ever know!
Love,
Flavio and Michelle
"For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6
6 comments:
Michelle, thanks for sharing all of this. i will be praying for you daily.
Love, Tracy
Hi Michelle! I hope you don't mind...I checked our your blog per your comment on facebook....
I've been thinking of you since Lincoln's b-day party and have been wondering when you appointment was. I'm sorry about the news you received but it's so wonderful to see your perspective and know that we serve a perfect God! I will be sure to keep your family and little tiny one in my prayers. On a much lighter note...I noticed that we both share a love of photography! :) Sincerely-Julie Long
MIchelle, I've been praying for you since Thursday when you put the verse on your facebook status. I'm SO very thankful that you are still pregnant!! I believe that God wants to heal your baby, and will be praying for that! Thanks for posting this on your blog - that can be quite scary too :) But Todd and I will keep praying for healing and that God makes everything perfectly clear to you guys!!
Michelle, You have been in my prayers the last few days. You are right, God is faithful and good. I will pray that that brings you comfort.
Praying for you! You have such a sweet attitude and I know the Lord will use you through all of this! Love you!
Just want to let you know that I am praying for you and your sweet little baby! I work with a beautiful pro-life group who specialized with mother's who have gotten tough prenatal diagnoses. You can find us at... www.prentalpartnersforlife.com.
We have beautiful gifts to send to your baby and you will be put on our prayers list. Praying for you tonight.
in Christ's love,
Courtney
www.ourlittlegemma.com
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