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Sunday, June 22, 2008

Ella Hope

It has been awhile since we have given an update and we have since met with our doctor, specialist and surgeon. Therefore, we wanted to let everyone know what is going on with the pregnancy. First, we officially have a name! It is Ella Hope, Ella means "a bright light." Although these times seem dark, Christ is the light. We know God understands our suffering and we trust Him. He sees the light in these circumstances and we find hope in that (Psalm 139:12). We pray that when others see Ella or hear about her, they praise our Father in Heaven. He has blessed us so much by entrusting her to us and we are so thankful for that. I am 28 weeks now and we scheduled a date for a c-section for September 8. This obviously could change depending on how things are going as we get closer. However, if all is well, September 8th will be the birthday. We met with the specialist a little over a week ago and so far things continue to progress as well as can be expected. Ella is growing like she should and is very active - so that is reassuring.



The 2 main things they are looking at each time we go to the doctor are her heart - to make sure it is not in distress - and the size of the omphalocele (sack holding the organs). Part of the concern for her heart is because her liver is outside in the sack and is attached with blood vessels. The liver could possibly pull on her heart and cause stress. This is my understanding, some of you who know more about the human anatomy and how things work will have to forgive me if I'm wrong. :) I don't know how all of that works! So far it doesn't look like this is happening, so we are thankful for that. However, they will continue to monitor her heart each time we go. As of our last appointment, we were told that the organs in the sack are her liver, part of her stomach and part of her small intestines.



We also met with a pediatric surgeon. After meeting with him, the fact that her liver is in the sack makes surgery a little more complicated. He said that newborn livers are like wet tissue and they can tear easily and bleed, so that is a major concern during surgery. As far as other details about the surgery it is hard to say. Our conversation with the surgeon was all in generalities since they will not know exactly what they will do until she is here. Surgery will more than likely take place within the first 24 hours to two days after delivery. Ella will be in the NICU at Harris and then be transported to Cook's for surgery and then back to the NICU at Harris for the rest of the time she is at the hospital. They have told us to be prepared to be there for at least a month.



We are so thankful for all of the support, encouraging words and prayers that each of you give us. We have come a long way and still have a long way to go but definitely feel very blessed. Please continue to pray for us as we anticipate all that is to come and for Ella.

Please pray for the following:


  • Continue to pray for Ella's heart - that there are no complications.

  • Continue to pray that the omphalocele is the only defect and no additional complications arise.

  • Pray the abdomen grows (even though all the organs are not in there) so when she has the surgery, the organs will fit perfectly with no stress or forcing necessary.

  • Pray for Dr. Robbins (OB/GYN), Dr. Tabor (Specialist) and Dr. Black (Pediatric surgeon) - we believe these are individuals God is using to fulfill some of His Kingdom purposes.

  • As we get closer to September 8th, pray for our family - we all need God's peace, comfort and presence.








46 comments:

~ Ze Bartholomees Yeah ~ said...

First off...WELCOME TO THE BLOG WORLD!!! =) Secondly...I love Ella Hope already! We will be praying earnestly for her and for your precious family! Can't wait to see you guys sometime soonish! Love you!!!

Anonymous said...

Amy, thanks for this blog ... it will help a bunch in keeping up ... I love you, girl. And I love Ella Hope already! We are praying and will not stop EVER!
Daddy

Anonymous said...

Amy & Rick & Ava,
You guys continue in my prayers. I just prayed again for you, this time armed with precious Ella's name. We love you guys!
Charley Taylor

Doug Page said...

Rick and Amy - Thanks for the update. We'll be checking back on a regular basis. We love you and your family so much and are encouraged and inspired by your faith and confidence in our God! We are honored to join you with these specific prayers for Ella Hope!
Love you guys!
Doug and Lana

Anonymous said...

We are grateful for the update. Your dear, sweet unborn daughter and your entire family are never far from our thoughts and prayers.

John and Charlene

tara said...

Scout (and the rest of us) pray for precious Ella and we can't wait to hold her and love on her!
Love you guys!

Anonymous said...

It is so precious to know her name and know that God has been holding Ella Hope in His hands long before we get a chance to! Our prayer is that the doctors will stand in amazement when she enters this world as a testament to the healing power of prayer and what it can do in our lives! We will pray without ceasing! Love to you all, Cary & Pam

R Freeby said...

Thank you both for sharing your lives with us. This is a great way to keep us up on the specific prayer requests. Keep them coming so that we can be prayer warriors for you. We pray for sweet baby Ella and for your little family every day.
Randi

Kendra said...

Amy - I just randomly came across your blog page (from C. Critz's link) and read about your sweet Ella. I will be praying for your littlest one, and will be lifting up you and your hubby as well, asking the Lord to bless you with PEACE, and assurance of His healing hands shaping and protecting the little one HE created. Thanks for sharing!

Chesley said...

I am thrilled you are in blog land! I love the name Ella and I can't wait to meet her! We are praying for your family always!!!

Kacy said...

Ames - thank you for taking time to write all this out. It is really helpful to all of us to know how to pray. And it helps those of us who are so far away (me!) still feel connected with you. I trust that God will continue to demonstrate his faithfulness. Thank you for sharing what he is doing in your life and Ella's - we look forward to hearing more about his goodness to your family. I love you so much.

ps - why don't you post a funny picture of Eva for some comic relief? I know she's got some doozies...

Summer said...

Yay!!! So glad you have a blog now so we can keep up with sweet Ella and your family. We're so excited about our small group, too - see you on Weds! :-)

Brooks Inc. said...

Amy-

I am so thankful to have this list of specific prayer requests! We pray for Ella often...joining the chorus of prayers that are offered on her behlf by so many!

We love you so!

Becky

The Speck family said...

Thank you guys so much for the link to your blog~ you have been in our hearts and on our minds so much. We have been praying for sweet Ella Hope along her journey, and our prayers will not stop. We wish that we were there to walk with you in person, but please know that we are always available and willing to listen. We love you four and hope to get down there this fall to hug your necks in person! Love, Kelly, Travis & Bennett

duane.jenks@rhchurch.org said...

Thanks for the update. We love the names you chose - so fitting. May God bless you all richly.
Duane & Deb Jenks

Julia said...

I'm so glad you guys are doing this - besides the fact that its nice for us to hear the updates, its got to be great to not repeat things a million times! We love you guys and will continue to pray for Ella Hope! Love you all!

angela said...

It's great finding you here Amy and Rick! Thanks for the update on Ella. We will continue keeping her in our prayers.

Elizabeth Miller said...

Love you much and you are continually in the miller fam prayers!!!

Kristen said...

Thanks for the update! We are praying for you!

Amanda said...

Amy~ First, YAY for joining blogland!! Second, Ella and your whole family are in our prayers!!! I can't wait to see how God continues to show Himself through your family! We love you all!

Ashley said...

Wow, Amy. I just found out about this and will be praying and praying. Thank you so much for sharing this! We will already start loving sweet Ella Hope and be looking forward to seeing how God heals her!

Ashley Core Nelson

Julie said...

Amy Amy Amy. I am so glad to finally find you in the blogosphere.

We are praying for your sweet Ella and the story she will tell one day about what God did in her life. We have great hope because God knows her name, has always known her name, and knows just perfectly how to sustain her.

Let's git together.

Hayley said...

Amy-
So glad we will be able to keep up with you and your family through this blog. I will definitely be praying for sweet Ella.
-Hayley (Jennings) Eoff

Jennifer K said...

What a beautiful name! We will pray for Miss Ella and continue to check back for specific requests. Thank you for sharing!
Jennifer (Hearne) King

Monica said...

So glad to find your blog so I can join in prayer with so many others. Also, it will be great having you in the blog world. I have always thought you needed to be a part. Ella Hope what a perfect name.

Anonymous said...

We love you guys and are praying for our little niece Ella. Thanks for the update. God bless you all with peace.

Anonymous said...

How blessed we are that our heavenly Father is in control. Amen! Our love and prayers to you and Rick, Ron and Lyn

leslie said...

Hey Amy,

Ann has been keeping me updated, but I am so glad you have a blog that I can check too! I LOVE the name you chose. It just fits perfectly. We are praying every day!

Britney K said...

Hello Amy and Rick! I am so excited to hear about miss Ella. Brad and I will be praying for healing. Thank you for sharing your journey and prayer requests with the blog world. We love you and will be praying and believing. Blessings to you!

GPaty said...

Precious Amy and Rick,

Our hearts are with you as you travel this journey of faith. Your beautiful family will remain in our prayers in the coming days and weeks as you prepare for Ella's arrival. May God continue to shower you with His richest blessings.
We love you guys,
Cody, Ginger, Claire, Gregory, and Meredith Paty

Shanta said...

Amy and Rick- I'm so glad you have a blog! Thank you for sharing your journey of sweet Ella Hope with us. I know she will be "the light" you pray for her to be. We can't wait to meet her. She will be so special. We will continue to pray for each of you.

And, Ella will have the coolest birthday buddy! Sept 8 is the best!

Tussany said...

Amy, I'm so thankful you started this blog so I can keep up with what's going on. My love and my prayers are with you guys. God is faithful and He'll come through for you. He always has! You guys are such a blessing. I'll keep praying with you. I love you so much!

Bpun

Kelly Vaughn said...

Amy and Rick,
Thank you for sharing exactly what is going on. Our family is also joining the team of people praying for your family...love the name Ella Hope.
Love and prayers,

leahknick said...

Hi Amy! It's Leah from Hughes! :) I will keep your sweet family in my thoughts and prayers.

Susan @ Blessed Assurances said...

amy we are praying with you and Rick! I agree with Kacy, post pictures of Eva for comic relief. :)

Love you sweet friend.
Susan

Natalie said...

Thanks Amy for letting us know the specific items for which we can pray. Thinking of you in Fresno! The Arnolds

Leigh Ann said...

Hey Amy!
The Bookers will definitly be lifting of prayers for sweet Ella. We will also keep you and the family in them too. Thank you for being so open.
Love- Jason & Leigh Ann

Mere Ware said...

Amy- You are a first time blogger and have more comments than I have had on my blog ever. Congrats! I think of sweet Ella daily and pray for the smoothest delivery and recovery possible... for both of you! We love you guys!

Lindsay said...

Amy- I am so sorry to hear this. We will pray for your requests. Glad to see you in blogland. Love you girl!

Anonymous said...

I love the name Ella Hope! I will continue to pray for you and Ella! Please post pictures of Eva!
Vanessa

Ross & Jamie said...

We are praying for you all! I BELIEVE in complete healing for little Ella and am praying God's peace for her sweet mommy and daddy. Love you girlfriend!
Jamie

Rachel said...

amy,

i came across your blog via tara's blog. please know that we will be praying for your beautiful family!
many blessings,
rachel (brainard) elder

JB said...

Amy,

Your sweet family will be in my prayers.

Julie Beth (Wray) Fox

Jodi said...

Amy and Rick-
I randomly found you had a blog, but I had no idea what was going on with your sweet family. Know that sweet Ella Hope will be lifted up before the Father constantly here in Houston, and I look forward to witnessing yet again the Power and Might and Healing of His Hand through the lives of my friends! Praying for Mommy and Daddy too... I can't even imagine. Love to all!
~Jodi (Gray)

Kristen said...

We are praying for your family! So glad you have a blog now to update. Love the name Ella! :)

Anonymous said...

Ella Hope is a beautiful name. There is another Ella Hope looking over her right now - www.umbrellaofhope.com

Prayers for you!