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Thursday, October 23, 2008

Pray for Ella


Rick here. Sometimes in life, what you see is not always what it appears. That is the case with this picture. Although she is smiling and looks great to us, Ella is not doing great. We just love the picture and wanted to post it because we are thankful. We acknowledge that we have so much to be thankful for – Ella is peaceful, content, her wound is healing fine, her doctors and nurses have been excellent and we’re making friends with other parents in the NICU. All these things we are thankful to God for and recognize them as blessings from Him.

However, Ella is not eating well. Several weeks ago, she was doing great and we had our hopes on going home soon. Then, for some reason, she just stopped taking a bottle and she had to go back to being fed by the feeding tube more frequently. Now we are at a place where she is only eating well every once in a while – way too inconsistent for any of us to be comfortable. The doctors are now talking to us about Ella having to go through another surgery to put a feeding tube into her stomach (called a G-buttom). This would allow us to go home – however, we want her to go home without a feeding tube and no surgery. The surgery would have additional complications due to the fact that she has had the omphalocele surgery.

We understand that God is God. He can do whatever He wants and doesn’t even have to explain why. We trust Him. And if He wants her to have another surgery for this G-button, we will submit to that and praise Him for being God. However, we don’t want this to be His will. We are pleading with Him to have Ella get better without the surgery. We are begging Him to open Ella’s mouth and give her the desire, ability and strength to eat full bottles every time.

We are asking all who read this blog (pass this on to anyone who will pray) to join us in praying that Ella start eating well every time. Her feeding times are 3:00, 6:00, 9:00 and 12:00 am and pm. We want so bad for God to be glorified through her eating well. We want there to be no doubt that God changed her eating habits. We want everyone to know that there is a God and He is good. We know that is the case no matter what happens with her eating habits.

It is times like this that I wish I understood God but it is also times like these that I am so thankful I serve a God who is so big, there is nobody who can grasp everything about Him. What a small God we would serve if we understood everything about Him…If His answer was always “Yes” and we never got to see Him bring good out of tough situations. We serve a Huge God!

Thank you for praying for our family. Please continue.

27 comments:

Julie said...

Marking all those times down to pray...

christine pinson said...

Man, we love you guys so much. you are constantly on our hearts and minds, and always on our lips when we go to our Heavenly Father.
You guys are so strong, and you have such a strong baby girl. Your faith has already been such a testimony to so many. But I know that right now you aren't feeling strong...PRAISE GOD that His power is made PERFECT in our weakness! He is working in and through your whole family in this overwhelming and challenging situation, even when you are at your weakest.

I don't know that I would be able to handle this with the grace that you and Amy show each day. Just another testimony to your unwavering faith in our God, who can open sweet Ella's mouth. We believe this and we will cry out to God asking for it. What a precious day it will be when you can walk into the door of your home as a family of FOUR! We are blessed to be your friends and humbled as we walk alongside you...because while you are the ones going through it, we are the ones who are learning from YOU.

Always praying for that day...and expecting blessing for each day along the way...

Anonymous said...

I love you all so much and we are praying hard every day for all of you and begging God to please, please heal Ella and help her to get her feedings down so she can come home. I know you are getting discouraged so may God keep his loving arms around all of you and help keep you strong during your weak times. Amy, I love you honey.

Anonymous said...

I am sad to hear this news, but your are right Rick...we do serve a HUGE God! One that knows His plans for Ella, even if we can't comprehend the "why." I will pray that He will continually be glorified in & through her life...however He sees fit to do so. I will also pray for your requests to open how mouth & be fed fully at each feeding.

Your family's faith has been such an encouragement, and I pray also that you find comfort & encouragement in those surrounding you. I love you guys!

~Lea Ellen

LST team to Morelia, MX 2010 said...

Thank you for bring honest and letting us know how to ask GOD to do another miracle in Ella's life. Praying for her desire to eat to open her mouth so she can receive those blessings of nourishment and that this food can go down into her tummy with NO problems and she will grow and you all can be a family AT HOME!!

Marilyn

Brooks Inc. said...

We are praying...now at Ella's exact feeding times. Thank you for your realness Rick...We love you and Amy so! We, join you in crying out to God asking that He be glorfied through giving this precious baby the desire and ability to eat on her own.

We love you so!

Becky

The Speck family said...

Hey guys~ Thanks for your honesty. We can relate to the frustration and helplessness that comes with a baby who struggles eating. Before Bennett we just thought that parents fed their babies. Period. Little did we know the world of exhaustion and frustration that comes with little ones who have a harder time with this. We are praying that Ella starts sucking those bottles down and that the burden is lifted from your shoulders...it is all just so heavy. We love you all and are here if you have any questions about the G tube, etc. Hugs and love, Kelly, Travis & Bennett

Emily said...

So sorry to hear about the set back - we will definitely keep those times in mind and you guys in our prayres. If there is anything else that we can do to make this time easier, let us know.

PS She sure is a beautiful little girl! You can't help but smile when you see her sweet pictures

Jennifer K said...

We will be praying at those times. May more blessings be sent your way.

Chesley said...

First -What a precious picture of sweet Ella. Love it!!! I could eat her up!

Second-I have no idea how hard things really are because I have not experienced what you are going through. I have such huge respect for you two and the faith you show. We are praying for you all.
We love you!

Jodi said...

Oh, I LOVE that picture. LOVE her!

Man, times are tough. It hurts me terribly to read about those tough times for you guys.... know that you are constantly on my heart and in my prayers. It is so difficult as parents to know there is a problem and have no ability to take it away from your precious angel! But thank you for your examples of unwavering faith... it carries me through tough times too. :) Looking forward to great news about Ella, and praising God every second in between!

Susan @ Blessed Assurances said...

praying for you guys to have peace and discernment with the next step.
thanks for keeping us posted

Shelly said...

Tra and I were talking tonight about the power of prayer and how we don't truly realize just how powerful it is!! We will be praying for precious Ella and for you guys as you continue on this difficult journey with your sweet daughter. Praying that you continue to experience the power of prayer in your lives and that this "mountain" will be MOVED! Thinking of the song, "My God is so BIG, so STRONG and so MIGHTY there's NOTHING my God cannot do!" We love y'all so much!!

Sam, Erin, Ava, Madeline and Asher said...

We will be praying for you and for sweet little Ella. We will be praying for healing and strength and the mighty testimony you will one day share. Thank you for glorifying God through such a trying situation. He will honor that in way you cannot fathom.

Summer said...

sweet baby...of course we will pray! my niece had a g-tube temporarily and is now eating just fine, but we will pray that ella doesn't have to go through that at all. we love you guys! what a long journey yall have been on and what a great testimony of faith!

Unknown said...

Praying for my little sweetie #2 and knowing that God is continuing the good work that He has begun. I am praying for you, too, as I know you want this little angel at home. As we enter this season of Thanksgiving, I am extra thankful for God's answered prayers thus far and will continue to lift you up, especially at the feeding times! Hugs!

Chelsa said...

it's close to nine a.m. i'll be praying for ella's feeding.

Kendra said...

Almost 9am here on Monday am . . Colby and I were sitting together checking on Baby Ella and read this . .we just prayed that the Lord would open up her mouth to eat and that God would "look good" because of it (Colby's words). I can only imagine your difficulty with this. God IS good, and will help you and that sweet baby for the glory of His name. Praying every 3 hours.

Crystal said...

we will be praying for her
jon and crystal toy

Macy said...

What a beautiful picture of a beautiful baby. Thanks for sharing the prayer request. I will definately be praying...hard! What a testimony you both are of faith and patience. Thank you for that.

Amy Robinson said...

Amy,
I have been thinking of you so much. I know this is so hard and emotionally draining. You have such an amazing faith and are such an example of a wonderful christian mother. I know God will do so much with Ella in his timing, but that makes it very hard for us, just hang in there and we will continue to pray everyday for you and your family. We will pray for her feedings to improve and that God will heal her with no more surgeries. Just know you and Rick are a true inspiration to all of us. Love you, Amy Robinson

Donny - MarketingTwin #2 said...

Rick, we'll join you in prayer.

Summer said...

Rick -
We think about you guys constantly. Thank you for your openness and transparency. This has been a long haul for your family. We know you are strong, but we also know that there are those moments when the faith seems to come to an end. We will be praying for Ella. We pray for her well being and that she will eat. Summer and I are also praying for you and Amy. We are praying for your daily bread - that you will be given the support and encouragement to sustain.
love you bro,
Chad

The Bell's said...

She is so beautiful!! I started a blog just so i could communicate with you! I know that this is so hard but you are doing such a good job! God is going to supply you with everything you need. We are praying for your precious family, and specifically for Ella to start eating and get to go home!I love you Amy! love, kim bell

Anonymous said...

Amy & Rick, Your faith and testimony are amazing. Ella and Ava are such sweet, beautiful little angels. It is an inspiring, incredible thing to look back and see God's hand at work through all that you've been through so far and to know He is with you now too. I'm praying for little Ella to have the desire and strength to take her bottle feedings and want more, also for God's grace, strength, comfort, & peace for your family. Much love and prayer, Julie Meek

Leslie said...

Praying for you guys today.
Leslie Thomas

R Freeby said...

I am saying a prayer right now before the midnight feeding and wanted you to know that I believe that prayer changes things and because of your honesty and openness we can come together and beg God to change it. We love you all and want to support you in any way we can.
Randi