Pray with us

I know that many of you who read this blog are praying for us, and that is a true and awesome gift you are giving to our family.  Thank you.  We believe in the power of prayer, and know that God has already answered so many of our petitions in the past year alone.  Some of you have even told me when you pray for us (on your morning walk, multiple times each day), which I find so reassuring. 

I know that sometimes it’s hard to know what exactly to pray for, so here are the big things we’re praying for this week leading up to our precious girl’s arrival, if you want to join us!  And think of this sweet little face when you do:

1)      Pray that Cupcake will wait until the scheduled date and time, so that the team (of about 20 people, including my OB + entourage, the neonatologist + entourage, pediatric surgeon, respiratory specialist, anesthesiologist, and others) will be present and prepared for her arrival.  That the team would be experienced, wise, and that the Lord will guide each of their hands every step of the way.

2)     Pray for comfort for Cameron and me.  That the days leading up the 27^th will be easy, tender days for us to fully join and prepare our hearts for becoming Mama & Daddy.

3)     Pray that the c-section will go smoothly and as expected.   I have been afraid of the c-section, having never had surgery in my life and having been told by my doctor that I will have the “largest possible incision” (!) in order to put the least pressure on Cupcake. I am praying that our OB will be able to get our baby out safely with the large version of the normal type of transverse incision, rather than having to resort to a vertical incision, which bears a significantly higher risk for me and for future pregnancies.  Pray that no general anesthesia will be necessary; I want to be fully awake and aware to see my baby when she is born! Pray that we will be able to see her and even touch her before she goes to the NICU.

4)    Pray that there will be no damage to the omphalocele during and following the delivery.  A rupture of the fragile membrane would be very dangerous and would add major complications to her treatment, so it needs to stay intact!

And the biggest one, that if you only have time to pray for one of these things, pray for this…

5) That our sweet girl’s lungs will be so, so strong and ready to breathe from the moment she enters the world.  With a large omphalocele, there is a tendency for the lungs to develop a strange shape and small size due to the abnormal formation of the abdomen.  The O also puts unnatural pressure on the diaphragm and lungs, making it hard for a lot of O babies to breathe when they are born.  So far, we have seen her practicing her breathing on the ultrasounds, so we know she knows what to do!   Pray that she’ll be strong enough to do it on her own.  Pray that when she is born, we will hear her cry out with might: her battle cry for the fight of her life.