Graham at 17 Months

Our big boy is being loved on by his grandparents and has had aunts, uncles and cousins come to Philly to play with him. He turned 17 months on July 23rd.

Since Hudson came early by six weeks they are now only 17 months apart instead of 18...seeing how Hudson was supposed to still be in my belly until August 26th!

Graham is so much fun and is FULL OF ENERGY. He is learning so much so fast and has added to his repertoire of sounds including the firetruck, sheep, kitty cat, dog, train and get this...that kid can whistle! I mean for real whistle at 17 months. I need to get a video of that.

In the midst of such a hard time, Graham is such a delight and I find myself squeezing him tighter and more often. He's so funny too. We love our Grahambo!

For more updates on our sweet boy, Hudson, you can go here:

https://www.facebook.com/hudsonsheart

or here:

http://www.gofundme.com/havehalfaheart

Naming Our Precious Son

Corey and I have chosen special names for our special boy.
In true French tradition, we are giving our baby boy three names.
Such a big name for such a little guy.

Hudson Taylor Alexander Sylvestre
Born: July 17, 2015
12:30pm
6 pounds 7 ounces
19 inches

Hudson: 
We chose Hudson for 2 reasons. One we highly admire the missionary to China, Hudson Taylor. This quote describes his life well. We pray that our Hudson will share Jesus with others freely.

Historian Ruth Tucker summaries the theme of his life, "No other missionary in the nineteen centuries since the Apostle Paul has had a wider vision and has carried out a more systematized plan of evangelizing a broad geographical area than Hudson Taylor."

The second reason we chose Hudson is because Corey and I fell in love walking along the Hudson River in Manhattan and part of our first date was walking in the rain along the Hudson.
So his first name is part of Corey and me together.

Taylor: 

Once again in honor of Hudson Taylor but the major reason we appreciate the name Taylor is after Sandi Taylor and her family (Bill, Abby, Hannah and Margaret). Sandi has influenced my life in a million ways and has taught me to walk with God and live for him and others. Bill and Sandi love Corey and I well. We hope that our little Taylor will have character and generous hearts like the Taylor's.

Alexander:

We give our son the name Alexander because of my dad. Alexander means, "defender of mankind." It is, of course, my maiden name but more importantly we want our son to love Jesus and those around him the way his "Papa Joe" does and to wear the Alexander name knowing it comes from a man who would give him absolutely anything. His Alexander grandparents love him unconditionally and would never require him to do anything for their love.
This name is part of me, his mama.

Sylvestre:

Our special boy will wear his father's last name proudly. Hudson has the most amazing daddy and Sylvestre grandparents who love Jesus and love him so much. We pray he has his daddy's patience and is a prayer warrior like his Sylvestre grandparents.
This name is part of his daddy.

More Prayer Needed

• Pray that I don't go into labor or have complications where they need to take the baby early. We are really praying for another 3-4 weeks before we have to deliver. This is absolutely crucial. 
• Pray that I feel okay. I have had several scary episodes where my heart races and I feel pretty sick on my stomach. They checked my blood yesterday and it is okay. That is amazing because had it been off, they would have been forced to deliver.
• Pray the fluid stops returning! This is causing complications for me and the baby. They drained the fluid for a third time again yesterday and it hurt so badly.
• Pray for health and life for our little boy. He's so active in my womb. We desperately want to love on him and have him healthy and strong. We need a miracle. A supernatural, part the Red Sea, walk on water miracle.
• Pray for Corey as he is away flying/working. Pray for safety and for the Lord's presence.
• Pray for our faith and for soft hearts.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the calls, texts, facebook messages and generous gifts. 

http://www.gofundme.com/havehalfaheart

I want to be able to sing this song and mean it....

Grander earth has quaked before Moved by the sound of His voice Seas that are shaken and stirred Can be calmed and broken for my regard Chorus Through it all, through it all My eyes are on You Through it all, through it all It is well Through it all, through it all My eyes are on You It is well with me Verse 2 Far be it from me to not believe Even when my eyes can't see And this mountain that's in front of me Will be thrown into the midst of the sea Chorus Through it all, through it all My eyes are on You Through it all, through it all It is well Bridge x3 So let go my soul and trust in Him The waves and wind still know His name(repeat last line during 3rd run) It is well with my soul It is well with my soul It is well with my soul It is well with my soul repeat 3x(increasing in strength and volume) It is well it is well with my soul x3 ahhhhhhh (softly) Chorus x2-3 (softly slowly) Through it all, through it all My eyes are on You Lord Through it all, through it all It is well with me.

Prayers for Monday

I have another doctor's appointment on Monday morning. I am assuming that they will need to drain the fluid out of the baby's lung again. This can cause complications for the baby and for me. The biggest thing is that it can cause labor to start or hit a nerve in the baby.

Please pray that the fluid would stop coming back and that if they have to drain it again on Monday that I will not have contractions or start labor.

I am due August 26th and need to get as close to that date as possible.

Also pray for me. Lately my heart has been racing, I get nauseated and shortness of breath. The doctor said this is because the fluid makes it seem like I am two weeks over due and putting strain on my body.

We are so grateful for everything. Everyone has been so incredibly generous and I am overwhelmed by the prayers, financial support, the home we stayed in and we are staying in right now plus all the calls, texts, facebook messages, etc. We feel so loved and supported during such a difficult, painful and confusing time.

We are continuing to raise funds as we face this transition to Philadelphia and even with insurance, significant medical bills.

http://www.gofundme.com/havehalfaheart

I'm in Philadelphia....

I came back to Philadelphia on Monday morning and spent the whole day again at the hospital. They had to drain 1.5 liters of amniotic fluid from me and fluid from the baby's lung.  I had grown unbelievably miserable over the weekend and the fluid is the reason. I thought I was going to burst! They had to observe me from 1pm to 6:45pm because I started contracting a little bit. The doctors do not know why the fluid is happening. Please pray it stops!

It was great to be home for a few days to get some work done for my job and few other things that were weighing on me. The best part was seeing my family and my sweet Graham. I'm missing Corey so much but we Skype everyday so that helps some. Keep praying for him. He's living in a hotel and is working straight with no days off.

We got a test result back yesterday and our baby's chromosomes are NORMAL!!!!!! Praise the Lord! I've been begging God for this. We do have one more pretty scary test result lingering. We hope to hear good news about that next week. Please pray that this test would be clear and we can move forward knowing that our little one does not have any mental, developmental limitations.

Continue to pray for his heart to grow and development along with all the arteries, veins, etc. That he would be strong enough for surgery and survive such an intense situation. We are begging God for a new heart all together. Pray that the fluid would not hinder any other growth (lungs, intestines, etc). That he would be growing big and strong in all ways. Please also pray that I do not go into labor until very close to my due date which is August 26th.

So...looks like I live in Philadelphia now. I am on modified bed rest (meaning I can shower and sit back down) and cannot travel back and forth from North Carolina for appointments. We are staying at friend's of a friend's place this week and co-workers/friends from my days at Redeemer in NY are helping us find housing for the coming weeks. I am beyond overwhelmed at everyone's generosity.

Crystal is with me. That's an understatement. We've joke that all of our pictures are "Amy & Crystal in Mooresville," Amy & Crystal in South Africa," Amy & Crystal in France," "Amy & Crystal in Myrtle Beach," Amy & Crystal in NY." We've gone through so much together and she is supporting me beyond belief right now. Getting food, sitting for HOURS at the hospital, being away from her husband, my bro, Bradley. Get this....she dropped her grad school classes...pushing her graduation date...just to be here with me. I'm so overwhelmed by her but not surprised. So now its...."Amy & Crystal in Philadelphia."

We are navigating so much with doctors, finances, living, insurance, care for Graham, work, etc. Thank you for loving and supporting us. We are overwhelmed with gratitude.

Keep praying!!!!

http://www.gofundme.com/havehalfaheart

Current Prayer Needs and Update

So I am back home for a few days from our trip to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. They drained the fluid from the baby's lungs. The fluid is returning so I will have to have it drained again on Monday. I will be traveling back to Philly on Sunday.

We are waiting on genetic test results. Some have come back and they are clear..Praise the Lord! The rest will be back within 2 weeks. Please pray there are no problems at all with the chromosomes. These tests could determine if they can operate on the baby's heart or not. We are begging God for normal, perfect chromosomes to give our little the best shot.

Prayer Needs:

• Safety for the baby. The fluid can cause development delays in blood vessels, lungs, etc. Please pray this doesn't happen and that the fluid would stop returning.
• Pray for normal genetic testing results!!!
• Pray that I do NOT go into labor. This would be terminal for the baby. My amniotic fluid is also increasing which can put me into labor. Pray this would stop. I'm only 32 weeks and need to make it to 39 if at all possible which is August 19th.
• There is a high likelihood that I will be having the baby in Philadelphia, which means a several month relocation. Of course, this will be determined by the survival of our little one. Please pray for all the logistics of this. Housing, cars, finances, my job, Corey being away for the month of July for work, our little Graham, all the medical decisions and appointments. 

Amazing thanks:

In the midst of my darkest days I have experienced generosity from friends, family and strangers. From financial gifts, to encouraging words, to a free home to stay next week from people I don't even know. People have paid for our hotel. Being in this situation has challenged my faith and fortitude like nothing else but seeing other peoples' hearts reminds me of a tender, loving God in a very tangible way. I could easily crumbled and crawl in a dark, dark hole but you all have been the representation of our Holy God to me. Thank you for being that light. I need it so badly every day. Please pray for my and my baby's health but also pray for my faith and mental fortitude. As you can imagine, carrying this baby who is moving as I write and knowing I may never get to hold him, could send me to a very ugly place. Thank you for your perseverance in prayer on our behalf.