Shower for Heavy
We love our church. This past Sunday Calvary threw us a very special baby shower. The room was filled with people and families that love us and that we love tremendously. We laughed, cried and prayed together -for our family-for Heavy-for healing (both physically for Heavy and for our hearts after he dies) - for preparations-for protection for our family-with praise for the way that God has walked with us and carried us along the way.
One of the only movements of Heavy’s that I can feel is a knocking motion he does with the hand that is at his side (snuggled up on the right side of my abdomen). During our prayer time he was knocking, almost as though he were acknowledging his being lifted up before the Lord.
Our congregation also made us a memory blanket for Heavy. It is a large cozy blanket that our family will be able to snuggle up in with on the days and nights that we miss our son/brother. Tied to the blanket are messages and memories that will remind us of this special little boy.
Miracle after Miracle
Since May our journey with Heavy has been full of ups, downs and periods of feeling really normal, but it has been one that has been laced with miracles. We are so proud of our son.
On Monday we had our last perinatal doctor’s appointment. Dr. Landers shared some good news with us. He said that Heavy’s heart condition appeared to be getting better (as compared to the previous scan two weeks prior) and that the pleural effusions (fluid around the lungs) had decreased as Heavy’s lungs have grown.
We asked Dr. Landers what this meant and he shared with us that he really wasn’t too sure, but was cautiously optimistic that we may have a bit more time with our son that we had thought. Then he laughed and said, I am not really sure what to tell you because everything else I have predicted for this little guys based on his condition has been wrong, I never thought we would be here at 38 weeks with a live baby.
Please continue to join us in praying for strength for Heavy’s body; we so badly want to meet our son. We are looking forward to the day of his birth; to welcome him into our family… to hold him… kiss him… snuggle him…. snap tons and tons of pictures… and full of love, place him in the arms of his Heavenly Father. As a family, we don’t feel we can take our next steps of healing until he is resting, his body healed in his forever home.
Helping us after the birth
We know many of you are eager to help our family as Heavy’s arrival day draws near. Our friends the Posts (Ben and Jes) will be serving as our voice for what we may formally need. My guess it will be things like, meals, maybe making a grocery run for us, playing with Peter and Maria while Peter and I take a walk together to get some fresh air/clear our heads, or take a nap.
At this point we are going to let Peter and Maria take the lead as far as how much “time off” they need after Heavy is born, often times routine can be cathartic after a sad or traumatic event. With that said, we are planning on Peter continuing at school (M-T-W mornings) and we are planning on signing Peter up for soccer (Tuesday evenings) and Maria up for a gymnastics class (Wednesday evenings). In the first weeks after Heavy’s birth we may need help getting our kids to school and their activities if they are feeling up to going.
Thank you
We cannot express in words how much the cards, emails, meals, phone calls, babysitting, hugs, tears, and laughter have meant to our family during this time. We have felt loved beyond measure, and are truly thankful to have been on this journey with you. But the journey does not end here. Perhaps it is just beginning. We are anxious, scared, and, in a sense, excited for what the future brings. We know that Heavy’s story is far from over and we look forward to walking the rest of this path with you.
With Love,
Peter, Chelsea, Peter, Maria and Heavy Fanchi
~~Also, we have started a family blog if you would like to follow us there: fanchifamily.blogspot.com ~~
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