Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Esther Jade Zylstra

Hi everyone~




First of all we want to thank you so much for all your thoughts, prayers, hugs and words of encouragement you have given to us!! We are truly feeling held up by the power of Jesus because you have been praying constantly for us and our precious baby girl and the rest of our family!! Please keep them coming! Yesterday i can say that i felt strong, i felt lifted up and i even told our genetic counselor that was why we were so calm. :) After she commended us for our calmness. I thought, honey, you have no idea. So i told her why we were so calm. Not because we were being so strong, but because we trust in the Lord and have a gajillion people praying for us back home. She looked at me kind of blankly. That is always interesting. As one of my friends said, We are standing with you holding up your arms, as Aaron and Hur did with Moses in the bible. I thought of that many times yesterday as i went throughout the day so thankful for the strength of Jesus that we have available to us when we call on him and depend on him. I don't know what i would do if i did not have Jesus Christ in my life. He is everything and is where all hope comes from. I am so grateful for that.




I had my hour long ultrasound at Swedish Hospital yesterday and it confirmed what we heard last week from my Dr. here in Bellingham, Dr. Cook. To put it simply she has LOTS of extra fluid in her little body; her neck, scalp, head, in and around her heart, she has a big tummy and chest area. ( I loved looking at her on the ultrasound and seeing her move and wave, her little hands and feet - she looked perfect to me!) Anyway, the genetic counselor said, "All this fluid suggests eventual cardiac failure". Basically her little heart will not be able to withstand the pressure of all the fluid and it will stop. So humanly speaking she is not expected to make it out of the womb. But i am putting hope in Jesus that she could be healed if he so chooses to. He has the power to do anything!




Brian and i named her today.......Her name is Esther, which means "STAR" and her middle name is Jade which means "PRECIOUS ONE". So now you can pray by name for Esther Jade Zylstra's life!




I have another appt for an ultrasound and consultation with a specialist next Mon morning at 7 am back at Swedish.......we covet your continued prayers! We are so thankful for each one of you standing with us in prayer. I can feel it!




You are so appreciated~ Love Mo & Brian

8 comments:

  1. Love you guys - We are praying!

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  2. Praying for you all! Love your little girl's name! She is indeed a precious one...

    So proud of your witness to God's strength in you...Truly, the world has no idea.

    Love to you!
    Les

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  3. What a beautiful name for your sweet baby girl. Thank you for sharing this journey with us - we will be praying for Esther Jade and for your family. God Bless, Stacey and Randy

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  4. I love her name, beautiful!! Praying for healing and peace, I love all three of you!
    Heather

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  5. Monica and Brian....
    Thank you for updating us on your sweet baby Esther. What a beautiful name and it reminds me of the courageous example that Esther from the Bible was to all of us. I am praying that as you carry her inside of you, that you will grow strong and very courageous to face whatever the days ahead may hold. God is with you and Esther and she will know, even inside of you now, how very loved she is. THe Bennetts will keep you all in our prayers. Love you!

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  6. Praying for strength, for courage, and wisdom and the grace of God to surround all three of you. That we can all trust in His crazy plans that are so far beyond what we can fathom. More than that, praying for a miraculous healing for baby Esther. That she would be healed and made perfectly whole in every way. Declaring it for all the world to hear that she be healed in Jesus name for his ultimate glory. Lord, let it be so! If there is ANYTHING we can do, just say the word. We love you all! -The Apps

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  7. I love her name. Esther Jade is amazing and strong and takes after her parents. Loved and cared for, a child of God. Love to you both and daily prayer is flowing your direction. Blessings...Gail

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  8. Praying for you guys... that God will completely protect your little girl. That you all would have a special measure of strength and peace that can only He can give. "Now to Him who is able to immeasurably more than all we ask for and imagine..."

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