Last Thursday we received the devastating news that our baby, a third little girl, has several serious complications. According to the doctors the prognosis is very poor and they told us that we should not expect this baby to survive.

My heart ached as I absorbed the idea that this little girl, who we have longed for and prayed for and imagined bringing home, might join her big sister, Faith, in Heaven instead.

My heart aches now as I wrestle with this path we’re on and wait for whatever is to come.

At what was meant to be our routine 20 week anatomical ultrasound they discovered fluid in this baby’s chest cavity surrounding her lungs. It felt like some sort of terrible deja vu – reminiscent of the hydrops that Faith experienced and the fluid that was discovered throughout her body at 30 weeks.

Following that appointment we were sent to a specialist who found, in addition to the fluid, that this little girl has a heart defect and her stomach looks to be located on the opposite side of where it should be.

The doctors suspect an underlying genetic cause. We had done no genetic testing earlier in the pregnancy so I had amniocentesis on Thursday and we should receive the results at our appointment next Friday, as well as have a follow up ultrasound then.

When Faith was born we had many tests done, both during the last days of my pregnancy with her as well as an autopsy and genetic testing afterwards, and everything came up clear. No answer. Unexplained. A lightning strike.

Sometimes lightning strikes twice.

I have so many emotions and thoughts, but it’s hard to put everything into words. I am crushed and truly can’t believe this is happening again.

God is with us, we know. He will never leave us… but still, this is difficult beyond words.

I will try to share more when I can and update as we receive more information. In the meantime, we sincerely covet your prayers for us and for this little baby girl.

The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.

Deuteronomy 31:8