A Reflection by Kristy Wheeler

The words from “How Great thou Art” keep resounding.  “I scarce can take it in.”  I knew we would see God in Wylie’s birth.  As we see Him, I stand in awe, amazed.  I haven’t found words yet to capture all we have seen, but my friend Kristy Wheeler did.  She and her husband, Matt, kept watch as I labored and as God broke into this world through Wylie’s life.  With her permission, I share her words:

So much LIFE.

Waiting room filled with friends with stories upon stories of LIFE lived together. People trickle in and out, hugging, holding hands, laughing, remembering when and awaiting Who.

Stories of births, of adoptions, and of brokenness in the world and its systems… oh, but the beauty of LIFE.

Waiting.

Waiting.

Friends trickle in and out.

Waiting. 

The call goes out, the water has broken, the baby is coming. Family hustling in with concern etched on their faces. Feelings of intense urgency when there is nothing that can be done. 

Her heartbeat slows.

Where is the doctor?

Where is the Doctor?

Her heartbeat regains its rhythm. LIFE.

Waiting.

Waiting.

Praying.

Creak of the double doors being released. A room fills with children with tousled hair, with sleepy eyes, with questions and wonder as they wait for their new sister, for their new cousin. LIFE.

Prayers.

More prayers. 

LIFE.

Finally she's here; 

The whole space is full of PRAYER, of JOY, of FULLNESS. The promise of eternity swirls among us and rests... here among these people... within the little one who has enthralled us all... LIFE.

Wylie’s Warriors

First of all, we can not possibly thank everyone for all the support and encouragement we continue to receive!  My heart is full of gratitude...  For Karla.  For the UK Children's Hospital and staff.  For family. For so many wonderful friends.  For a loving God who knit Wylie together and has a wonderful plan for her life--a plan to give her "a hope and a future!"

I sat in the NICU room beside Wylie this morning overwhelmed and in awe.  What kind of world do we live in where I can drive two miles from my front door and walk into a place where the best and brightest minds and the greatest technological advances money can afford are standing by to do everything they can to help a tiny, 4lb 8oz child with genetic complications survive and thrive?  In the past 48 hours, Wylie has had every type of specialist imaginable stop in to check on her, scan her, and explain to us how “surprised” they are that she is doing so well.  Even more, they let us know they are prepared should something change!  Yes, we live in an amazing time in human history and in an amazing country!  Most of all, we live under the care of a God that is mysterious and powerful: listening to and acting on our prayers!  One of our biggest prayers was that she would breathe on her own and that happened after birth!  Today, "more than we can ask or imagine"... she nursed!  Another big prayer was that she would come home.  I trust that will happen in the coming days! 

Below is a link that friends have set up to keep folks updated on progress and ways to help with food etc.  We are super grateful for the support.  I can’t wait for you all to meet this amazing girl!

Join Wylie's Warriors:

https://my.lotsahelpinghands.com/community/wylies-warriors/request-to-join

The Destination Is The Journey,
Gavin

Ps. Karla will be writing to fill in all the details of the past few days soon.  She is doing great!

Mighty One

When Emma was about six or seven, she came into the kitchen where I stood my post at the sink with a proclamation I will never forget.  

"Mom, when I grow up, I'm going to have ten kids and they are all going to be small and bossy!"  

I just laughed because I thought, "She's right.  That's exactly what will happen if she says so!"

She is such a powerhouse, our Emma.  Her ideas are brilliant.  Her persistence is unquenchable and her love is fierce!  I've seen these qualities on display numerous times, but Wylie's life has brought about a demonstration unlike any other.  Emma loves her little sister so well and her Momma has been taking note.

On Tuesday, our exceptionally awesome doctor advised us that it's time to plan for Wylie's birth.  She has passed all her NSTs and ultrasounds, but the placenta is not doing the best for her.  That's why Dr. Playforth suggested sooner rather than later.  "How about Monday or Tuesday?" I was a bit shocked!  I will be 37 weeks on Friday, so I was thinking that we might be waiting longer.  I know and trust that she absolutely has Wylie's best interest in mind so we will induce on Tuesday at 8 a.m. if labor doesn't occur naturally before then.

In the meantime, I have prayed to switch modes.  I have enjoyed and grown comfortable with the closeness and the "knowns" of pregnancy with Wylie.  It's time to open the door to the unknowns of Wylie's birth.  Faithful family and friends, you have come right into this with us.  You have held us with such sincere care and love.  Your hopes are being realized!

This is what I know:

Wylie is not weak.  She is the exact opposite.  She bears a resemblance to her elder sister.  She's mighty!

Wylie and I are in this together.  We, connected, go forward in trust--in true love.

We will find no lack on this journey.  Everything we need will be there!

We will meet face to face and I am full of excitement and joy!  

Thank you, Wylie.  You have changed me forever.  I am so grateful for you.  You may be small (est. 4 lbs. 9 oz. at last Friday's ultrasound), but you are powerful!  I can't wait to get my arms around you!

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7)