Please pray for Heidi--updated--and updated again...

I'm coming by to ask for prayer for a very close and dearly loved, long-time friend of mine, Heidi. She is mama to 9 children--the littlest, in her womb, was due to enter the world in about 2 days time. Heidi, was concerned this morning, because she didn't feel movement. The midwife came, checked for the baby's hearbeat with the hand-held doppler, but wasn't able to find it. They immediately made their way to the hospital, where they did an ultrasound, and so very sadly, still, there was no heartbeat to be found.

They've begun to induce Heidi's labor, beginning with Cytotec, and will progress to Pitocin if they need to. She said, either way, the baby will be born, today, or tomorrow.

These will no doubt be among the very saddest moments, days, weeks, months, of her life. So, please, if God places her on your heart, do pray. Here is her blog, if you find that you'd like to go by and get to know her a bit more and walk this road alongside her, in love.

Please do feel free to leave her a loving note, here, or on her blog. I know that it will be such a comfort to her, now and over time to know that she's being thought of and prayed for. Thank-you. Thank-you so much, for reaching out and extending love to dear Heidi, her husband Mike, and their family. Thank-you, again and again, for praying them.

I'm going to share just a few of her photos of some of her beautiful children, here. Dear, sweet, family. So much love. There are these and more photos, and lots of loving encouragement, on her blog.

Through many tears, Jewels

*~*~*Update Sat. Feb. 28...*~*~*

I spoke with Heidi this morning, and she said how very grateful she was to know that everyone was praying for her. I am so very grateful, too. She had just been given the choice of taking another dose of Cytotec, or moving ahead with the Pitocin, and chose the latter. She's had labor induced with Pitocin before, so does have an idea of what to expect. Her precious baby is a little boy. His name is Sean Wilmer. And, Heidi expects that he'll be born sometime today.

She shared with tears on and off, and then--and this was just so beautiful, there aren't really words to say just how so--she told me that last Saturday she was sitting at the piano and God gave her a song. She wasn't sure what the song meant for her (the words were about being in a storm, God's ways being above and beyond our understanding, Him holding close and giving His thoughts, in exchange and over time to one trusting, resting and desiring to see through His eyes.), at the time. My few words of summary don't come near to what the song actually says, so beautifully. But, the truest beauty of it all was that Heidi sang, to me, over the phone. She sang the entire song. At one point she told me that she was remembering her last birth, with Emi. She had labored long and hard during the night, but joy came in the morning, as she held Emi in her arms. She cried as she said, this time, I know that there will also be joy in the morning, but the morning is going to take much longer to come. I don't doubt that one day she'll be singing the song God lovingly gave her, to others that will surely be hurting just as she is now.

Mike's mom has kindly come to stay with the other children. Heidi said that Mike has been so incredibly strong on her behalf, loving, caring, and kind. And, what a blessing his just being there with her, reading to her, praying with her, has been. Every so often she would say of few soft words to explain to me, how real God's presence is to her right now in the midst of it all.

I'll share again as time goes on.

Thank-you.

Thank-you.

Thank-you.

For your loving notes, for remembering Heidi, Mike, and their precious family, and praying for them.

Please do pray, especially, for the time so-soon-to-come, when her littlest one will be born, and in her arms. May there be peace and a sweetness, supernaturally, though the sadness of their great loss and the parting, will be immense.

Truly, thanks guys, for being so loving. Thank-you for praying.

Jewels

*~*~*Updating again, Saturday afternoon*~*~*

Heidi just called to share with me--she was holding her precious baby girl (seems the ultrasound technician was mistaken), Savannah Rose, in her arms. The labor went well, difficult at times, but shorter than she had anticipated. She said, that though she doesn't know what tomorrow will bring, she's enveloped in peace, right now. How I thank God for that.

She's expressed over and over, how thankful she is to everyone for remembering her and praying for her. I'd like to tell you, once again, how very thankful I am, too. She's been through much, but there's still the sadness of the final goodbye to be said, and the letting go.

She'll  be leaving the hospital in a fairly short while, and she and Mike will be making their way to the funeral home to make arrangements. Then, on to home, and the rest of their sweet children. Please do continue to pray, as the Lord brings Heidi and her family to your heart/s and mind/s.  And, please know, that your notes will be an immeasurable blessing, a gift to her, in the days to come. Thanks for taking the time to leave them, here, and there--at her blog.

Lovingly, Jewels

 

Comments

[Country Lady]

Bless her heart. I've been there myself and I know how badly she is hurting. My husband and I are sending up prayers for her family.

[Tracy]

Jewels, how sad. My heart is broken for her. I will keep her & her family in my prayers...

[Quinne]

Hi Jewels - We are praying for Heidi and her family, and our church family will pray, too. Love, Q

[Kelley]

I have a lost a child and know how badly she must be hurting!
I will be praying for her and her family!

[Kathy]

Jewels, you are such a dear friend to Heidi.

Dearest Heidi, I am so sorry to hear this. I cannot imagine the pain and grief you and your precious family are feeling at this time. Please know I am lifting you all up to the Lord, that He may wrap His arms around you and give you His peace.

~Kathy from HK

[Linds]

I am on my way now to leave a message on her blog. I am praying as I write, Jewels.

[Kathie]

I'm lifting them all up in prayer.

[Nadja]

May God grant her peace and healing. I'm expecting myself and I can't imagine having to get through what she must now.

[just something nanna made]

JEWELS WE WILL BE PRAYING FOR YOUR DEAR FRIEND.MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL.LOVE IN CHRIST!

[jamie]

I can't imagine the pain she must be feeling. My thoughts and prayers are with the family.

[Marqueta]

Dear Jewels,

I sure will be praying for her family-we're still grieving here.

Love,

Marqueta

[amy]

Lord Jesus, You are beautiful. We thank You for the gift of Heidi and her family. Only You know how to comfort them. Wrap your arms so tightly around them, let them rest in You. Thank You for Your goodness and Your faithfulness. Thank You for giving us strength when we are weak, thank You for comfort when we mourn. We ask you to give your strength and comfort to this beautiful family, to hold them up and let them feel Your peace which surpasses all understanding. Thank You Lord. In Your Precious name, Amen

[Islandsparrow]

Dear Jewels - I'm so sorry to hear the news about your dear friend's loss. I'm asking the Lord to give her strength and the peace that passes all understanding. May she feel His arms around her.
Praying for you too as you minister to her.
xo
Kathie

[Mrs.Rabe]

Praying!

[MrsMK]

oh, today!!

My little girl is with her child in heaven, and we share this, their 'heaven day".

Prayers and love!

[Sue]

I am so sorry. I have been through that kind of loss, but not so far along. I will pray to the God of all Comfort for your dear Heidi, and her family.

[Kathy L]

God be with her and the family-we lost our little granddaughter Mariah this way on Sept.7, 2006. God was with us and still is...
will be praying xo Kathy L

[Sommer]

Dearest Jewels~

I will gladly join you in prayers for Heidi and her family as they go through this hard time. Being very much pregnant myself right now, I can imagine the extreme pain...and my heart aches for her.

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to join you in prayers for her.

Lots of love,
Sommer

[Jane]

Oh dear ~ I'm praying. <><

[Erin]

Oh, my heart breaks for them. Many, many prayers will be sent up on their behalf.

[HappyHermit]

My Prayers will be with them all.

[Sarah]

I am praying. My family (sister) has been in a similar situation. Thank you for let us know so we can pray.

[Sarah L]

Will pray. So sad! :(

[Mrs M]

What can one say - of course I will pray for her and her family.

[Sharon]

Praying for Heidi here as well. So very heartbroken for her.