Eliot Hartman Mooney

Born July 20th, 2006 4:59pm
6lb 18 ½ inches

God has answered our (and your) prayers. Eliot is a 4 day old miracle thanks to all our friends and family for their help and support! We are all doing fine and loving life.

We are currently at the NICU where Eliot is doing well and every day is a new adventure for us to treasure. We would love your continued prayers for Eliot’s precious life.

Updates are tough, because every hour is spent at the hospital, but we’ll try to keep them coming.

Thanks,
Matt & Ginny

BABY'S COMING!!

That's right everyone. We will have a baby on Thursday (if not before). We went for our weekly visit and Ginny had progressed to the stage where they want to go ahead and induce on Thursday (July 20). We are super excited and cannot wait to meet her or him. We've got names, we've got a babyseat, and we've got candy bars for me to stuff down my throat in hopes of warding off fainting.

We would appreciate your continued prayers and anxiously await the culmination of many petitions to our Lord.

Many folks (in close proximity) have asked what we want them to do in regards to visiting us at the hospital. We want everyone to know that we would love to see them, however, with this birth comes many unknown circumstances, and our wishes will be determined by the outcome.
All that ambiguity to say...we would love for anyone to come to the hospital that wants to- just understand that seeing us or the baby is not guaranteed. While we would love to share our newest addition with everyone, we may need some time to ourselves.

Thanks for joining in our excitement for the miracle that is this baby.

Updates will follow:)

Posting

Anyone can now post. You do not need a blogspot account to do so. Sorry 'bout that.

July 11 Update

Dr. Visit
Today we had the 2nd weekly exam. All went well and not too much has changed. Although, of course, delivery could come at any minute, the doctor seems to think that everything is progressing, but "probably" not this week.

We go to the Dr. again on Tuesday (July 18). We continue to pray and seek the Lord. He continues to give us all we need for each day.

We'll continue to update as baby nears.

Thanks again, for your prayers, calls, and notes. We continue to hope.

July 3 Update

Thanks to everyone who has written, called, and prayed. We cannot express how appreciative we are to you all. We continue to seek your prayers. Folks have let us know that they appreciate the information and would love to be updated. To that end, we anticipate updating the blog as information is known. Again, thanks.

Dr. Visit
Today began the cycle of Dr.'s appointments each week. The appointment went well. Everything is moving along just as hoped. We have been told that we will have a baby by Aug.1 (Ginny's original due date).

Good News
In the good news department, Ginny & Baby are continuing to grow (this is especially good for our situation). Also, each week that passes is closer to term, and many times these babies come early. We are also thankful for our doctors who have been great throughout.

It is a comforting thought to us that prayers, on behalf of this child, have and will rise up to our Father.

Progression

Baby Mooney

Once you see it, it's amazing! Some can't do it though, so no worries.
This is a close up of the baby's face (particularly lips, nose, chin).

What is Trisomy 18?

Trisomy 18 is also called Edwards syndrome (or Edward's syndrome), and is the second most common trisomy, after Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome). It occurs in about 1:5000 to 1:8000 births.

Trisomy 18 syndrome is due to the presence of an extra #18 chromosome, meaning that BABY MOONEY has three chromosomes in the eighteenth position instead of the normal two.

Unlike Down syndrome, Edwards Syndrome is usually fatal, with most of the babies dying before birth and those who do make it to birth typically living only a few days. However, a small number of babies (<10%) live at least one year.

Websites with more info:
SOFT
Trisomy 18 Foundation

**All this info was taken from other sites and we are praying for anything but "typical".

What we want you to know.

Ginny & I think it important that people understand where we are coming from and how we are approaching the days ahead:

1.) There's nothing you can say to make it any worse or any better
We know it is difficult for our families and friends to know how to comfort us or what to say to us. Therefore, be relieved, and know that your presence, phone calls, and support are what we need, and just the fact that you show us you love us DOES make it better.

2.) We're praying for a miracle
We are praying (and ask you to join us) for healing. We are praying for life for this baby. We know beyond a shadow of a doubt that our God is able to heal our child. And, in the same breath, we know that He is worthy no matter the outcome.

If you do want to pray with us, here is what we would ask you to pray for:

1. For healing. 2. For life and time with this child. 3. Most importantly, that God would equip us for the days ahead & give us the strength to say, "not our will, but your will be done."

3.) We are excited to have our first baby! We could not express how important it is for you to understand that we are not in despair. Rather, we are excited to have this baby at this time. This is our first child, and we cannot wait. Of course, we would do anything in order for this baby to be healthy, and we have cried enough to last a while; but we feel the Lord is sovereign and, therefore, this is the baby for us. And we anxiously await our gift.

4.) We do not know if it is a boy or girl. Again, Trisomy 18 has not changed our approach to our first child, and we really do not know the sex.

5.) We're not strong. If you happen to think we are handling this well (and there are many moments I would argue that point) and see any strength in us at all, please know it is from our Father and not due to anything having to do with either of us.

6.) What can you do? Pray for all 3 of us.

Matt & Ginny Info:

We've recently moved and done away with a home phone in lieu of the cell phones.

Address:
215 W. ILA Street
Fayetteville, Ar. 72701

E-mail:
Matt matthewlye@yahoo.com
Ginny gingattle@yahoo.com