Healing

So I have a million different things I should be doing right now, but I wanted to take a moment and share about our precious big girl's kidney.  The number of prayers that have been prayed for her and the number of people that check on her and let us know they are praying are enough to bring me to tears.  Since Sarah Anne has been 8 months we have been on a roller coaster ride with her precious kidney.  She was hospitalized with a UTI when they discovered she had hydronephrosis and a blockage in her kidney.  So after that we followed up with a nephrologist every 6 months where we heard differing things every time.  We had an ultrasound every time and twice she had a scan where they inject die into her, strap her to a table, and check the function of her kidney.  By the grace of God, it functioned perfectly every time!  During this 3 and 1/2 year process we have been covered by so many prayers and have truly seen where God has used this awful process to teach us and grow us closer to Him.  Matt and I have daily been praying together at night for 2 years now because this has taught us to earnestly seek God, not always about her kidney but about many things.  I have a cousin whose precious little girl was hospitalized with a similar thing and I was able to share our story.  We also have a heart for those with sick babies, because we know the stress and uncertainty of sick children.  So, I may drive you crazy if your children are sick, but I will do my best to check on you and care, because I know what it is like to sit in a waiting room not knowing what the answer will be for a sick child.  Needless to say, we have grown and been through a lot and would I have rather not gone through it, yes, but would I change the growing moments and the things God have taught us, no.  So even though it has been rough, every moment we have been held up by God.

Now, to Sarah Anne's last appointment.  This was the first time the doctor had actually seen her kidneys on the ultrasound (before because she was so little the hospital did it and then he got the pictures) and he gave us some surprising news.  He said that Sarah Anne's kidney was no longer blocked!  She still had hydronephrosis, but there was no longer an issue there.  He said that it was blocked at one point, but no longer was.  He said it was like a balloon being blown up and then deflated and although its still a balloon, it will never look the same.  Her kidney is the same way, her kidney will never look normal, but our gracious, Heavenly Father healed that precious girl.  He said he doesn't know when the blockage went away, but it was gone.  It was so humbling knowing that God had reached down and touched our precious girl and answered all those desperate prayers.  As Matt and I talked about it, we realized that it is much like our sins.  Matt pointed out that although we are forgiven by the blood of Jesus, we still have the consequences and scars here on earth.  Our precious girl's kidney will always be a symbol of that but thankfully she is healed!  We have to follow up 1-2 more years, but we will always have this wonderful story to share and grow from.
So thank you for all who have prayed and continue to pray for our precious Sarah Anne!! So here are some pictures of our sweet Sarah Anne: