Two real highlights for you:
First, we had another ultrasound (our third in 2 months) this past Wednesday. The Doctor had good news for us. While there is still a hole in our son’s heart (which, for the first time, the Doctor called “a small hole”) and he still has a cleft lip, he continues to grow well! The longer he continues to grow the less and less likely a chromosomal disorder is in play. While we still do not have all the answers, the Doctor was actually rather encouraging during the appointment. The likelihood of a Trisomy disorder is becoming less, but we are still looking at a potential genetic disorder of some kind. To help narrow the range of potentials and better enable us to prepare for the future, we are planning on having the amniocentesis early in January. In the middle of January we should get the results from that test and then be meeting with a cardiologist, pediatric geneticist and a neo-natalogist to begin prepping for our son’s care.
Secondly, we have landed on a name for our son (“Finally!” – I know Mom). Samuel Patton Beachy.
- Samuel: In Hebrew (here comes the preacher part …) the root word for Samuel means “to ask” or “to hear”. When Hannah – who had not been able to get pregnant – gave birth to a son, “She named him Samuel, saying, ‘Because I asked the Lord for him.’” Therefore, since many have inquired of the Lord on our son’s behalf, it seemed right to name him Samuel, which means, “asked of Yahweh” or “heard of Yahweh.” As well, this is the name of my Great-Great Grandfather, Samuel Beachy, born 1825.
- Patton: We like using family names for our children. “Anna” is Sara’s mom’s name. “Creed” is my father’s middle name. In this case, “Patton” is Sara’s father’s middle name, as well as his mother’s maiden name.
- Beachy: Well, because that’s our last name – or, if we were Britons, we might say “surname.”
So, there you have something of an update on the Beachys. Thank you for your faithful prayers and expressions of love.
Pressing on & grateful for your love,
grant & sara
