Showing posts with label Blog Challenge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blog Challenge. Show all posts

Saturday, October 30, 2010

30 Day Blog Challenge- Day 30

One Last Moment.

Well, this month, this week has been a blur!  I can't believe it has been 30 days!  I have been too sick this week to really even know what's going on, but I don't want to complain...

I'm feeling much better and I want to leave this blog challenge with this...

Enough about me!!!

I'm ready to move on to better things...different things. 

I'm ready for November.  For change.  For the Holidays (believe it or not!)  As hard as they may be, they will bring brightness and joy to the otherwise dim and dying landscape of winter.  Bring it on! 

Plus, the sooner the Holidays pass, the closer we are to spring!

Friday, October 29, 2010

30 Day Blog Challenge- Day 29

My aspirations.

I want to never stop striving to be more like Jesus. 
I want to be a person who it empathetic and caring. 
I want my legacy to be one of love and for people to remember me by what I gave. 
I want to love on my kids, be a good wife and a good example to others. 
I want to share with other mothers that it is ok to remember their babies in Heaven and be a person they can talk to when they need it.
I want to homeschool, even for a year. 
I want to volunteer and I want to create. 
In the words of Dr. Joanne from the MISS Foundation, "I do not simply want to survive, I want to become."

Thursday, October 28, 2010

30 Day Blog Challenge- Day 28

Something I miss...

Being niave.  Being so blissfully happy during pregnancy that I could burst and only momentarily thinking of the "what-ifs".  The feeling that even though I know bad things happen, they aren't really that common and really, with no family history, it could never happen to me.  That was how I felt in my first two pregnancies.  This one is SO different.  It's not like I let the fear and worry consume every minute of the pregnancy, but they are things that are on my mind everyday and nervousness that creeps in before every appointment and while the doppler is waving around on my tummy before we hear that beautiful sound of a strong heartbeat. I don't know how to say it except to say it is SO different.

30 Day Blog Challenge- Day 27

My favorite place.

Currently, is curled up in my bed with a box of tissues :(

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

30 Day Blog Challenge- Day 26

My fears.

I'm really sick right now.  Allergies or something.  My biggest fear now is that by not taking meds, I will harm this baby by being sick...OR...by taking meds, I will harm this baby.

This is so hard.

I just pray for wisdom, healing and God's protection for me and my little rainbow.

Monday, October 25, 2010

30 Day Blog Challenge- Day 25

A first.

I really don't know where to go with this one. 

For the first time in my life, I am making a conscious decision to say no and to take care of myself.  I'm thinking of my real priorities and not the ones that are temporary. 

Sunday, October 24, 2010

30 Day Blog Challenge- Day 24

Something that makes me cry.

Sadly, these days, it doesn't take much.

The commercial for Disney where they show home videos of parents telling their kids they will be going there always gets me.  Things that catch me off guard are the worst though. Like a song or a comment that breaks my heart just a little.  Like when people tell Ethan that "Someday he will make a great big brother".  To me, he already does make a great big brother...but I understand what people are trying to say...but sometimes is still hurts...

Saturday, October 23, 2010

30 Day Blog Challenge- Day 23

Something that makes me feel better.

Dancing with my little man :)

Friday, October 22, 2010

30 Day Blog Challenge- Day 22

Something that upsets me.

Hearing of another mother's loss.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

30 Day Blog Challenge- Day 21

Another Moment.

Tonight I stood on a stage infront of over 200 people and told our story again.  Shyla's story. Rainbow's story and Ethan's story.  Each of them weaved together by hope, grief and blessings.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

30 Day Blog Challenge- Day 20

This month.

October.

This month has flown by!  There is so many heartfelt things I want to post, but I did commit to this 30 day posting challenge and here I am!  I will finish this!  And while I may not post everyday in November, I will hopefully take the time to post when I need to.  I know this blog has been very theraputic for me and there is lots of stuff going on.  Don't worry, the rainbow is doing fine, but just lots of other stuff.

Work has been crazy this month!  Even with a week of fall break, it seems that I am more tired than ever and the tasks at work keep stacking up. I don't know how long it has been since I have seen the top of my desk!

October 15th and the service we had at church took a lot of time, prep work, and advertising.  And I am speaking at a banquet tomorrow night.  My birthday was this week and my brother came in.

This weekend, I have been notified of two more mothers who now have babies in Heaven.  One was a 5 month old who passed away Saturday from SIDS.  Another went to Heaven at 38 weeks gestation.  People are contacting me, wanting to know how to be there for their friends and passing along my contact info.

All in all...I'm busy and I'm tired. 

I have to say the best part of this month was seeing the great ultrasound and hitting the 2nd trimester!  Wow!  Where did that three months go?

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

30 Day Blog Challenge- Day 19

Something I regret.

Boy, this list could go on forever...

I regret...

...not making a point to have the nurses give me back the onesie Shyla was wearing when we held her.
...not getting a photo of her perfect little feet.
...not having a photographs of the funeral.
...not being tested for this clotting disorders sooner.
...working so hard.
...not insisting my extreme swelling be seen by a doc.
...not going to L&D sooner.
...not taking longer off work.

I could go on and on.

I also thought should list things I don't regret.

I will never regret...

...holding and seeing my baby.
...having a funeral that family and friends could attend.
...taking photos of her.
...her life.
...donating her things to the Pregnancy Center.
...speaking out at public events.
...talking about her.
...being her mommy.

Much love to you all and I hope you all had a peaceful Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day.

Monday, October 18, 2010

30 Day Blog Challenge- Day 18

My Favorite Birthday.

This is a hard one.  I had lots of great birthdays growing up.  A few not so great when I got older (like my  18th when my uncle had a quadruple bypass surgery, my pet bird died and a role model passed away within a few days). 

I've also had some good ones as I have gotten older.  Today was a good one too.  But as hard as I try, no happy event ever feels 100% happy anymore.

My favorite birthday as an adult is probably when Ethan was about 15 months old, we took him to the zoo and spent a day together as a family.  It was a beautiful fall day and we had an amazing time.  I love spending time with my family.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

30 Day Blog Challenge- Day 17

Favorite Memory.

Sheesh.  Thats a tough one.  How about I just give a favorite memory from today?

Today, I watched Ethan fish with his daddy at the family pond.  He casted like a pro and for three years old can really do a great job reeling!  He loves to fish with his daddy and always has.

Saturday, October 16, 2010

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day 15

I missed posting yesterday.  I was a mess most of the morning.  I guess I've just had too much going on and when I finally had a moment to sit still for a moment...the fatigue, aggrivation and hurt of a few different things kind of overwhelmed me.  But here I am today...cleaning house, laundry, back to the everyday stuff.

So, I'm going to post day 15 today and catch back up to day 17 tomorrow.  So I guess I should just call this a 29 day blog challenge...

Today's topic is "My dreams".

My literal dreams are usually odd or traumatic.  When I was about 13 I started having terrible, vivid, frightening and even gory dreams.  They felt so real and terrifying.  I often woke up crying or so afraid I couldn't move or make a noise.  My mom got concerned and she took me to a Doctor that treated with herbs and he suggested pumpkin seed oil capsules.  Believe it or not...they really helped.  The dreams stopped and I eventually stopped taking the herbs.  But still, every once in a while, I will have one of those terrifying waking-up-in-tears dreams.

The July before Shyla went to Heaven I had a bad dream.  In my dream my husband died, or got killed, it wasn't really clear which.  The whole dream was long and drawn out and pretty much started with an officer notifying me of his death and then what happens from there.  I mean details.  From going to the funeral home to make arrangements, to picking out his clothes, to the day-to-day life after he was gone and how things were so different.  When I first woke up, still in the place between asleep and awak, it was like I heard a very kind voice say, "This was not to scare you, it was to prepare you"  That's when I lost it.  I began bawling and shaking and it woke up my husband.  I was so torn up, I couldn't even talk. 

This dream still haunts me.  Was God trying to prepare me for what would happen in jsut a matter of a few weeks?

I had another dream while I was pregnant with Shyla.  This it kind of complicated.  I had gotten word that my dad was very sick, near death, and being kept at a hospital.  For some reason, I decided to walk to where he was from I was staying.  It was raining and it was in a residential part of a city.  I crossed the street and started walking up a steep hill glancing in the windows of houses as I walked.  Then I passed one house and saw my half-sister's mother sitting at a table facing the window looking at what seemed to be a scrapbook.  She looked up and apparently recognized me.  She waved at me and motioned for me to go to the door.  As I walked to the door, I passed another window in the same house and saw a little girl with dark hair and freckles sitting in a different room coloring.  She looked up and saw me and smiled a huge smile and waved.  I waved back and didn't think anything about it.  The woman let me in and told me she had something to show me.  She showed me the scrapbook that had pictures of my dad in it.  Most of them were pictures I had never seen before in real life, but I could tell they were my dad.  There were even a few I know I had seen before.  After a few minutes, I started wondering about that little girl and noticed that we didn't pass a door way that would have went into what looked like the room she was in.  We kept looking at pictures and then I saw one of my dad and my half-sister when she was young and I knew the little girl I had seen coloring through the window was my sister.  I ran back through the hallway where I had entered looking for the room I had seen her in, but I just couldn't find it or her.  This is where I woke up bawling.

My sister and I weren't really close, but I just found out I was pregnant with Ethan (and hadn't even had the chance to tell my mom) when she died.  It has always bothered me I never got to tell her that for some reason.  I actually ended up telling my dad on the day of my sisters funeral.

These are the two dreams that stick out to me the most from when I was pregnant.  I have had many dreams since Shyla went to Heaven, and sadly, most of them were nightmares.

I wish so badly I could dream of her being alive and well.  I want to see her in Heaven.  Perfect and playing.  I want to dream of what color eyes she has and if she would have had the gentle personality I thought she would.  I guess I'll just have to wait until Heaven to know some things. 

Thursday, October 14, 2010

30 Day Blog Challenge- Day 14

What I wore today...


Tonight was the Pregnancy and Infant Loss service at my church.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

30 Day Blog Challenge- Day 13

This week.

This week, so far, has been a crazy busy week! I'm on Fall Break from work this week and I was looking forward to a relaxing week at home with Ethan, but I guess that is going to have to wait.

Monday, I worked on the slideshow for the Pregnancy and Infant Loss Service I have been planning with the help of some great people.  Both my desktop and my laptop were acting weird and being extrememly slow so it took basically all day!  At 5:00 Ethan and I decided to go to Somerset and watch some great ladies from the church practice something for Thursday .  It was beautiful!  I can't wait to see how everything comes together, but I am getting SO nervous!  After that, we went to the store to get milk and pink and blue ribbon.  Of course, we had to look at the fish while we were there!  We finally got out of there and went to get some dinner.  We don't usually eat fast food during the week, but Ethan had been so good, I got him a special dinner to eat...on the way home.  It was after 9:00 by the time we actually got in the door and then started the bedtime routine.

Tuesday was my first pregnancy appointment with my awesome high risk OB.  We got to Lexington early to do a little shopping and eat lunch before my early afternoon appointment.  The sonographer did the ultrasound and we got to watch the baby for around 15 minutes!  She really needed to measure the area on the back of the neck and baby was facing us.  So we got to watch it until it turned and she could get the right measurements.  Her words were, "Everything looks perfect!"  We got to see the Dr. and he gave us some advice to make my shots less painful.  He seemed as excited as we are that we are pregnant.  I just really love both my Docs!

Today is Wednesday.  I worked on cutting ribbon, melting the edges so they don't fray and pinning them this morning.  I got some more requests for the slideshow, so I worked on that this afternoon and have been working on adding music to the slideshow and getting the slides to show the right length of time.  I've also taken several breaks to read and play with Ethan.  I've got some laundry to finish and the dishwasher to take care of.  But, I have stayed at home all day!  That is a big accomplishment!

Thursday is the service at church.  I'm sure this day will busy.  I've still got lots to do to get ready for the service.  I really hope that hearts are touched and connections are made.

Friday, I hope to have plans with a friend (and old roomate) for a girls afternoon.  She is due in early November with her 2nd and we just never get to see each other.  I'm really hoping it works out!  It is also Pregnancy and Infant Loss Day of Remembrance, so I will be wearing my pink and blue ribbon and lighting a candle at 7:00pm. 

Saturday is kind of up in the air.  Maybe I can try to rest a little.  Although I am really hoping to do something as a family this weekend.  We usually do go on a little trip as a family, but I just don't think it is going to happen this year :( 

Sunday I will be spending time with my Grandmother and a couple cousins and aunt and uncle.  My uncle and I share the same birthday and my Grandma usually tries to do something for us.  I love spending time with my extended family so much. 

Next week is even busier!  Maybe I can get some rest on Saturday!

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

30 Day Blog Challenge- Day 12

Whats in your bag?

I wish I had a photo of this one...

I had an appointment with my high risk OB today, so I took my big bag.

I had two books, a folder, a notebook, my wallet, several pens, a book for my hubby, my phone, some mints and my planner.  When I left, I had four beautiful ultrasound photos of my rainbow!

Everything is looking good and I go to my regular OB in 2 weeks!

Monday, October 11, 2010

30 Day Blog Challenge- Day 11

My Siblings.

(My brothers helped with the balloons for the balloon release at Shyla's service.)
I have two brothers.  They are awesome. 

My older brother lives several states away and I don't get to see him and his family nearly as often as I would like to.  We are just 19 months apart and we have so many great memories together.

My younger (I have to be careful and not cal him my "little" brother) brother lives about an hour and a half away and we are about 3 1/2 years apart.  He is a funny guy.  Ethan absolutely LOVES him.  They are like best friends!

I also had a half sister.  She passed away just over 4 years ago and I still think of her often.  We have the same dad and we lived together for a while when I was younger.  As she got older, she made some mistakes and had some issues, but we still kept in touch off and on.  She had 5 kids.  Two sets of fraternal boy/girl twins and another little girl.  I love these kids.  The last time I saw them was at her funeral.  They all live in another state and communications with them have been pretty much next to none.  They are still my neices and nephews though!

 

My brothers, mom, sis-in-law, and their baby girl.


I also have a two great sis-in-laws and brother-in-laws through my hubby.  I just had to mention them too!

Sunday, October 10, 2010

30 Day Blog Challenge- Day 10

What did I wear today is supposed to be the topic.  But I'm not talking about clothes.

I wore a smile today.  And a few tears.  And my heart on my sleeve. 

Some very dear people to us got married yesterday and included Shyla in their special day.  Ben and I appreciated it very much and it brought up feeling that I hadn't had in a while.

I'm very thankful for many things and while yesterday was a day full of smiles, laughter and happiness, the void was more evident than ever and it made us realize that even the happiest days will not be 100% happy until we are on the other side of the veil of Heaven.