Sunday, July 31, 2011

First Face2Face Meeting and a visit

Today was the first Face2Face meeting for the Dayton area. We had 3 people come-me, Kim (the leader), and Heather. I was hoping that more would come but 3 is a good start and hopefully in the next meetings we will get more to attend.

I actually got there late because I had to stop and fill my hubby’s work car with gas since it was on empty plus his GPS wasn’t working so I had to talk to Kim’s husband to try and get directions. Got a little detoured but I finally made it. We started off the meeting by sharing our stories and some mementos if we brought any.

We talked about where we wanted to go with the meetings whether to keep it formal or informal, different things we wanted to do, how to raise awareness, how to let more people know about the group, etc. We pretty much decided that we would like to meet twice a month.

We definitely want to do something for October 15th for Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. Although, I won’t be able to attend this year since we will be going to the big memorial in MN by Anchored By Hope, but I’m still excited to help them plan it and I’m sure they’ll let me know how it goes too.

After the meeting I went home a different route that took me close to the cemetery so I knew I had to stop for a visit. It has been a while since I was out and it felt nice to be there. I actually miss those days when I visited every week sometimes more. But I’m in a place now where I don’t feel like I need to visit that often. Although, her flowers are looking faded and I really do need to get some new ones out there.

I had in my purse a butterfly star stone from My Forever Child and I decided to leave it there beside her other stone I had left on a previous visit.

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I had to dust off grass from her stone. The guy was there mowing and there was quite a bit of grass. Bird poop too and I tried to tidy that up as much as I could but I didn’t have a rag with me so could only do so much.

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It was interesting that while I was there I encountered a few critters. The first one was a butterfly. I was actually thinking it would be really nice to be able to see a butterfly because it was so nice outside. At that same moment I was thinking it a butterfly flew by out of nowhere! Then as I was sitting beside her headstone a katydid jumped up onto it and hung around for about 10 seconds jumping onto different parts and then jumped away. As I got up from sitting a toad hopped out of thin air and right next to her headstone and then to the side of it as I followed it. I turned my back to look at something and when I looked again for the toad I couldn’t find it.

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I don’t often get to sit and reflect on my daughter like I used to even though she is always in my thoughts. The cemetery has always been one of my favorite places to do that. It’s quiet with only the sounds of nature around me, which is why I often like to go alone.

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Bring Hope Home online auction

My dear friend, Mattie, is having an online auction to raise money towards their adoption on her blog Bring Hope Home. Please check out the items and feel free to bid on those you like. Let’s help Mattie bring Hope home!!

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Blankets and Canvas

Today in the mail I got my blankets for Carleigh and Jordan from Shaina at Rows for Remembrance. If you aren’t familiar with what she does you can read it here.

I had Shaina make Jordan’s blanket in yellow and Carleigh’s in purple. The blankets are both beautiful and soft. I actually sent her the yarn that she used to make these blankets. Jordan’s blanket is now in his memory box and Carleigh’s is in her memory chest.

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Thank you Shaina for the wonderful work that you do! If you would like to donate yarn or help in some other way with this ministry please go here. I know Shaina would appreciate it!

I also got in the mail last week Carleigh’s canvas that I ordered. There was a really good deal going on at canvastouch.com that I couldn’t pass it up. I got a 10x14 canvas for $11 with free shipping!! I knew right away which picture I wanted to get. It’s one of my favorites of Carleigh.

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And the picture I took of it doesn’t do it justice at all. The canvas really is beautiful. Until 08/31/11 you can get 20% off at canvastouch.com by using the code MOMMYSAVERS20. I am thinking I might have to get another one.

Friday, July 08, 2011

A glimpse of what could have been

No doubt many moms who have lost their babies have wondered what they would have looked like had they lived. It definitely crosses my mind. I have always pictured her looking like her sisters.

Tiffany introduced me to a FB group called In An Angel’s Name that can allow us to see what are precious babies would’ve looked like. Thank you to the wonderful ladies who edit and retouch photos to make this possible and to Tiffany for letting me know about it.

I sent a wonderful lady photos of Carleigh, Anthony & me, and of her sisters so she could recreate what Carleigh would possibly look like. She did a fabulous job and she came very close to what I envisioned in my head (I pictured her with lighter hair).

This is what Carleigh may have looked like had she not been born with anencephaly.

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Here is a side by side comparison of the picture with her sisters, Kyndra and Lainey.

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She also did an age progression to age 4. I can see so much of Kyndra in this picture.

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I can’t tell you how much it means to get these glimpses. I don’t have to wonder as much what she would’ve looked like because these give me an idea. I can almost see her personality just through this picture. But now I can’t help but imagine this face and what it would be like to see it every day with my other girls.

Thursday, July 07, 2011

Happy Birthday July Babies

♥ Remembering those babies with special days in July. ♥

Jonathan ~ July 1, 2009
Samuel ~ July 1, 1992
Tristen ~ July 3, 2010
Chai ~ July 3, 2010
Madeleine ~ July 7, 2009
Noah ~ July 7, 2009
Rylyn ~ July 9, 2005
Vivian & Annemarie ~ July 12, 2008
Hunter ~ July 12, 2001
Heather ~ July 13, 2001
Jeremiah ~ July 13, 2010
Noah ~ July 13, 2010
Jillian ~ July 14, 2009
Thomas ~ July 14, 1998
Isaac ~ July 14, 2005
Alanna ~ July 21, 2009
Faith ~ July 22, 2009
Bryston ~ July 24, 2009
Luke & Aaron ~ July 24, 1996
Amiee ~ July 25, 2009
Anna ~ July 25, 1998
Evan ~ July 25, 2009
Babybear ~ July 25, 2008
Matthew ~ July 27, 2002
Jayden ~ July 27, 2007
Amelia ~ July 28, 2010
Kathlyn ~ July 30, 2009
Little One ~ July 30, 2008


If you would like your baby added please let me know.
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