Memorials for Gracie Lynne

As we are approaching Gracie’s due date, April 24th, certain things are just at the forefront of my mind. We miss her so very, very much and we are just at a loss sometimes of what to do or where to go, or how to find our way there. We are just in constant prayer for peace and understanding and for joy. Things have been better, but moving towards this date, this day that was supposed to be so happy, but now isn’t, is very hard.

There are a few things though that I just wanted to share with everyone. God is, was, and always will be with us. I know this, and even when I couldn’t find Him, He was there. There are a couple of organizations that I would like to share with everyone that God used to help us.

When we were at Baptist Hospital delivering Gracie, they had a cart that had been paid for and donated by another family who had experienced the loss of a child. This cart was full of information on memorializing your child, dealing with grief, etc. It also had stuff to make mementos of your child. Let me just tell you that having ANYTHING, no matter how small, to remember your child by is HUGE, …no… it is everything. The wonderful Labor and Delivery nurses that we had took such good care of us and they also were so helpful in making these wonderful things for us. The very best thing was a plaster molding of Gracie’s foot. It is the most perfect thing you have ever seen and such a tangible reminder of her for always. You can see each tiny toe and definition of her foot. They also made a tiny bracelet with her name on it. Every little girl needs some jewelry and hers is very special. The last nurse we had, Nicky, was so kind. Her Mom had crocheted blankets and hats for babies, and she presented us with a beautiful little blanket, hat, and small teddy bear. We also were given a little box to put these mementos into. The cart also had a digital camera. The nurses worked so very hard to capture some beautiful pictures for us of our little girl. They burned the pictures onto a cd for us. We want to say a big thank you to Suzie, Vicki, and Nicky, our nurses at Baptist. They truly were God sent. Also, for the care the hospital gave us in providing us a quiet room away from all the noise that accompanies this floor. And, for Dr. Hubach. She has been with us through each baby, and we could not ask for a better OBGYN.

The other thing we were given in the hospital was a full layette by the Holy Sews group. This group of ladies makes clothing and blankets for extremely premature babies who do not survive. Let me just tell you that it was so wonderful and just so needed. She was so very tiny, and all the clothes that I had bought ahead of time were never going to work. But what they had made was perfect. They had made a beautiful little dress with matching hat and a matching blanket. They also had given her a teddy bear. This is what we buried her in. I don’t know what we would have done without this gift. It was just perfect, she was perfect. We are so blessed to have been given these gifts for our child and for our hearts. The Holy Sews group has a facebook page under the Causes tab and I have recently been in touch with two of the ladies. They seem like such wonderful people who have unfortunately been brought together by this tragedy in their lives. They are already a blessing to me and I am hoping to get to know them better. They provide layettes to hospitals across the state of Arkansas, and get together once a month for a work day. I’m hoping one day I will feel like joining them and helping others as they have helped me.

These are two wonderful and worthwhile organizations that have done so very much for my family. I wanted to share our story and theirs as well with you. If anyone would like more information, I have included it below.

Our Lady of the Holy Souls Catholic Church
Holy Sews    
1003 North Tyler
Little Rock, AR 72205
501-663-8632                                                http://holysews.org/                http://www.causes.com/causes/363931

Baptist Health Foundation
Share Program for Perinatal Loss
c/o Colleen Woodruss - Director of Women & Children's Dept.
9601 Kanis Dr.
Little Rock, AR 72205
(501) 202-1717                                                                          http://www.baptist-health.com/womens_center/bhmc-lr/grief_support/default.asp

 

   Thank you for remembering our little girl, and for praying with us and for us. We love you all.   -Jennifer, Mark, and Jonathan

Addy’s Birthday Party

Seems like this has been the Spring of birthday parties! Jonathan has been to quite a few parties lately and has had so much fun at all of them! Unfortunately, I have been out of town for a few of them, so Mark has been such a good Daddy and taken Jonathan.

Jonathan climbed up the rope ladder all by himself!

Luckily, I was home for Addy’s 5th Birthday party. She is such a sweet little girl and a good friend to Jonathan, even though she is two years older than him. She had her party at River City this year and it was a great place for a party. The kids all had a great time and wore themselves out playing. Isn’t that always the point of a great party?!?!  

 Jonathan & Addy, the Birthday Girl!

Time for Cake

The Birthday Tag that I made on my Creative Memories Digital Scrapbooking Software

Happy Easter 2010

WOW! Easter was busy this year as always, and we are so blessed to have so many blessings to share and be thankful for.

The week started off with a field trip for Jonathan’s preschool class to Jump Zone in Maumelle. We had never been there, but it was a blast! Jonathan had a great time jumping, bouncing, and playing with his class. The kids were so worn out that they just sat still  as could be and ate their lunch. By the time they got back on the bus to go back to school, their eyes were just glazed over they were so tired! I think we will have to make some return trips there when we need to wear little man out!

The real fun began on April 1st. Jonathan had the first of many Easter egg hunts at school. I was not able to go this year, but he had a great time with his friends, and one of his teachers was nice enough to take pictures for me.

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We had another hunt that afternoon  at our house. Jonathan’s good friends, Katie and Megan, came over with their Mom, Karen, and we did a hunt in the back yard. The kids had a great time running all over the yard looking for eggs. Megan was the best though. She was only concerned about what was INSIDE the eggs. As soon as she found a piece of candy, she would stop, unwrap the candy, and eat it. Would not move until that piece was gone. Then she would move on to the next egg and the next piece of candy. Karen and I had a nice time sitting in the shade and watching the kids. They are such precious gifts and we are two proud Mommies.

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Mark’s parents, sister, and her boyfriend came to town for the weekend. Of course, Jonathan came home from school Friday afternoon running a fever. He ran a fever and felt bad Friday night and Saturday morning. He woke up from his nap Saturday feeling much better. Never had any more symptoms, which was nice. However, was sad that he wasn’t feeling well while everyone was here.

Our church had a HUGE Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday. They hid over 5000 eggs. There were a ton of people there, but thankfully they have the field marked off into age groups so the big kids are not running over the little ones. Jonathan was not feeling  very well, but he so wanted to go, and I didn’t want him to miss out on the fun. So we went, and he did have fun. Needed a little help from his Mommy and Aunt Kim to get some eggs, but we had fun. And even bigger news, he SAT with the Easter bunny!! I was so surprised and proud. He sat with Santa, but it was a looonnngg process. The Easter bunny at the hunt was busy, so it was in, snap a few pics, and out. But he did good and seemed to be happy about it. He took a great nap when it was over.

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We left carrots for the Easter bunny Saturday night. He ate ALL of them and left a basket of presents for Jonathan in it’s place. Jonathan and I didn’t get to go to church Sunday since he had been running a fever Saturday. Didn’t want to infect his entire Sunday School class! He didn’t wake up until 10:15am! Poor baby was just completely worn out. He was so excited when he finally got up and saw all of his prizes. He had an Easter Thomas the train, two Veggie Tale DVD’s, a couple of puzzles, Curious George markers, Sherriff from the Cars movie, and just a few small chocolate bunnies in his basket. Of course, Grandma had gotten him a basket FULL of chocolate as well. So he was well set on candy and prizes for the day. (Of course, this doesn’t count all the candy from school or church!)

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Since he didn’t get to wear his outfit to church, I got him dressed up that afternoon to do an Easter Egg Hunt in the backyard. Unfortunately though, he was not really into it. He found a few and then just wanted us to hold him while we went after the eggs for him. He was still just not quite himself. Mark and I ended up hunting the eggs, but we did get a couple of good shots of him in his outfit.

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We also read the story of Easter out of the Bible and tried to explain it to Jonathan in terms a three year old would understand. Not sure he really understood, but we’ll keep trying. The Veggie Tale Easter video was good though, and he seemed to really like it. (I did too for that matter!)

Mark’s Mom did not have to work on Monday, so she stayed Sunday night with us which was fun. Mark and his Dad had left to go to Florida (another blog post) and Kim and Mike had left to go home to work Monday.

So all in all, a great weekend and lots of fun for all. Thank you Lord for our many blessings and for the gift of Jesus dying on the cross to save us from our sins. Thank you for the HOPE that is Jesus.

Pictures

Added more picutres to the March and April 2010 folders on Jonathan's picture website. Waayy too many to post on here, so feel free to look there if you want to see more of him and all the fun and crazy stuff we've been up to lately! Lots more pictures from Wye Mountain as well. Enjoy!

http://picasaweb.google.com/mjt011mark

Wye Mountain Daffodil Festival

My Mom was here for the week of Spring Break. She and Jonathan had such a wonderful time. She had planned to leave Friday afternoon. Mark was off on Friday, so we decided to do a fun outing before she left.

We drove up to Wye Mountain for the Daffodil Festival. It was beautiful as usual and we all had a really fun time. Jonathan was glad to show his MaMa Deb all the flowers and to enjoy time with her. I had brought Jonathan's Easter basket for him to take pictures with. But, we decided to do a little Easter egg hunt as well. It was so much fun and he had a blast hunting eggs over and over and over! We even found an egg that someone else must have left out there, so we came home with an extra one!

We took a million (and one) pictures of course. Not all of them turned out so well, but they'll do. We REALLY need to learn how to use our camera better (and apply the stuff that we do know).

Anyway, enough talking...enjoy the pictures!

Mommy and her Sweet Baby Boy

MaMa Deb, Mommy, and Jonathan

MaMa Deb is about to steal some kisses!

MaMa Deb and Jonathan checking out the flowers

Daddy & Jonathan Checking out the Easter eggs

The Thomas Family

So much fun for us to be together. We missed you Grandad!

Mommy and HER Mommy!

Peek-a-boo, I see you!

Hunting Easter eggs!

Look at that face, how could you NOT love him?!?!