Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

A Different "Normal"


A picture of Brody in our bathroom.
It says "Sweet Baby - The moment we saw you, we fell in love."




I have come to the realization that life after Brody will never be the same. My joy now comes from doing things that remember Brody. Recently my mom, Jeremy, and I put together a wreath to decorate Brody's grave. Pretty much my mom did most of the work while I layed on the couch and watched because my anemia has been causing me some terrible headaches. I also hung up a wonderful frame (pictured above). I spotted that in kohl's the other day, and I instantly started crying. It just seemed so perfect. Sunday night Jeremy and I and his two boys went over to Nancy's for the Worldwide Candle Lighting Ceremony. People light a candle at 7 pm for one hour in their time zone in rememberance of a child that has passed. This creates a 24 hour window of time where candles are lit. Very cool! Later today I will go back to painting what would have been Brody's nursary. I started priming it before I pProm'd. I just hate looking at it half done- it seems like a constant reminder of the events that unraveled prior to Brody's birth. Eventually we will have a baby to fill it.
I also feel like now I know what the word desire truly means. I have a constant desire to see my son, hold him, and have him back. Its a very odd feeling to have this continuous longing for something that is completely impossible to have. I mean, I know that one day I will be with him again in heaven, but its just not the same. And if you know me at all, you know that I'm very impatient- I want him now.
Speaking of heaven, that is another thing I think about a lot. Prior to Brody's passing, I just thought of heaven as most others do, a beautiful place where everything is perfect. But now I have millions of questions about heaven, like will Brody always be a baby in heaven? Do we look like people still in heaven? What does it really look like there? Sometime soon I will get a book to read about this, but right now my mind is just not too great.
On a different note, my dad got inducted into the hall of fame at Wauseon on Saturday night! Woot woot!! I was so proud! They inducted nine men and one woman between the JV and Varsity games. Heres a little exerpt from the program: "Steve established many basketball scoring records at Wauseon. At the time of his graduation, Steve held the record for most points (41) in a game, in his junior year; most points (492) in one season, in his senior year; and most points (943) in a career. An interesting point to consider is that all of these scoring records were established prior to the creation of the three-point shot....Some of Steve's other accomplishments include most baskets (74) in one season which is still an NWOAL record. Steve averaged 23.1 points per game in his junior season and 25.9 in his senior year. He averaged 25. 8 in his NWOAL career which is still an NWOAL record." Very nice dad, very nice. ;)
Again I will close this with a poem. It just seemed so perfect:
What makes a Mother

I thought of you and closed my eyes
And prayed to God today.
I asked what makes a Mother
And I know I heard him say.
A Mother has a baby
This we know is true.'

But God, can you be a Mother
When your baby's not with you?
Yes, you can, He replied
With confidence in His voice
I give many women babies
When they leave is not their choice.
Some I send for a lifetime
And others for a day.
And some I send to feel your womb
But there's no need to stay.

I just don't understand this, God
I want my baby here
He took a breath and cleared His throat
And then I saw a tear.I wish I could show you
What your child is doing today.
If you could see your child smile
With other children and say:
"We go to earth to learn our lessons
Of love and life and fear.

My Mommy loved me oh so much
I got to come straight here.
I feel so lucky to have a Mom
Who had so much love for me
I learned my lesson very quickly
My Mommy set me free.
I miss my Mommy oh so much
But I visit her each day.
When she goes to sleep
On her pillow's where I lay.
I stroke her hair and kiss her cheek
And whisper in her ear.
"Mommy don't be sad today
I'm your baby and I'm here."

So you see my dear sweet one
Your children are ok
Your babies are here in My home
And this is where they'll stay.
They'll wait for you with Me
Until your lesson is through.
And on the day that you come home
They'll be at the gates for you.

So now you see what makes a Mother
It's the feeling in your heart.
It's the love you had so much of
Right from the very start.

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Staying Busy

The NICU took this pic of Brody with his teddy bear for me. Its just so cute.



I believe one thing people go through after losing a child is the wide range of emotions. I know I have mentioned this on many different occasions, but it is a very odd feeling. Thankfully, I have Nancy who has been there before and let me know that I am not crazy.



I spent a lot of time this week feeling angry, an emotion I haven't really felt until lately. I started therapy this past week, and I was so excited to sit down and talk with someone about everything, and it wasn't at all what I had expected. So I was angry at that. I was angry that there are horrible people in this world that never have to experience this sadness that I do. I was angry at God. I think He had this wonderful opportunity to show people his ability to perform miracles, and He didn't. I just don't understand that.



I have also spent a lot of time being thankful for the things in life that Brody helped me to realize in his short life. I realize now what amazing parents I have. My mom has really done everything in her power to help get me through. There was a period of time when my mom was in Florida with my sister when I was up here in the hospital, and my dad had to be there for me. He drove to St. V's almost every day to keep me company. I feel like through all of this I really got to see who my dad is for the first time. He was really there for me when my mom wasn't able to be, and I will always remember that. I'm also thankful for Jeremy. After finding out about my pProm, Jeremy and I had to lean on eachother like never before. Brody showed us what was inportant in life, and that has done nothing but make us stronger than ever.



Another thing I have figured out (from Nancy) is that the best way to get through the day is to stay busy. I have probably mopped my floor 10 times in the last week. I do puzzles all the time. I have painted my kitchen, even spray painted my fridge! I painted a picture for my bathrrom too. I watched my friend Linday's kids one day, and I even substitute taught on Friday.



As far as physically, I am doing pretty good! My recovery from my c-section was far easier than I thought it would be. (a bikini cut by the way!) I figured my body would have a hard time recovering due to the fact that I had been on bedrest for so long, but it didn't. My scar is barely visible, and only hurts occasionaly now. From my belly-button to my incision is still numb which is so annoying. I am still anemic from the massive amount of blood I lost from the night Brody was born. Women are supposed to be either a 12-14 and after I had Brody I was at a 7.4. One week Later I was only up to an 8. They usually do blood transfusions when you go under an 8. I have to get blood drawn again today to see if I have gotten any better. I have to take iron pills now, and I try to eat more red meat because that helps as well. All-in-all I'm doing well.