Sunday, January 20, 2008

Julian got his wings

King JuJu got his wings yesterday (1/19). Got the update last night, after Dave and I had a fun night at the movies with our kiddos. Wow, that movie was boring (Pirates Who Don't Do Anything)... but what a fun family night we had. And when you compare to what Mimi and Ken had going on in their little family yesterday, who could ask for anything more that hanging out with my two healthy, happy, sweet kids. I cried tears over this little one who I never knew last night, but I cried more for his momma, and how she must have felt. So torn, knowing Julian is in heaven and is whole again, but not having his little body to hold again, or smell his smell, or see his smile. It was more than I could take. I'll leave you with Mimi's words...and prayers for her that sweet famiy as they navigate through this time of grieving....

267 January 19, 2008 at 06:55 PM CST
Time of Death ,11:22am ... Never thought I would ever hear these words about my 4 1/2 year old son. But this morning , those words got engraved in my mind and my heart forever.
Julian fought until the last painful breath. Again NOTHING peaceful about this process until , until he stopped gasping for air.
Julian looked like a fish out of the water, trying so hard to fill those lungs ,but nothing. You could see the normal breathing motions his body made, but nothing got past his throat.Finally he stopped fighting.
When he started having a hard time breathing I went to get Ken . He stood on one side of the bed and i was on there with Julian . We talked him thru his transition . We told him it would be ok . We told him we were proud of him . I told him to say Hi to Jesus for me. I told him that Cody and Jacob were waiting for him . I told him that we would be ok . I told him he wouldnt hurt anymore. I told him good night. I told him I loved him . I told him to play and run . The nurse took his shirt off and told us to touch him , that he could feel us and we needed to feel him . I put my hand on his chest. I could feel his heart beat. Then it slowed down . Then I could not feel it anymore. I heard his first heartbeat and felt his last one .
I was texting Debra right before , texted her Julian was gone, she called and got in her car and came.
I got Mamie, she told Ju bye.And Papy.
We got the boys and told them . Sam asked if we were sure he was gone. Then he said it was wierd because he didnt feel like crying . Then he asked to hold him . I needed to clean and dress Ju first .
Debra got here, helped me a little, cried a lot... They are not supposed to get attached,how can you not get attached to Ju?
I held Julian . Debra gave him a bed bath , as she had been doing for the past few weeks, put lotion all over him , loved and kissed on him . 1 month ago , she didnt even know him , now she is grieving just as we are . That is what Julian is all about . LOVE, unconditional love... He touched Debra, she touched my heart...
Ken , Debra, Mamie, Sam , Gma and I held Julian. Maybe others did , I am not sure.
Dana and Jessi came.Pastor Kevin and Vicki, Zach and Sam.Diane came by, Pastor Blair and Pat. Vickie and Gerald. Nanny.
It is now 6 something pm. Dana and her family are still here with us . I love those guys! Thank you ...
Funeral home men came to get him this afternoon. Ken carried him to the van , with his blankie (his Christmas blankie he would share with every one) one of his mimis and one of his dinosaurs.
We dont know any details on viewing and funeral yet. We will let you know, just make sure you have your YELLOW SHIRTS HANDY !!!!

FLY HIGH MUNCHKIN ... I love you all the way to China, you are the best ,you know that? I love your smell too baby...

Your mama, your little mama ...

Saturday, January 12, 2008

WOW

I have been keeping up with a few blogs lately and I am in complete awe of the strength that God gives to us as humans when we are in the midst of things in life that seem too big and too scary to go through. He can be "enough" if I will only allow him to be.

First, there is the story of little Julian Avery. I learned of Julian through the blog of Dawn, also known as the "ebay mom", whose blog can be seen here: http://mom2my6pack.blogspot.com/. Julian is a 4 year old with neuroblastoma, a rare childhood cancer. He is only four years old, and as his mom, Mimi says, is just waiting for his wings right now. It could be any day that Julian goes to be with our Dad in heaven. And yet, Mimi is a champion for not only her son, but her God, and however sad she may feel on the inside, He has given her a strength to tell His story while she shares the story of King JuJu with all of us readers. You can visit Julian's World on CarePages.com. You'll have to register, but his page is JuliansWorld (all one word). I defy you not to find encouragement there! God bless Mimi, and Julian and his daddy and brothers.

Secondly, there is the story of Nate, Tricia and baby Gwyneth. Came to know their story through a fellow stamper's blog. Here is the story of a happy couple, Nate and Tricia, and a disease called Cystic Fibrosis. Tricia was beginning to prepare for a double lung transplant, when she and Nate found they were expecting. So, recently at around 24-25 weeks, when Tricia was just struggling too hard to breathe and rest, the docs decided it was time to deliver baby Gwyneth. So into the world she came, just 1 pound and 6 ounces and as tiny and beautiful as ever. She is doing well, according to Nate's blog, which can be seen here: http://www.cfhusband.blogspot.com/. And Tricia is still holding on. She smiles and her heart rate lowers to a more comfortable pace when Nate enters the room to talk to her. We are all believing Dad to heal her completely so that she will wake up, not fight the help with breathing from the machine that is helping her, and that she will grow stronger and stronger and be able to watch their baby grow big and strong too. The catch here is this: Nate sees the reality that this part of his life may all to quickly come to an end, and yet he praises God and gives him glory for all He has accomplished thus far. And even more, Nate has shared that message of a LOVING GOD who is here for us no matter what we are going through.

I pray that I will cling to that strength of my God more and more each day, even in my little trial. I pray the same for you, so that should we be faced with something bigger, we will never doubt WHO is in control of it all. Blessings!