On love and grief

Friendships between preemie moms is an unusual thing. We are brought together by one of the hardest, worst times in our life. Most of us have never met, but have been connected through our computers, with the hope one day to take some sort of wonderful vacation where we all meet, sit on a beach and drink fancy drinks out of a pineapple brought to us by a cabana boy (hey, a girl can dream). We know details about each other and our kids, we cheer on, pray, get angry, share advice, love and at times grieve. It is a strong bond.

Last weekend we grieved. Sheena, one of our moms, lost her little girl Laiken. After more than a 3 year battle, done with more grace and strength than I've ever seen, Sheena, along with her husband and other daughter, said good-bye to Laiken. I'm not sure how a little girl who's only 3 touches so many people, but she did.

While so many of us wanted to be at the funeral, distance doesn't always make that possible. After Laiken's service on Thursday, Sheena and her family did a balloon release of pink and purple balloons. So, that's what the rest of us did too. Where ever we were on Thursday, we call grabbed our little ones and pink and purple balloons and did the same.

The twins and I headed to one of the highest spots in town after dinner and let our balloons go.

Fly high Laiken!

If you want to know more about Laiken and her amazing family, go here - https://www.facebook.com/LoveForLaiken

If you want to see pictures from people releasing their balloons from all over for Laiken, go here - https://www.facebook.com/events/733817389971667/735094923177247/?notif_t=like

Inspiration

4 years ago I looked like this...

I had no idea that things were going to change in a few days and soon, my life would look like this...

Parker - 5 days old. The day he was transferred to UNMC for a bowel perforation weighing less than 2 pounds. 

Payton, - 9 days old. Her first time being held at 1.5 pounds. 

6 months later I was a little lost. A year later, I didn't want anyone else to feel lost that had to go down this road. After an early morning meeting over bad coffee and greasy hash browns, I had an idea and one of my best friends did not think I was crazy. In fact, she said she was in on it. And so, my next baby was born with her help...

Then I got another push to take it further. So last year I took another step. I finished that step this week, completeing my degree...BS in Nonprofit Management. 

The week my last class started, Quiet Light was the cause at the Omaha Baby Fair. We saw a couple thousand moms and were able to tell them that if they have a day when the unexpected happens, they aren't alone, they don't have to be lost. The last day of class, I met with a new preemie mom who's having some struggles and was just a little lost and needed someone to talk to. I would say that this one perfect way to come full circle. 

Get ready kiddos, we're going to go far. 

P.S. Kristin - thank you for believing in my idea. You helped make this happen.