Oscar's Odyssey/Stella's Story

My plan  For those of you that know me personally know I am a planner. I like to know what is going on, I like to have control. Back when I was on maternity leave with Theodore I vividly remember sitting in our green layzboy rocking him one morning and coming up with a plan for how I was going to get to stay home with him after we had our second child. I remember sitting there trying to calculate in my head and justify to myself that he was going to spend half of his life up until Baby #2 arrived being watched by a sitter while I went back to teaching and that wasn’t that bad. I so wanted to stay home with my baby boy, but we just couldn’t quite afford it yet. Christmas Card 2015 The 15-16 school year went by surprisingly quickly. Theodore had a wonderful sitter who watched him and my nephew, Jack. The boys would rotate between our house and his cousins’ house every 2 weeks. It was a great set up. We so enjoyed being a family of 4: Brian, Theodore, Chuck, and I....

The lights are hung with care and the tree is trimmed with colorful decorations so it must be Christmas. After a year off in 2017 from sending out our typical family greetings, a little Christmas cheer was much needed this holiday season. Let us start by saying thank you. A year ago we were a family of five: Julie, Theodore, Oscar, myself, and of course Chuck. Oscar was with us only 28 days. There will be an empty place in our hearts until we are able to hold him again with our Lord and Savior in Heaven. It is hard to find the words to express our gratitude for the love, prayers and support that our family and friends have blessed us with over this past year.  It will be cherished forever. Without that love and support I’m not sure I would be able to write this letter. The cards, messages, meals, emotional support and especially the prayers that so many of you have given our family will never be forgotten. Please know that you were God’s hands and feet to us when we needed i...

I have had the best intention of writing on here for a long time. To say it is hard is a slight understatement, but I figured Birthday Wishes are a great way to break the ice and continue to tell more of our family's journey even if our Oscar isn't here with us. 1 year old Oscar would have been and to think we have gone 338 days without him. It still seems surreal at times, but his life forever changed us and not a day goes by and sometimes even an hour that he is not thought of by Brian or I. Oscar is forever missing from our family here on Earth, but oh the glorious day that we will be reunited with our son in Heaven. I am thankful that our God was walking with us before Oscar even made his worldly debut and has continued each day after. Our God is faithful, He is good, He loves us, and His plans for each one of us are much bigger and higher than what our humanly minds can comprehend.  Our sweet Theodore turns 4 today. It is hard believe he has been around that long. ...

Hello #OscarStrong Family!!!  Yes, I used the word family and those of you who know me well know I do so sincerely. It has been a while and we thought we were due for a check in. The last several months seem like somewhat of a haze. Our family has been forced to find a rhythm when it seems like none exist. It is only through God's unconditional love along with all of your love and support that has pushed and pulled us up each peak that seems insurmountable at the time. Most nights Julie and I just stare at each other and have nothing to say except "something is missing." Our family just feels incomplete. I can recall trying to console others, after their loss of a loved one with a phrase along the lines of "Time heals all wounds" I would like to propose a modification: "Time allows you the ability to deal with all wounds." I would describe Julie and I as functional, but uncomfortable. We both just really miss Oscar and walk around in a daze at times....

Over the past few weeks we are continuing to grieve and miss Oscar. We are trying to figure out what life is suppose to be like. A dear friend of mine said it well...It's the "new normal" that feels like the "old normal" which is now the "wrong normal." Today I went to MOPS and was asked by a few Moms where I was from, why I came...and I said I was on leave for a few weeks from work and brought my 3 year old. I didn't want to say I was on maternity leave because I was afraid to get asked how old my baby was. After Theodore and I left MOPS I felt so guilty toward Oscar because I didn't want to share that is why I was there. I was there today because I had Oscar and he died. I was supposed to be taking care of him and instead I am finishing my 12 week maternity leave without a newborn baby. Guilt is an awful feeling and I am sure it is one that will show up from time to time in regards to Oscar. I think the worst part about guilt in this case is ...

Today marks 31 days that Oscar has been gone. I have decided it is time to try and stop dwelling on the day that he died, but rather focus on the days he was alive. On Oscar's Odyssey on this earth we had many things to be thankful for. First, Brian and I's prayer request from the beginning was to meet Oscar alive. To hold our newborn son, to snuggle him, for Theodore to meet his baby brother. Little did we know our love for Oscar was just giving him a glimpse of what he would have to look forward to once he got to Heaven. On this Earth we are suppose to love others the way God loves us. I think there is probably no greater love than that of a parent to a child. It is the most unconditional earthly love I believe that there is. We are blessed that we got to show Oscar that unconditional earthly love. Another prayer request of ours was that through Oscar's journey and our families that God's strength and his love would be shown. I remember often it was said to me d...

Over the last 2 days I have worked on packing up Oscar's things for 7+ hours. I have packed and unpacked Oscar's blankies, onesies, hospital documents, stuffed animals, and books multiple times in hopes to get them in the plastic tubs just right. It was after midnight today and I still was not done. As I sat in our living room feeling stressed about Oscar stuff not being put away. It finally occurred to me it doesn't need to be packed up and put away today, tomorrow, or the next day. It doesn't even need to be put away next week or next month. It's fine.  In my mind, and on paper I have a list of all the things I think need done before I go back to work in mid-February, but I think I finally realized tonight if none of them get done it is okay too. It is okay to just be for a little bit, not forever, but for a little while. Oscar died on Saturday, December 16 and we picked his grave on Monday, December 18, his one month birthday. We had calling hours on Thursday, ...