one more

I did something I shouldn’t have the other morning. And it’s tearing me up inside. Kate and I were playing with Ryder and trying to get him to roll over from his back to his front. These days he is enthralled with the cell phone and mini iPad. If I’m holding him and typing something or reading, he just stares and reaches for it. Of course, I don’t let him play on it. He really just wants to chew on it to soothe his gums. So, Kate and I were showing him a video of Kate in the hopes of it motivating his little body to stretch and reach for it and ultimately roll over. It wasn’t working, but we were practicing. I left the room for a moment and soon overheard, “One more. One more.” coming from the phone. It was Jackson. Kate was watching a video I filmed of Jackson...

happy birthday, Jesus

In the last year-and-a-half I have befriended a handful of people that I probably wouldn’t have if it was not for my Jackson moving to Heaven. I’ve become close to other moms who have also lost children. Some of their kids were young like Jackson, others in their middle school years and another as a teenager. It’s always nice to talk with them because they truly understand what I struggle with on a daily basis. They understand the depth of my pain. I don’t have to ever put on a front for them. When I’m having a bad day because the hurt is too great, I can just sit and cry. No words need to be spoken because they understand. Throughout the first year, I would hear from my newfound friends that “the second year is harder”. I always thought that was the craziest...

this too shall pass

this too shall pass

I have to admit something. Ready?  Here goes…Ryder is not a perfect baby. There. I said it.  Don’t get me wrong. He’s wonderful, and beautiful and I love him to pieces. But starting at about seven weeks old, he started crying – ALOT! And pooping – ALOT! And spitting up – ALOT!   I have created a permanent figure eight indentation in our carpet from circling the downstairs while constantly patting his bottom, ssshhhing and bouncing him. Talk about multi-tasking! My back is about to break.  I’m not sure I have one piece of clothing that doesn’t have his smelly, streaky signature. The carpets have even endured Ryder’s spewing wrath. And it’s to the point that I just have to laugh as his spit-up attacks my hair then slowly...

thanks and what it really means

thanks and what it really means

(This post isn’t very timely, but with a newborn in the house, “timely” isn’t actually in my vocabulary these days. But it is VERY important for me to show my appreciation to everyone and recognize this important, annual event in our lives.) There isn’t a sweeter sound in the world for a grieving mother than to hear her child’s name roll off a person’s tongue. And a few weekends ago it sounded like a chorus of heavenly angels magnificently singing Jackson’s name. For the fourth year in a row, we participated in Briggs and Al’s Run for Children’s Hospital in Milwaukee. Every year I am humbled by the support we receive from family, friends and strangers. The first two years we participated, it was our way of giving back to the medical team who cared deeply and...

introducing…

Ryder Jackson Reese August 18, 2014 8:46 a.m. 7 lbs, 10 oz, 19.75″ long I think pictures speak a thousand words, so I’m not going to say too much, except that we are so in love!