The other end I had in view turns out to have been based on a misunderstanding. I thought I could describe a state; make a map of sorrow. Sorrow, however, turns out to be not a state but a process. It needs not a map, but a history...C.S. Lewis

Mommy loves you Robert, and I am so sorry. I miss you so much!!!

I am writing this blog not just as a way to me to give my sorrow its history, but to maybe help those who are going through the same sad journey. If you are reading this and know someone who needs to know they are not alone in their sorrow, please feel free to share it.

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Thank you boys

Hi Robbie and Rango,
I know I already spoke with you guys today...but I wanted to say thank you for my flowers.  Your sisters bring me dandelions all the time.  It was very special to look down at the spot where I was standing and see the two little dandelions between my feet.
i can't stop thinking about you two...how robbie would have been almost 5 months old already, and rango we would be registering and getting your crib.  its hard to think of you two simultaneously.  if robbie hadn't been sick and gone to heaven, we never would have had you Rango.  But is it selfish of me to want both of you?
I know you are in good hands up there--make sure you listen to your great grandparents!  and please make sure you are playing nice with all the other babies up there--i know their mommies, daddies and families are missing them too.  don't cause too much trouble!
and if either of you could please help out your sister--A is still upset, and misses you both.  E on the other hand thinks of you, and told me she wants to be able to go to heaven to play with you both one day.
I love you both!
Mommy

Thursday, July 21, 2011

A year since the first positive test...

Dear Robbie & Rango,
It's been a year since your dad and I learned that Robbie was growing and forming inside me.  Little did we know how much you boys would teach us, and how much we would change, individually, as a couple, and as a family.  Robbie, you would be 4 months old--I saw families on the beach with infants, and wondered if you would be a beach baby, or a poolside baby or both?  What would your brother have been?  I know you both know, but I won't know for a very long time.
I also saw babies on the rides in ocean city--your sisters would have loved to ride on the rides with you.
But I guess you boys can ride on all the rides you want on your own, can't you?  Or at least your great grandparents are busy taking you all sorts of places.
I know I say it often, but I do miss you, and your brother, and wonder everyday what you two would have been like.  I don't know if the heartache will ever go away completely.
I just wanted to be able to hold you boys, and rock you to sleep, and cuddle you when you were fussy.  To share you boys with your father and sisters and dog...I love you both very much!
Love,
Mommy

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Bump Pictures

Dear Robbie,
Tonight we went to see the photographer that not only took our wedding photos, but also took some baby bump shots of me and you.  The first set was when you were about 10w.  The second set we couldn't find, but the last set was taken October 23rd.  The differences between how much I grew in that two month period was amazing.  But even more amazing was that instead of getting upset on seeing the pictures (I thought going in I was going to be so sad and missing you and your brother even more!), they comforted me.
While your dad and I were stressed about getting ready for you, and have a lot of guilt because I felt we weren't ready for you and therefore didn't enjoy the pregnancy and my time with you as I should of, the pictures soothed me.  They showed a different memory.  There is nothing but love and anticipation in all of the photos.  And as I reflected back to the sittings, I remember each pose.  What I was thinking...and it shows on my expression.
The best one, one of my favorites, is a shot of me holding you in the belly, and I am laughing.  And immediately I remembered that pose...you were kicking and moving and squirming so much.  We were talking about you (the photographer and I) and as we talked, you kept kicking!
Those pictures are pictures of hope, of a carefree time.  I wish I would have enjoyed my pregnancy with you more and cherished each day.  But I am grateful that your dad and I got these pictures taken, because today they are the best gift I could have gotten.  They are a reminder of my time with you, short as it was.
I love you and I miss you so much!!!  It hurts me to even admit that you would be 4 months old this month, and enjoying your first summer at the beach and pool.  Sitting up, and starting to play with your sisters and dog.
I wish you were here with us!
I love you!
Mommy

Saturday, July 9, 2011

1 month

Dear Rango,
It's been 1 month since I last felt you kicking and squirming.  It's been a fast month, but unbearably slow as well. Just like I can still remember what it felt like when Robbie kicked, you were a different kind of mover.  You were subtle.  You would make little bumps against me that I would feel.  We were just starting to be able to feel you kick from the outside.  That's how I know you were still alive as I got ready for work that fateful morning.  I know you were squirming as I was getting ready.  I don't know when your heart stopped beating, at what point during the day.  I don't want to know when.
Your daddy thinks my premonition Wednesday night was your way of telling me something was wrong.  I couldn't stop crying and I was so scared something was happening.  I just kept seeing the same scene over and over...we were in the delivery room, and the doctor had delivered you, but I was bleeding uncontrollably.  And then it would go black.  But you were okay--you were with your daddy.  The doctors were working on me.  But 24 hrs later, you were gone, not me.  I regret not taking the doppler out that morning before work--I had done it so many other mornings.  But I know you were moving.  But it would have been the last time we heard your heartbeat.
We miss you (and your brother) so much.  Your sisters still cry over both of you.  I cry every day...I relive those moments when I knew you weren't moving and they were busy checking my placenta on the ultrasound.  By the time they went to check your heartbeat, I already knew.  My worst nightmare coming true again.
I am grateful we spent the time we had with you.  That we did cherish every moment, and made you a part of the family even before we could hold you.  I don't regret any minute of that.  The doctor says if I do get pregnant again, it would be normal and expected of me  not to bond with the next baby.  But while I understand why I would do that, I also know that your daddy and I cherish every day we had with you.
We miss you and love you!
Love,
Mommy

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Thinking of you today

Dear Boys,
Today was the first day that I was able to be alone.  And by alone I mean no phone, no body talking to me, just me and my thoughts, and wanting to have some quiet time with you.  But since I was driving to the doctors, every time I tried to think of either of you, I got very emotional, and started to cry.  So needless to say, I turned up the radio and just sang.  What else could I do? I know both of you listened to my wonderful radio singing...and you knew how it would calm me down.
Your dad has your sisters looking for pennies now.  He found one at the ice cream stand last night.  And he went searching around for the other one.  Your sisters wanted to know what he was looking for...and I explained it to them.  So now they are looking for pennies, if you can spare a few for them.
Your sisters are also asking a lot of questions about you boys today.  I'm answering them the best I can, but I know they miss you both, and really want a baby brother.  Instead of a funeral for Rango, your sisters want to have a party instead.  What do you think about that?  If we release balloons, will you catch them for us (and share them with your friends up there?  I know you must be playing with Arianna and your other little friends, and your great grandparents!).  It does make me a little happier knowing that you two have each other, and have other friends to play with.
I miss you both.  I love you both.
Love,
Mommy

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Dear Boys...

Thank you for the two pennies we found in the airport yesterday.  Again, your dad found them before I noticed. But he told me he looks for them.  He also found only one at the resort before we left Florida...I told him one of you must not have been paying attention, or was slacking off.  Now I think it was just in a spot we couldn't see.
And I know its silly, but the lizards always seemed to come out as I walked--instead of running away, they would watch me carefully.  Did either of you have anything to do with that?  I've never been able to look at and examine a lizard quite that carefully!  I told your daddy I think you two are watching over me.
But when we were walking on the beach, talking about trying for another baby (your dad is ready, I'm not.), we both found the same exact type of shell at the same time, and the only difference is that one was bigger than the other.  I know you boys are trying to communicate with us, and you both need to know how much that means to me and your dad.  There isn't a day that goes by that we don't think of you, and miss you both so much.  Rango, we got your pictures yesterday in the mail.  Your dad and I want to put them all in a frame.  Robbie, your ultrasounds will go first, then Rango's ultrasound and one of the pictures from when we could hold him.
We love you both so much, and miss you so much!
Love,
Mommy

Monday, June 20, 2011

It feels like not only has a scab been removed, but cut open and cut deeper.  I thought after Robbie died my heart couldn't shatter anymore.  I thought I couldn't hurt that badly once the scab began to heal.  But I was wrong.  Now I am mourning two sons, not just one.  And all the while I compare myself to where I was this time with Robbie (weight wise, emotional wise, how capable I was of leaving the house at certain days after the d & e).  And I feel guilt because I feel like this new hurt about Rango is overshadowing the grief for Robbie that is still present.  That while I want either, (preferably both) of my boys with me, I know that Robbie didn't come back, and neither will Rango.
This pain, this grief is indescribable.  There aren't words to express what I am thinking or feeling.