Todd & I met in college and celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary in May. Gavin started First grade this August and our daughter Lexi, just started Faith Kids a pre-school program at our church. Lexi and I spend our days together while Gavin's in school. Our youngest, Reese Renee was born to us in 2007 and went home to be with her Creator on her very first birthday, October 30th, 2008. We started our family blog when I was pregnant with Reese. During the third trimester of my pregnancy, we were told she had a diphragmatic hernia. Upon delivery and a week of genetic testing we learned of her very rare genetic disorder called Emanuel Syndrome. This was the start of a very special journey with our baby girl. We had 365 days with our Reese Renee and each day was a gift from the Lord. He graciously gave her to us one fall morning in a hospital tucked away in Pasadena, California. This blog was created for her, so our friends and family would have daily updates and specific prayer requests. Although we only had her for a short time, this season of life was the sweetest. Our lives are forever changed because of this little girl and what the Lord has taught our family.
Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep ~ pictures by heather moore ~ March 2008
Gavin celebrating with Reese on her first birthday
birthday girl
Our day leading up to Reesie leaving us with like any other day with our precious girl. There was nothing out of the ordinary. We ate cupcakes, opened presents & visited with our girl as she slept through her party. We saved a present for her to open when she woke up. Gavin and Lexi unwrapped her last gift and read to her the last little books she would see with her eyes. Her heart rate was high but Reese would fluctuate with her heart rate ~ our nurse had just given her medicine 30 minutes prior so I was just waiting for it to kick in. The kids were getting antsy and wanted to leave but I couldn't leave her. I called Todd to come to the hospital and some nurses took the kids to occupy them by making a craft in the activities room and then brought them to our friend waiting to pick them up for an afternoon of play at 2:45. As the kids left, swarm of nurses and r.t.'s came to Reese's side. The Lord's timing was perfect. I was able to hold her the entire time. Todd and I were able to hold her and comfort her through her last breaths. We didn't know this was coming and it was so very fast. The Lord gave her to us for 1 whole year allowing us to love her and comfort her and lastly to celebrate with her on her very first birthday. I'm thankful for the gift of Reesie on her birthday. I so love my Reesie and will cherish each moment we had with our baby girl. She spoke volumes without saying a word. Her smile through her eyes is what I remember most. Always a joy to hold my baby girl she was the highlight of my day.
Reese's Memorial Service will be on Saturday, November 8th 2008 at 11:00am to celebrate her life. Everyone is welcome to attend. The location of the service will be at our home church: Placerita Baptist Church 22004 Placerita Cyn Rd Newhall , California 91321
Birthday sign from her party
wrapped around my daddy's finger
"Mommy, I had a dream about Reesie last night." "You did?" "We were driving in the car and she wasn't buckled so I buckled her." "Was she sitting next to you?" "Yes." "I bet you were playing with her and taking good care of her. You're the best big sister. Where were we driving to? Do you remember from your dream?" "Yes, to a far away Costco."
Lexi Lea
lexi lea ~ three years
lexi's favorite thing to do in the whole wide world - swing
Reese's Surgeries & Procedures
October 30, 2008 on her very first birthday - home with Jesus
September 24th 2008 - Transferred back to All Saints
September 5th 2008 - Transferred back to Huntington Hospital with Moraxella Catarrhalis Infection
August 2008 - Moved to All Saints Healthcare
July 2008 - Left hernia repair as well as a new patch
June 2008 - 2nd set of seizures; Tracheostomy at Children's
April 2008 - Broviac Line at Children's (right leg); L&B and 2nd Nissen Procedure w/ Dr. Muenchow
March 2008 - Open heart surgery (Children's Hospital of LA); put on C-Pap at Huntington Hospital
February 2008 - 1st set of seizures
January 2008 - Broviac Line (left leg/groin area); repair of sutures from Nissen w/ Dr. Muenchow
December 2007 - 1st Nissen Procedure; Gastrostomy feeding tube and skin tags removed w/ Dr. Muenchow
November 2007 - Diaphragmatic Hernia Repair w/ Dr. Muenchow
Steven Curtis Chapman - Miracle Of The Moment From the album This Moment
It’s time for letting go All of our if only’s ‘Cause we don’t have a time machine And even if we did Would we really want to use it? Would we really want to go change everything? ‘Cause we are who and where and what we are for now And this is the only moment we can do anything about
Chorus: So breathe it in and breathe it out Listen to your heartbeat There’s a wonder in the here and now It’s right there in front of you And I don’t want you to miss
The miracle of the moment There’s only one who knows What’s really out there waiting In all the moments yet to be And all we need to know Is He’s out there waiting To Him the future’s history And He has given us a treasure called right now And this is the only moment we can do anything about
And if it brings you tears Then taste them as they fall And let them soften your heart And if it brings you laughter Then throw your head back And let it go, let it go You gotta let it go Listen to your heartbeat
Be Thou Near To Me - Selah
Oh Lord I come with heart here open, For in my hour of darkness I may be. Seeking the joy of love unspoken Oh Lord be Thou near to me.
And the holy voices sing “Hallelu!” Ever will Thy reign be. As I wander through this life, Oh Lord, be Thou near to me.
Though In this burden of my making Yet in the shadows still a light I see Maker whose love is not forsaking Oh Lord be Thou near to me
And the holy voices sing “Hallelu!” Ever will Thy reign be. As I wander through this life, Oh Lord, be Thou near to me.
And the holy voices “Hallelu!” Ever will Thy reign be. As I wander through this life,
Oh Lord, be Thou near to me. Oh Lord Be Thou near To me.
2 comments:
I love all the new pictures. Hope you had a fabulous summer. Thank so much for sharing. God Bless
She is so cute!
Cousin Hannah
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