Lily's Prayer Flag on Christian's Beach

A few months ago, I shared Lily's Beach Prayer Flag that my mom and I made to send to Carly Marie in Australia to be displayed at a Remembrance Ceremony there on October 15th - Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. She was accepting Prayer Flags in honor of lost babies from all over the world and ended up receiving hundreds! 

On October 15th, she wanted to photograph them all together at the special service that was held on Christian's Beach (where Lily's and Luke's names are written in the sand), but it ended up raining. Then, after that, it has been really windy there. With the wind and because of the sheer number of flags she received, it has taken Carly Marie a while to photograph all the names. She ended up taking some of the photos of the flags on the beach at sunset, but some of them, including Lily's, she has taken photos of them by candlelight on the beach. It ended up being too difficult to take the photos as she originally intended, but I still think it's beautiful! And it makes me happy to know Lily's little flag made it all the way downunda. :) 

If you remember me posting about Lily's Prayer Flag, then you may remember that it was mailed with Morgan's son Marcellus's Prayer Flag. I thought I'd share a photo of his beautiful flag hanging as well.

Carly Marie, these photos are gorgeous! Thank you for loving the babyloss community in such an amazing way. It's been so special to see all the beautiful and creative handmade flags made with love sent from around the world to be displayed in honor and remembrance. What a powerful thing to behold...

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Update on Friend's Rainbow Baby

Thank you to everyone who has been praying for my friend Morgan, her husband Mike, and their precious rainbow baby. I want to give you an update on what's happened since I posted my prayer request.

Morgan and Mike welcomed a little BOY named Ethan Michael into the world this morning, December 18th, 2012, at 3:37am. He weighs 2lbs 5 oz and is 15 inches long. He is in the NICU and doing well. Right now he is on the bubble cpap, but he might have to go on the ventilator. They are waiting to see. His lungs are still premature, but having had the steroid shot does help.

Morgan got to have the kind of delivery she wanted and could see Ethan and hear him cry right after birth.

The little Christmas baby was born at 27 weeks, 4 days gestation and has a long journey ahead of him. He and his parents need continued prayers and support. Thank you for loving this family with me!

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Prayer Request for a Friend's Rainbow Baby

I have written a lot about my friend Morgan, who placed her daughter Angela for adoption 10 years ago and then lost her son Marcellus at 12 days old in late 2011. She is a local friend, so I am blessed to get to see her often.

Anyways, I am writing to ask for prayers for her, her husband, and their unborn "rainbow" baby.

Morgan is currently 27 weeks, 2 days pregnant and woke up in the middle of the night last night feeling crampy and with a backache. She went to the hospital where she learned that she has a bulging bag and is in labor. The contractions were 5-10 minutes apart, but she has had magnesium and something else to try to slow down labor, which is thankfully working. The contactions are now rare, but the magnesium is really taking a toll on her physically. She has had steroid shots to develop Beamer's (baby's nickname) lungs faster. Her cervix has also been shortening.

They said that there have been cases of prolonging labor in a situation like this for as long as two weeks, but they feel Beamer will be here within the next day or two. If they are able to prolong later and her bag doesn't go back in, then there is a risk of infection. This is especially hard and scary for them, because she was 28 weeks, 5 days when she had Marcellus, who later died because of complications from prematurity. Morgan is doing an amazing job at staying calm.

I ask that each of you would please pray for this family, that God would give them peace and continued calm. I ask that you would pray for this baby, that God would put His hand of protection over him and would mature his little body quickly. Pray that Morgan won't feel too rough physically from the medicine. Please pray that the Lord's will would be done in this. Hearing this news today is just shocking and has been really hard to deal with. They have been constantly on my heart all day. I just saw this couple yesterday and was saying how beautiful Morgan looked (all belly) and they just seemed to be glowing and hopeful about this pregnancy. We were planning on taking her maternity photos this week "just to be safe." This baby is supposed to be a 2013 baby, so let's pray that God works a miracle and keeps baby in for several weeks longer! Morgan has already been through sooo much on her journey of motherhood and I just don't want her to have to deal with anything else on this road to bringing a healthy baby HOME!

If you think to pass this prayer request along, that would be great. They need as many prayers as possible.

Thank you!

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A Little Warrior

Today I want to wish a precious little boy named Marcellus Robert a Happy 1st Birthday in Heaven! Marcellus is the son of my dear friend, Morgan. You should check out her beautiful blog "Mommy and Marcellus" where she shares his life and her grief journey. I joke that I am her number one blog stalker because I have read every single word that she's written! She is a great writer and I feel like I know Marcellus through what she written and told me about him. Not only is she a blog friend, but she's a "real-life friend" who I get to see on a regular basis. We first met at a local support group last December and have really hit it off since then. We love getting together and talking about our babies. It feels so natural and it's not awkward at all to talk about headstones and grief and all that comes with being a mother to a baby in Heaven. I am thankful for her friendship :)

Marcellus was born unexpectedly early at twenty-eight weeks, 5 days gestation on October 28, 2011. Morgan and her husband, Mike, had twelve glorious days with their little guy in the NICU before he lost his battle to NEC, going home to be with Jesus on November 9, 2011.

Marcellus means "young warrior," and this sweet boy was just that. Morgan is a warrior, like her son. Before she had and lost her son, she also had and lost a daughter. Her birth daughter, Angela, was placed for adoption when Morgan was 17. The crazy thing is Angela shares a birthday with Marcellus, just nine years apart. Marcellus wasn't due until January, so it is just crazy. October 28 is a day that holds such joy and such sorrow for Morgan. 

I awoke today with such a heavy heart, thinking of my friend and her children. Morgan is pregnant now and ironically is expecting her little one on March 15, the day in between Lily's due date and birthday. Please pray for her to have peace during this pregnancy and pray also that she will have a healthy baby to bring home. 

It was such a joy and honor to celebrate her sweet boy's life with her on his special day. There was a balloon release and then we had cake and other yummy food and visited for a while.

Releasing balloons in honor of Marcellus

Morgan and her husband Mike reading Marcellus's story at his special tree before the release

Even through the pain Morgan has experienced in her 27 years on earth, her strength shines through. She is compassionate and makes me feel understood. I am so blessed to have this "young warrior mommy" to be my friend. Marcellus has affected so many people through his short life. He will always be loved and never forgotten, by myself and many others.

I like to think of Lily and Marcellus being friends in Heaven...maybe he is like a little brother to her. I told Morgan that I hope Lily sang to him for his special day and made a yummy cake for him with Jesus. :)

Happy Birthday, Marcellus and Angela! ♥ Love and hugs, Morgan!

This is a video tribute I made in honor of Marcellus!

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Marching for Babies

On April 28, I marched for babies in the annual March of Dimes walk in Raleigh, NC. The team I was a part of was called Marcellus's Marchers, created by my friends Morgan and Mike, in honor of their sweet son Marcellus Robert. In the fall of 2011, Marcellus lived for twelve days in the NICU, before he unexpectedly lost his battle to NEC. His name means "young warrior," which describes him perfectly. It also describes his mommy and daddy.

There were about twenty people marching for our team, along with thousands of others from other teams (including teams of our friends from our support group). Marcellus's Marchers got second place for most money raised by a family team. It was a bit of a chilly day, but we quickly warmed up with the walk. I forgot to wear my Lily necklace, which made me a little sad, but that's okay.

with Morgan and Mike after the walk

The shirts were so awesome that our team won the award for best family team t-shirt design! Great job designing them, Mike! There were butterflies on the front for each baby the team was walking for, along with the baby's names on the back of the shirts.

the back of my shirt/the team shirts. See Luke and Lily's names on there? :)

Before the walk, we decorated little onesies for our babies.

After the walk, all the team signed one of the onesies.

Before the walk started, they had someone share their story of their preemie baby. They also had a moment of silence for the babies in Heaven. I wasn't expecting to get so emotional, but I did. It just broke my heart to see all those healthy babies there and wonder why mine couldn't be. It just made me wonder how a baby born at less than 24 weeks gestation is now healthy and happy, but my healthy fullterm baby isn't here. I just wish all babies could be here with their families.

Our team (and other teams) marching in the walk.

I love this shot of so many people walking for sweet babies, both those on earth and in Heaven. It was nice to be able to tell people about Lily and hear about their babies as well.

Marcellus's Marcher's team picture.

After the walk, we went with Morgan and Mike to Marcellus's special tree at a local park. We had lunch there (from Lily's Pizza, so it felt like she was a special part of the day). Overall, it was a very sweet day and I am honored that I was a part of it. :)

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A Tiny Flower

My dear friend, Morgan, wrote a special post in honor of Lily's birthday on her blog. Morgan is a blog friend and also a real-life friend who I get to see on a regular basis. We love getting together and talking about everything, from our babies to her Minnesooota accent. ;) We enjoy quite a few good laughs together! I am so thankful for her sweet friendship and am so humbled and honored by what she wrote. Be sure to read the story of her precious son Marcellus and become a blog follower!

Morgan and I at Lily's 2nd Heavenly Birthday Balloon Release!

To many today is just March 16th, the day that comes after the Ides of March. But today, is a very special day. Today is Lily's 2nd Heavenly birthday. Who is Lily you ask? Lily is the beautiful daughter of my dear friend Hannah Rose.

I met Hannah Rose at group. She was at the first meeting we attended. Since then we have messaged each other on facebook, swapped blogs (her's is a lot nicer looking and fancier than mine!), texted back and forth, gotten together outside of group and really become friends. She is an amazing mother to know. She is an incredible witness to the Lord and I look to the strong faith she has as guidance for myself. You should really check out her blog "Rose and Her Lily" and read her testimony. She's pretty amazing :) Her post today in honor of Lily's life is very beautiful.

Today I want to honor Lily on her special day. Today I want you to know how special, beautiful and amazing this little girl is. She has changed the lives of many without even taking a breath on this earth. I never got the chance to meet or see Lily, I didn't know Hannah Rose when she was pregnant, but that doesn't matter. I feel like I know Lily. I know her through her mother. I can only hope that Marcellus is living on as much through me as Lily is through her mommy.

I wish I knew Hannah Rose for other reasons. That our children were part of the same play group or we were in a mommies exercise class together or something. But this is our reality. Our little ones already in Heaven waiting for us. And although this is the circumstance I met Hannah Rose under, I am very blessed to have her and Lily in my life.

I just know Marcellus and Lily found each other in Heaven. They probably found each other before their mommies even met. They definitely have taken part in building this friendship Hannah Rose and I have. Not too long ago Hannah Rose came over and we shared our children's things. She showed me many of her favorite things of Lily's and I showed her all of Marcellus's. I really felt like a mommy then. It felt really good.

Tomorrow I have the privilege and honor of partaking in a balloon release for Lily. I'll also get to see her scrapbooks her mommy has been working so hard on. And yes, you read that right...scrapbooks, plural. Lily has 2! Because she is so loved and special.

About a week and a half ago friends of ours were able to visit Marcellus. They asked if we wanted them to bring him something. I like him to have fresh flowers. I am usually not too picky about what kind he gets. But I had an idea. He needed to have lilies! Even though it was a week and a half before Lily's birthday, that's what made me think of it. He needed lilies for his friend Lily. Here's a picture my friend sent to me of that night. Look at that sparkly snow! It was gone the next day, but don't the vibrant lilies look so beautiful against the pure white snow? When my friend sent the pictures she labelled them Marcellus_Lily. It really touched me to see their names together like that. My Marcellus and Hannah Rose's Lily, together.

So today dear Lily Katherine, we honor you and not only your time here, but your legacy that lives on.

"A tiny flower, lent not given, to bud on earth and bloom in Heaven." 

Dear Marcellus, I know you have wonderful friends in Heaven with you. We all wish you could be here on earth with us, with your mommies. I hope you and Lily have fun together. Does she watch out for you? Does she maybe act a little like a big sister to you? Although your time here was too short, you are both such a gift to this world. I miss and love you so much baby boy! xoxox

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