A Little Update

Things have been pretty busy for us lately, which means I haven’t been able to update in quite a while! Thanks to Jess for posting her song below to help keep things updated around here!

I’ve made a decision…for the last year and a half, this blog has been primarily about grief but, I feel like it needs to take a new direction. I feel like I need to start working more on SMA awareness and support. I just think that changing things up would be the best way to honor the girls.

But, before I get to all of that, I wanted to give an update on what Jake and I have been doing. In August, my wonderful sister nominated me for mother of the Year through the Indiana March of Dimes. I was one of 10 finalists and Jake, me, my family and friends attended a fancy pants dinner where we got to learn all about the 10 finalists and their amazing stories. There were so many inspiring women there and it was very nice to be able to connect with such strong people!

Also in August, Jake and I celebrated the girls’ second birthdays by volunteering at Riley Hospital for Children. This hospital is amazing and the experience we had there when the girls were patients was very positive (despite the negative reason for being there). On their birthday, jake and I stayed very busy making puppy pillows that the patients get to take home with them. It is a great comfort measure and we both left feeling so good about hopefully impacting the children in a positive way.

In September, my dad lost his battle with pancreatic cancer. He was such a fighter and an inspiration. It was sad, but interesting, to see him go through his fight…it made me really reflect on the differences in dying and death between him and the girls. While it was heartbreaking to see him go, I am forever thankful for all that he taught me, even in those final days.

And now we’re on to November. Things are starting to settle down for us and we’re really hoping for an uneventful winter. I know the holidays will be difficult because the girls aren’t with us, but we’ve really learned how to hold onto each other for strength and take each new feeling of sadness and deal with it in a constructive way. Thanks so much for sticking with us and reading along with us as we continue on this journey! We are forever indebted to our family, friends and you for all of the love and support we have received.