Vitoria de Christo

Vitoria de Christo was born in Brazil in January of 2010 with the diagnosis of acrania.  The same diagnosis Karinne was given.  And - she survived!  Doctors were able to close the opening on her scalp and she has grown and thrived for the past  2 1/2 years!!  I have followed her journey since I was about 7 months pregnant with Karinne and Vitoria was about 2 months old.  Her amazing "victories" and her faithful mom and dad gave me such hope and such encouragement to face the unknowns in our journey with Karinne.  It has been such a joy to watch her grow, change, and progress these past 2 1/2 years and her photos and videos have always brought a smile to my face.  Some of you may have followed her story as well and I have posted about her once or twice here.

It was with such a heavy heart and with many, many tears that I read the news this week that Vitoria went home to Christ.  My heart aches for her beautiful mama - Joanna - who I have emailed back and forth with over these many months.  And for her sweet and affectionate daddy - Marcelo.  They have fought along side Vitoria and have cherished every sweet moment they were blessed to have her here on earth.  Please join me in praying for their hearts to be filled with joyful memories and for God's peace to surround them in the coming days, weeks and months as they begin what I call the "afterwards part of the journey."  Til they are joined again in heaven with their beautiful Vitoria - One Sweet Day............

I'm so glad to have been able to witness this amazing and precious girl's beautiful impact on this world.  I will miss so dearly seeing new photos of those precious eyes, long lashes, sweet smiles, and chubby little hands.  Bless you sweet Vitoria de Christo - you have the "Victory in Christ!"

Here is a link to Joana's blog where she shared Vitoria's life with the world and a touching video with some of the sweet photos and videos they captured while she was here with them.

Vitoria de Christo - Beautiful Memories

Karinne's Garden 2012

I took these photos out in Karinne's Garden just a few days ago.  It has grown to be so beautiful this summer!!  I have been watering it like CRAZY in this 100 degree plus weather to keep it going.  But this morning I am praising God as I enjoy the BEAUTIFUL sound of steady rain falling outside. We have over 2 1/2 inches so far!!  I have every manner of container around the yard trying to catch the rain to water the garden with later.  =)  It looks so funny!  We have plans for rain barrels but they aren't quite hooked up yet so I am making due.

Anyway - I have been meaning to post photos of the garden so everyone can see how lovely it has become.  It is such a special place to remember our sweet Karinne.  Oh how thankful I am that God led us to start this garden in her honor!  It has been such a healing blessing for me to have something to tend to and care for in her stead.  

I LOVE the gentle tones and haunting melody of the windchime.

This sweet baby wrapped in angel's wings came from a great online store - Heaven's Gain.  I got it for our first Christmas after we lost Karinne.

I made these pillows in June to brighten up the seats and add some cushy softness.

This angel was a memorial gift from Grampa's coworkers.  I LOVE it!  She has watched over Karinne's Garden from this vantage point since the very beginning.

I made this metal sign at a school workshop where we got to try out the school's new plasma cutter.  It is a tracing from Karinne's grave stone and the footprints are the size of her actual prints.

This metal angel plant stand was a gift from Karinne's Mamma & Pappa for Christmas 2011.

This is the stepping stone I made for Karinne's first birthday.  The kids also made stones that are throughout the garden.

Mamma found this "Angels Welcome" garden shovel at a garage sale and thought it would go great here.

Had to have a few tomato plants. =)

And this is the clay tile sign I created for Karinne's 1st Birthday but didn't finish until later.  We plan to make a wood frame for it and post it above and behind the seats.  I love how it turned out and thank another local baby loss momma Stacy for sharing the "Budded on Earth..." quote with me.  It is perfect for Karinne's garden!

Karinne's 2nd Birthday in Heaven

Happy 2nd Birthday in Heaven to our Precious Karinne Claire

Oh, how we miss and love you on this day - and every day.

Hard to believe it has been that long and yet it seems far longer. 

We sponsored our local christian radio station again this year for Karinne's birthday.  Here is the sweet radio spot they are playing today in her honor:  (Be sure to pause the music at the bottom before pushing play.)

We also found out today that we will be able to sponsor the movie "October Baby" in our town next weekend in honor of Karinne.  It is a story about a young girl's journey after finding out that she is a survivor of a failed abortion attempt.  We heard about this movie and wanted to sponsor it in Karinne's honor because we agree so much with the movie's theme that "EVERY LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL".  And because Karinne is our own "October Baby" since we found out we were pregnant with her in October of 2009 and were so excited about our fourth child.  Below is a trailer for the movie.

Please send up a prayer for our family today as we all go to work and school and remember our baby girl on her special day.  We will be spending this evening celebrating her life and picking out new flowers for her garden.  I hope that the day will be filled with more smiles than tears and that God's peace will surround us once again as it did on the day of her birth and entrance into heaven.

Also - we will be gathering at Karinne's grave at around 4 pm today to send off some balloons and birthday blessings.  Anyone nearby is welcome to join us if you would like.  We would love to share some hugs, smiles, and tears with you!

Love you and miss you sweet Baby Girl!!  Again - Happy 2nd Birthday Karinne!

December

2 years ago today was the worst day of our lives - the day we found out that Karinne would never come home to live with us.  You can read more about that day by clicking here.

I am finding myself at a loss for words.  I want to write something new that describes my emotions today on this difficult anniversary.  But I can't find the words and don't have the time to take to find them.  But I wanted to post something today, so here it is.

The coming of this December has held many emotions for me as I recall December of 2009.  The coming of the Christmas season just isn't the same as it always was for me - before the worst day of our lives....  As we put up decorations, attend the children's Christmas programs, buy gifts, and prepare for family gatherings - I can't help but recall the pain of all of those things that year after we found out the bad news.  I hope that eventually, December will return to its intended beauty and that the pain associated with this day will lessen over time.  

Miss you and Love you SO MUCH Karinne!

18 Months

Today it is 18 months since my baby girl went to heaven. 

In some ways it seems like forever ago, and in so many others - it seems like just yesterday. 

What I wouldn't give to have a beautiful blond 18 month old toddling around our home and filling our hearts with joy......

The tears are fewer and farther between these days than they once were.  My blogging about her is almost nonexistent.  But the hole in my heart and the constant ache for my daughter remains the same. 

Miss you SO MUCH - Baby Girl!!  Love you SO MUCH - Karinne Claire!!

2 Months and Back To Work

Well, the time has flown by far too fast and Caiden turned 2 months old yesterday. He's getting so big and fun and more and more adorable by the day.  And unfortunately two months also means the end of my maternity leave and the return to teaching high school art tomorrow morning.  BOO-HOO!!!!  I really really don't want to go back to work tomorrow.  I will really really miss these wonderful days at home with my little man Caiden. 

I could really cry up a storm if I would let myself.  I'm going to try really hard not to do that.  I would truly appreciate prayers that everything would go as smoothly as possible - for me at work - for Caiden at daycare - for all of us trying to get ready in the morning (yikes!)  

I thought I would share a couple of photos that show how Caiden has grown and changed.  I will take a photo of him with this bear each month.  Here are the 1st 3 photos:

Caiden at 1 week

Caiden at 1 month

Caiden at 2 months

As you can see, he has grown just a little bit!  11 lbs. 8 oz  - 2 weeks ago!!!  And he's lost a lot of his hair!!

Well - Caiden is down for bed.  So I suppose I better go to bed too.  Hopefully we'll get a good night's sleep and be ready for the big day tomorrow.  Still can't believe I have to go back to work. =(

Karinne's Baby Brother

 

At long last - our Little One is here safe and sound! Our family has a new baby boy!! His name is Caiden Lee Larshus. He weighs 8 pounds 4 ounces and is 20 inches long. He was born at 9:04 am on August 15th. We are doing great so far and are SO thankful for the beautiful healthy son that God has blessed us with. Thanks so much for all of the prayers!