tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-349249432024-03-13T14:35:33.348-05:00Nathan's WorldMy name is Nathan Russell and I am forever 6 years old. In December 2003, at the age of 5 months, I was diagnosed with a neuromuscular genetic disorder called Spinal Muscular Atrophy - Type 1 (SMA) and fought as hard as I could until April 28, 2010. My parents created this site so that my family and friends can check up on me and my little brother, Owen.Trey and Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03475367037262520381noreply@blogger.comBlogger537125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34924943.post-61976016291664808842018-08-03T14:56:00.001-05:002018-08-03T14:56:29.602-05:00Nate's 15th BirthdayHappy Birthday, Nate...We LOVE and MISS you!<br />
<br />
Love,<br />
Dad, Mom & OwenTrey and Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03475367037262520381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34924943.post-19204295309519112942018-04-28T17:26:00.000-05:002018-04-28T17:26:07.564-05:00Nate's 8th Angel DayWe LOVE and MISS you so much, Nate!<br />
<br />
Love,<br />
Dad, Mom & OwenTrey and Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03475367037262520381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34924943.post-81892236345796208322017-08-03T20:52:00.001-05:002017-08-03T20:52:57.587-05:00Happy 14th BirthdayHAPPY BIRTHDAY, NATE!<br />
<br />
Hard to imagine that you would be 14 years old today...<br />
<br />
We hope you've had a great celebration in Heaven...we've been thinking about you a lot today!<br />
<br />
Love you & miss you!<br />
<br />
Love,<br />
Dad, Mom & OwenTrey and Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03475367037262520381noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34924943.post-34339545997372011442017-04-28T08:36:00.002-05:002017-04-28T08:36:43.692-05:00Nate's 7th Angel DayWe LOVE & MISS you, Nate!<br />
<br />
Love,<br />
Dad, Mom & OwenTrey and Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03475367037262520381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34924943.post-36974099793396915232016-08-03T07:33:00.001-05:002016-08-03T07:34:11.677-05:00Nathan's 13th BirthdayIt's hard to believe that you would be 13 years old today...a teenager.<br />
<br />
We LOVE and MISS YOU so much! Have a great party in Heaven and send us some signs today.<br />
<br />
Love,<br />
Dad, Mom & OwenTrey and Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03475367037262520381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34924943.post-79022701043093376862016-04-28T10:58:00.001-05:002016-04-28T10:58:44.706-05:00Nate's 6th Angel DayWe love & miss you so much, Nate!<br />
<br />
As I prepared to write this post, I came across a recent post from Victoria Strong. She and her husband, Bill, lost their daughter, Gwendolyn, to SMA on July 25, 2015. Her post is titled "TIME DOES NOT HEAL ALL WOUNDS" and is so very appropriate for Nate's Angel Day:<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 3.75pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 18.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-transform: uppercase;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 3.75pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 18.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-transform: uppercase;">TIME DOES NOT HEAL ALL WOUNDS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">April 14, 2016
by Victoria Strong</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b><i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">Time heals all wounds. </span></i></b><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is a lie.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Time
does not heal. Not in and of itself. True healing requires a consciousness and
constant work. Every day. For the rest of your life without your child.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
don’t say this because I have now managed to live 8 months without my
Gwendolyn, an eternity and a blink all at once. I say this from watching
friends over the last 8 years lose their children, the ways they've healed and
the ways they never will. I say this from reading writers who faced loss 10,
15, 20 years ago and still ache. I say this from meeting parents who embrace me
because their child died 30, 40 years ago and from looking into their
tear-filled eyes, I can almost see the cracks in their still broken heart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">Time heals all wounds.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This
is a lie we tell ourselves because the thought of carrying our broken heart for
eternity initially seems too much to bear. This is a lie we tell ourselves
because we are socially ingrained to repair things and we don't know what to do
with the unfixable. This is a lie we tell ourselves because when a friend is
still falling apart and still struggling months and years after burying their
loved one, we don’t know what else to say.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">But, to those grieving and to
those supporting them, time does not heal all wounds.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Time
can soften the wrenching intensity of those early days of mourning - for some.
But time can also be a trigger to returning to that wrenching intensity. At any
given moment. Sometimes specifically just because of time. And those constant
triggers can create numbness and walls as a way of coping and it isn't time
that breaks those walls down and helps you to feel again. It is consciousness,
determination, and hard work every single day to find a way to carry our broken
heart, with the gaping hole, alongside our deep love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">Time does not heal all wounds.
This is what time does:</span></i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Time
makes her scent fade. I cling to her blankets and clothes and pull the last
strands of her hair from the brush I keep under her pillow, hoping to draw in
one last remnant of her comforting smell. Some days I catch a whiff and weep
with gratitude because for a fleeting moment it makes time take me back to
where I want to be. With her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Time
makes her sounds distant, almost an echo somewhere in my memory. The very
sounds that soothed me and held me together are no longer in my ears. And, I
wish I took more videos because that precious giggle that got me through each
day has slipped from my grasp.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Time
makes the weight of her body disappear from my arms, no matter how firmly I
grip, like a mist heading out to sea. The warmth of her flesh on mine, the very
weight that grounded me as I snuggled into her every fiber, melts into time. It
makes our rituals and daily life of carrying her and holding her and finding
solace in her sweet pudgy finger taps start to feel foreign and unknown.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And,
the continued passage of time will eventually lead to no longer knowing who my
child would be. I will know her love - always. But, each passing year she would
have grown so much. Would she still want her hair long? Would she still like
princesses and butterflies? What books would be her favorites in the future?
Her interests. Her experiences. We will never get to know. And each passing
milestone of time: birthdays, graduations, events missed, family changes... are
losses all over again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">Time does not heal all wounds.
This is what time does:</span></i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Time
makes people uncomfortable with grief, even more so than when death has just
occurred.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Time
makes people stop asking and stop mentioning her name. It makes them shift in
their feet and look away when I weave her into a conversation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It
makes people judge and place expectations to be "better," even if
they don't mean to. But when someone believes that time heals all wounds and
when time has passed and you are still broken, something must be wrong... with
you... with me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Time
makes people tire of your aching and emboldens them to say things like:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">“Just give it time and you will
move on…”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">“You had a good run there…”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">“You knew she was going to
die…”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">"You need to have more
children so you can get on with your life..."</span></i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">About your child. Your precious, incredible, irreplaceable,
life-changing child. </span><i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">My child.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">Time heals all wounds.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Those
very words undermine the depth of grief and the courage it takes to live after
loss. The death of a child is out of nature's order and completely
disorienting. It would be nice to count on the simple passage of days to
recenter the world after it has fallen down around you. But when you have held
your precious child and felt them exhale their last breath part of you goes
with them, a reattachment of the umbilical cord that gave them life, tethering
your souls for eternity. With one foot in death and one in the living, and the
debris of what was your whole world all around, you must relearn to walk. Time
does not do it for you... for them... for me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">No, time does not heal all
wounds.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Instead
of preaching clichés about time, this is what you can do:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mention
their name.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Whether it has been 1 month, 5
years, 10 years – speak of them. You aren’t bringing up a sensitive topic or
bad memories. There will never ever be a day our child is not on our mind.
Parents may cry hearing their child's name spoken aloud, but these types of
tears are fresh glue to a broken heart that will never be fully mended.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Remember their child's birthday.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">If you do one thing, make it this.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Send a card for the parents to open, let them know you
are thinking of them, even send a gift. To get to untie a bow, pull apart
wrapping paper on your child’s birthday, when they are no longer there to do it
themselves, is a gift in itself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If they ask something of you, </span></b><b><i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">DO IT</span></i></b><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> It took enormous courage to
ask.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Say
something when you know certain days are hard.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> The anniversary of a child's death. A special event
they once enjoyed. Holidays. If you don't know what to say, simply tell the
family that you are thinking of them, of their magical child.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Know
that holidays will never get easier.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Ever.
A seat will always be empty and a void will always be felt. Mention it. And, if
you are spending holidays together, embrace a way for the parents to feel their
child is still included: a new ritual, a blessing, a candle lighting, a poem or
book read, give a gift in their child's honor... Acknowledgment is, at least,
something when nothing makes things better.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Be
there. With no expectations.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Grief
is exhausting, bone-tiring. But calls, texts, emails of support matter. Don't
get offended if you get no response or if the parents don't want to be social.
It isn't personal. Sometimes words need to soak in and linger to be soothing.
Sometimes the simple act of responding to outreach feels completely
overwhelming. Know your outreach reminds us we are not alone. That our child is
remembered! When you are together, let your friend cry and cry with them.
You don't need to be strong for them. (Even in their weakness, they are already
stronger than you could ever possibly imagine.) Get comfortable with being
uncomfortable and not being able to fully understand. Share empathy - not pity
- for what you can imagine. We need you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And to the grieving - <b>You are not failing at grief</b>,
at life, if you still feel broken even when time has passed. You need to know
this, too. </span><i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">I
need to know this. </span></i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you are
waiting for time to mend, to fix the unfixable, it will not come. You are the
key. Your deep love is the source. If you allow yourself, you will find a
way to carry all the broken. Not because of time. Because of love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.2pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<b><i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "inherit","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; padding: 0in;">Time
does not heal all wounds. Owning this truth is one healing step.</span></i></b>Trey and Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03475367037262520381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34924943.post-5455731277253805632015-08-03T06:46:00.002-05:002015-08-03T06:46:28.103-05:00Nate's 12th BirthdayHAPPY BIRTHDAY, NATHAN!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U1FxP5PA3Og/Vb9UYmy95MI/AAAAAAAAB-s/SmgdOsAdGFw/s1600/101_0110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U1FxP5PA3Og/Vb9UYmy95MI/AAAAAAAAB-s/SmgdOsAdGFw/s320/101_0110.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
We love you and miss you!<br />
<br />
Love,<br />
Dad, Mom & OwenTrey and Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03475367037262520381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34924943.post-32492192558581105122015-04-28T08:47:00.001-05:002015-04-28T08:47:27.928-05:00Nate's 5th Angel Day<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We LOVE and MISS you so much, Nate!</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love,</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dad, Mom & Owen</span></div>
Trey and Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03475367037262520381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34924943.post-129819994137044522014-08-03T08:01:00.004-05:002014-08-03T08:01:56.870-05:00Nathan's 11th Birthday<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NATE!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We miss you so much! Be watching for the balloons that Owen is sending up to you today and send me & Mom so signs while we're out on our runs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">WE LOVE YOU!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dad</span>Trey and Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03475367037262520381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34924943.post-72689340051948445462014-04-28T07:06:00.002-05:002014-04-28T07:07:40.718-05:00Nathan's Angel Day<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4 years...hard to believe.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jennifer's Facebook post from last night is perfect and sums up our feelings:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="background: white; color: #37404e; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Nathan's four year Angel Day is tomorrow. Owen is the exact same age as
Nathan was when he passed. Happy because I will have a son that will live past
6 1/2 years old but sad that my Nate didn't see his 7th birthday. Very hard
angel day to say the least! Miss him like crazy but thankful he is still alive
within us, especially within our innocent Owen. What a blessing both our boys
have been! Hoping tomorrow is filled with joy, not sadness and that our Angel
sends us signs from Heaven! Love my Nathan! Always.....forever! Heavenly hugs
and kisses sweet Nate! </span></i><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We love you Nate...miss you so much!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dad</span>Trey and Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03475367037262520381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34924943.post-36779813509427865412013-08-19T15:34:00.004-05:002013-08-19T15:34:54.919-05:00Owen & Kindergarten<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today was Meet the Teacher for Owen at Bixby North Elementary...his first day of Kindergarten is tomorrow. It was a little emotional since this is the school that Nate went to. Here is a photo of Owen besides Nate's plaque at the school and another photo showing the plaque and the tree that was re-planted a few days ago.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MKmw8OZA99s/UhKAvPzrFvI/AAAAAAAAB9g/8LYTwZj9360/s1600/Owen+at+Nate's+Plaque+(Bixby+North)+8-19-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MKmw8OZA99s/UhKAvPzrFvI/AAAAAAAAB9g/8LYTwZj9360/s320/Owen+at+Nate's+Plaque+(Bixby+North)+8-19-13.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J0lmCpWFjKs/UhKAvw69RLI/AAAAAAAAB9k/e3_Uz1vQ-Zg/s1600/Nate's+Plaque+&+Tree+8-19-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J0lmCpWFjKs/UhKAvw69RLI/AAAAAAAAB9k/e3_Uz1vQ-Zg/s320/Nate's+Plaque+&+Tree+8-19-13.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Trey</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span> </div>
Trey and Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03475367037262520381noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34924943.post-48920324476639716932013-08-03T07:29:00.000-05:002013-08-03T07:29:07.229-05:00Nathan's 10th Birthday
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">HAPPY
BIRTHDAY, NATE!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mom,
Owen and I hope that you are having a great celebration in Heaven. I cannot
believe that you are 10 years old today! We miss you so much…please give me
& Mommy some signs today while we’re out for our runs.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I
found this poem last week while reading a book and thought it would be perfect
to post on your birthday since you are constantly on our minds and always in our hearts!</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dad<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif";"><o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If tomorrow starts
without me<br />
David Romano</span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
<br />
If tomorrow starts without me,<br />
And I'm not there to see;<br />
If the sun should rise and find your eyes<br />
All filled with tears for me;<br />
I wish so much you wouldn't cry<br />
The way you did today,<br />
While thinking of the many things,<br />
We didn't get to say.<br />
<br />
I know how much you love me,<br />
As much as I love you,<br />
And each time you think of me,<br />
I know you'll miss me too;<br />
But when tomorrow starts without me,<br />
Please try to understand,<br />
That an angel came and called my name,<br />
And took me by the hand,<br />
And said my place was ready,<br />
In heaven far above,<br />
And that I'd have to leave behind<br />
All those I dearly love.<br />
<br />
But as I turned to walk away,<br />
A tear fell from my eye,<br />
For all my life, I'd always thought,<br />
I didn't want to die.<br />
I had so much to live for,<br />
So much yet to do,<br />
It seemed almost impossible,<br />
That I was leaving you.<br />
<br />
I thought of all the yesterdays,<br />
The good ones and the bad,<br />
I thought of all the love we shared,<br />
And all the fun we had.<br />
If I could relive yesterday,<br />
Just even for a while,<br />
I'd say good-bye and kiss you<br />
And maybe see you smile.<br />
<br />
But then I fully realized,<br />
That this could never be,<br />
For emptiness and memories,<br />
Would take the place of me.<br />
And when I thought of worldly things,<br />
I might miss come tomorrow,<br />
I thought of you and when I did,<br />
My heart was filled with sorrow.<br />
But when I walked through heaven's gates,<br />
I felt so much at home.<br />
<br />
When GOD looked down and smiled at me,<br />
From His great golden throne,<br />
He said "This is eternity,<br />
And all I've promised you."<br />
Today for life on earth is past,<br />
But here it starts anew.<br />
I promise no tomorrow,<br />
But today will always last,<br />
And since each day's the same way<br />
There is no longing for the past.<br />
<br />
But you have been so faithful,<br />
So trusting and so true.<br />
Though there were times you did some things,<br />
You knew you shouldn't do.<br />
But you have been forgiven,<br />
And now at last you are free.<br />
So won't you take my hand.<br />
And share my life with me?<br />
<br />
So when tomorrow starts without me,<br />
Don't think we are far apart,<br />
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For every time you think of me,</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Narrow","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm right here, in your heart.</span></span>
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--></span>
<!--[endif]--></span></div>
Trey and Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03475367037262520381noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34924943.post-87992641623015397342013-04-28T08:07:00.000-05:002013-04-28T08:07:05.903-05:00Nate’s Third Angel Day
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1096…</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To
some, that number would seem like a lot…to others, it would seem like a little.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To
us, it is the number of days since we last got to see, smell, feel, hold and
kiss Nate.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It
is hard to believe that three years have gone by. Some would say that “time
heals” but I am not so sure about that. I think one SMA parent summed it up
best when they said “time doesn’t really help, I just get better at hiding the
grief & pain”.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; text-transform: uppercase;">Nate…we love you and miss you so much</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";">!!!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love,</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dad</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span> </div>
Trey and Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03475367037262520381noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34924943.post-55677237446251846252012-08-03T21:24:00.001-05:002012-08-03T21:24:31.145-05:00Nate's 9th Birthday<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NATHAN!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We hope you had a great birthday party in Heaven and got the balloons that Owen released!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We love you and miss you so...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Love,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Dad, Mommy & Owen</span>Trey and Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03475367037262520381noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34924943.post-84167492322699232192012-04-28T08:29:00.002-05:002012-04-28T08:29:30.427-05:00Nathan's Second Angel Day<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dear Nate,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</span><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For your second Angel Day I had wanted to write a profound post that would summarize our thoughts and feelings on this day. Instead, I think back to something that I said to your mom earlier this week, “sometimes the simplest words are the best to say”.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</span><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With that in mind….WE LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU SO MUCH!!!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</span><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is hard to believe that two years have gone by. You are in our thoughts so many times each day...your photos are the screensaver on my laptop at work; your photos are throughout the house and the last thing I do before bed each night is to look at a photo of you taken just 10 days before you died. Each night I pray that you realize how much we love you and how much we miss you.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</span><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Your mom and I are so grateful that we were chosen to be your parents. Your little brother misses you a lot and still has a hard time understanding why he can’t fly a helicopter up to Heaven to get you. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</span><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I know that you are so happy in Heaven. You are SMA free...running around and playing with all your friends. Knowing that gives us some consolation.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</span><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Please continue to watch over us and to give us signs!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</span><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">WE LOVE YOU!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</span><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dad</span></div>Trey and Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03475367037262520381noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34924943.post-52633115530957473162011-12-18T14:51:00.000-06:002011-12-18T14:51:25.339-06:00Beautiful Quote<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>I thought of you today, but that is nothing new. I thought about you yesterday, and days before that too. I think of you in silence, I often speak your name. All I have are memories and a picture in a frame. Your memory is a keepsake, from which I'll never part. God has you in His arms. I have you in my heart.</em></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Miss you, Nate...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Love,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Dad</span>Trey and Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03475367037262520381noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34924943.post-39210067089641430472011-11-14T07:46:00.004-06:002011-11-14T20:04:54.135-06:00runNYC4Nate...MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">26.2 miles run....</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">$11,852 raised for FSMA</span></span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">A little before 4:00PM on Sunday, November 6, 2011, I crossed the finish line in Central Park culminating two years of work. When I registered for the lottery to the NYC Marathon in 2009, I had no idea that it would turn into the endeavour that it did. What started out as a "lark" became so much more. It became a mission to honor Nate and help all the other SMA kids & their families by raising funds for FSMA.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">A huge THANK YOU goes to Jen and Owen for their love, support and for putting up with a spouse & dad who is training for a marathon. The early morning runs before work, the long runs on the weekends, the afternoon naps after the long runs, etc... I could not have done it without them.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another huge THANK YOU goes to all of our family and friends that donated to FSMA and offered their support & encouragement to me as I prepared for this marathon. I continue to be amazed at how many people Nate touched in his short time here with us. I am extremely grateful for your generosity!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Here are a couple of photos I wanted to share:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A shot of the Verranzo-Narrows Bridge from the Green Start Village</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9GnVYEbgSbk/TsEZIExhJ1I/AAAAAAAAB7M/rJHX8PfnAKA/s1600/IMG-20111106-00020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9GnVYEbgSbk/TsEZIExhJ1I/AAAAAAAAB7M/rJHX8PfnAKA/s320/IMG-20111106-00020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A shot of the Manhattan skyline as I cross the Pulaski Bridge:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KE-JgfHfNsc/TsEZLlHTE-I/AAAAAAAAB7U/zuIDTBj20_k/s1600/IMG-20111106-00031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KE-JgfHfNsc/TsEZLlHTE-I/AAAAAAAAB7U/zuIDTBj20_k/s320/IMG-20111106-00031.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A shot as I run up First Avenue...the number of runners and spectators was incredible:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C9IaYkwAThA/TsEZP7jlTtI/AAAAAAAAB7c/Gb_P0SRBilY/s1600/IMG-20111106-00036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C9IaYkwAThA/TsEZP7jlTtI/AAAAAAAAB7c/Gb_P0SRBilY/s320/IMG-20111106-00036.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My 2011 ING NYC Marathon Finisher's Medal:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HfjUo41ayCE/TsEZTfyWD4I/AAAAAAAAB7k/xfJh6TAQdHQ/s1600/IMG-20111106-00041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HfjUo41ayCE/TsEZTfyWD4I/AAAAAAAAB7k/xfJh6TAQdHQ/s320/IMG-20111106-00041.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks again for your support and generosity!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Trey</span></div></div>Trey and Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03475367037262520381noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34924943.post-67187965094016009392011-10-18T07:10:00.000-05:002011-10-18T07:10:32.085-05:00Notes from a Dragon Mom<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please click on the link below to read a very moving and accurate New York Times article on what it is like to parent a child with a terminal genetic disorder:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/16/opinion/sunday/notes-from-a-dragon-mom.html?_r=3&src=tp&smid=fb-share"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/16/opinion/sunday/notes-from-a-dragon-mom.html?_r=3&src=tp&smid=fb-share</span></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another SMA family posted it on their daughter's blog (</span><a href="http://scarlettshope.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://scarlettshope.blogspot.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">) and I wanted to share it here.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks,</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Trey</span></div>Trey and Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03475367037262520381noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34924943.post-65818986538279885662011-10-16T20:34:00.000-05:002011-10-16T20:34:18.508-05:00runNYC4Nate Update - 8/16/11<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The final countdown has begun...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Three weeks from today, we'll be in NYC and I will be running the marathon!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">A HUGE THANK YOU to all of our family and friends who have donated to Families of SMA! As of today, you have generously donated <strong>$8,010</strong> in memory of Nate. I cannot begin to tell you how much this means to me & Jennifer...we truly appreciate your thoughtfulness and support!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I completed my last long run today (20 miles) and now begin my taper in preparation for the 26.2 miles on Sunday, November 6. I also look forward to running in cooler weather as it was in the upper 80's today in Tulsa!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I received my Bib Number last week and I am way at the back of the pack! I am #64-491 and I start running in the final wave at 10:40AM. If you are interested in tracking my progress, here is the website for the marathon and just follow the instructions under "Runner Tracking": <a href="http://www.ingnycmarathon.org/">http://www.ingnycmarathon.org/</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Once again, THANK YOU for your donations and support! Please check back here on the evening of Sunday, November 6, to see how I did.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Thanks,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Trey</span>Trey and Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03475367037262520381noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34924943.post-79318713398347447772011-09-07T12:41:00.000-05:002011-09-07T12:41:23.960-05:00Can't the helicopter go get him?<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last night before going to bed, Owen wanted to go outside to look at the moon. As we stood there, a helicopter flew over the house. We then headed inside and back to his room.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">After saying prayers, Owen asked if I'd lay in bed with him for a few minutes. We talked about his visit to the dentist, his new toothbrush and the balloon he got for being a good patient.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Out of the blue, he says, "I want Nate to come home" and he buries his head in my chest while wrapping his arms around me and squeezing tightly.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I told him that I wish Nate could come home too but he has to stay in Heaven.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Then he says, "Can't the helicopter go get him?"</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I tell him that I wish we could fly the helicopter up there but we can't. We talk about Nate being able to run and play in Heaven and how Nate watches over him from up there. He then wonders if Nate or Jesus has come down from Heaven and grabbed the Batman toy that he left on Nate's grave. After talking about it, we decide to go there on Saturday after my run to find out and put some new flowers on Nate's grave.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I kiss him goodnight and get a big hug in return. I tell him that I love him and get an "I love you, too!" as I close his bedroom door...10 minutes later he is sound asleep.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Trey</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Trey and Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03475367037262520381noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34924943.post-56218826667511118932011-08-23T16:08:00.000-05:002011-08-23T16:08:16.747-05:00Happy Birthday, Owen!!!!Today is Owen's 4th birthday...HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Owen!<br />
<br />
Love,<br />
Dad, Mommy & Angel NateTrey and Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03475367037262520381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34924943.post-47824320565550456262011-08-22T15:57:00.000-05:002011-08-22T15:57:49.719-05:00Photos of Owen<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Jen took this photo of Owen in the backyard last week:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TxqEP5q7GUE/TlLB8S0PpRI/AAAAAAAAB64/qqPnHaKBxNk/s1600/Owen+8-17-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" qaa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TxqEP5q7GUE/TlLB8S0PpRI/AAAAAAAAB64/qqPnHaKBxNk/s320/Owen+8-17-11.JPG" width="240px" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This photo was taken this morning as he went to his Young 4's class at Asbury's Mother's Day Out: </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KgPrTvwpAjo/TlLCGVsSFII/AAAAAAAAB68/mmNvZ-EnqVg/s1600/Owen+-+1st+Day+of+MDO+8-22-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" qaa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KgPrTvwpAjo/TlLCGVsSFII/AAAAAAAAB68/mmNvZ-EnqVg/s320/Owen+-+1st+Day+of+MDO+8-22-11.JPG" width="240px" /></a></div>Trey and Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03475367037262520381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34924943.post-50076377722884722402011-08-16T13:00:00.000-05:002011-08-16T13:00:51.820-05:00This is SMA. And this is what incredible looks like.<div align="justify"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The Gwendolyn Strong Foundation has put together a beautiful photo montage of SMA children...Nate is the fourth photo in the slideshow.</span></div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Click on this link to watch: <a href="http://www.gwendolynstrong.com/2011/08/this-is-sma-and-this-is-what-incredible-looks-like.html">http://www.gwendolynstrong.com/2011/08/this-is-sma-and-this-is-what-incredible-looks-like.html</a></span></div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Thanks,</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Trey</span></div>Trey and Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03475367037262520381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34924943.post-84628617044035373032011-08-05T22:30:00.000-05:002011-08-05T22:30:55.919-05:00Owen at Nate's Grave on 8/3/11<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QXfOD8ehbyU/Tjyz_vCtsiI/AAAAAAAAB60/eLAD4-yTYTU/s1600/IMG_7972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QXfOD8ehbyU/Tjyz_vCtsiI/AAAAAAAAB60/eLAD4-yTYTU/s320/IMG_7972.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">On Tuesday evening, I told Owen that we were going to Nate's grave on Wednesday since it was his birthday. He told me that he wanted to bring Nate a toy as a present and when I asked him which toy, he said "Batman". And that is what he did...you can see Batman leaning against the vase.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Jen and I have certainly been blessed with two amazing boys!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Trey</span></div>Trey and Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03475367037262520381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34924943.post-75363797453943904212011-08-03T08:50:00.002-05:002011-08-03T11:24:10.795-05:00Happy Birthday, Nate!<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Eight years ago today, a special child entered our lives...little did we know, how special he would be. In his short time here with us, he taught us many things and made a profound impact on our lives. As we celebrate his birthday, please also help us celebrate his memory.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Here is one of my favorite pictures...Nate & Jen shortly after his birth:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oYA9mKiNNkE/TjlPBWRtEkI/AAAAAAAAB6s/w1ESPaqU8mI/s1600/101_0110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oYA9mKiNNkE/TjlPBWRtEkI/AAAAAAAAB6s/w1ESPaqU8mI/s320/101_0110.JPG" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Here is one of the last pictures of him. Nate & Jen...together as always!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZuLvK2rf9YM/TjlPRPgaoGI/AAAAAAAAB6w/3-hsYpCdx_4/s1600/IMG_6606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZuLvK2rf9YM/TjlPRPgaoGI/AAAAAAAAB6w/3-hsYpCdx_4/s320/IMG_6606.JPG" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Happy Birthday, Nate! We love you and miss you!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Love,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Daddy, Mommy and Owen</span></div>Trey and Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03475367037262520381noreply@blogger.com2