Trisomy Tea

I've been busy making drawstring bags to put all our donations for our Lilly Memorial Project in.  I made several with the same Peter Rabbit green toile that I made the angel burial wraps in.  I am using "Lilly colored ribbon" for the drawstrings.  Here is one:

I need to finish cutting and sewing bags in this blue toile carousel fabric:

And in this pink teddy bear fabric:

I was hoping to finish today, but as usual, I had completely unrealistic expectations for myself.

As Trisomy Awareness Month continues, I have been impressed with ways that Trisomy parents are reaching out to help spread awareness.  This sweet baby girl (left) is Jordan.  She blessed her family with her 3 days on earth.  Her mama is reaching out to others with Trisomy Tea.  Her slogan is:  "raising awareness one cup at a time!"  (See her Facebook page "Trisomy Tea.")

Here is her description of her current fundraiser, for Trisomy Awareness Month:

"In honor of our daughter, Jordan Elizabeth Chamberlin, I will be having a fund raiser to support Hope for Trisomy, Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, and our local families that have experienced a loss by selling “Trisomy Tea Cups”.
Each Tea Cup is $5.00 (see picture below) and includes a special bag of tea. They can be mailed within the US for an additional 46 cents (and of course can be picked up/dropped off locally). Message me if you live out of the US and we can work something out!!!!
Because Jordan had Trisomy 18; $3.18 of each cup sold will go to Hope for Trisomy, $1.00 to NILMDTS, and the rest to stay locally in the hopes of having a larger ceremony on October 15 (National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Day). I can accept cash, check, and paypal. Let me know if you have any questions. My goal is to sell at least 200! I’m so excited to raise awareness and continue to celebrate what Jordan means to us!!! Thank you for your help and support!"

Here is the picture of the "tea cup" with tea bag enclosed:

Isn't that a creative idea to raise awareness and to get funds to donate?  Jordan's mama has been such a blessing to me, and to many others.  I hope she has wonderful success with this project!

Angel burial pouches

Trisomy 18 angel baby girl Hannah's big sister Cassie made Hunter a "Lilly zipper pull" for his jacket.  He is so proud of it!  This is a great way for brothers of angels to "wear" and remember their sibling.  (Good jewelry alternative!)  So many creative people out there who, like us, find healing in continuing to come up with new memory ideas. 

Something like this can be one more way to get the "face" of Trisomy 18 out in public, as it is a good conversation starter.  (An extra good idea this month, Trisomy Awareness Month!)  Zipper pulls obviously don't just need to be on jackets.  I was thinking I should make one for my purse too.  Maybe a Lilly keychain for my keys.  The possibilities are endless!  :)

Here is an close up view of the Lilly zipper pull:

During Solomon's afternoon nap yesterday, I started making "Angel burial pouches" to include with my upcoming donation to the hospital.  They are for tiny babies - babies too small to fit regular clothes.  Babies too delicate to be handled much.  Some call them "fetal demise pouches" but I think that sounds terribly impersonal.  I've also heard "burial sacks."  I thought of "angel envelopes."  But I guess "angel burial pouch" is probably a pretty good name.

It isn't a happy thing to think about of course.  But I wanted to share how I made them.  Mainly for anyone like me who comes across this post, that doesn't crochet or knit!  (Because most of the patterns I found online were for crocheting or knitting.)  I only found one other pattern online where the person used regular fabric.  I took that particular pattern and tweaked it.

The finished pouches are on the left - Lilly's doll Sunny is demonstrating how a baby would fit, wrapped up.

First, I used two different fabrics.  One is a green toile-like Peter Rabbit fabric.  The other is a soft white flannel.  I wanted to make four pouches so I cut out four squares of the toile, each 12 inches by 12 inches.  (I really wasn't sure what exact size, but they are adjustable in how the baby is wrapped.)  Then I cut out four squares of the flannel, also 12 inches by 12 inches.

Then I cut out two more 12" x 12" squares of flannel.  And then I cut those both in half, diagonally.  So I ended up with 4 triangles.

Each pouch then had a toile square, a flannel square, and a flannel triangle.

Next I took one triangle and sewed a strip of ribbon across the longest edge.  I used a zig zag stitch because it looked more decorative.

Then I laid the triangle on top of the flannel square.

Next I took the piece of toile and laid it on top of the square with triangle.  Note that I laid it on with the print down.  The inside of the toile fabric was on the outside.  I pinned everything together.

Then I sewed everything together using my sewing machine.  Important!  I left about a 3 inch section open on one side.  (I didn't sew it.)

Then I reached inside the pouch, through the part that I didn't sew, and pulled all the fabric through.  (Turning everything right-side out.)

Finally I stitched the little open section together.

And that's it!  Sunny is demonstrating how an angel baby is placed inside. 

Then you fold up the bottom, cross over the sides, and tie with a ribbon.

I found myself a bit teary eyed as I made them and kept praying for the families that may one day use them.  I just wanted to hug them and comfort them in some way.

I thought this quote by John Wesley was a good ending for today's post.  (Thank you B.L. for sharing it with me!):

"All is nothing without love . . . the very image of the invisible God."  (From Sermon 92: On Zeal) - John Wesley

Homeschool tip: Geography by pictures

Quick question:  What country is shaped like a boot?  If you're like most people you thought "Italy!"  That country is so easy to recognize on a map because it's a "boot"!  What if you could see pictures in all the other countries of the world - could you recognize them?  Tabby and I just learned to map the entire continent of South America by seeing the countries as little pictures.  For example,  I don't think I can ever look at Venezuela without seeing the front of an elephant, and Guyana as it's "leg." 

Last year I invested in a geography curriculum called Visualize World Geography (http://www.visualizeworldgeography.com).  I was a bit hesitant because of the price, but I reasoned that I'd have at least 3 children using it.  Plus me.  And wow - how handy to know where most, if not all, of the countries in the world were.  (Hunter especially always asks me where places are.  I have to keep an Atlas nearby at all times.)  Each week we watch a short DVD segment which contains something about the country to help you remember it.  (Such as the elephant for Venezuela!)  And then there is a short segment about the country that has interesting facts.  We watch those one day.  Then the next day I have Tabby color the flag for the country and label the country on a map of the continent.  Then on Friday's she fills in a worksheet while re-watching the portion about the country.  (You can do lessons a number of ways - there's a bunch of things that come with the set.  Just see their website.)  (Oh - I'm not sure which curriculum set we have - when I bought it I only remember there being one version.)

After completing the South America section, Tabby labeled the continent using the picture map:

Then a couple days later I gave her a plain map to label.  It was very easy for her to do.  (And me too!)

 

Knowing geography helps so many things make more sense when you are reading about places or hear about them.  

On a completely different topic, I mentioned again my problem with my diastasis recti muscle in my last post.  (Split stomach muscles from pregnancy that still are not healed back together so I look slightly pregnant.)  A friend just did a post about healing her diastasis by using a different program than the one I have been using (and have gotten burned out on).  Here is Trina's post.  I am going to give the program she used a try - I started it today and it took so much less time!

Tomorrow is March 1.  That begins Trisomy Awareness Month.  I told Tabby we are going to work very very hard to finish up our big Lilly project donation boxes to the hospital this month.  If only I didn't keep having so many more ideas of things to add.

Do you ever get overwhelmed by your own ideas?  I'm grateful God gave me so much creativity and imagination.  But honestly it can be overwhelming at times!  It seems the ideas for new projects, etc. just never stop.  I'm learning to write them down ... maybe one day there will be time for them all.  

"Employ whatever God has entrusted you with, in doing good, all possible good, in every possible kind and degree . . . ."  John Wesley

Lilly's paper star

There is a Trisomy Families Annual Celebration coming up in a few weeks in Minnesota. The organizers invited those that couldn't attend, or had had their Trisomy loved one pass away, to send a star to the celebration to be included.  I made Lilly's star today:

 

Crafting for Lilly.  It was fun, therapeutic, and I found myself singing the songs I liked to sing to her as I cut and glued.  Only then that made me cry.  Sigh.

Weight check!  If you read this blog during Lilly's life, you know I often started a post  with "weight check" and I'd give Lilly's weight, as she fought for every ounce she gained.  Well the "weight check" this time is for me.  Though I won't tell you what I actually weigh as I'm sure no one is interested, haha.  But last month I shared about how I've been losing a lot of my post-pregnancy weight by following the Trim Healthy Mama book suggestions.  At first I was losing about 5 pounds a week.  Now it's leveled off to an average of 2 pounds.  Not bad at all!  I only have 5-8 pounds to go.  Now if only the diastasis recti muscle in my stomach would heal faster so I would look skinner ...  (My fault there, I've slacked off on the exercises.  Must ... rededicate ... myself ... again ...)

During Lilly's life, I shared a couple times about Samaritan Ministries, our non-insurance Christian medical needs sharing group.  (We do not have traditional health care.)  It is a wonderful group to be a part of.  Not only do you receive money towards your medical needs, sent directly by other members in the group, but you get their prayers too.  I think it was last fall, someone asked Frank if we still owed money for Lilly's huge medical bills.  He was able to tell them they were all completely paid off, thanks to our being a part of Samaritan Ministries.  The other day, a mom of 9 children posted about their being a part of Samaritan Ministries and gave a lot of details about being in the group.  If you'd like to learn more, read her post here.  (Her blog is Large Families On Purpose.)   

Today I dug up some daffodils from our woods and planted them where I could see them from my kitchen window.  So exciting to know that spring is coming!  I love the change in each season, but spring is the most beautiful.

[God speaking] “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.” - Genesis 8:22

Another fish tragedy and homeschool tip for beginning readers

Tragedy struck earlier this week when Tabby's Betta fish Peacock died.  Tears flowed until Tabby was able to bury him properly.  She was furious at Betta fish for not living long. (This is her second one that died.) But in the next breath she said she was buying another one.  So yesterday a new Betta fish named Sunrise moved into the late Peacock's humble abode.

Welcome Sunrise.  We hope you'll stick around awhile.  A long while.

Where is Solomon??

Peek-a-boo!  (or as we say "peep eye!")

I was a bit surprised recently when Solomon started playing this game with me!  He likes to do this while I'm changing his diaper.  What fun!

I am very much a "phonics person." That's how I taught Tabby to read and that's what makes the most sense to me.  However Hunter is learning many words by sight.  I'm certainly not going to discourage that.  As long as a child wants to learn - feed them!

A couple years ago, we bought some old psalters from our church, when they were replacing worn out copies.  We have made one of those copies Hunter's.  Each week we find out the psalms/hymns that we are going to sing the next Sunday. 

I take that list and then go through the psalm or hymn and highlight all the words Hunter knows.  (I don't do words like "the" or "and", etc.)  Then while we are singing that song at church, Frank or I hold the book where Hunter can see and move our finger under the words as we sing.  Hunter doesn't always follow along, but he often is happy to see words he knows and sometimes even points out words I missed.

During the sermons and during family Bible reading time at home, we allow him to highlight or underline words he knows in his Jesus Storybook Bible.  He usually does a really careful job looking for the words he knows and marking them.

Children become interested in words at different ages.  I think many children would enjoy this activity.

SOFT's updated website and fun with piZap

The Support Organization for Trisomy 18, 13, and Related Disorders (known as "SOFT") has redone their website.  http://trisomy.org/   I think it looks great - it has smiling Trisomy children on the home page.  This is so important!  Especially for expectant parents desperately searching the web trying to find out information on a frightening diagnosis they may have just received for their baby.  I wish I had found this - it would have given me HOPE.

Our Lilly is in the "Family Support" section.  Both under the video and blog section (this blog is listed) and in the photo gallery.  (She is currently on page 6 of the photo gallery.  See Lilly's 3 pictures here.)  Smile, what a pretty little girl she was!  I want to add a short story about Lilly to the Family Stories page.  And also to upload one of my favorite Lilly videos - the one of her laughing at her caterpillar, Hank.  Again, I think these things can encourage searching families to have HOPE.

Tabby has learned about an online photo editor from her friend Cassie.  It is called piZap.  Both girls are enjoying making special photos of their little sisters, both angels.

Tabby made this of Lilly:

 

Cassie made one for Lilly:

 

And she also shared this one of her angel sister, Hannah (who also had Trisomy 18):

 

Tabby and Cassie are both very creative and I think making things like this is a very good outlet for them.  I'd like to try some designs myself when I have some extra time!  (hahahahaha about extra time I know!)

I was just thinking this morning how thankful I am to Jesus, knowing that He is taking perfect care of our little girls. 

Lilly's Chocolate Heart

Happy Valentines Day from heaven!

I made the above digital scrapbooking page with My Memories Suite software. It was fast and easy!  (My original post about the software is here.  If you're interested in learning more about the software or buying it for $10 off, click on the upper right button that says "My Memories" on this blog.)

We started our Valentine's Day off today by reading Kevin Henkes' book Lilly's Chocolate Heart.  This sweet, short book is a family favorite.  And of course we had to eat homemade chocolate hearts while reading it!  Yum - we're going to make this an annual tradition.

At Lilly's first hospitalization for a virus, the speech therapist there gave Lilly a swallow study, which she passed.  This sweet lady seemed quite taken with Lilly.  We saw her and worked with her again at Lilly's next hospitalization for a virus.  The therapist had a son Hunter's age at home.  She told me that at that time, his favorite book was Lilly's Chocolate Heart. And that every time she read it to him, she thought of our Lilly.  So of course I had to get a copy of the book.  Hunter was delighted with the story.  (Especially the page with the picture of a radiator heater.  Those of you who know him won't be surprised about that.)  And really, we all enjoy the story.

Next Hunter did some Valentine's math, where he estimated, counted, and sorted, and recounted hearts, and recorded it all on his worksheet:

Then Tabby joined us for a little Valentine's craft involving coffee filters, markers, and a water dropper.  (They love anything that involves the water droppers - I have a box of them that I used to use to give Lilly water to drink with.)

I got the ideas about the math work and craft project from No Time For Flash Cards.  (Great ideas for little ones, though even Tabby, who's 11, enjoys some of them.)  Another Valentine idea I took that we're having fun with are supper "conversation hearts."  I took foam shaped hearts and on one side wrote things like you see on the candy conversation hearts (like "too sweet", "too cute", "xoxoxo", etc.)  Then on the other side I wrote questions such as "Who is your favorite person in the Bible?" "What is your favorite time in history to learn about?" "What is your favorite season?" etc.  I hung them on a ribbon with clothespins and the kids get to take turns picking one for us to discuss at supper each night.  (I have a ribbon of hearts on the other side of the window too.)

Solomon loved being a part of all the activities, though he finally had enough.

"Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law." - Romans 13:8