Olivia of May: July 2011

Have you recently lost a baby?

The first person you should contact is your local SHARE representative - even if, and especially if, you have not had your baby yet. She will talk to you about what to expect, come to the hospital with you if you'd like, dress your baby in special premature-sized clothes if applicable, let you know of support group meetings and activities if you wish, and give you an over all huge helping hand. To find your local SHARE representative click here to visit The National SHARE Office's website, or call 1-800-821-6819. Also, I am here to help. I would love to talk with you. Contact me here. From there we can exchange phone numbers if you wish. Please don't go through this alone. So many people want to help.

How To Be Removed From Baby Product Mailing Lists

A letter to the following address will stop about 75% of baby related mail during the first year after a baby's death: Mail Preference Service, Direct Marketing Association, P.O. Box 9008, Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008. Parents who wish to have their names removed from baby product lists should write to: Direct Marketing Association, Mail Reference Service, 6 East 43rd Street, NYC, NY 10017. To remove your name from the Gerber Baby Products mailing list write to : Gerber Products, 445 State Street, Fremont, MI 48413 or call (616) 928-2000.

Other Helpful Books

"Coping With Miscarriage" by Mimi Luebbermann
"Empty Arms: Hope and Support for Those Who Have Suffered a Miscarriage, Stillbirth or Tubal Pregnancy" by Pam Vredevelt
"Empty Cradle, Broken Heart: Surviving the Death of Your Baby" by Deborah L. Davis, PhD
"Grieving the Child I Never Knew" by Kathe Wunneberg
"I Can't Find a Heartbeat" by Melissa Sexson Hanson
"I’ll Hold You In Heaven Remembrance Book" by Debbie Heydrick
"Letters to Gabriel" by Karen Garver Santorum
"Miscarriage: What Every Women Needs To Know-A Positive New Approach" by Professor Lesley Regan
"Miscarriage: Women Sharing From The Heart" by Marie Allen, PhD & Shelly Marks, MS
"Pregnancy After a Loss - A Guide to Pregnancy after a Miscarriage, Stillbirth, or Infant Death" by Carol Cirulli Lanham
"Trying Again" by Ann Douglas

25 July 2011

Summer Memories

You may remember, I joined Faces of Hope's monthly writing challenge (FOHMWC). I missed June. Let me catch up.

I didn't get to make any summer memories with our Livy. The only connection summer and Olivia has is her due date. Her due date was August 20, 2007. On that day, months after she was born still, we held a balloon release at her grave. We invited family and friends. Trissy, Sam, their boys, Stefanie, Stacy, Paula, her little son, and Amanda came. We placed six beautiful pink roses in her vase for the six beautiful months we had with her. We released six pink balloons. Paula and Amanda each brought a balloon too.

Momma and Aunt Mickey did a balloon release in my hometown. Aunt Janis and family did one too with yellow balloons. I felt so grateful.

Every due date we visit her grave. We usually leave a "thinking of you" balloon and release another to find it's way to her.

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Already

I am already thinking about the fact that Olivia's next birthday will be her fifth. We've decided to fundraise to purchase a pretty paver in our local zoo's beautiful carousel courtyard for her. The paver will read "In Memory of Olivia (middle name) (last name)". The total cost is only $100. We have a website through ChipIn! where family and friends can go to donate through our personal PayPal account. I'm even thinking about having a little get-together at the carousel courtyard with a birthday cake for those who donate. Yes, I think I will. I love so much that girl of mine.

Her fifth birthday will be on May 1, 2012, but the fundraiser ends on January 30, 2011 to allow time to submit the engraved paver request and to have the engraving done.

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