BLESSINGS
In this journey, we were blessed so much! God put special people and special circumstances in our lives. My parents and Grandparents (all of them) were a source of so much love and support! My dad's parents (Grandpa and Grandma Warriner) live further away, and they don't have email, but they were our "prayer warriors" and they always sent cards, and when my grandma's daily devotional was encouraging for our journey, she sent them our way! My mom's parents (Grandpa and Grandma Stanton) live closer, so we saw them regularly as well as email. They never stopped telling us how proud they were of us, and how much they love ALL our children. I have printed out all the emails from my grandpa that talks of Elijah, and I will cherish them forever! Having him to talk to through this was the most wonderful gift a granddaughter could ever have. His mother lost a baby at 2 days old, and even though I never met my Great-Grandmother, because of my Grandfather, I feel so close to her, and look forward to talking to her when I do finally meet her in heaven. My Grandma Stanton made Elijah's blanket that we brought him home in and also buried him with. She made another one 2 years ago for our son, Dylan, and since Elijah was wrapped in his while we held him before the funeral director came, some days I cuddle up with Dylan's blanket, just to remember those last minutes I had holding my little guy. My mom made a bib with Elijah's name and a rainbow-colored butterfly on it. He was buried with that as well. My sister got Elijah an outfit that read, "I will lie and sleep in peace, Psalm 4:8". When we were able to bring him home, we realized that we didn't get enough little gowns for him, so she and my mom got him more, as well as bibs and blankets. Another friend of ours has taken Elijah's clothes and blankets and is making them into a quilt! It is so awesome to see how many people have the love of Christ in them, that they can put their self to the side and care for our son, even if just by praying...that is the greatest gift we received, prayer! We were so blessed that My mom was another source of listening ears. I know it is hard for parents to watch their children hurt. But I know for sure that we wouldn't have gotten through this without my family. Everyone listened, and CARED about Elijah. They spoke of him by name before he was born, they asked us questions about his disease. They shared his story with others. Most importantly, though, they prayed for us, and for Elijah! I don't know when there was a time when I needed to rely on others more in my life. Even simple things like going to doctor's appointments. I always took Lizzie with me when I was pregnant with Dylan. This time I couldn't. There was too much to talk about, too much to remember, without trying to control two preschoolers! We had such support from friends and family, I just feel so blessed by the outpouring of love we were shown!