George Charles Garman 09/09/09 to 01/29/10

January 29, 2010 our world was turned upside down when our 4 month old little boy earned his wings after a battle with Mitochondrial Disease and awoke in the Lords loving arms.

"Life can not be measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away."

George's Guardian's of Grace Projects

Stocking project is now in full force collecting donations. We have a list of the items we can use. You can also choose to sponsor a stocking in memory or honor of someone else. We will include a paragraph or two in the cards we place in the stockings to let the recipient know about the person that means so much to you. Our paypal account is posted on this page and ready to take donations. Email us for a list of items needed or with any questions or information you would like included on a sponsored stocking/donation.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

So Difficult

These past few days have been very difficult for me emotionally. I find myself crying at the drop of a hat and missing my little boy so much. The heartache has been so immense and yet the joy just the same. I have actually started this post several times only to find myself not making it past the first few sentences without finding myself in tears. Every part of me feels so blessed and yet so sad at the same time. I am so thankful for Gabrielle and yet miss George with every single part of my being. Every night so far I have found myself sobbing in Hugh's arm from the sheer sadness I feel.

Holding Gabrielle made me truly realize how much I really miss George. Until now it had been so very sureal and as if it was all just some bad dream. Instead it is just a inescapable nightmare. I stood at my fireplace mantle where his urn is the other day and just lost it. I sat there looking at his name and realizing that all I have left of him was in that cold piece of marble with his name written on it. The beautiful little boy I once held that smiled and cooed now only exists in memories. My little girl is the reminder of that precious gift of life and how much we are missing in our lives but also have been blessed with again.

Hugh has had his moments too and I am so grateful that we have one another and thank God every moment for that because I don't know where each of us would be right now without the other one. My heart breaks for him as I watch him often suffer alone in silence without much of an outlet other than me. I am fortunate enough to have my family who has been here for us knowing how hard this truly is and who have been here since the baby came home with either meals or watching the kids or just letting me talk about how hard this really is. Often times he goes to work and comes home only to have to be hit with this reality alone.

Last night I found him in the living room crying as he held her and fed her a bottle. We both thought that we could handle using his old bottles but apparently were wrong. Today I went out and got a pack to start off with for her until I can get a few more but I am nursing so we have some time to do so. It just brought so many emotions to Hugh that we just didn't anticipate. My heart just broke for him as I knew all to well the pain that now surged through his body and his heart ached yet was grateful for the gift he held in his arms. Knowing how very alone he has felt and knowing I just can't fix any of it has been very hard for me. I know his pain and yet don't for my situation is just different. All I know is that I am glad I can be there for him and that he is there for me and maybe in many instances this is what has strengthened our marriage. If it is than I am grateful for that because we are overcoming the odds stacked aginst us every single day and are stronger now than ever before and refuse to allow anything to get the best of us.

Gabrielle is doing well. She has lost some weight but has her first appointment tomorrow at the pediatricians office. I am going to start her monitoring tomorrow hopefully. We had to wait to get leads that were for sensitive skin since her skin took a beating from the ones initially provided and also used in the NICU. It is so odd to have a baby that does not cry 24/7 around the clock, is gassy, and doesn't tolerate much. She has been such a blessing and is going for 4 hours between feedings. It is odd, like I am waiting for the insanity to start any moment. Her tone is much better than any of the boys and she is 4 weeks earlier than they were. Yesterday a woman from our church stopped by with a gift for her and held her only to say how tiny she is. It really is amazing how tiny she seems to us. I often feel like a goalie on a soccer team with the boys around trying to protect her, she is so dainty.

Thankfully Hugh has off tomorrow from work. I think we both need that for so many reasons. I cannot believe that Christmas is in a little more than a week. It truly does not feel like the holidays at all. I feel so drained between having a baby and all the emotions coming with the missing part of the family this year. Another friend posted this saying on Facebook and truly expresses the way that I feel many of the times.

Around the Christmas table there's an empty chair this year...the precious smile is missing of someone we still hold so dear. And yet our hearts are hopeful, though the season's bittersweet, because we know the one we love has filled another seat. For another banquet table abounds with... joy and love. For those who've... made the journey to be with our Lord above...

Video Tributes/Celebration of Life Footage


Here is a link to a video tribute that was made by Richard's dad in memory of George. Get out your tissues!


http://www.facebook.com/#!/video/video.php?v=1360981185308&ref=mf



We Finally have footage from the service up and running:



http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/video/video.php?v=1368692138077&ref=mf



http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/video/video.php?v=1368733099101



http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/video/video.php?v=1368770540037



http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1368789060500



It is in 4 sections running about 17 mins each. If you were unable to attend, you can now see what you missed. We were so blessed to have everyone there with us in person and in spirit!









Me With My Prince Charming In Front of the Castle

Me With My Prince Charming In Front of the Castle