"He Took Them In His Arms And Blessed Them"

(William's Special Day Part 4)

We chose two other readings for the ceremony, 
one read by Uncle Patrick and one read by Grandpa Leo. 

A READING FROM THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

Read by William's Uncle Patrick Schneider.

AT THAT TIME THE DISCIPLES CAME TO JESUS, SAYING, 

"WHO IS THE GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN?" 

AND CALLING TO HIM A CHILD, 

HE PUT HIM IN THE MIDST OF THEM, 

AND SAID, "TRULY, I SAY TO YOU, 

UNLESS YOU TURN AND BECOME LIKE CHILDREN, 

YOU WILL NEVER ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. WHOEVER HUMBLES HIMSELF LIKE THIS CHILD, HE IS THE GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. WHOEVER RECEIVES ONE SUCH CHILD IN MY NAME RECEIVES ME"

Uncle Pat reading at William's service - Grandpa Schneider, the officiant on the right.

William has two Uncle Patricks, both of our brother's names are Patrick. And both of our Patricks are pretty amazing people. We can envision each of them interacting with William as he grew up, having different relationships with him but both very special. We wonder how baby William would look up to each Patrick as he grew. Would he look up to them the same way we do? We think so.

We'd call Tom's brother, "Uncle Pat" and Liz's brother, "Uncle Patrick" OR "Uncle Paddy" if Patrick was hard to pronounce :)

There was no advanced notice that baby William was going to born, but if we knew what we know now, we know that both Patricks would be there in person. In some way they were there. We remember talking about them both to baby William as we held him in our arms. That he had blond hair like Uncle Pat's and how he'd watch over Uncle Patrick and keep him safe in the skies.

We often wonder what we'd do if we could go back in time to December 13, 2014. First, we'd hold baby William immediately after birth. We'd also have both uncle Patricks there in that hospital room so that they could hold him too.

William loves you guys so much.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A READING FROM THE GOSPEL OF MARK
Read by William's Grandfather, Leo. 

AND THEY WERE BRINGING CHILDREN TO HIM, 

THAT HE MIGHT TOUCH THEM; 

AND THE DISCIPLES REBUKED THEM. 

BUT WHEN JESUS SAW IT HE WAS INDIGNANT, AND SAID TO THEM, 

"LET THE CHILDREN COME TO ME, DO NOT HINDER THEM; 

FOR TO SUCH BELONGS THE KINGDOM OF GOD. 

TRULY, I SAY TO YOU, 

WHOEVER DOES NOT RECEIVE THE KINGDOM OF GOD LIKE A CHILD SHALL NOT ENTER IT." 

AND HE TOOK THEM IN HIS ARMS AND BLESSED THEM, 

LAYING HIS HANDS UPON THEM.

What a Gift From God You Are

(William's special day part 3)

Madeleine sang a beautiful version of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. We want to share it with you. Great job, Maddie! We know William loves your singing.

Xoxo,

Liz and Tom

Fearfully, Wonderfully Made

(William's Special Day Part 2)

A READING FROM THE BOOK OF PSALMS
Read By William's Godmother, Kate.

YOU HAVE CREATED EVERY PART OF ME;

YOU PUT ME TOGETHER IN MY MOTHER’S WOMB.

I GIVE YOU THANKS THAT I AM 

FEARFULLY, WONDERFULLY MADE;

ALL YOU DO IS STRANGE AND WONDERFUL.

I KNOW IT WITH ALL MY HEART.

WHEN MY BONES WERE BEING FORMED 

CAREFULLY PUT TOGETHER IN MY MOTHER’S WOMB,

WHEN I WAS GROWING THERE IN SECRET,

YOU KNEW THAT I WAS THERE --

YOU SAW ME BEFORE I WAS BORN.

THE DAYS ALLOTTED TO ME

HAD ALL BEEN RECORDED IN YOUR BOOK,

BEFORE ANY OF THEM EVER BEGAN.

O GOD, HOW DIFFICULT I FIND YOUR THOUGHTS;

HOW MANY OF THEM THERE ARE!

IF I COUNTED THEM, THEY WOULD BE MORE

THAN THE GRAINS OF SAND.

WHEN I AWAKE, I AM STILL WITH YOU.

Auntie loves you, William!

You guys know Kate. It was her idea of writing about William back in December. She was there right besides us through it all. She is a pediatrician who advocated for our little guy. She took photos and videos when he was born. When my voice wouldn't reach across the delivery room, she told William how much I loved him and kissed him for me. She waited a long time to meet our little one.

It's hard to describe just how important Auntie Kate is to baby William. 

All we can say is that she is the "Auntie of all Aunties". William must have been so happy to hear her speak so beautifully. Above is the version that was read during the service. It differs slightly from the one posted earlier in the It's a Wonderful Life.

The Candle Lighting Ceremony

(William's Special Day Part 1)

THE CANDLE LIGHTING CEREMONY

William's candle was placed on a small table in front of the alter. Also displayed on the table was William's teddy bear (a gift from aunt Val), a bouquet of Sweet William flowers, and William's special basket containing his small star urn wrapped up warmly in his cozy baby blankets.

William's candle is not only a symbol of his eternal life in heaven, 

it is also a symbol of his eternal presence in our family. 

The lighting of the candle was incredibly special to us. Not only to remember and honor him, but also to honor all babies who have died. Just about 8 years ago, we lit another special candle in this very same church, to honor our commitment to each other on our wedding day. As we lit William's candle, we were reminded of how this little baby strengthened our family bond. The song This Little Light of Mine was played on harp. He loved that song, we'd sing it over and over again throughout pregnancy. It reminded us of a playful little William, full of life and light. It was perfect.

We call William "our light".

William's Special Day

William's memorial service began with lots of hugs.

Some of the best hugs we've ever received were made that day. 

Big, squeeze-me-tight, bear hugs from family and friends, some who traveled quite far to be with us, to be with William, that day.

We were blown away by all the love. Our little guy must have been as well.

William's special day was filled with beautiful music. All of the songs were hand-picked, many were William's favorites - songs that we would play for him as he wiggled around in the womb.

We thank uncle Matt for playing piano, big cousin Madeleine and auntie Anne for vocals, Katie on harp, and Dot for planning and playing piano.

William's family (mom and dad, auntie and uncles, and grandparents) took part in the service. Big cousin, Noah too. Uncle Patrick and Auntie Nikki were with us in spirit :) Hearing everyone read their part and being there for baby William made the service very special.

As we share the service over the next couple of days months, we share our love for William and express our thanks to all of you.

xoxo,
Liz and Tom

Madeleine singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star with accompaniment by Katie Lynch Koglin on harp.

Thank you

William’s memorial service was yesterday, and it was an incredible day filled with love. THANK YOU for celebrating him with us. Every hug, every smile, all your kind words meant so much to us. We will never forget him and we will never forget that day when we remembered him in such a special way.

We were so touched by all of you.

More memories and photos to come, for those who could not attend.

xo,

Liz and Tom

William's special basket, his bear, his candle (that was lit in honor of him), and a bouquet of sweet william flowers on display for the service. The candle remained lit for the entire celebration. 

We Will Remember Him

Waking up this morning, I feel more like a mom than other days. William is on my mind like most other mornings but today is his memorial service, a day to share him with family and friends. I suppose some of what I’m feeling is similar to what a mom would feel on her baby’s baptism or first birthday party. But I can't stop thinking if this was all a dream, that I’d wake up and have William sleeping besides me, happily oblivious that he’d be meeting everyone only hours from now.  

The service is at 11:00 today at Our Lady of Victory Church, Centerville, MA. We are bringing mementos and photos so everyone can “meet him”.

All are welcome.

XoXo

Tom and Liz

It’s a wonderful life

During pregnancy we spent a lot of time wondering about William. At first, before we knew anything was wrong, we wondered as any expectant mom or dad would. Are you going to be a scientist or an engineer, little one, I would say as I tapped on my belly. We knew he loved the sounds of sport games as he kicked and wiggled while we watched football. We wondered what his sport would be. We wondered if he’d be a dreamer, if he’d be shy or outgoing, or a beautiful combination of the two. If he’d prefer the ocean or the pool. What his favorite book would be, what his first word would be. Regardless of any of our wonders, we knew William was our William. And he was perfect in our eyes, no matter what. But still, the game was too fun, so we continued to play. William filled our lives with wonder and still does.

After we found out that William was sick we wondered why our doctors could not figure out how to save him. They fix other babies, why not him? At a certain point - we found ourselves exhausted, trapped in the hospital, just waiting for our mystery baby to be born. This scripture helped get us through all those nights when all we could do was wonder...

Trust in the LORD with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding

Proverbs 3:5

We trusted God. But when William died, we wondered why God let it happen.

This gives us comfort:

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place,

when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes saw my unformed body;

all the days ordained for me were written in your book 

before one of them came to be”

Psalm 139

We know that God lovingly embraced William’s life, long before he was born. God cradles all of our lives in this way. We believe that God did not want William to die and that he cried for us and we believe that he holds William in his arms now. We believe God was there that day leading William to his new home.

God knows the extent of our earthly lives 

and continues to knit, weave, and create us in His own image

- Genesis 1:27

~ EACH AND EVERY LIFE IS WONDERFUL TO HIM ~

While William’s life may be brief, his precious spirit will live on and spread throughout our family, friends, even strangers. William will never play football or win the science fair as we dreamed he would here on earth. Instead, he leaves us a legacy of his wonderful life, a legacy of love.

Grace

      I should be an expert on Grace.    Perhaps not professionally but I am married to an expert on the theology of Grace.  So much of our family's conversations revolve around Grace.  It's my daughter's middle name and my husband's dissertation topic.   Bernard Lonergan, my husbands favorite theologian, describes the experience of Grace as an other-wordly love, a deep set joy, and a radical peace that the world cannot give.  Although I have endured many conversations on this topic, I never truly understood what it was until 12/13/14.
       Nothing can prepare you for the death of a child.  Nothing can prepare you to watch your sister, whom you love more than anything, lose a child.  I have seen more children pass away than most people....but nothing could prepare me for losing my nephew William.
      I remember all the medicine that surrounded that day.  I know William's Apgar scores were 6 and 8.  I know what his blood gas was and every line that they put in him.....but the thing I remember most was my sister's face when she saw him.  I have seen many moms lose babies, some go hysterical in grief, some get mad, and some become speechless.  However, I have never seen one like my sister.  My sister and my brother in law took my breath away.  They savored every moment they had with their son.  They didn't let anger or the "unfairness" take over.
      Grace happened that day....it was present in the delivery room, the NICU, and the postpartum room where he took his last breath.  When I reflect back upon that day it truly was the hardest day of my life.  Ironically, after my own children's birth and my wedding it was also one of the best days of my life.  I had the privilege of being there for William's entire life.  I was there when he took his first breath and his last.  I watched my sister become a mom, then hours later lose her child.  I don't know how Matt teaches what he does.  He teaches something I couldn't fully understand until I experienced it.  Grace is something that takes over you.  So thank you my sweet William.  Auntie is forever changed by you, for you have taught me the most powerful and beautiful thing of all.

What to say when someone loses a baby

We understand that it is difficult for someone who has never lost a baby to comprehend what we are going through. You may not know what to say and that’s normal. Below are examples of what we think help us to hear and may help others you come across in life who have lost in a similar way to us.

“I don't know what to say”
“I feel terrible”
“I’m so sorry to hear about baby William”
“There are no words”
“How is today going?” -  a good alternative to “how are you”
“I thought of William today”
“Do you have a picture of William?” - We wish more people would ask. We’d love to show you William and will always have his photo on our phones or in our wallet, just like any other new parent.
“What was he like?”

Small gestures like a gentle smile when we walk into the room or giving a quick hug or pat on the back can speak volumes.

William is on our minds all the time - using his name in conversation will always light us up. When friends and family do not mention him, it can feel like they have forgotten.

People may think “I don’t want to make them cry” or “I don’t want to remind them” but our tears bring us closer to him, and we never want to forget. Sometimes you may be surprised at the depth of our feelings and wonder how long we will grieve. William was our pride and joy, a bond formed far before he was born, and we need to allow ourselves time to remember and honor our precious baby. For us, grieving isn't about moving on but instead about integrating and finding meaning with this new life.

Thank you for thinking of us. It is nice to know that the memory of William crosses your mind.

His name

William Patrick. Such a strong name for a strong little boy. We had William’s name picked years ago. William was named after his Daddy (Tom's middle name is William) and his great-great grandfather on his daddy’s side of the family.

William comes from the Germanic origin “Wilhelm” and is made up of: wil = "will or desire" and helm = "helmet, protection". We called him our little warrior because he kept fighting on despite his challenges.

William is also named after his two uncles, Uncle Patrick (Liz’s brother) and Uncle Patrick (Tom’s brother).

William Patrick. We love how the two names complement each other and we were so happy to pick out the perfect name for our son. We choose his name with love and care.

To hear you speak and write his name means the world to us.

Thank you,
Liz and Tom

Jump rope for heart

Hi my name is Noah. I am William's cousin. My school is fundraising for Jump Rope for Heart. Jump Rope for Heart is a fundraising program that raises money for people with heart problems like William. If you would like to donate money please click the link below.


Click here to donate


Happy Valentine's day everyone!

2/9/2015

Today is our due date. We made it through, thanks to the snow and family surrounding us. To tell the truth, it's these past few weeks that have been more difficult than expected. Maybe because he should be here already and the aching feeling in our empty arms reminded us of that. We knew William would never really be born on his due date. As his big heart struggled to keep up the demands, we knew he'd be delivered early. We remember praying each day to make it to tomorrow - we were so proud he made it to 31 weeks 5 days. Our little trooper. Our little star.

Just when we need some strength, our little guy sends it to us in his own special ways. Tiny little starflakes fell from the sky again but this time they landed on me. Before they could melt, Tommy snapped a few photos. I love how snowflakes are becoming a symbol of William. As unique and beautiful as William was, so is a snowflake. Exquisitely breathtaking and one of a kind.

Sharing a photo of his 13 week ultrasound.

xoxo,
Liz and Tom

Early ultrasound of William waving to us

 Starflake in my hair

Starflake on my scarf

William's Memorial Service

William, our little star

A heart so big, a baby so small, you had the strength to touch us all. 

William was born on the morning of Saturday, December 13, 2014 and died peacefully that afternoon in the arms of his parents, Elizabeth and Tom. Throughout his short life, William gave us so much happiness and hope and has since blessed us with gifts of faith and love. William’s life will grace our hearts forever. 

In addition to his parents, William leaves behind to cherish his memory his grandmothers and grandfathers, Leo and Elaine and Theresa and Robert; his godmother Katie and uncle Matt; his cousins, Noah and Madeleine; his uncle Patrick and auntie Nikki; his uncle Patrick; his great grandmother, Margaret; and numerous extended cousins, aunties, and uncles. 

In heaven, William has met his great grandmothers and great grandfathers, Dorothy and James, Pearl, Michael, Millie-Lou and Horace, Frank and Joan. 

Family and friends are welcome to attend a memorial service celebrating William’s life on 

Saturday the 14th of March at Our Lady of Victory Church in Centerville, MA

At 11:00 am

Let this baby be an inspiration to love more, to strengthen your faith, and light up your life. We are the voice of our sweet William and we hope you will come listen to his story. 

Moments in our arms, forever in our hearts

Starflakes and Snow Angels

William was our winter baby. We were going to bundle him up and brave our first winter together. I can just imagine his sweet rosy cheeks popping out of his winter hat as we ran errands or went to auntie’s house. 

Although William is not with us anymore, we feel his presence all the time, sometimes a bit stronger than others. One of those times happened during the first snowstorm since his death. Sparkly, white, snowflakes fell down to the earth in the shape of beautiful stars. We can’t help to believe that our little star sent those starflakes to let us know he was ok. 

Thank you, little one. 

We feel all your love, all the time. 

XOXO, mommy & daddy & your whole family :)

Liz's snow angel and William's starflakes

Artwork for William

William's big cousin, Madeleine is an amazing artist. She has a such a good heart and loves giving us her drawings and paintings to make us feel better. Her artwork has been displayed in our house and in our hospital room. It makes us feel happy to see her drawings every day. We'd love to share Madeleine's artwork with you. Terrific job, Maddie.

 William's Star

Maddie holding William in the snow

Two Williams in a heart

Unfair

They say life is unfair - for Tom and I, we understand this more than we ever wanted to.

It’s so unfair it hurts. For weeks after William died Tom literally had heart ache (chest pain) a physical sign of his broken heart.

We miss being those people who think “it will never happen to us”.

But it did. And we are reeling.

So we take a deep breath and look at our baby's photographs, his cute smirk, chubby cheeks, and tiny little feet, and we smile again. We are living a life where we hold William in our hearts instead of our arms and we aren’t sure we are ready to accept that yet.

Another gift that baby William gave us: the strength to make it through challenging situations. The “Will” to honor his memory by showing off the strength he gave us that day. The “Will” to be better. The “Will” to be patient, to heal, to be happy because that’s what William would want.

We've started making a list of ways to honor William. Sharing his story is one of them.

We are also planning a memorial service. We want it to be beautiful and filled with joy, a celebration of our sweet William’s life. The date should soon be finalized.

Xoxo,
Liz and Tom

1 month in heaven

I would have been 36 weeks today. My due date was February 9th, 2015. Yesterday marked William’s 1st month in heaven.

We think of him every day. But some days more than others. There will be lots of days like that this year: our due date, the holidays, mother’s day, father’s day... There is also a day in October, the national infant loss day. I've come to learn about this day as I browse baby loss websites on the internet. I’d like to share what I've found with you.

Infant Loss

There are many (millions in fact) of little ones that die each year in the US alone. From losses early in pregnancy to later term loss to infant loss, it doesn't matter which you have suffered through, because all life, no matter how tiny, is important and special to someone.

• Early pregnancy loss or miscarriage is when a baby dies before it could survive on its own. Shockingly 1 in 4 pregnancies result in a miscarriage.
• Late term loss sometimes referred to as a stillbirth, is when a baby dies in the womb after a certain point of gestation, usually after 20 weeks gestation. There are ~26,000 stillbirths in the US per year.
• Neonatal loss is when a baby dies within the first days of life, like our William. There are ~19,000 neonatal losses per year.

We spent 5 days in the hospital after William was born. He was delivered via c-section to give him the best chance possible, plus he was breech with his cute little bum down. In those 5 days we felt so many emotions, one of which was loneliness. But not because we were alone, because we were new parents of a baby who died the day he was born, and we felt like we were the only ones.

Then a woman visited our room. She wanted to help us fill out some of William’s forms. She gave her condolences and surprisingly said “I know exactly how you feel”. Really? Then she told us that she lost her twin baby girls just a few months ago. She was 8 months pregnant at the time. I remember thinking how strong she was to go back to work, in a hospital where she may have lost her girls, to tell us about her loss.

Since then we have received sympathy letters from a family/friends who have also shared the death of their babies late in pregnancy. We were so thankful for those brave women and families who have reached out.

We've learned that there are many people out there who know exactly how we feel. And there is a powerful comfort that comes with sharing during times of grief. Even though we feel awful hearing about other's losses, it brings us comfort knowing we are not alone.

The gifts that William has given us are adding up. Love and compassion to those who have lost babies is just one of them.

Happy 1 month in heaven baby bear, we know you have lots of baby friends up there,

XOXO

Mommy and Daddy

Hanging in there with your support

Dear family and friends,

We are just now ready to start receiving visitors other than our immediate family. We understand that acknowledgement of William’s short life may be upsetting to you but it can be very comforting to us. You may think the less said, the better. Until now, we did not know how important it would be for us to tell you of our little William, even though he died. You can help us get through this by letting us talk about our sorrow when we feel the need, allowing us to cry when we want, and not pretending that everything’s ok... when it’s not. It will take time, but with your support we will make it.

We love hearing from you in the comments! Please also feel free to send us texts or emails rather than calling us. We find phone calls to be overwhelming right now. We've appreciated your prayers, meals prepared for us during the week, and the gifts you have sent. We will cherish the gifts forever, some are displayed around our house, others have been placed in William’s memory box. A very special bracelet has been worn around my wrist since the day I received it. We love to receive cards so please keep them coming. We love hearing from you and so does William. Thank you. We are grateful for your support, and will need it for years to come.

XOXO
Liz and Tom

Our own epiphany

Today’s the last day of Christmas, the Epiphany. For some reason I don’t want to take down the tree. Sometimes I want the winter to be over because that means maybe some of my heartbreak may be lifted. But today I don’t want the season to end. I want to savor this time when we are still so close to our baby’s birthday and “heaven” day.

I remember that morning, our doctor coming in and sitting down on a stool and saying "we're going to delivery you today." I remember how I felt when she left the room. Tom and I stared at each other and smiled. We were giddy and excited and nervous. "We are going to meet our little baby boy today" and we did. And he took our breath away. Our own epiphany. Something so incredibly amazing that we were changed forever.

Maybe we will leave the tree up for another week. The lights and stars remind us of our little William. Underneath the tree are some presents for William, stuffed bears, books, and blankets from family and friends. They make us smile even when our eyes are swollen from tears. We want to keep them and we just know William would want us to save them for his little brother or sister one day.

We may be navigating through the intricacies of grief for a long time, but it makes it easier to receive the gifts that have come our way. Thank-you for the comments, the cards, the fruit baskets, the flowers, the food, the dinners, the hugs, the pats on the back, the listening, and the love.

Sometimes we think "how will we ever get through this?" and then day by day we do. Your comments help.

XO, Liz and Tom

2014, the year of William

As the new year is upon us, we have been reflecting on the past year. We consider 2014 to be the best year of our lives. It was the year of our William. We have so many memories of our baby growing in my belly, talking to him, laughing with him, dancing, swimming, singing, traveling, and reading to him. William was a playful baby and made our pregnancy very special. He kicked and wiggled around in my belly every day. He kicked the most while we were watching football on TV or when Tommy would read nightly stories. He loved the sound of his Daddy’s voice and we laughed each time he kicked us. He loved sweets too, just like me. When we sang to him, he kicked us back as if saying “don’t stop!”. One time Auntie whispered hello to William, her face right up close to my belly, and he kicked her in the nose! During ultrasounds he was a bit shy and often had his arms up by blocking our view but we still managed to see his darling face. William liked the quiet comfort of home, he gave the most kicks during our peaceful times alone in the house. When we were around people and it got noisy he did not kick as much, maybe he was a bit introverted just like Daddy! William was born a fan of the Red Sox, the Redskins, and the Patriots. His favorite book was Alice in Wonderland. William loved music. His favorites included songs by Rockabye Baby, The Piano Guys, and Disney. We listened to music every morning together and sometimes throughout the day. William liked driving in the car, maybe he enjoyed the bumps and potholes of Boston because I felt him moving around often while we drove back and forth from the hospital. We sang to him in the car. We sang “Twinkle Twinkle”, “This Little Light of Mine”, and “In the Jungle” making up our own lyrics are we sang on and on. Madeleine and Noah would also sing and talk to him when they came to visit, we could tell William loved his cousins so much. He was an active baby in the womb and we love remembering him in that way. William’s whole life existed in 2014. He was our strong little warrior but he was also so very charming and won our hearts over the instant he was born. When we close our eyes we can see his cute little face and can imagine him in our arms. We could tell he loved to be cuddled. We prayed for a miracle but maybe the miracle was the time we were able to spend with William. We are and will forever be in awe of our little star, our light, our baby. It was hard to let 2014 go but we are looking toward the future now, knowing that the imprint William had on us and our family will last forever. Here’s to a new year full of healing and joy! -Liz and Tom

 “There is no foot too small that it cannot leave an imprint on this world.”

Merry Christmas from Liz and Tom

Christmas has come and gone very quickly this year.  We have been home for a week and a half now and are doing OK.  Some days are harder than others but we find comfort in knowing that our family and friends are thinking, praying, and sending their love to us.  Thank you for all of your comments, they have helped remind us of all the support we have out there.  We wanted to share this poem we found, which has given us peace during this holiday season.
XOXO - Liz and Tom

"My First Christmas In Heaven"

I see the countless Christmas trees around the world below
With tiny lights, like Heaven’s stars, reflecting on the snow
The sight is so spectacular, please wipe away the tear
For I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear
But the sounds of music can’t compare with the Christmas
choir up here.  I have no words to tell you, the joy their voices
bring.  For it is beyond description, to hear the angels sing.

I know how much you miss me, I see the pain inside your heart
But I am not so far away, We really aren’t apart.
So be happy for me, dear ones, You know I hold you dear.
And be glad I’m spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I sent you each a special gift, from my heavenly home above.
I sent you each a memory of my undying love.
After all, love is a gift more precious than pure gold.
It was always most important in the stories Jesus told.

Please love and keep each other, as my Father said to do.
For I can’t count the blessing or love he has for each of you.
So have a Merry Christmas and wipe away that tear
Remember, I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ
this year.
Author Unknown

Love and Prayers

Thank you for all your prayers and thoughts.  During this time we ask for privacy for our family to grieve and heal.  Liz and Tom are unable to answer emails, calls, and texts.  However, they do appreciate all the love and prayers you are sending their way.

 Many people have asked what they can do..... Liz and Tom would love for you to write a message in the comment section on this post so they can have a keepsake of all your words of comfort.

The mention of my child's name

by Kim Knapp

The mention of my child's name
May bring tears to my eyes,
But it never fails to bring
Music to my ears.
If you are really my friend,
Let me hear the beautiful music of his name.
It soothes my broken heart
And sings to my soul.

Squeezing Daddy's finger

One in a Million

William Patrick Schneider was born at 10:15 am 12/13/14.   He weighed 3 lbs 9 oz and was 15 inches long.  He came into this world with blond curly hair, Mommy's chin, and Daddy's cheeks.  He was perfect.

Some babies aren't meant for this world.

My sweet nephew fought hard for 2 hours of his life.  He was, quite literally, a little baby with a big heart.....after a few hours on this earth, his cardiac function was too weak for him to survive.  He passed away in his Mommy's arms with Daddy right next to him.

His life wasn't long, but it was beautiful.  He brought so much joy to our family in the few hours he was here.   He brought his Mommy and Daddy more happiness than they thought possible. They say he gave them strength, he was their light.  Although his life was short, it was not without profound meaning and purpose.  The memory of baby William will continue to shape and enrich the lives of his mommy and daddy forever.

He touched the lives of everyone who saw and helped him that day.  His doctors say, he was one in a million.

District 13

Mommy and Daddy have had quite a week at the hospital.  Daily ultrasounds, non stress tests, and biophysical profiles make the days go by a little faster.   They probably have the worst view from their hospital window....it reminds us of the Hunger Games.  Unfortunately the MCA continues to climb.....if it continues to do so this weekend, delivery is imminent.
They are all fighting their own battle right now, both Mommy, Daddy, and little bear are fighting so hard.  They are such amazing parents, little bear is lucky, and so are they.

Little star

This is a belated post about a wonderful family day we had a few days before Lizzie got admitted to the hospital.  Both sets of William's grandparents were there along with uncles, cousins, and auntie.  William loves to listen to music and kicks Mommy's belly a great deal when it's on.  Below is a picture of Will's two cousins, Noah and Maddie, talking and singing to him.  He loves, twinkle twinkle little star the best I think......he is our little star.

MCA

Mommy and Daddy know more than they ever wanted to know about the middle cerebral artery (MCA)  peak systolic velocity.  Currently the MCA, is the best predictor for evaluating for fetal anemia, that high risk obstetrics have right now.  Baby bear's MCA is closely monitored twice a week.  Today the MCA is slightly higher than the doctors want it to be.  They now need to monitor the MCA daily.  The baby is doing wonderful despite this news.  The non-stress today went great.  Mommy will be admitted today since the weather is not great and they would like her close to the hospital.   Keep the prayers coming....Mommy and baby bear hang in there, you are doing great!