Dylan's Last T-ball game EVER

Dylan had his tournament this week. His team got to skip round one because they had the best record in the league. The team in round two did a forfeit. Therefore, the Pirates made it to the championship game!!

During the game, the players were encouraged to use "coach pitch" instead of hitting off the "t" because alot of the players (like Dylan) will be moving up to coach pitch next year. Dylan missed during the 1st & 2nd inning but during the 3rd he hit the ball way out and was able to run all the way to 3rd base! (its been a while since he even tried to play ball this way)

Both teams played a great game but the Indians came ahead in the end. The Pirates got a medal for being 2nd in the tournament. However, our trophies say #1 because we still had the best season record!

Here's a slide show of the big game!

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day Chris (aka Daddy), David (aka G-Daddy), and Wayne (aka Grandpa).

Pirates Tied for Top of the League!

That's right, you heard it! Dylan's t-ball team tied with the White Soxs for the #1 spot in the league.

Therefore, they get a by on the first round of eliminations in the tournament. This is great because we couldn't make that game anyway~it's Cedie's birthday. We will play Saturday's winners next Monday night. Should we win Monday, we will play the championship game Tuesday night! GO PIRATES!!!

I am so proud of Dylan. He has really improved this season (compared to the last 2 years) and his heart has been really into it, despite what he is going through over his sister. GO DYLAN!!!

Camp Good Grief Meeting

Tonight we attended the meeting for Camp Good Grief. This is Baptist's version of Methodist's Camp BraveHeart, although I am assured that they are different but equally beneficial.

Camp Good Grief will not start until the end of July (a couple weeks before school starts).

While the adults filled out the paperwork (and there was tons of it) and learned more about what our children will be doing, the children got to meet each other and play games. They learned two of the camp songs and got to play with the therapy dogs.

This camp is for children only so I won't be attending with Dylan this time. However, it sounds like he will have lots of fun and hopefully it will be as beneficial to him emotionally as the first camp was.

On the way home, he sang me his new song about Cedie. He is such a sweet brother.

A Fun Day on the River

We decided to take a fun day today. The past 3 days were so emotionally draining so we all needed a break. The three of us went out on the Mississippi River with a couple of our friends in their boat. We rode the boat out to "Redneck Beach." We had a great time just relaxing and watching Dylan. He had a blast. He played in the sand, swam, and entertained us adults with his dancing!

The funniest part was on the way back. We got flagged down by the TN Wildlife and Game (our version of the Coast Guard). They were checking registration, life vests, etc. Well, Dylan wanted to be part of the search too so he said "I've got my root beer." Then he said "And it's in a cup holder!" We all cracked up! To reward his safety precautions (wearing a life jacket, drinking root beer, and using a cup holder) he got a coupon for free ice cream from McDonald's.

On the way home, Dylan thanked Mr. Kevin for taking him on a boat ride. When Kevin asked did he want to go again Dylan exclaimed "Yea! Then we can get pulled over again and I can get more ice cream coupons!". He is such a silly boy!

Last day at Camp Braveheart

Today, all Chris, Dylan, and I all went to camp.

Dylan got a new teddy bear, a blanket, a backpack, and a book. He also got a t-shirt that his new friends signed. He got his counselor's phone number (the one he knew from LeBonheur) and a promise that she would come babysit him sometime.

We had a nice memorial service. Everyone got a heart shaped balloon to write a message to our loved one on. They read "the Next Place I Go". Then they called each family forward and we released our balloons. After all the families were called, they said a short prayer and then they sang a song about angels. It was all so beautiful (and very emotional).

We ended camp with a pizza party. I exchanged numbers with Dylan's friend's mom so that they can continue to play with each other. I think it is great that Dylan now has a friend, his age, who is facing the same sadness as he. I am so grateful to have met the mother as well. The dad and Chris also got to meet today and they seemed to get along well.

I just want to express how great this camp is. It has helped so many families these past 8 years (like us) and I hope they will be able to continue this awesome program. It is an invaluable tool for these young children (and their adults) who have had to go through these terrible losses. If anyone here locally ever finds themselves in a position to help a charity, this is a great one!

2nd Day at camp

Dylan and I both had another great day at camp.

Dylan made new crafts. He got to climb a very tall rock wall (he's braver than mommy). They were supposed to go swim in a mud pool but it started thunder storming around lunch time and didn't stop until it was almost time to go. He made a memory box for his sister. Last night, he picked 3 different pictures, a baby doll, a wrist rattler shaped like a flower, and a barrette that belonged to Cedie to put in this memory box. His counselor said he did a great job telling everyone in his group about each of Cedie's things that he picked out.

Us adults got to watch a presentation on memory gardens. Then we did more group work. After lunch we talked more and then decorated a quilt square for the camp quilt (the kids do squares as well). I wrote Cedie's name vertically and made an angel out of it (the "C" was the face of the angel).

It was another very good day. Like the first day, I was very emotionally drained by the end of the day, as was Dylan (I think).

1st Day of Camp

Today was the 1st day for Dylan and I at Camp Braveheart.

Dylan was nervous at first but they quickly took care of that. Right away he met a boy who was his age who lost his 6 month old sister in January. The two of them clicked and were best of friends by the end of the day. Also, his counselor was the child life services lady from LeBonheur. She was the one that always brought him (& Cedie) toys at the hospital and she was the one who helped him to say his goodbyes the night before she passed. Dylan was excited to see her. He got to make several different crafts and got to talk about his sister to kids who were going through similar situations. They also played water games. He was so excited and couldn't wait to go back the next day.

I got to meet some other adults who have experienced a loss this year. Some lost their spouse, their sibling, or their parent. There was always two of us who lost our children. The mom of Dylan's friend and I really hit it off. Her little girl's birthday is June 26th (just 10 days after Cedie's). We got to do crafts too. We made a stepping stone for our yards/gardens. Mine said "Some only dream of angels, I've held one in my arms ~ Cedie". We also talked about the benefits of journaling and received new journals of our own. Talking in a group setting like that was hard but I made it through and felt better afterwards.

We will both be returning tomorrow.

Happy Birthday G-Daddy!

Today is my father, aka G-daddy's birthday! The bummer part is, that he has to spend his day at the hospital. Hopefully he will feel better soon!

Happy birthday daddy! I'm thinking of you!

Cedie's Supplies

Today I faced a fear and hopefully it will do some good.

Through a couple of Cedie's LeBonheur nurses, whom I now call good friends, I finally found a place for the over $7000 worth of medical supplies that I still had. One of the LeBonheur ICU attending doctors is going on a doctors w/out borders type of mission trip and he said he could definitely put those supplies to good use.

So, today I went back to LeBonheur. I had not been since the day she passed, back in Januray. Thankfully, my nurse friend went with me. I honestly don't think I could have done it without her. Walking in the TCU was harder than walking in her bedroom at home for the first time. I guess it was because she was there more. It was our second home for so long. I got to see many familiar faces and overall it was a positive experience for me. I feel like I was able to get some closure there.

Thank you Sharon and Kim for helping me find a good home for all of those supplies. And thank you so much Kim for your support today.

New Dylan Slide Show

Silly Dylan

Before we went out to the cementary to place Cedie's June flowers (see Cedie's site), we went to Applebee's for lunch. Dylan was such a ham!


He made himself a super long straw.


After he finished eating, he went up to the bar (it was right across from our booth) and flirted with the bar tender :-)

After we finished at the cemetary, Dylan went swimming (I think he is quickly becoming a fish!)






On the way home from the cemetary, as we were talking about swimming when we got to the house, Dylan said "I wish my Cedie was still here so I could teach her how to swim with me." He is always thinking of her and it is so sweet when he says stuff like that.

Pirates Still Going Strong

Dylan has had an awesome t-ball season with the Pirates. They haven't lost any games! Dylan is doing so good and is having so much fun.

Here are some pics from this Saturday's game.


Here he is after he made a run from 2nd base to home!


He plays short stop.


Dad was the 3rd base coach.


He played catcher for one inning. He was acting like an ump though :-)




Next week is their last regular season game. However, he won't be there because we'll be at the grief camp memorial service that day. His tournament games will begin next Monday though.

Dylan's Summer

Dylan started his summer this week. He will be going to a sitter 3 days a week and staying with his Me-maw 2 days a week. His sitter has a swimming pool and has lots of planned activities to keep them busy.

This week he got to go to the park on Tuesday, the movies on Wednesday, and Put-Put (miniature golf) on Friday. He also got to swim each day. He told her on Friday at lunch (after Put-Put) that this was the best week of his ENTIRE life! (isn't that so cute!)

We took him to see the new Pirates movie last night to top off the whole "best week" theme! It was great but he could barely stay awake :-)

On top of what he is doing at the sitters and Me-maw's, he has grief camp, VBS, trips to Hot Springs, Florida, Branson, and Vegas. We are going to try to throw in a couple camping trips as well. He should definitely have a great summer.