Daily Archives: October 17, 2012

The CarlyMarie Project ~ Day #17

Day #17: Anniversary/Birthday

We have always done a balloon release for Birthdays and Angel days.

Our first year was very hard though. For her birthday we just wanted to be alone with the boys to celebrate what should have been her 1st birthday. For her angel day I always stop over to Elaine’s and let her know she is loved, to thank her, to let her know that we know the day affected her too. She is forever part of our family.

The second year was spent in Iowa City prepping Lincoln for his spinal chord surgery. It was a sad day because we were faced with not being able to be with Damon and Mason. The boys were staying with family and friends and requested cake with balloons so they could put them at the cemetery for her 🙂

This year my husband suggested making a girls cake on Clara’s birthday since he knows I have always wanted to make one but never had a need to do it.  It was fun to make a cake for her and it tasted wonderful.  I think we will continue to do this in the future since the boys really liked it too.

These days are hard but we are learning and trying new things to make them a happy celebration of her life rather than a day of mourning.  We have such loving memories of her and we want to keep it that way.

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The CarlyMarie Project ~ Day 16

Day 16:  Release

For Clara’s birthday and her passing day we release balloons.  The boys really enjoy writing on them so they can tell Clara how they are doing, what they are like now, or just that they miss her.  I have never thought to take a picture of us releasing the balloons but since we released them this year at the Run for Their Lives SIDS event I would share some of their pictures.

As a parent the last thing you want is for that balloon to get stuck in a tree.  The first year that happened we talked with them about their disappointment and decided that maybe Clara needed a few today and a few tomorrow.  The boys were very satisfied with that and the next morning when they looked outside, the balloon had made its journey to Clara.  Every year at the SIDS run they count how many balloons get stuck as we begin our walk and then count again after the walk to see how many babies just needed some extra time to read all the balloons that are sent their way.

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