tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-226783252011-08-01T13:44:36.624-04:00Our son's struggle with Cogenital Heart Defects, from birth 12/2/05 to the date of his death 4/6/06Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.comBlogger3851100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-6426213959656082892011-04-06T11:54:00.000-04:002011-04-06T11:54:52.238-04:00

Today marks 5 years since his passing. I don't know what to do with that ... Does it make any difference? I don't know. He's no closer, and no farther away. He's still just gone, still right where he was, and always will be. There's a stillness in my heart, the quiet place of void. No light, no singing, no laughter. Just the stillness of absence. At least it's quiet there now. That's a bit of a

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-61948089084010085952010-11-04T02:01:00.000-04:002010-11-04T02:01:33.882-04:00

I can't believe it's been nearly 2 years since I posted here. Crazy how life gets away from you that way. I know they say that, "life goes on" but wow. So Nova would be nearly 5 now, if he'd have survived. Five. That's pretty much incomprehensible to me. If I have to be absolutely honest with you, I have to look at pictures to remember what his fat little baby face looked like. I can no longer

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-34756597874069862732008-12-02T14:04:00.000-05:002008-12-02T14:05:27.004-05:00

Check out this video: Meteor Caught On Dashboard CameraHappy Birthday my little fallen star

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com40tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-29700077291989460762008-10-02T01:54:00.002-04:002008-10-02T02:12:49.603-04:00

Every time I come to this blog, I feel guilty that I never post here anymore. Like I've abandoned Nova. Yes, I'm still irrational, just part of the deal I guess.So I've been really involved in the 29Day Giving challenge (as you can tell from my last post I guess) and it's keeping me busy, Crazy busy sometimes, like this past weekend, with the book deal coming through and all. I am totally living

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-2747154622724169082008-09-28T10:47:00.001-04:002008-09-28T16:01:42.330-04:00

CALL FOR PERSONAL ESSAY SUBMISSIONS FOR BOOKTopic: THE HEALING POWER OF GIVINGposted: September 26, 2008Submission Deadline: November 29, 2008Book Title29 GIFTS: How to cultivate a daily giving practice that will ignite your energy for lifeby Cami Walker and the 29Gifts.org CommunityBook Description29 Gifts is the story of how 29Gifts.org founder, Cami Walker, healed from a major illness by

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-81569889434891649212008-01-30T18:05:00.000-05:002008-12-13T06:10:32.486-05:00

Yeah most of you don't know the story... back in the day I only blogged on my blogger blog. I had an extended group of friends though blogger. One of them was Gretchen. She was a friend of a friend, at first... She had a big family, and her baby girl was born just about 6 weeks after Nova. I found her blog and a picture of Lydia by accident, and it was true love at first sight. Lydia was such a

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-52864652037719318452008-01-29T21:35:00.000-05:002008-01-29T21:36:16.364-05:00

Thank you Krystal and Brayden!

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-34994064259905820932008-01-20T00:28:00.001-05:002008-01-29T21:32:43.309-05:00

I was recently approached by someone I know... she runs a local organization and is looking for charities to work with for their next fiscal year... she asked me if Team Nova would be interested and wanted some more information about what Team Nova is and what we do.Team Nova has taken on a bit of a life of it's own, which is pretty encouraging. Truthfully, we're no different or better than any

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-26284543446519916142007-10-15T13:20:00.000-04:002007-10-15T14:04:58.871-04:00

Nova's Heart has received an award!What a wonderful surprise it was to receive the email! Thank you so much Kat for feeling we deserved it, and thanks too, to whoever nominated us!! I'm planning to do a bit of an overhaul on the blog this evening, and The award will most certainly become part of the 'renovative process!'It's strangley fitting that today is the day we got this award too. I'm sure

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-58749100596676319032007-09-22T00:40:00.000-04:002007-07-10T00:24:03.214-04:00

Team Nova 2007 has had a slow start this year, but I'm hoping that's abut to change. I've finally had the meeting with the AHA Rep. Her name is Brenda (Laurie from last year is blissfully married and left the AHA to enjoy being a family :) Congrats Laurie! I'll miss you!)... and meeting with the Rep is always a bit of a kick in the pants. I can't believe how fast this year is flying by! We're

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-87089771046808123532007-08-14T23:04:00.000-04:002007-08-14T23:08:25.779-04:00

I know this is Nova's blog, but we're coming up on what would be Alexis' 6th birthday, and her death date shortly after, and I suppose my focus changes as we go...I have not been very good at keeping up here at Nova's heart. Rarely a new blog post. I honestly don't know what to say anymore. I don't want to post over and over about the heart walk and seem obnoxious, and I really hate sounding like

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-60596560077023805332007-08-14T20:53:00.001-04:002007-08-14T20:53:36.510-04:00

Trish is going to raffle off a hand made afghan (that I will make after the raffle in colors of your choice) The money made will go to the AHA for team Nova. It will be one entry for $3.00 or 2 for $5.00 go to paypal.com and send the money to erin@poeticacceptance.com and be sure to put "afghan raffle" in the note space. The raffle will run until Sept 7th.Here is the afghan design I will be using

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-43758156084873890322007-07-06T19:21:00.000-04:002007-07-06T19:22:11.044-04:00

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-53970173085976088022007-07-01T12:17:00.000-04:002007-07-01T12:18:25.627-04:00

Rosie O has a blog. I love her, and her blog, and her poetry, and her photos...You can ask Rosie questions, and she comes through and answers selected ones. She gets so many in a day she can't answer them all. I asked her a question today. I've asked it before. I asked for her support in the Heart Walk. Who knows if she has even read mine. Seriously, the volume is staggering.at 12:09, I asked

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-82338481203347543312007-06-19T15:43:00.000-04:002008-12-13T06:10:32.709-05:00

Last year after Nova died, someone told me about the CHD Awareness Quilt(s). These are quilts (40+) that are comprised of seperate blocks, each designed for a CHD child, living or passed. Of course as soon as I heard of it, I requested blocks for both Nova and Alexis. In October, I received a picture of Nova's block. As you can see (if you click) they customize each block for the child it's meant

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-27486672475080981732007-06-16T17:53:00.000-04:002007-06-16T17:54:35.407-04:00

 I AM NOT THEREDo not stand at my grave and weep;I am not there. I do not sleep.I am a thousand winds that blow,I am the diamond glints on snow,I am the sunlight on ripened grain,I am the gentle autumn's rain.When you awaken in the morning's hush,I am the swift uplifting rush,Of quiet birds in circled flight I am the soft stars that shine at night.Do not stand at my grave and cry,I am not there,

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-8420833334828690302007-06-16T16:16:00.000-04:002007-06-16T16:31:30.770-04:00

Sometimes things don't happen the way they're supposed to... but that isn't a fair statement I guess. Maybe they happen exactly like they're supposed to, we just don't understand why. I don't know.All I know is that if he'd lived Nova would be 18 1/2 months old. He's been gone for 14 months, and I still don't understand any of it. Oh sure, I can give medical lectures on the ins and outs of CHD -

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-62515909617882307812007-06-15T01:19:00.000-04:002007-06-16T16:34:07.112-04:00

It's time for Heart Walk 2007! In less than a month, we will be commemorating the one year anniversary of Nova's death, and so it's time to kick off our efforts for this year's Walk. Once again, we're working with the American Heart Association to raise funds and Awareness in the battle against Congenital Heart Defects. If you're receiving this email from me, most likely, you know our story, and

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-91640820689841541652007-04-15T13:47:00.000-04:002008-12-13T06:10:33.010-05:00

Well, My other one was!Last year, after we lost Nova to a Congenital Heart Defect, when I started getting involved with the American Heart Association by joining the Heart Walk, I knew I had the freshness of Nova's death to move people. I never imagined so many people would be so moved, but I knew that I needed to make a difference in this world in his and Alexis' memory, and that his recent

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-3860000552200740042007-04-06T16:22:00.001-04:002007-04-06T16:22:43.013-04:00

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-5573913750632598092007-04-06T11:26:00.001-04:002008-12-13T06:10:33.493-05:00

I miss you so much...I can't believe it's already been a year. I still hurt like it was yesterday. Hell, that's not exactly true, back then I had the benefit of being numb and in shock.

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1172365033280571962007-02-24T19:18:00.000-05:002007-02-24T19:57:13.350-05:00

So much going on lately, in my real life, in my 'alternate' online life, and in my head too. I've been doing that thing I'm famous for, which is, being unbelievably sad, failing to cope, and denying the fact... and finding things to do that keep me busy enough that I can keep up the denial. I guess Nova's birthday and Christmas hurt a lot more and a lot longer than I wanted to admit. And a few

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1168232890861597102007-01-08T00:07:00.000-05:002007-01-08T00:08:10.880-05:00

Heads UpTeam Nova is up and running (errr walking) again! I'm excited about participating again this year. I just signed up yesterday when I realized that it was open again - the team isn't even completely assembled yet, but I had to sign up and post the address. I'll make an actual Heart Walk post - like the one that floated for so long last year - but I'm not actually "kicking it off" just yet

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1167863221876178322007-01-03T19:49:00.000-05:002007-01-03T22:04:30.973-05:00

SpaceTommy ... (2 years) ... Kory ... (3 years) ... Kassi ... (3 years) ... Bren ... (3 1/2 years) ... Alexis ... (2 years) ... Terra ... (3 years) ... Nova .......My pregnancies have been fairly evenly spaced. 'Roundabout 3 years between each. In a rational world, that would mean that my children were evenly spaced as well, but because of CHDs, Brendon and Terra are nearly 6 years apart - their

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1167623040395995892006-12-31T22:35:00.000-05:002006-12-31T23:07:23.863-05:00

Ringing (or 'rumming') in the New YearI have been, again, largely absent... I keep thinking I'm going to come back full force like I was, but then there's another crappy birthday, or Christmas, or, today, the passing of the year in which Nova lived and died. I try my damnedest to stay 'up' but it takes too much energy. I've done all sorts of charity work thinking it would make me feel better, but

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1167196241492612572006-12-26T23:33:00.000-05:002006-12-27T00:10:41.630-05:00

I suppose I should at least acknowledge that Christmas came and went. I didn't look forward to it, and despite all the things I did this year, and all the ways I tried to get into the spirit of the holiday, truth is, I was hoping just to survive it. I did. For the most part, other people don't do a lot of acknowledging your grief during a holiday - they don't want to upset you, they don't want to

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1166834185261695112006-12-22T19:36:00.000-05:002006-12-22T19:36:25.286-05:00

They're Naked and EmptyThey're naked and empty against the skywidespread and waiting. It's two in the morning, months after the loss and still, they wait.There's a guaranteed prize for patience and for tolerance and for voices keptinside sap-filled heads where visionis blurred and sound is distorted.And I stare through nicotine windows and wonder -when wind bites their tenderest parts and ice

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1166494495854898172006-12-18T20:57:00.000-05:002006-12-18T21:14:55.980-05:00

Self-esteemOne thing grief is good for is destroying a person's self-esteem. That was one of the many lessons I learned after losing Alexis, so when we lost Nova, it was one thing I swore I wasn't going to allow to happen again. I sincerely felt like I'd just begun to get to know myself, and like myself... Then we lost Nova and I dug my toes in and refused to do it.I went and got my hair cut, I

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1166155272187175262006-12-14T22:56:00.000-05:002006-12-14T23:02:20.713-05:00

Stokes teen had heart conditionUpdated: 12/14/2006 7:28 AMBy: Associated Press"...Phillips died of a heart condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, said Forsyth County medical examiner Dr. Patrick Lantz. The condition causes cells in the heart to grow and form a mass that can obstruct blood flow and disrupt normal heart rhythms, Lantz said.According to his medical history, Phillips hadn't

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1165459704507307262006-12-06T21:21:00.000-05:002006-12-06T21:48:25.153-05:00

so tiredUGH! I am so tired of marking my mental calendar according to how long it's been since or should bes. Nova has been gone 8 months today. We took the cake and toys to CVRU on his birthday. Shanda was there. I adore her. They're all so sweet. We laughed and played with the toys and talked, and I fought the urge to ask if I could go visit with someone else's baby... They would've said no,

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1165045447888824042006-12-02T02:43:00.000-05:002007-01-03T20:05:05.646-05:00

They say it's your birthday...Dear Nova~You'd be one year old today. First birthdays are the most special you know. It's the only one where I'd have let you have the cake. Yep, the whole thing, to eat, fling, wear, and destroy at will. Of course, the price for that would have been the multitude of pictures I'd have taken and blackmailed you with later, when you had your first 'real' girlfriend.

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1164783742808639292006-11-29T02:01:00.000-05:002006-11-29T02:02:22.826-05:00

Less than a weekLess than a week to Nova's bithday and I can't even tell you how bad that sucks. I look at kids his age and they're walking and starting to talk, and google over Christmas lights and stuff. Trish came over today and I was watching Ryan toddle around and I thought, "He's so little, Nova would tower over him..." Of course, who knows if that's really true, post-surgery heart babies

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1164263111530482412006-11-23T01:25:00.000-05:002006-11-23T01:25:11.553-05:00

I'm ThankfulWhat are you thankful for? That was a question posed on the mommy board I belong to, and I couldn't answer it without being all mushy and philosophical. Sometimes being philosophical makes me feel like a nerd, so I'll save that for here. Truth is, I think I could get away with feeling sorry for myself this year. You guys would let me, I know you would. But I don't want to, because I

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1163960389370772352006-11-19T13:08:00.000-05:002006-11-19T13:19:49.470-05:00

I am a conundrumMost of the time, the things that should effect me in an emotional way no longer do. I am often detached and distant, and find little pleasure in the things I once loved and enjoyed. Poetry, blogging, writing... they don't appeal to me much anymore. My interests have shifted. But even on a more personal level, things feel different, I feel them less.And yet there are times that

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1163381708724527282006-11-12T20:15:00.000-05:002006-11-12T20:35:09.463-05:00

There is someone whom I know only via the internet that I absolutely adore. He and I have known one another for 6 years or so, and share a lot of interests and a great mutual respect. This person has recent;y shared a secret with me that I've hesitated to share, because I don't want to make anything public that he hasn't made public on his own yet but... without giving too many details I wanted

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1163313472293736422006-11-12T01:07:00.000-05:002006-11-12T01:37:52.756-05:00

I worry that I won't be strong enough to go to the hospital on his birthday. That the toys I've bought and the cake I'll bake will go to waste because it's too hard. Some days, just getting dressed is too hard. Admittedly, the can't-get-up days aren't frequent enough to worry me, but they're becoming more frequent as the holidays and his birthday approach. I also worry that going to the hospital

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1162960552213511842006-11-07T23:31:00.000-05:002006-11-07T23:39:28.696-05:00

Congenital Heart Defects Families Association is selling Christmas cards. Have a look, support CHD awareness and research

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1162954153394264832006-11-07T21:49:00.000-05:002006-11-07T23:40:31.240-05:00

HowManyOfMe.comThere is:1person with my namein the U.S.A.How many have your name?Only one Donovan LeClair...

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1162862683611333942006-11-06T20:15:00.000-05:002006-11-06T20:24:43.683-05:00

I LOVE Michael's site, Sophia is gorgeous, and he and his wife are absolutely the standard to which all parents should be held, seriously. Beautiful family. So today when Bloglines said he'd updated, I was ALLL OVER the I Heart Sophia site. That's where I found this video. Pretty funny isn't it? Yeah. Except when it's the 7 month anniversary of your son's death and you spent part of the day

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1162097634590340332006-10-29T17:39:00.000-05:002006-10-29T17:46:01.980-05:00

I've been avoiding the blog world. Back when I first discovered blogging, the interactivity of it all was mind-blowing, and utterly addictive. Now though, it frightens me. I know, that sounds weird. But you see, I was doing "so well" that everyone began to believe I was strong and... Well, whatever. Now I feel like I've created this persona that I have to live up to. I don't want to post stuff

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1161392492711675472006-10-20T20:36:00.000-04:002006-10-20T21:01:32.736-04:00

Nova's birthday - December 2ndSagittarius November 23 - December 20"the Archer" in Latin, called Toxotes in Greek.The curiosity of Sagittarius is truly insatiable and the mental energy is always alert. Sagittarius is a wonderful teacher and student. Sagittarius loves knowledge, all kinds of people and often sports. Sagittarius is very frank and open with friends and lovers. This is sometimes

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1161316963161242652006-10-20T11:59:00.000-04:002006-10-20T19:33:37.140-04:00

I've gotten several emails lately. Some asking if I was OK. If you ask, I'm sorry, but I'm going to be honest. So don't ask unless you're fully prepared for the weeping and whining that are sure to follow. Fair warning. If you ask me how I am, the answer will most likely be "exhausted and broken." (Thank you Terri for putting it so perfectly)I've also gotten a couple from people who seem wounded

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1160867535762619402006-10-14T19:04:00.000-04:002006-10-29T17:04:42.573-05:00

This is Our Childrens' Memorial Walkway.It's an area within Frazier Park.Their dedication stone explains the purpose of this area, but it can't possibly give you any idea just how you feel while you're here. It's hard to remember that you're just a few blocks from Uptown, with its traffic and noise. It's so peaceful here. The walkway is brick, and every other brick or so is dedicated to a lost

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1160586821867080412006-10-11T13:13:00.000-04:002006-10-11T13:17:35.286-04:00

I was asked today, "If you could have stopped aging at any point in your life up to the present, how old would you want to remain?"I'm really happy with who I am at this point in my life. Especially when it comes to my relationship with my husband. We're in a really good place together, and I wouldn't want to change that at all. I'm also probably in the best place as far as my sense of self is

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1160441771833372572006-10-09T20:42:00.000-04:002006-10-09T20:56:11.886-04:00

Tonight they sent me the corrected quilt block, well, a picture of it. I knew they'd have it done quickly. It's beautiful isn't it? I've been assured that he and Alexis' quilt blocks would be on the same quilt. I can't wait to see her block. When the quilt is finished, I'll get a picture of the finished quilt as well, and after that, I intend to have some sort of event that would lend itself to

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1160321690361408992006-10-08T11:30:00.000-04:002006-10-08T16:45:00.853-04:00

The Charlotte Observer story is out. It's a two page spread in the Arts & Living section, starting with the front page. The whole front page. You can read it online here.Thank you Elizabeth for taking so much time over the last few months to read my writings here, and for all the time we spent talking in order to bring this story to fruition. I hope that it is a huge step in raising awareness in

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1160321805085488852006-10-06T16:34:00.000-04:002006-10-08T13:57:12.780-04:00

Kassi just got home from school - she's in chorus this year, I remember chorus. I figure she and I are pretty much alike, can't sing all that well, but love the class. I loved chorus, but I don't know how in the world I passed the class with a voice like mine.Anyway, Kassi's school was really supportive of our family for the Heart Walk. They raised $653 in one day for a kid that had attended

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1160016638453750042006-10-04T22:46:00.000-04:002006-10-04T22:50:38.473-04:00

In July I joined a local group called The Mommies Network - it's a national group with an online forum for moms, broken up by geographical areas (as in, I belong to Union county Mommies - all moms that live in the same county as I do.) I joined because I saw myself starting to kind of shut myself up - I never leave the house or do anything or go anywhere. I figured this would be a good way to get

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1159668508537729582006-09-30T22:06:00.000-04:002006-10-04T09:56:10.123-04:00

I need your help guys. I'm trying to compile a list of professional athletes and/or celebrities who are CHD survivors, or who have a child with a CHD. I only know of one off-hand, Shaun White. He's the reigning Olympic Gold Medalist in Snowboarding. Y'all know of any others? I'd really love to know about more! If you do, could you leave a comment in the replies? pleeeeeeeeeeez. Thanks!

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1159573564701241542006-09-29T19:23:00.000-04:002006-09-29T19:46:21.343-04:00

The Charlotte Weekly article came out today. It's titled "Guided by a Star." written by Regan White. I loved meeting her, she's such a sweetheart - and the email I got a day or 2 after our interview made me smile and cry at the same time, and this piece, well, I think it's awesome. And the title... How perfect is that title? :) Click on the pics to read the actual article.

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1159392810991172332006-09-27T17:33:00.000-04:002006-09-27T17:33:31.016-04:00

So, there's a chick in a nearby town who has a fundraising event that sort of resembles a cook out/family reunion type thing. Bounce house etc for the kids, live band, silent auction, free food, $1 drinks (including beer! yay!) and it raises funds for Fragile X because she has 2 children affected by it. I attended her event this year, the same day we went to the Heart Walk. It was a lot of fun

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1159378652200935442006-09-27T13:37:00.000-04:002006-09-27T14:24:46.530-04:00

So, in 2003 Paul G Allen (co-founder of Microsoft) founded a research project to map the genes in the brain. It was called the Allen Institute for Brain Science and the project was soon dubbed "The Brain Atlas". It was financed by Allen himself, with $100 million in "seed money." The project had some troubles along the way, floundered a bit for a while, but has recently been "completed."

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1159321265675375642006-09-26T21:07:00.000-04:002006-09-26T21:42:47.100-04:00

I have another blog, one no one ever visits. Well, not no one exactly. It averages 6 hits a day... Today, there have been 4 visits. It's lossofachild.blogspot.com and it's part of what I called the Poetic Acceptance for grieving parents network, the sister site to poetic acceptance.com, which I started as a tribute after I lost Alexis. It never went anywhere, never accomplished anything. The

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1159311125241449802006-09-26T18:33:00.000-04:002006-09-26T18:52:18.206-04:00

Yesterday, after hours of panic and searching everywhere I can think of to look, I realized that I have no idea where Nova's birth certificate, shot records or name card from his basinette are.Today, I realized that the Iron drops, gas drops, baby Tylenol, and the crusty remains of a bottle of Nystatin still sit on the top shelf over the sink.

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1159200543376836112006-09-25T12:07:00.000-04:002006-09-25T12:09:03.403-04:00

The beginning is pretty hard to hear, and for some odd reason, I look like I'd been drinking red kool-aid (lmao!) but here I am in all my redneck glory!

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1159199309654999492006-09-25T11:20:00.000-04:002006-09-25T11:50:00.623-04:00

I got this in my email this morning. It is Nova's block in the CHD Quilt. They're fixing the death date as we speak, because as you can see, the year is wrong, but they responded immediately when I pointed that out, and I had visions of them typing email with one hand and pulling stitches with the other. It's such a wonderful project, and so big. There are, according to the website, 37 finished

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1159163807383992932006-09-25T01:26:00.000-04:002006-10-04T10:52:19.330-04:00

It's hard to come to terms with the fact that Nova's been gone so long already. Nearly 6 months, half a year. That seems like such a long time. The hospital visits, the surgeries, they seem so long ago, so far in the past... But April 6th, the last time I held him and rocked him, is still so fresh. It doesn't make sense really. I don't suppose there's any rule that says that any of this should

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1159034591525482102006-09-23T14:01:00.000-04:002006-09-23T16:26:54.580-04:00

The air conditioners have been off for about a week - the weather is perfect. If it would just stay just like this forever, I'd be ecstatic. There's that feel to the air, that distinct fall-is-coming feel. It has an emotional impact on me that I've never really been able to describe, or understand. It's something like nostalgia, a strange unnamed longing, though I can't say exactly why. It would

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1158976898127228712006-09-22T21:51:00.000-04:002006-09-22T22:01:38.150-04:00

So the newspaper story in The Charlotte Observer will be out on October 8th. It will have an internet version, and as soon as it's up, I'll link to it. I'm looking forward to seeing what the truly final product will look like. At first I was so nervous about it, but now, I'm just curious. The anticipation is killing me. Today I did the interview for the Charlotte Weekly. It will be released on

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1158802280697956702006-09-20T21:11:00.000-04:002006-09-20T21:31:21.203-04:00

After the Heart Walk I turned around and there was Jennifer. I met Jennifer when Nova was in the hospital, her son Aiden had his 3rd surgery while we were there, and Jennifer and I hit it off. After Aiden was moved to the floor, we would go upstairs between our visits with Nova sometimes, and just hang out with Jennifer.Anyway, she found me at the Heart Walk and she had Aiden with her, and Terra

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1158799608824280402006-09-20T20:46:00.000-04:002006-09-20T20:46:48.843-04:00

This is Team Nova and Team CVRU together. This picture is going into Nova's memory book, because these are the women (the guys weren't able to come) who made sure we felt comfortable in the knowledge that Nova was well taken care of and loved while we weren't there with him.This is another shot of Kim and Jacob. He has the most beautiful big smileThis is -well, it's pretty self explanatory eh?

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1158709680888338322006-09-19T19:41:00.000-04:002006-09-19T19:48:00.893-04:00

I wrote this the other day when I realized that a local website I recently joined accepts articles from its members. They ask that the articles broach a subject that has some impact on women. I'm unhappy with the abrupt ending, but if it's accepted it will be read by women all over the US. I suppose I should have edited and revised a bit more before submitting it, but I think it will at least get

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1158709209480785312006-09-19T19:39:00.000-04:002006-09-19T19:40:09.533-04:00

There's nothing like a good professional photographer to turn something you hate into something you barely notice. But can photos be cliche? 'Cuz I think the one is going to be cheesy and cliche, but I'm not telling why, in case they use it, then I'll just show it to you. *whew* one more interview to go and I'm done for a while It started raining right after the photographer left, and right now

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1158538073879572282006-09-17T19:08:00.000-04:002006-09-17T20:15:02.216-04:00

You know, life has gone crazy in the last year. Last year at this time, Erin was pregnant, still unaware of her child's heart defect, pretty smug in the idea that the universe had pulled the rug out from under her enough for one lifetime. She was thinking about cribs and booties and tiny diapers. She waddled, she smiled, she worried, she was hormonal and ate too many Pringles. She was happy in

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1158514970501061912006-09-17T13:42:00.000-04:002006-09-21T15:22:35.436-04:00

This is Jacob. He's an adorable kid, with the most awesome smile! Here you can see his arm brace - he gets his real cast on Tuesday, but this also shows the sticker on the back of his shirt. It's an "In Honor Of" sticker. It says "I'm walking in honor of" and he wrote "ME" because he was born with a congenital heart defect. I learned yesterday that so was Leesa. Although I don't know exactly what

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1158457699798469142006-09-16T20:44:00.000-04:002006-09-16T21:48:20.036-04:00

There are many more pictures - Blogger decided this was my photo allottment for now. Plus, I have to wait for our pictures to come back from being developed, and Mel took a lot of pics with her camera too that she's going to email to me. I haven't even seen them yet. The pictures here come from Kim and Lisa's cameras. I'll add more when Blogger gets its head out of its butt :)This (click it for

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1158428937971329892006-09-16T13:48:00.000-04:002006-09-16T13:48:57.996-04:00

Wooo HOOOOO!!!!Oh man that was so much FUN! I got to see SO MANY of my favorite nurses, including Shanda, Mel and Tiffany who were at Nova's funeral, and Jane and... man there were so SO many! It was awesome to see them all again!! I saw Mika and Gina, and I got to see Lisa again, and meet her son Daniel, and her friend (whose name escapes me dagnabit) and I finally met Kim and Jacob and

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1148860326083359712006-09-15T23:59:00.000-04:002006-09-15T15:07:35.770-04:00

Stepping OutThis is my son Nova.He was born December 2, 2005 with a Congenital Heart Defect.When he was just 11 weeks old, he underwent open heart surgery to correct his defect. He spent eight hours in surgery, on the heart/lung machine, while the surgeon repaired his malformed heart. Over the next six weeks there were several complications additional surgeries, and other procedures. Sadly,

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1158344575001123142006-09-15T14:21:00.000-04:002006-09-15T14:22:55.023-04:00

Team Nova has raised so much more than I'd ever hoped when I first decided to join the Heart Walk! I'm flabbergasted, and I reserve that word for special occasions, ok!?And to top it off, Kim's son Jacob is in the lead for a separate contest to see who can raise the most money online. He got $800 in donations today, and I just got this in my email! YAY Jacob! Hope that makes up for breaking your

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1158153930442752912006-09-13T09:25:00.000-04:002006-09-13T09:25:30.470-04:00

You know that movie "Groundhog Day?" That's what grief is like. You have to do the same thing over and over. You get through one day only to wake up and realize that you have to do it all again. You think you're tired of hearing me go on and on about Nova? Try living it.And today is such a perfect day to feel the way I feel today. It's wet and bleak - raining without storming, light but not

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1157954097992237512006-09-11T01:52:00.000-04:002006-09-11T01:54:58.020-04:00

Blog Designs, and My GoalsThere's less than a week now until the Heart Walk. Five days really. Five days. Five days left to donate for this cause that is so dear to me. Other than having my children, I've never believed in anything as completely as I believe in this. I know I've not only met my goal, but surpassed it and I should be content with that, but I'm not. So much more needs to be done,

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1157826323744481282006-09-09T14:25:00.000-04:002006-09-09T14:25:23.790-04:00

In 2 hours the Charlotte Weekly reporter will be here, and here I sit, blogging. Heh. Guess I'm not too damn nervous. Nova's been gone over 5 months now, and I just got the genetics results in the mail. Sure, we'd already gone to talk to Dr. Wagstaff, but getting the paperwork is just... Different. The results are a sort of summary of their findings for both Alexis and Nova. They put Alexis' last

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1157763784145724542006-09-08T21:02:00.000-04:002006-09-08T21:03:04.166-04:00

These are the numbers for the whole team. As you can see, not everyone hit their $200 goal, but as a team we far surpassed the goal!I even got an email congratulating me on meeting my personal goal. You guys should have all gotten one of those, lord knows it was all of you that met my goal! Wish I could give each of you a big hug!I ordered the team t-shirts on the 4th, they were supposed to be

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1157603943207086152006-09-07T00:38:00.000-04:002006-09-07T00:39:03.226-04:00

(click image to view full size)$653! This is the check for the money that goes into Kassi's donations, from her school's hat day. How amazing is that!?

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1157430921141036872006-09-05T00:33:00.000-04:002006-09-05T00:35:21.163-04:00

Seems like my guts have become this writhing mass and it's been too hard to sort things out enough to really put words to them. All I get are little bits here and there, bits that don't make much sense and certainly wouldn't be much of a blog post. I'm feeling really restless, like there's something I'm supposed to be doing and I can't remember what it is. You know, Nova's been gone nearly 5

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1157401802810722292006-09-04T15:38:00.001-04:002006-09-04T16:30:02.883-04:00

Well, I'm waiting for some donations that have been sent via snail mail, and a couple of them are of unknown amounts, but it looks like I'm going to hit that $3000 mark after all. I'm excited and so grateful, but I have to be honest - it all seems a bit anticlimactic, and I'm sad to be finished with it for the year. Only 12 more days and it will be done.I just placed the order for the team

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1157133678405618472006-09-01T13:48:00.000-04:002006-09-01T14:02:18.856-04:00

I want to share something with you from the Saving Little Hearts website. Pretty dry reading, but it does explain just why I feel so strongly about raising awareness in the CHD arena. Congenital Heart Defect Research SpendingOn January 30, 2006, March of Dimes issued the following press release:"Hidden Toll of Dying and Disabled Children; A Comprehensive Global Analysis Identifies Trends and

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1157085780602834052006-09-01T00:42:00.000-04:002006-09-01T13:08:18.740-04:00

OK Folks the deadline just passed for joining the photography raffle, which means I just drew the name of the winner. And the winner of the $100 Professional Photography gift certificate is a woman who presently lives in New York but will soon be moving to Union County, which means she'll be my neighbor, and a fellow transplanted yankee! Her name is Cindy, and I met her through a board called

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1157071985939525142006-08-31T20:52:00.000-04:002006-08-31T20:53:05.976-04:00

Learning by RepetitionThere have never been enough balloons to do you justice. Tuesday was no exception. The rain left 12 Mylar hearts, in screaming scarlet, unpurchased. And then the sun came out. It always does, doesn't it? Even at your funeral.When reverend Smith stopped eulogizing, the rain stopped, and made steam from damp lashes and soaked shirts. That day though, later, there were balloons

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1156649431860138502006-08-27T23:45:00.000-04:002006-08-27T23:51:08.003-04:00

Dear Nova~Today Daddy and I were talking about going to the park. You see, they have a track there, and you made us both think a lot more about taking care of our health, so we're going to start running every morning. We haven't been to that park in a very long time. I started thinking about how long it had been and I realized that the last time we were there Terra was about the age you'd be now.

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1156727774956244712006-08-27T21:15:00.000-04:002006-08-27T21:17:38.096-04:00

I just received another email from a blogger who is near and dear to me. Billy the Blogging Poet lives just a matter of hours away, and works tirelessly to create a network of poetry bloggers. He's proposed another raffle idea to benefit the American Heart Association via Team Nova. Here's what says:Howdy Miss Erin,I was just over at your site ... when your latest post sparked an idea. I can

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1156698012739679532006-08-27T12:58:00.000-04:002006-08-27T13:00:29.660-04:00

I received an email this morning from Melissa who has been reading my main blog pretty much from day one. (It's been nearly 2 years for goodness sakes, I can't believe it!) And she's decided that she wants to get involved in my fundraising in a more direct way than the donation she made back in June (I remember because it was my step-daughter's birthday.)so here's her idea.I know time is winding

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1156606384889569672006-08-25T23:32:00.000-04:002006-08-26T15:11:24.206-04:00

As of the 16th - the day of the heart walk - Nova will be gone 5 months 12 days. Alexis will be gone 5 years 17 days. Weirdness in numbers, but then I see stuff in stuff where there really probably isn't any stuff to be seen at all. I mean, who cares about the double 5's, who cares that the difference between 12 and 17 is 5. There's no significance in the fact that Alexis lived 12 days, or that

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1156397654649993092006-08-24T01:04:00.000-04:002006-08-24T10:04:40.590-04:00

There has been a lot of discussion today on one of my grief support groups about what's "normal" behavior and what emotions are "normal" early in the grieving process. Someone wanted to know our opinion of using medication to smooth out the edges while the pain is so sharp. I told her that she knew herself better than we did, that if she felt she needed meds, then she should be willing to

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1156012089557814672006-08-19T14:12:00.000-04:002006-08-19T14:29:38.356-04:00

http://www.beepcentral.com/story.aspx?story=6275http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_465763.htmlMore CHD deaths, and in my mind, more reasons for awareness and funding for the research of CHDs

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1155435849682049892006-08-17T22:16:00.000-04:002006-08-17T03:44:25.733-04:00

Team Nova has its first sponsor! HS Her Story Photography and Art has donated a gift certificate to be raffled off, (as with the Yarn Raffle and Ryan's Blanket) and all proceeds will be applied to the Team Nova shirts.HS Her Story Photography & ArtThe certificate will entitle the winner to a free session fee with Her Story Photography & Art. ($100.00 value)Session Fee will be good for either

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1155842791210063182006-08-17T14:43:00.000-04:002006-08-17T15:26:44.243-04:00

So it's been rough lately, and that's an understatement. Today though, has been surprisingly OK, considering that Alexis would have been 5 today. OK, not great, but doable.There is a woman named Kim who has a 13 yr old son who was born with a CHD who joined Team Nova, she is the one who contacted The Charlotte Observer about doing the story that's presently being done. She emailed me yesterday

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1155707789728889162006-08-15T23:43:00.000-04:002006-08-17T03:43:54.086-04:00

When Nova was born, the only vehicle we owned was a Ford F-250. Scott's work truck. Not family friendly, or the ideal vehicle for making a lot of trips to doctors with an infant. So, when our tax refund came in January/February, we bought a used conversion van, for Nova, for his appointments, for his stay in the hospital, and the trips we knew we'd be making back and forth.The van, like I said,

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1155088174622954002006-08-08T21:08:00.000-04:002006-08-10T02:50:29.130-04:00

Long Rambling RandomnessTonight I rediscovered Rosie. As in Rosie O'donnell - I love her, her blog is amazing, she is amazing. I hadn't read in a long while, something about finding out about Nova's heart made me forget the superfluous things like celebrity worship (I'm only partially kidding there haha.) I wish I had half the guts, but, well, I don't.Anyway, she writes poetry (my first true love

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1155020176969608892006-08-08T02:37:00.000-04:002006-08-08T02:56:16.993-04:00

I know that I did it, but I don't remember how.Grief is blinding. You're so lost in it at the time, you don't really see how you're getting through it. You're too consumed with the day, or the hour, or the moment sometimes, that you don't have the energy to do anything beyond the surviving. So when you get through it, you look back and realize that some undetermined amount of time and life has

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1155014715201484922006-08-08T01:23:00.000-04:002006-08-08T02:58:26.326-04:00

CHD CalendarThank you Michael for forwarding this to me...Photo Deadline ExtendedOne More WeekEach year we ask all children and adults born with a heart defect to submit their photo for our awareness calendar. This year is no different.Because we want to include as many people born with a CHD as possible, you have an additional week to get your photos submitted for the2007 Saving Little Hearts

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1154999715612028332006-08-07T20:05:00.000-04:002006-08-08T02:58:48.603-04:00

Ryan's BlanketA few weeks before I had Nova, my best friend Trish gave birth to her son Ryan.Trish and I have known each other since we were 11. I'm not doing math for yas, but that was 2 decades (plus some) ago. Our birthdays are just days apart and so for about a week I get to give her a hard time about being older than I am. Tricia is the one person in my real life who isn't family that is

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1154827792557791272006-08-05T21:29:00.000-04:002006-08-08T02:59:10.350-04:00

glowangels againThis is a photocuddler. It's like a stuffed animal, with a picture frame face.After Alexis died my mother got one similar to this (but it's a bunny) and had Alexis' picture put in it, and had it set under a glass dome. It holds a little tiny panda bear, it's really cute, and meant a lot to me that she had it made up like that.When I started Poetic Acceptance, because I had one, I

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1154713663064599742006-08-04T13:47:00.000-04:002006-08-08T02:59:33.250-04:00

I've got a joiner!Team Nova has a new member! One of the mothers that I've been in contact with (the one who referred me to the paper actually) about volunteering to run the CHD/Little Hearts tent at the Heart Walk has just joined Team Nova! How awesome is that!? She and her son (a 13 year old CHD survivor) are going to start fundraising in advance of the Walk, and be there at the tent with me!

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1154585691546554792006-08-03T02:00:00.000-04:002006-08-08T03:00:38.450-04:00

Breathing AugustI've never been one to do a lot of partying on New Years Eve anyway, never really fell into the concept of resolutions or the idea that January 1st had any great significance. But you see, there's a funny thing that happens when you lose a child. Your calendar changes. The year no longer ends on December 31st or begins on January 1st. I've spent nearly 5 years judging the passage

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1154562641340853192006-08-02T19:50:00.000-04:002006-08-08T03:00:59.256-04:00

Thank you NovaThere are people who can (or maybe they must) ignore it, avoid the pain and sorrow and tragedy in the world. You know the type, they turn their heads and avert their eyes. Perhaps it's selfishness, perhaps it's self-preservation, it doesn't really matter. The point is that they manage to insulate themselves, one way or another, from the negative emotional bits of human existence. I

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1154314101262053332006-07-30T22:14:00.000-04:002006-08-08T03:01:26.450-04:00

Tshirt re-designThis is the graphic that will be on the Team Nova shirts for the Heart Walk. (Click to enlarge) I've considered adding pictures of Alexis and Nova, but I'm afraid that I'd be unhappy with the quality.I'm pretty happy with the end product, though I admit I've piddled with it for entirely too long before coming up with this.So I'm off to Cafepress to add this to a tshirt. Want one?

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1154239144824527402006-07-30T01:54:00.000-04:002006-08-08T03:01:55.523-04:00

It Isn't Fair!Tonight, despite the wonderful things that have been happening, I want to kick and scream and stomp my feet and shake my fist at the sky and scream about how unfair it is. It isn't fair, damn it. It's not fair. Thankfully, these moments are short lived, and by morning I'll remember how lucky I am despite it all. Sometimes I lose sight of that, but even when I'm in a tantrum throwing

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1154189018447173832006-07-29T11:59:00.000-04:002006-07-29T12:03:38.446-04:00

I forgot to mention in my post yesterday that my amazing wonderful unbelievably awesome sister, who has been fundraising on my behalf through her job, brought me a rather large donation yesterday. This was collected one handful of change at a time. She runs a local convenience store and has added a bucket at the counter, where people have been donating their change from their purchases, generally

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22678325.post-1154148912821141052006-07-29T00:15:00.000-04:002006-07-29T00:55:13.060-04:00

I have been having those days lately. The crazy mood swing days. One minute I'm great, and the next I'm bawling. The crazy thing is that many of the teary moments have been good, happy tears.I cried when I found out the newspaper reporter wanted to do our story. All I could think was how many people would get to know Nova and his story through it. You all know my philosophy that we're here to

Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06383001784323104995noreply@blogger.com2