nineteen

I think when they measured Jack at Community South, they gave him an extra inch because of his amazing hair.

Sweet boy, I miss you more than words can say but you know that.

I found the audio clip I took of your heartbeat at my January appt with MH yesterday and admittedly, I sat and bawled. Such a great, strong, alive heartbeat. I bet you didn't have your knot at that point. I think you must've gotten it around the time I really started to feel fear, deep to my bones and very inner soul. I think that started in February. I wonder if God will tell me, when I get to heaven, what day that was. Questions of a momma's heart...

I can't believe that I didn't think to take clothing to the hospital for you...but so thankful that the caring nurses there put you in some clothes.

I want to put my finger in your hand and have you clasp your sweet little fingers around it. You'd be 4 and a half months old now...close to sitting up, definitely rolling over, and getting very excited and smiley when any of your big sibs came into view.

I feel sorta gypped by that today. :(

While visiting with my friend, Jen and her family the other day, I realized this. Her sweet baby girl, Leemarie (your intended wife) is almost 8 months old. When any of the big brothers or sisters came into her line of vision, she'd light up. She is precious. I had a nice little moment imagining what your face would be like when Levi would pretend that you were kicking him and falling over...belly laughs. Or when Molly would tickle you under your neck or when any of the 3 big ones would come and swoop you out of my arms...we will never know this side of heaven. raw.

I do that a lot. imagine.

Hope Thursday is good to you, sweet lamb. I can't wait to see you someday. (I'm in no hurry, my living children)
And to whoever reads this. God bless you this day...

Praising Him in this storm.
Will, Ethan, Melanie, Levi, Molly and Jack's mom,
Laurie

Sully

Sullivan

This little cutie pie is Sully. There is a long story associated with him and I am not at liberty to share.

Here's how I know of Sully.

I married David Young, who grew up in Danville, Illinois. He went to church at Calvary Baptist. He was friends with Sandy and Jamie R. When I married him in 1993, I acquired some great friends, though it's been way too long since I've seen Sandy. Jamie is her older sister. I did not know her while I lived in Illinois for 8 short months from December 1993-August 1994. We may have smiled at each other at church, and I may have met her but I've lost lots of brain cells since then. and I was struggling to keep them even then.

Jamie was this little guy's momma. He left this earth and went to Jesus on January 11, 2011.

Tomorrow, September 19, 2011, would have been his first earthly birthday. Instead, he celebrates and worships the Lord Jesus Christ. I'd like to think he's hanging with Jack Oliver. Showing him the ropes and in's and out's of Glory. You are missed, sweet Sully boy. I will get to meet his momma, Jamie, officially, sadly, joyously, this coming Tuesday and we will talk of our sweet boys. We share a sad bond but one that I know the Lord will use and has used.

To bring comfort, peace, JOY, and encouragement.

God bless you and give you big hugs, Jamie.

where to begin? well, let's begin at JOY...

not quite the family of 8 photograph I was hoping for but...

This picture is a part of our family history now. Oscar the Grouch, Toy Story, me in a wheelchair and Molly in her fairy princess outfit. David in shock, Will and Melanie mid-sob....And the shell of our 6th child, who flew right to the arms of Jesus...bypassing the pain and grief, toil and strife of life on planet Earth. Considering the events around his extremely fast delivery, I'd say we look rather nice...

We joined a club. In the words of some fine women who have come up along side me, us in this time...we joined a club that no one wants to be a part of.

I really want to blog about Jack Oliver Young's birth and death, but I'm far too tired, sapped, physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually tonight. well, this morning, since it IS 3 a.m. on Wednesday.

I have so much to share about how God has brought us comfort and strength in these horrifying days. But I leave you with one of the only family portraits we have all together with Jack.

Be prepared...for in the coming days, I will probably post a few pix...they are very tasteful and baby JOY looks amazing...as if he sleeps. and he does...I love you, little guy...but he knows that...and as your amazing big brother Will so eloquently stated at your burial today..."There is as much purpose in your death as there was in your short little life." Oh, how true...

the pain is almost unbearable tonight...thank you for your prayers, thoughts and outpouring.

I will be back later...

No snips, snails or puppy dog tails here...

Nat asked Nick to take a pic of her with her new guy and heck, even Nick takes amazing photos. Is this not THEE cutest picture you've ever seen?

it hurts me. but I'm so happy for NickNat on the arrival of Ryan. He is absolutely perfect!

all credit to Natalie, who works magic with her camera...

but honestly, one doesn't have to do much to capture the sheer adorability of this little fella.

Ryan is honestly one of the cutest babies I've ever laid eyes on...and what a blessing he is to the entire family. We are so excited to watch dolly boy grow.

and it's so fun to let someone else have the baby fun too!

Ol' Blue Eyes

Love digging thru the boxes upon boxes of pictures in my possession....

THIS is another one of my favorite Ethan shots.

He was such a beautiful boy, not that the other two weren't, but his eyes just would NOT quit. I am sucked into their deep blue...

This photo goes along with the one I posted of Will last week, in a bucket.

Hope your Sunny Thursday is delightful...I know mine has been so far...adios amigos!

Happy BIRTHday Molly!

2 months of age...sweet, sunburned girl!

Party like it's your birthday, little girl! (because it IS your birthday!!) You've come a long way, Baby!! The BIG one year old!! woohoo!

Just a few minutes after delivery. Such a bright-eyed beauty, right

off the bat (one of the benefits of going natural).

so funny to me how funkalicious babies are when they first "arrive"...big grey hands, splotchy skin, bloodshot eyes, sheer gorgeousness!

The girl had lungs right off the bat as well...she has made sure she is heard at every turn!

Happy First Birthday, Molly Christine

July 9, 2007

7 pounds, 7 ounces, 20 inches long

2:55 pm

Such a sweet girl! We are so blessed to have you in our lives!

cheeky!

is she really not this small anymore?

how I'd love to sniff her baby kitten head one more time...

whoa! how could someone so soft, sweet, and pink have such a temper?

familiar faces...darling daughters!

really?

Some stats about Molly on July 9, 2008...

She weighs 18.5 + pounds...that was as of early June. Not sure how tall BooBoo is...

She crawls like a wild woman...Gramma calls her the "Prancing Pony".

She DOES not walk..but I know of a baby boy in our church nursery who is 7 weeks younger than Mollsy...and HE WALKS. no pressure, baby.

She pops her pacifier out of her mouth as soon as she realizes that we are eating real food! She is a piglet!

She does this cute little jig with her hands when she hears music. Her little hips start to gyrate (haven't heard that word since Elvis was around, huh?)...and it's most adorable!

She is super duper smart...and super duper hands on! she has already figured out her birthday toys. I'm impressed!

She loves to be chased. There is really nothing sweeter than seeing her big brothers tell her they are gonna get her and she scoots off as fast as her little legs will crawl. The kids will crawl over her and she throws herself down on the floor, arms and legs sprawled out.

She is still such a good sleeper. Predictable, ready, lays down in her bed, gets her blankie up by her face and she will soothe herself to slumber. She sleeps right thru the night...yes, I'm bragging! :) edit: Hi. I typed this all out last night, before I went to bed. Guess who decided to get up in the middle of the night, talk, sing, drink a bottle, fuss in general? Birthday girl. I'm guessing she just wanted to celebrate her birthday a bit early with me...commemorate that it was just her and I early that July 9, 2007 morning and then again this year...it was kinda sweet but ironic that I had written about what a good little sleeper she is...

She jabbers just like Will did at this age. In fact, there are a lot of similarities between her & Willy Vanilli at this age...but that is for another day.

Molly was a BEAST compared to Pipsqueak Nora...lookit the size of her heed...it's like Sputnik. Yes, it did have it's own weather system...great noggin...heard it all. Funny how now the girls are more similarly sized!!

First Unofficial photo shoot

Mel and I took a bunch of pix earlier while Baby Kitten Head (as Aunt Becky refers to Molly) slept...it was like the Paparazzi had arrived with all the flashing and posing. She handled it really well though.

Once she wakes up more, I'm sure it will be more interesting...bear with me on all the sleeping baby pictures. I will try to pose her in some different ways (ha ha), just to make it more fun. She is so darn cute...a stinkin' cuddle bunny I tell ya.

I really plan to take a few pix of all FIVE of our kids together, and hope to be able to do that Wed. or Thurs...we have friends that are supposed to be coming over Wed...so I'll get pix of that too. Otherwise, that's it for me tonight. Enjoy the tiny baby foot pic...her feet are too too cute. Forgive the haphazard-ness of this post. G'night folks.