Monday, April 30, 2012
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Robotics
Kinley and Tanner spent an entire morning making a Robo Family.
Yes, we like Fresca.
They are collecting all kinds of leftover boxes, cans, and bottles for future robots. I think they could make a full-size Transformer with what they have been stockpiling in Tanner's closet...
They are collecting all kinds of leftover boxes, cans, and bottles for future robots. I think they could make a full-size Transformer with what they have been stockpiling in Tanner's closet...
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Monday, April 23, 2012
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Another Diaper Post
I have a sneaking suspicion that I probably bore some of my friends and family to "tears" (get it? TEARS?) with my endless diaper shenanigans. Therefore, from now on I shall simply post a link to Teeny Tears whenever I have a new post over there.
I have a new post over there. "In The Beginning, Arah's Story"
I have a new post over there. "In The Beginning, Arah's Story"
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
For Love of the Pollard, Marsh, and Cowart Angels
As passionate diaper activists in their own right, Jana and Vanessa have officially joined the Teeny Tears team as my partners in crime behind the scenes. We are on an ambitious quest to Diaper the World.
Meet Vanessa!
Vanessa is an amazing mom to three special little angels: Adam, Cayla, and Marley. She had been looking for an economical and unique project to do in honor of her babies when she stumbled across our project through Utah Share and loved it. She immediately organized a sewing event and posted it on FB, inviting friends, family, and fellow angel mamas. They answered the call, packing along sewing machines, scissors, safety pins, and all the flannel they could carry!
These super sewers labored to create 412 diapers. 160 have been donated to photographers of NILMDTS of SLC and are not pictured. These diapers below (all 252 of them) have been donated to Jordan Valley Hospital, Pioneer Valley Hospital, Tooele Hospital, and the University of Utah Hospital. Some have been donated in memory of Adam, Cayla, and Marley Pollard. Some have been donated in memory of Evan and Isaac Marsh. Some have been donated in memory of MaRee Cowart. All beloved angels, gone too soon.
The 412 count does NOT include this exciting stack of leftover unsewn pieces!
Vanessa invited me via email to attend her grand sewing event and I was thrilled to go. It was a fantastic experience. (Some of the following photos were taken by me; the better ones were taken by Vanessa's talented photographer friend, Lara.)
Vanessa posted many wonderful things on the wall, including WHY she was doing the project (click to enlarge and read their beautiful story). Elsewhere she posted full sewing instructions for the crafting teams.
Great event, great people, great food, great feeling.
For the generous group of families that contributed in so many ways to the creation of these diapers, I post a thank you message from the bereavement coordinator for three of the hospitals that received these diapers:
"I am in receipt of the beautiful hand made colorful cloth diapers that were so lovingly made for our tiny patients.
I first want to express the gratitude of our families at receiving such a lovely handcrafted item. Please understand that they want to keep everything that their baby has worn, including the diaper. Suffering heartbreak and loss of such a tiny innocent baby is tragic but thoughtful little items like these help them understand that people care about them, their baby and what they are going through.
All of the items have been appreciated and I am overwhelmed by the thoughtfulness of this gift. Each and every diaper will be lovingly given to and used on an angel baby.
Giving to others is tremendously healing and brings a sense of comfort in knowing that we are serving humanity. As the chaplain at our facilities, I send thank-you’s from everyone as they marvel at the beautiful work. Again, thank you from the families who so appreciate what you are doing."
Meet Vanessa!
These super sewers labored to create 412 diapers. 160 have been donated to photographers of NILMDTS of SLC and are not pictured. These diapers below (all 252 of them) have been donated to Jordan Valley Hospital, Pioneer Valley Hospital, Tooele Hospital, and the University of Utah Hospital. Some have been donated in memory of Adam, Cayla, and Marley Pollard. Some have been donated in memory of Evan and Isaac Marsh. Some have been donated in memory of MaRee Cowart. All beloved angels, gone too soon.
Vanessa posted many wonderful things on the wall, including WHY she was doing the project (click to enlarge and read their beautiful story). Elsewhere she posted full sewing instructions for the crafting teams.
Great event, great people, great food, great feeling.
For the generous group of families that contributed in so many ways to the creation of these diapers, I post a thank you message from the bereavement coordinator for three of the hospitals that received these diapers:
"I am in receipt of the beautiful hand made colorful cloth diapers that were so lovingly made for our tiny patients.
I first want to express the gratitude of our families at receiving such a lovely handcrafted item. Please understand that they want to keep everything that their baby has worn, including the diaper. Suffering heartbreak and loss of such a tiny innocent baby is tragic but thoughtful little items like these help them understand that people care about them, their baby and what they are going through.
All of the items have been appreciated and I am overwhelmed by the thoughtfulness of this gift. Each and every diaper will be lovingly given to and used on an angel baby.
Giving to others is tremendously healing and brings a sense of comfort in knowing that we are serving humanity. As the chaplain at our facilities, I send thank-you’s from everyone as they marvel at the beautiful work. Again, thank you from the families who so appreciate what you are doing."
Monday, April 16, 2012
Courting
I took the kids to the tennis court to burn off some energy.
See? Kinley Kournikova hasn't suffered much from her missed tennis lessons.
Ok, fine. We may have a little work to do. But we have a good time.
The Unabomber chased stray balls.
Celebrity sighting!
This picture just makes me giggle...
See? Kinley Kournikova hasn't suffered much from her missed tennis lessons.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
The Lucky Leprechauns
A few years ago, one of Kinley's friends told her all about "leprechaun traps". Groooooan.
She and Tanner just had to try to catch one! Kinley and her benevolent spirit came up with the brilliant supposition that maybe if they built an apartment instead of a trap, the leprechauns could be persuaded to stay of their own accord.
It has paid off handsomely for them. The leprechauns always leave long newsy letters for my kids about how kind they are to provide them such luxurious accommodations, how refreshing it is to not find a trap, how sorry they are that they can't live in our house year-round, why they would make terrible, tricky roommates, etc.
Every year they spend hours making their little houses. They leave treats and notes for them. This year Kinley's house had an art gallery and a big screen television. I forgot to take a picture of the houses with candy scattered everywhere. Use your imagination.
Tanner left a Lego man to greet them. Oh, boy, you should have read what the leprechauns had to say about him! He looks so.... inanimate, but apparently he has a GREAT sense of humor! He's been invited to visit the leprechauns on their home turf over summer vacay.
Tanner created a separate outbuilding kitchen area.
This year, the leprechauns left growing foam animal pellets from the dollar store other side of the rainbow.
Until next year!
She and Tanner just had to try to catch one! Kinley and her benevolent spirit came up with the brilliant supposition that maybe if they built an apartment instead of a trap, the leprechauns could be persuaded to stay of their own accord.
It has paid off handsomely for them. The leprechauns always leave long newsy letters for my kids about how kind they are to provide them such luxurious accommodations, how refreshing it is to not find a trap, how sorry they are that they can't live in our house year-round, why they would make terrible, tricky roommates, etc.
Every year they spend hours making their little houses. They leave treats and notes for them. This year Kinley's house had an art gallery and a big screen television. I forgot to take a picture of the houses with candy scattered everywhere. Use your imagination.
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Rhodes Rolls Pizza Night
Our new favorite pizzas are little personal pizzas made on Rhodes Rolls.
The princess is an especially good dough roller-outer.
The mini monster likes getting in on the action too.
He has a good mentor.
Pizza. It's a family affair.
Rhodes Rolls Pizza:
Thaw rolls on counter or microwave 4 rolls on a plate for 60-90 seconds.
Roll out on counter (don't forget to dust the counter with flour so things don't stick)
Bake on 350 for 7-9 minutes
Top with sauce, cheese, and toppings.
Bake until crust is golden brown and cheese is melted. 15-25 miinutes, depending on how thin your crust is.
Crusts freeze very well as future pizza shells.
Rhodes Rolls Pizza:
Thaw rolls on counter or microwave 4 rolls on a plate for 60-90 seconds.
Roll out on counter (don't forget to dust the counter with flour so things don't stick)
Bake on 350 for 7-9 minutes
Top with sauce, cheese, and toppings.
Bake until crust is golden brown and cheese is melted. 15-25 miinutes, depending on how thin your crust is.
Crusts freeze very well as future pizza shells.
Friday, April 13, 2012
Needed
When Dex passed away so unexpectedly, other women’s twin pregnancies became my kryptonite. Seeing a happy expectant mother worrying about how she was going to juggle two healthy fullterm babies took me back to a time of anticipation and naivete. To my “before” life. Before I realized that babies die. Before I gained a NICU education against my will. Before thousands of gray hairs. I didn’t even know who I was anymore. Who was this new person who knew all about headstones? Who is this woman who checks to make sure her family members are still breathing ten times a night?
When my friend Kristin discovered that she was having twins, I felt like my life had become a cosmic joke. Not just any twins. Identical twin boys that shared a placenta. Why couldn’t they be fraternal? Why couldn’t they be girls? Why couldn’t it happen to some stranger that I didn’t care about? Why did it have to be my friend? My neighbor? When she called to tell me the news, I kept it together for the duration of our conversation, then cried for four days straight and stalked the happy congratulatory posts on her FB page like a woman possessed. I was never sure how many of my tears were shed because I was scared for her and how many because I felt so desperately sorry for myself. There were more of the latter variety than I care to admit.
I realized that I had but two choices: give up our friendship or get over it. I loved her too much for the first option, but the second seemed impossible. In the end my answer came: “but what if something happens to her babies and she needs you?” I couldn’t risk being emotionally unavailable, should she need my morbid expertise in a crisis. Maybe this was why we were friends at this time in our lives, after all. Maybe she needed me.
Throughout her pregnancy, we spoke often of her boys, her health, her treatment, her hopes and fears. In the beginning, I lied through my teeth, telling her “no, this isn’t that awkward”. She was uncommonly sensitive and compassionate without being pitying. She never said any of the awful, insensitive things I was anticipating from my time in the twin-loss chat boards. She always greeted me with joy and enthusiasm. In time I found myself being quite surprised that it truly wasn’t “that awkward.” She invited me to her baby shower and I had a wonderful time. The only gut-check moment that I had was when she opened a beautiful soft white blanket, exactly the same blanket that we buried with our Dex.
My friend managed to avoid the dangerous disease of the shared placenta that claimed the life of one of my sons and has challenged another. When her boys arrived a few weeks shy of full term, on the exact birthdate of my own twins, I couldn’t help but feel the deep irony of their timing. Interestingly, I found myself chuckling about it instead of crying over it. I wasn’t entirely sure how I felt about it, but I recognized that I wasn’t crippled with despair.
I am ashamed to admit that it took me four full months before I was ready to walk down the street and meet her boys in person. In the end, it was a spontaneous decision. When I laid my eyes on those beautiful little boys (and oh, yes, they were beautiful), I was struck by my sense of elation to see their sweet, healthy little faces, so similar to one another. I was also struck by the absence of envy within my own heart.
When Kristin showed up at my house a few days later with eight little diaper pieces ready to be sewn into four little diapers, they represented so much more than the love of a neighbor and friend toward my little project. They were pure white. They represented her friendship and compassion. They represented my own healing. They represented the purity of the Savior’s love. They represented the honest joy and relief that I felt for Kristin’s happy ending. As I held those little diapers in my hands, I knew that I was going to be ok. I knew that if I could survive a close friend having a healthy set of identical twin sons on my own sons’ birthday, I could face just about any twin situation. Probably. Somewhere along the way I realized that Kristin had been sent to me not because she needed me, but because I needed her. I needed her to help me stop living in fear and envy. I needed her to be that brave soul who welcomed me into the inner circle of her experience while intuitively allowing me the space that I sometimes needed.
Sometimes the miracle comes in the healing of a child’s broken body against all odds. Sometimes the miracle comes in the healing of a mother’s broken heart against all odds. Sometimes the miracles sneak up on you over time through the goodness of others. Sometimes the miracle is that special person who unknowingly leads you through the darkness with a hand so gentle that you don’t realize that the dawn has already come.
When my friend Kristin discovered that she was having twins, I felt like my life had become a cosmic joke. Not just any twins. Identical twin boys that shared a placenta. Why couldn’t they be fraternal? Why couldn’t they be girls? Why couldn’t it happen to some stranger that I didn’t care about? Why did it have to be my friend? My neighbor? When she called to tell me the news, I kept it together for the duration of our conversation, then cried for four days straight and stalked the happy congratulatory posts on her FB page like a woman possessed. I was never sure how many of my tears were shed because I was scared for her and how many because I felt so desperately sorry for myself. There were more of the latter variety than I care to admit.
I realized that I had but two choices: give up our friendship or get over it. I loved her too much for the first option, but the second seemed impossible. In the end my answer came: “but what if something happens to her babies and she needs you?” I couldn’t risk being emotionally unavailable, should she need my morbid expertise in a crisis. Maybe this was why we were friends at this time in our lives, after all. Maybe she needed me.
Throughout her pregnancy, we spoke often of her boys, her health, her treatment, her hopes and fears. In the beginning, I lied through my teeth, telling her “no, this isn’t that awkward”. She was uncommonly sensitive and compassionate without being pitying. She never said any of the awful, insensitive things I was anticipating from my time in the twin-loss chat boards. She always greeted me with joy and enthusiasm. In time I found myself being quite surprised that it truly wasn’t “that awkward.” She invited me to her baby shower and I had a wonderful time. The only gut-check moment that I had was when she opened a beautiful soft white blanket, exactly the same blanket that we buried with our Dex.
My friend managed to avoid the dangerous disease of the shared placenta that claimed the life of one of my sons and has challenged another. When her boys arrived a few weeks shy of full term, on the exact birthdate of my own twins, I couldn’t help but feel the deep irony of their timing. Interestingly, I found myself chuckling about it instead of crying over it. I wasn’t entirely sure how I felt about it, but I recognized that I wasn’t crippled with despair.
I am ashamed to admit that it took me four full months before I was ready to walk down the street and meet her boys in person. In the end, it was a spontaneous decision. When I laid my eyes on those beautiful little boys (and oh, yes, they were beautiful), I was struck by my sense of elation to see their sweet, healthy little faces, so similar to one another. I was also struck by the absence of envy within my own heart.
When Kristin showed up at my house a few days later with eight little diaper pieces ready to be sewn into four little diapers, they represented so much more than the love of a neighbor and friend toward my little project. They were pure white. They represented her friendship and compassion. They represented my own healing. They represented the purity of the Savior’s love. They represented the honest joy and relief that I felt for Kristin’s happy ending. As I held those little diapers in my hands, I knew that I was going to be ok. I knew that if I could survive a close friend having a healthy set of identical twin sons on my own sons’ birthday, I could face just about any twin situation. Probably. Somewhere along the way I realized that Kristin had been sent to me not because she needed me, but because I needed her. I needed her to help me stop living in fear and envy. I needed her to be that brave soul who welcomed me into the inner circle of her experience while intuitively allowing me the space that I sometimes needed.
Sometimes the miracle comes in the healing of a child’s broken body against all odds. Sometimes the miracle comes in the healing of a mother’s broken heart against all odds. Sometimes the miracles sneak up on you over time through the goodness of others. Sometimes the miracle is that special person who unknowingly leads you through the darkness with a hand so gentle that you don’t realize that the dawn has already come.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
My Unsung Hero
On Halloween night in 2003, I dashed to my front door with a candy-filled mixing bowl, ready to greet my first trick or treaters! I met instead my lovely new neighbor, Shannan, who had just moved in across the street, but didn't yet have hot water (and needed some). I foisted some candy into her pockets anyway. She was my only trick or treater that year.
In the nine ensuing years, we have each had our share of triumphs and heartbreaks, blessings and challenges. No matter how crazy life gets, I know that my tears and laughter are always welcome on her couch. We share a morbid sense of humor and she is my safe, beloved friend.
Shannan fills a unique and important role for Teeny Tears. She has been behind the scenes for months, quietly shipping all of our diapers for us. She suspected the need and generously offered her resources to The Cause. It has really allowed our project to expand to help many more families. I quite truly could not do this without her and am extremely grateful for her sacrifice.
Shannan is passion, grace, strength, determination, and dignity. For so many reasons, she is my unsung hero.
Shannan is the proud owner and operator of Jo-Sha Wipes.
"Originally developed as a natural way to clean yoga mats, Jo-Sha Wipes have gained popularity in hotels, spas, and with anyone looking for a quick and soothing way to freshen up. From cleaning hands and feet to fitness equipment, they cleanse and naturally disinfect while the subtle aromatherapy soothes the senses."
They. are. awesome. You should get some. For real.
So, I guess you could say that not only are these wipes deliciously, naturally, soothingly cleansing, but they are also proud sponsors of the cutest little bereavement diapers you ever did see.
In the nine ensuing years, we have each had our share of triumphs and heartbreaks, blessings and challenges. No matter how crazy life gets, I know that my tears and laughter are always welcome on her couch. We share a morbid sense of humor and she is my safe, beloved friend.
Shannan fills a unique and important role for Teeny Tears. She has been behind the scenes for months, quietly shipping all of our diapers for us. She suspected the need and generously offered her resources to The Cause. It has really allowed our project to expand to help many more families. I quite truly could not do this without her and am extremely grateful for her sacrifice.
Shannan is passion, grace, strength, determination, and dignity. For so many reasons, she is my unsung hero.
Shannan is the proud owner and operator of Jo-Sha Wipes.
"Originally developed as a natural way to clean yoga mats, Jo-Sha Wipes have gained popularity in hotels, spas, and with anyone looking for a quick and soothing way to freshen up. From cleaning hands and feet to fitness equipment, they cleanse and naturally disinfect while the subtle aromatherapy soothes the senses."
They. are. awesome. You should get some. For real.
So, I guess you could say that not only are these wipes deliciously, naturally, soothingly cleansing, but they are also proud sponsors of the cutest little bereavement diapers you ever did see.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
For Love of Carter, Sleepless in Seattle
When my friend Jana emailed me for the first time about making diapers, I learned that she was raising a TTTS single surviving former micropreemie. Naturally, I assumed that she had crossed paths with me in the TTTS Facebook groups. Not so! She found me on Pinterest and the rest of our commonalities are mere "happenstance". If I believed in "happenstance". And I don't really.
Last Christmas Jana donated stockings and gift bags to her local NICU. Teeny little diapers were right up her alley. Jana is actually combining two of her projects into one at the moment (and writes about it in a way that cracks me up). Check it out!
Jana and I have spent many (many) wee hours of the night online together brainstorming, obsessing over our mutual "flannel habit", and having grand diapering fantasies. I actually call their home the Teeny Tears Seattle Office. She has great visions for Washington! (Consider this a shameless call for volunteers and donors in the Great Northwest. She can use any and all donated flannel, tracing, cutting, or sewing assistance that she can get to take Washington by storm! For real!)
Jana is donating her very first set of 60 diapers to the angels born at St. Joseph's of Bellingham, Washington. They have been created in memory of Jana's son, Carter Garen Kimmel.
This is Carter's twin brother, Cohen. He and Carter would have fit in that teeny little diaper when they were born. He's Jana's right-hand baby in the project (as you can read on their blog).
All packed up and ready to go!
Last Christmas Jana donated stockings and gift bags to her local NICU. Teeny little diapers were right up her alley. Jana is actually combining two of her projects into one at the moment (and writes about it in a way that cracks me up). Check it out!
Jana and I have spent many (many) wee hours of the night online together brainstorming, obsessing over our mutual "flannel habit", and having grand diapering fantasies. I actually call their home the Teeny Tears Seattle Office. She has great visions for Washington! (Consider this a shameless call for volunteers and donors in the Great Northwest. She can use any and all donated flannel, tracing, cutting, or sewing assistance that she can get to take Washington by storm! For real!)
Jana is donating her very first set of 60 diapers to the angels born at St. Joseph's of Bellingham, Washington. They have been created in memory of Jana's son, Carter Garen Kimmel.
Monday, April 9, 2012
For Love of Arianna
I received an unexpected package of beautiful diapers in the mail last week from a group of 8-11 year old Activity Days Girls from the LDS Church in West Jordan, Utah. I was very touched. This is the letter that came with the diapers; it speaks for itself:
My dear young friends, let me assure you that your diapers are absolutely perfect and they they will be a blessing and a tender mercy to the families who receive them. Thank you.
When my friend Melissa J. donated fabric during her visit, one of the pieces was leftover fabric that she had used to make a quilt for Arianna, a friend's beloved daughter who passed away unexpectedly from SIDS several years ago.
When I received the diapers from the Activity Days girls, I immediately thought of Arianna and wanted to donate these 38 diapers to the University of Utah in Arianna's memory. The morning after I received the unexpected package, I emailed Melissa to ask her whether her friend would be ok with a donation in Arianna's name. What I did not know was that the morning I asked happened to be the day of Arianna's 4th angelversary.
I may not have known, but Someone Else always seems to know these things. Sending love to the entire Terhune family during this tender time of year.
My dear young friends, let me assure you that your diapers are absolutely perfect and they they will be a blessing and a tender mercy to the families who receive them. Thank you.
When my friend Melissa J. donated fabric during her visit, one of the pieces was leftover fabric that she had used to make a quilt for Arianna, a friend's beloved daughter who passed away unexpectedly from SIDS several years ago.
I may not have known, but Someone Else always seems to know these things. Sending love to the entire Terhune family during this tender time of year.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
