I want to send a very special birthday wish to little Colin Stuart. Colin is the son of our friends the Stuart family and he would have been one year old today. We know just how bittersweet today will be for the Stuart family and we hope that all of you will send a prayer there way. They have been very instrumental in helping us get through our grief and personally has helped me to understand grief from a males perspective. If it wasn't for Steven (Colin's daddy) I don't know where I would be. Thank you for all you have done Steven, you are a great friend! I hope and pray your day becomes what you hope for it to be. Know that we are here for you if you need anything.
So again, if you can please send a prayer or well wish to the Stuart family today and make sure to wish little Colin a very happy birthday. Happy birthday Colin! I know that you and my precious little Zayana Grace are the best of friends in Heaven!
From your friends on the west coast,
Ernesto, Christina, Zayana Grace, & DeJuan Gabriel Mendez
If you would like please check out Steven blog. It can be found under our "Blog List" on the right.
Monday, January 2, 2012
More Zayana Videos
Good morning my little Munchers,
Its another day in a new year and I still miss you lots. I know that this feeling will never go away and I actually hope I never will. I know that as time passes the pain will be easier to deal with, it more of incorporating it into my normal everyday life. Mommy is here to and I can tell she is thinking of you. She always has this look on her face when shes thinking of her precious little Z. She also says hi. I just wanted you to know that I am posting more of your videos for all the world to see. I want everyone to know you and just how special you really are. Take care mija. Daddy loves you and miss you everyday!
Always and Forever,
Your loving Daddy
These videos and others can be found on our YouTube page "Mendez Family TV". You can also click on link on the right under the label "Links".
Its another day in a new year and I still miss you lots. I know that this feeling will never go away and I actually hope I never will. I know that as time passes the pain will be easier to deal with, it more of incorporating it into my normal everyday life. Mommy is here to and I can tell she is thinking of you. She always has this look on her face when shes thinking of her precious little Z. She also says hi. I just wanted you to know that I am posting more of your videos for all the world to see. I want everyone to know you and just how special you really are. Take care mija. Daddy loves you and miss you everyday!
Always and Forever,
Your loving Daddy
These videos and others can be found on our YouTube page "Mendez Family TV". You can also click on link on the right under the label "Links".
January 1, 2011
Dearest Munchers,
Today a year ago a miracle happened. Today a year ago after 9 days of wondering if you would live to see another day we were able to take you home. I remember it so clear. Today a year ago we had so much hope and joy. We just knew that you were going to beat all the odds. We knew what you were capable of. Today a year ago was the beginning of the best 4 months of my life. It was you, me, and your mommy together making the best of everything. I'm sorry that we were stressed and tired and didn't know exactly what to do. But as always you taught us what to do and we became true parents that night. That was the first time we were on our own with you. At time I wonder how we made it and then I think of how far you came in those 9 days. You taught us how. Thank you mija for all of your wonderful gifts. Thank you for being my daughter. I love you and miss you lots Zayana Grace! Happy New Year mija!
Always and Forever,
Your Loving Daddy
Below are slideshows for the 27th to the 31st. You can also click on the link to the right that will take you to all of the photo albums on Picasa.
Today a year ago a miracle happened. Today a year ago after 9 days of wondering if you would live to see another day we were able to take you home. I remember it so clear. Today a year ago we had so much hope and joy. We just knew that you were going to beat all the odds. We knew what you were capable of. Today a year ago was the beginning of the best 4 months of my life. It was you, me, and your mommy together making the best of everything. I'm sorry that we were stressed and tired and didn't know exactly what to do. But as always you taught us what to do and we became true parents that night. That was the first time we were on our own with you. At time I wonder how we made it and then I think of how far you came in those 9 days. You taught us how. Thank you mija for all of your wonderful gifts. Thank you for being my daughter. I love you and miss you lots Zayana Grace! Happy New Year mija!
Always and Forever,
Your Loving Daddy
Below are slideshows for the 27th to the 31st. You can also click on the link to the right that will take you to all of the photo albums on Picasa.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
The New Year
Here we are into 2012 and it still does not feel different. I am hoping that 2012 will be a better year. I already know it is. Chris and I are having a quite night at home thinking about the last year and our future in the next. Its been a somber night, quite a bit of sadness, and a lot of soul searching. We miss our precious Zayana Grace and look forward to our son DeJuan Gabriel. Holding each other, crying, feeling on momma's belly feeling DJ move. It was a good New Years Eve.
We hope everyone is having a good New Years Eve. We are thinking of everyone tonight, especially the ones who have also lost thier little ones. We hope that your 2012 is a better year than 2011. We love you all.
Mommy and daddy miss you so much baby girl. We hope that you can help mommy, daddy, and lil brother DJ have a good 2012. We love you Munchers!
Friday, December 30, 2011
December 24, 2010 Slideshow
Here is the slideshow for the 24th, Zayana's second day on this Earth. She had lots of family come and visit her this day and while each person came in with low spirits, they left feeling full of hope. I swear that she is smiling in some of the pictures! Love you Munchers!
December 23, 2010 Slideshow
The Christmas season is now offically over and things are starting to get back to "normal" for Chris and I. We had some tough times over the holiday week, especially on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve. As promised here are Zayana's pictures from when she was born. I will be posting more pictures and videos later.
Hope you enjoy this slideshow. Click on it and it will take you to the Picasa Web Album. Mommy and daddy miss you lots Munchers!
Sunday, December 25, 2011
December 24th and 25th, 2010
On December 24th I was able to compose myself and finally remember to record some video of our Z. I remember this day specifically because she was more awake on this day than the 23rd and more responsive as you will see in the video. On this day we also had our phone consult with the geneticist. I will to my dying day remembers that conversation. This is when we were told that Zayana Grace did have Osteogensis Imperfecta and that her diagnosis was dire. We were told that the likely hood of her survival was minimal and that we probably did not have long with her, maybe a couple of days. As you can believe it was very heartbreaking. I remember one specific conversation with the doctors where I asked if we would be able to take her home. Their response was "Lets take it one day at a time." Hearing that my heart just sank. Chris and I were just devastated. We sat there and cried for what seemed like a couple of hours thinking that the miracle we just received was going to be taken away.
In the midst of our heartbreak we decided to try to compose ourselves and be strong for our little girl. We wiped away the tears and walked back over to her crib. It seemed like one of the longest walk of our lives. And to hour surprise our little Z was awake and she seemed to know that we needed to be consoled, that we were the ones that needed to be picked up. I remember the look she gave us when we got to her crib. It was magical. She looked at us as to tell us, "I'm OK mom and dad, things will be fine." From then on we just knew that no matter what was said of our Z she would perceive and fight till the end. From then on we had hope.
On the 24th Zayana had lots of visitors. All of them coming in with glum hopes and prepared to say their goodbyes. They left with uplifted hearts and more hope than they could imagine. This was her gift to everyone that Christmas. My dad was a big recipient of her gift. I remember just how devastated he was when I told him the news that she may not live long. I had never seen him like this before, even when his father passed away. He just could not believe that his precious granddaughter Zayana Grace was on this Earth for a limited time. He was one of the first people I brought in to see Z. In the video you can see just how happy she made him. She gave him the gift of hope. Thank you little Zayana Grace for giving your grandpa this gift.
Here is Zayana Grace's second day on this Earth.
In the midst of our heartbreak we decided to try to compose ourselves and be strong for our little girl. We wiped away the tears and walked back over to her crib. It seemed like one of the longest walk of our lives. And to hour surprise our little Z was awake and she seemed to know that we needed to be consoled, that we were the ones that needed to be picked up. I remember the look she gave us when we got to her crib. It was magical. She looked at us as to tell us, "I'm OK mom and dad, things will be fine." From then on we just knew that no matter what was said of our Z she would perceive and fight till the end. From then on we had hope.
On the 24th Zayana had lots of visitors. All of them coming in with glum hopes and prepared to say their goodbyes. They left with uplifted hearts and more hope than they could imagine. This was her gift to everyone that Christmas. My dad was a big recipient of her gift. I remember just how devastated he was when I told him the news that she may not live long. I had never seen him like this before, even when his father passed away. He just could not believe that his precious granddaughter Zayana Grace was on this Earth for a limited time. He was one of the first people I brought in to see Z. In the video you can see just how happy she made him. She gave him the gift of hope. Thank you little Zayana Grace for giving your grandpa this gift.
Here is Zayana Grace's second day on this Earth.
On the 24th we also had Zayana baptized.
After a long day, Christmas came and we were a bit tired. But we were still very thankful that our little Z was still here and this is when Chris and I started our tradition of singing "Happy Birthday" to Zayana at 12:47am of every morning she was here. We did not get it on video but here we are waiting to sing to her.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)