Today we celebrate Skyler Sue’s 3rd birthday. The tradition has always been to receive gifts on our birthday. But on Skyler’s birthday, she gave us the most amazing gift — her being born as our daughter. Skyler’s life was a great gift to us, her life was the reason we know what true LOVE is.

We are thankful for the love that you taught us, and for choosing us to be your family. We love you and miss you very much, and how much we wish we could hold you again. Even though your life was short, the gift of love that you left us, will always be a part of our lives.

Happy Birthday Sweat Pea and thank you for your wonderful gift!

My Dearest Skyler Sue,

Happy 2^nd Birthday my sweet princess. Today we don’t only celebrate the day of your birth, but we also celebrate the day you entered our hearts.

I miss you so much. I really wish I can kiss you right now and cradle you in my arms again.  Even though you are not physically with us, I know you will always with be a part of us. I still remember the first time I saw you and heard your voice – I was very happy and excited, because at that moment I know I have the greatest achievement in my life – and that is being your mother. I will always be proud to have you as my daughter. I love you Skyler Sue and thank you for choosing us to be your family.

Mother’s day 2012, Skyler Sue gained her angel wings. It’s been one year now since our baby girl became an angel. To celebrate Skyler Sue’s first angelversary, we decided to release 24 butterflies by her grave on Mother’s day. Releasing butterflies was a symbolic event to us. Just like butterflies, Skyler Sue also gained herself a pair wings and became one of God’s angels. Happy Angelversary Sweet Pea, we love you and miss you.

Today March 13, 2013,  is Skyler’s 10th month Angelversary. During this time, it’s always nice to look back and remind ourselves of the great things Skyler did for us. One of our greatest reminder is this beautiful letter written by Skyler’s Grandma Sue on her 1st birthday (February 9, 2013). We hope you can also find comfort through Grandma Sue’s words, especially to all other grieving families of angels out there.

February 9, 2013

 

My dear sweet Skyler Sue,

 

Today was your first birthday. I miss you so much, but I know you celebrated your birthday with all the other little babies who are angels like you. I can see you smiling and playing, and I know you are okay.

 

I spent today with you, too. I will never forget the first time I saw you – it was truly love at first sight. You were so tiny and getting used to the outside world was difficult. When the nurses told us you were having seizures, I just wanted to hold you close and let you feel the love that was already flooding my heart and soul for you, but you needed more than Grandma’s love on your first night. I will be forever grateful for the wonderful care you received from the doctors and nurses from the day you were born until the night you became one of God’s true angels.

 

Thinking back, I can’t believe a whole year has already passed since the day you were born. All I know for sure is that you changed me, you changed my heart forever, and I will never be the same. When I am sad or lonely, or had a rough day, or missing you so much that I can hardly stand it, all I have to do is close my eyes and you are there. Sometimes, I can almost feel myself holding you and cuddling you. Those times, first with your Daddy when he was a baby and then with you, were the best times of my life. I breathe you in and your sweet spirit heals me when nothing else can. I know God’s love because of you.

 

A few weeks ago, we had the most beautiful double rainbows and I thought of you. Now, all thoughts of goodness and beauty in the world take me to you, and I know without a doubt that you were one of God’s most perfect creatures because your purpose was pure love – to love and be loved.

 

I will forever miss your physical presence, my sweet Skyler Sue, but you are my heart now and your spirit lives in me in every waking moment. I am so incredibly blessed that I was chosen to be your Grandma. Our lives are forever intertwined and inseparable. I love knowing that; it brings peace and joy that I never knew before you came into my life.

 

So today was another blessing you gave me. Your birthday reminded me that every moment of your life was a celebration of love; and that your journey did not end when you became an angel. In fact, you are so full of God’s love that I cannot wait for the next time you come and let us know you are near…

 

>> Like the time when Mommy and Daddy could smell your baby lotion in Mommy’s office where you had never been;

 

>> Like the time Mommy and I were having dinner and one of your songs started playing in the restaurant;

 

>> Like the time your Great Aunt Marcia woke from a sweet dream about you and felt your fingers skip across her forehead;

 

>> Like when we come to visit you at your grave and the model airplanes are flying nearby…seeing you in your aviator hat isn’t so painful now… we can smile and see you there, too;

 

>> And like today, when Mommy, Daddy and I all came at the same time, without planning it, to visit you at your grave and to sing you Happy Birthday.

 

Tonight at dinner, Mommy, Daddy and I made a pledge to always celebrate your birthday together. You will be there, too – always.

 

And so, my sweet baby girl, thank you from the bottom of my heart, from every fiber of my being. In the three months and four days we were blessed to hold you and love you, you gave us a lifetime of memories and a certainty that God’s goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives… because of you.

 

Your first year was just the beginning; I know as sure as I have ever known anything, that our journey together will be the greatest joy of my life.

 

Rest now, sweet angel Skyler Sue, until next time…

 

All my love,

Grandma

When your child is born, naturally you look forward to years and years of birthday celebrations.  When Skyler was born and we eventually learned of her diagnosis, we were hopeful that we’d be able to spend a handful of birthdays with her.  At the very least, maybe we’d get 1-2 years worth of birthday celebrations with her.

Today is especially hard for us as a family.  To be without Our Little Angel and just left wondering, is not easy.  We will always celebrate her birthday for as long we live and remember the joy she brought us in such a short time.  We will watch her videos, look at her pictures, spend time in her bedroom, visit her grave and find every way we can possibly think of to celebrate her amazing life.

Here’s another tribute video for our little angel. Mom worked on compiling all her happy videos into one. It’s amazing how this brought  back so many happy  memories with our precious Skyler Sue. Happy Birthday Sweet Pea.

It’s been a little over two months now since our little angel passed away. Whenever we think of her, we remind ourselves of the great things Skyler taught us. She taught us to live everyday like it is our last, not waste a moment with those we love and appreciate all the things we have in life. And every day around us, we see little reminders of Skyler, including her beautiful little garden. Her garden continuously blooms and attracts wildlife.

Skyler’s garden attracted so many birds, that two weeks ago, we discovered this beautiful nest in one of our hanging plants. Inside the nest were two eggs. We later discovered the birds that made this nest were purple finches.

We made sure to be extra careful in watering the hanging plants. We also avoid walking through our front porch, so we don’t scare away the Mama bird. And a week after, we checked again to see three more eggs (five total).

And just three days ago, two eggs are already hatched. And yesterday, two more eggs hatched!

This is the first time we ever had a bird’s nest around our home. This is such a great blessing, and we can’t help but think of Skyler’s spirit attracting all these beautiful things, from endless blooms to new life in our yard.

Featured video: We took this video of Skyler last April 28, 2012, (wearing the Cardinals outfit her Grandpa Joe gave her). After taking a series of photos, Mom turned on the “nature sound feature” of her chair. Skyler was so focused on the birds hanging from her chair, almost seems like she knows this is the sound of birds chirping.

Latest update: All eggs are hatched, Dad took a short clip of  the baby finches, check it out here.

It’s been exactly one month since Skyler Sue passed away. She would be four months and 4 days old by now, we can’t help but wonder how she would be like if she was alive today. We cope with the grief of losing her by keeping ourselves busy everyday. When we’re not at work, we occupy ourselves by doing some house chores, driving around town, playing with Skyler’s canine sisters, or adding more to her little memorial garden.

In her garden, we planted two of the flowering plants that we received during her service (pink rose bush and the hydrangea). Some of Skyler’s hair were added in the roots of both plants. Mom commissioned an artist to work on Skyler’s garden slate marker. The vintage slate is a historic piece that was once used as roofing shingles for historical buildings and barns.  Grandma Sue added to her garden the cement bench with animal carvings. We got the cherub figurine to represent our little angel.  At night, her garden is well lit by three solar lights that we added – one is from her Godmother.

With all the things we added, her garden is still far from being finished. Many of the plants we planted are still too small.  Mom also want to upgrade the bird bath or even change it to a fountain. We also want to improve the feeder, make it more colorful and attract garden-friendly birds like hummingbirds and cardinals. With all the things we want to do, we’ll probably never going to stop working on her garden. But neither of us are complaining, since it’s a task we both enjoy.

Skyler’s garden has been a great therapy for us. Whenever we have that moment of sadness from missing her, we just look at her blooming garden and instantly feel joy.

If you need to describe an angel’s face, you don’t need to write a description, all you need is a link to this video.

Mom just found this “gold” in our huge archive of unpublished videos. This video was taken one week after Skyler’s gastrostomy surgery (3/20/12).

Somehow Mom thinks Skyler’s spirit guided her to create this video. The audio in this video is called “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring by Bach“. We originally didn’t know the title of this song, we just heard this song because of a Music CD we played during Skyler’s early NICU days.

Just a week after Skyler Sue passed away, we went to church and heard this song randomly played – it instantly reminded us of Skyler (and we still didn’t know the title of this song). And today, while Mom was working on converting this video, she decided to add music to it. The first music she clicked in her audio library was this song. The title was so fitting and it also matches the exact length of this clip.

Skyler Sue is really amazing, she always finds a way to communicate with us. And again, she made us aware that she is ALWAYS with us.

We would like to thank our family and friends who were able to attend Skyler Sue’s visitation and memorial.  We would also like to extend our gratitude to those who sent us kind thoughts and messages during our time of grief. Your presence, support and kind words have helped us cope during this difficult time. Also, a big thank you to everyone who contributed to Children’s Miracle Network in memory of Skyler. Your contribution doesn’t only give Skyler a wonderful memorial, but will also help other families going through difficult times. Lastly, to all those who followed Skyler’s blog and videos, we are forever grateful. It gives us great joy to not only be chosen as her family but also to share the lessons of life and love that Skyler taught us.

Below are two loving speeches that Grandma Sue & Dad delivered during her memorial service .

Grandma Sue’s Memorial Speech

Dad’s Memorial Speech

Skyler Sue is the love of our life. We are forever grateful for being blessed with a beautiful angel. She only lived for three months and 4 days, but her memories will last us a lifetime. Goodbye our sweet pea, little princess, our angel – precious Skyler Sue.