Sometimes I wish it hadn't happened to me. I was sitting on my sister's couch last weekend, and I looked in her kitchen and saw Ruby smiling down from the fridge. And then I thought, "Dangit, why does that have to be MY baby that people hear a sad story about?" It was much, much easier to hear the sad stories, than to BE the sad story.
Sometimes I wish it hadn't happened to me. When someone asks how many children I have...I wish I could happily reply "TWO!", and not get awkward when I am asked their ages. The words, "Our youngest would be turning 2 in January...but..." hurts, every time. Sometimes I don't feel like explaining to strangers, so I just leave out the "but" of the explanation. It was easier to reply "2 and a 1/2 and a newborn" with a big fat smile on my face!
Sometimes I wish it hadn't happened to me. When I look at pictures from when Ruby is here, I long for my old life. I long for the old me. There are times when I feel like a bystander in my own life. Times when I know something should make me laugh and or bring me joy...and I just can't feel it. I wish I would have been protected from the reality of just how fragile life is.
Sometimes I wish it hadn't happened to me. I find an image of myself holding my baby girl close to me. Her tiny hand resting on my arm, my shoulder, my face, or my own hand. I realize that I had her, she was real, I use to hold her and nurse her and love on her! I could touch her? It seems so foreign to me now. I walked into my house after a busy afternoon and looked at our family picture on the wall, and Ruby almost looked photo-shopped in. It was the strangest feeling. It just looked so odd to see my husband HOLDING Ruby.
Sometimes I wish it hadn't happened to me. I wish I didn't feel resentful towards mothers publicly complaining about their children. It's normal to complain about your children, yes!, but when I am aching for my own child to just BE, hearing about teething, pooping, messes, and sleepless children makes me a little crazy inside. Do you know how lucky you are? No. I really do not believe anyone can realize what they really have until it is gone. I know that I didn't. If I had known, OH, if I had know!... I would have never put that baby down. I would have taken a thousand more pictures. I would have taken video, after video, after video! I miss her mean cry. I miss changing diapers, and I miss sleepless nights. I miss well checks, and the 10 seconds of crying after a shot! I wish I had my two here, and that I was stressed about all the small things. I wish I was the mom complaining, because it sure beats having none of that to complain about.
Sometimes I wish it hadn't happened to me. But it did. It happened. It HAPPENED. My child, my daughter, my baby; died. She was here, and then she was not. In an instant, her heart stopped beating and just like that...she was gone.
Always? Always I am grateful she is mine. It would have been worse to not have had her at all. I am constantly amazed at her far reaching influence. It is a confirmation to me, that she did in fact live, and that she did in fact fulfill her purpose of touching the lives of those who learn about her. I am always, always thinking about her, trying to better myself, trying to become more like her. Ruby? She is always. She is always mine, always around me, and always will be. And that makes a little more do-able.
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For those of you that do not know me in "real-life", I feel like I need to explain something. This blog use to be a place for me to record the stories of my family. Since Ruby came, and went, it has slowly become a blog about her. For right now, it does not feel right to post my feelings about her, and then the next day blog about a fun vacation or a TV show, etc. I have gotten a few emails from sweet people wishing I would feel happiness at some point. I want you guys to know that I DO! We are happy most of the time. We sing, we dance, we laugh! A LOT! We have spent a lot of this year traveling, spending time as a family, and finding joy in the things that we have around us. For some reason, when I am feeling down, this is my place. I feel like Ruby is known on these pages, and it feels appropriate to chronicle the continuation of her legacy here and also my journey of grief. This, oddly, is my safe place.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Sometimes and Always.
Posted by
Ani
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4:16 PM
30
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Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Ruby Jane Wristbands
Posted by
Ani
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10:20 AM
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Sunday, September 16, 2012
Forgetting for an instant
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Ani
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11:57 PM
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Saturday, August 11, 2012
Day Seven-Serve
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Ani
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7:00 AM
4
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Friday, August 10, 2012
Day Six- Play, really play with your kids
Monday, August 1, 2011
Perpective
My heart is literally aching right now to have my old life back, but with my new perspective. What I would give to have my whole family home on a rainy Sunday morning, making breakfast, and delivering chocolate milk on a fancy platter to my little Kate. I want to forget about the dirty dishes, and get down on the floor with my girls and play, play, and play. I would be thankful for that cheap carpet, because it beats none at all. I dream of the day that I get to wake up in my bed, and hear BOTH girls waking me up early in the morning. I will make them whatever they want for breakfast, and turn the music up loud and dance while I make their pancakes (because I know that is what Kate will want.) I will get them dressed and spend time gently combing and doing their hair, and breathing them in. I won't rush them. What is the rush about anyway? I'll load them in their carseats, and give them kisses while I buckled them in. I'll be happy listening to Disney songs as we drive to Target, or McDonald's, or the park. I'll chase them, and tickle them, and push them on the swings. We will spend our evenings playing outside, and cooking dinner together in the kitchen. Bath time will be long and drawn out, just like it should be. Bedtime will have lots of cuddling, and a few bedtime stories read slowly while doing the appropriate voices for Papa Bear, Mama Bear, Baby Bear, and Goldilocks. Matt and I will fall into bed exhausted together, and thank Heavenly Father for this new perspective on life and what is truly important and ask that we might be able to always remember.

Posted by
Ani
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6:00 AM
7
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Thursday, August 9, 2012
Day Five!
Posted by
Ani
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11:17 AM
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Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Day Four- Enjoy a "Ruby Sunset"
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Ani
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7:00 AM
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Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Day Three- Share Ruby's Story
In January, a wonderful couple flew here from Minnesota, to film Ruby's Story. It was the most generous gift I have ever been given. To have her story recorded in a way that we can share it easily, has been amazing. We are truly so blessed and thankful to have new friends like Jami and Adam Olson, that we would have never met, had Ruby not brought us together. You can check out more of their amazing work here: http://www.nels-ole.com/
Please feel free to share this video on your Facebook Page, Blog, Twitter, etc. The more people that see it, the more people will know about my Ruby and Organ Donation, and I think that could change some lives.
Posted by
Ani
at
7:00 AM
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Monday, August 6, 2012
Day Two: Family Night
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| Dance Party! |
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| Sisters on Valentines Day |
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| Fun making a treat together |
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| Little Love Bug. |
Posted by
Ani
at
8:00 AM
3
thoughts
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Day One: Talk about Organ Donation
If you are from California, register here: http://register.donatelifecalifornia.org/RubyJaneTaylor
Out of state: www.donatelife.net
Posted by
Ani
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4:22 PM
4
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Remembering Ruby
Posted by
Ani
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4:11 PM
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Saturday, August 4, 2012
When Enough, is enough.
I thought that losing our daughter would be the only trial we would possibly be given this year. I thought that sounded like enough, and we would be busy trying to get through this very painful time in our lives, and given a little slack with the trials for awhile.
4 months ago, Matt called me in the late afternoon, and let me know that he had been let go from his job. The company he had worked for for the passed 5 years was going under, and he had more or less expected this was going to happen a couple of weeks prior. Because he was let go on such good terms, there was no resentment, and I was surprised that the news did not upset me or him more. I did think, "Wow, ok, here we go...another trial...if we can survive losing a child, this should not phase us."
A couple weeks previous, my best friend, and one of the few that have really gotten me through these months, told me she was moving to Texas. I had a few conversations with my Heavenly Father, trying to understand His timing, and could I please have a different trial??? But, guess what? You gotta be careful for what you ask for! I was at Target, shopping for Lemonade Stand supplies a few weeks later. My sister (my rock, and best friend) called me and just as I was reaching for the Country Time, and told me her husband had been offered a promotion, and that they would need to move. I thought I had handled it pretty well, until I got home, and was mixing the lemonade, and wondered why it was brown. I had bought Iced Tea!
Enough is enough, right?
As the blows keeping coming in, I have dealt with them in the best way I know how. I am pretty good at controlling my emotions. I have a fairly good relationship with my Father in Heaven, and I feel like I was able to talk these things out with Him, and feel peace eventually.
But it seems like every time I feel peace, and an understanding, then something else happens to rock my core.
A sweet little girl named Halle, that I had been following, just passed away from cancer. Another sweet UCLA child, Emily, passed away after a courageous fight, and left behind a very sad and grieving family. And then I found out that Ruby's little friend from the hospital was STILL waiting for his liver transplant, and had taken a turn for the worse. His pictures, and his condition, were so similar to Ruby's last little while here, that is evoked emotions I had not dealt with for a long time. I had hoped to be his donor, and had been in contact with the Living Donor Team. I thought that maybe this was just part of my story. Maybe I was meant to donate to him. Maybe the reason I couldn't be Ruby's donor, was because of this little boy. It was starting to make sense in my heart, and I was hopeful. And then this passed week, he joined Ruby in Heaven. After a very long and hard battle, he was just too tired. I plead to know why these things happen to babies. If he was going to return Home, then why did he have to endure all of that?
Yesterday morning I was woken up with a phone call, letting me know that our very dear friends had lost their baby, just a few short weeks away from her due date. My heart, which is usually very well guarded, was seized with pain and anguish.
Having been through the worse days of my life, I know all the pain, and suffering, and torture that comes. It is horrible to know that all those mama's and daddy's hearts will feel like mine did, and still does. I wouldn't wish it on anyone, in fact, since I know my heart and soul proved they could survive the torture, I wish I could just take it for them.
Last night I visited the temple. I was consumed in thoughts about Ruby, and these other precious babies. Tried to make sense of my year, and why I have been stripped of my child, and soon after the remnants of a normal life. I tried to make sense of it all. I asked for understanding. I asked for guidance. And I kept just thinking that it just did not make sense. I could not understand His plan.
This morning as I was vacuuming, it occurred to me that we are not suppose to understand His plan for us. We are suppose to have faith and trust and hope in Him, and that he has a divine plan for us. How could we possibly make sense of a plan that is so perfectly tailored for each of us. We have been given exactly the trials that Heavenly Father has sent our way. I think that I am slowly, being molded and refined with each trial that comes, into the woman that my Father wants me to be. He knows what I can handle. He knows the worth of my divine nature, and he knows how far I need to be stretched to become the person He knows I am, the daughter He created and loves. It doesn't lessen the pain, but what that knowledge allows moments of peace between the anguish.
As I vacuumed my way down the hall, I thought, "Who am I to tell Him, 'enough is enough'!?" I am working on my faith. I am working on my trust. And I am working on my HOPE. Because that is all we can really do when nothing seems to be making any sense.
Understanding the reason for our trials will most likely not come in this life time. But I am confident that our Father in Heaven will make up for losses, and bless us with more than we can imagine.
Posted by
Ani
at
9:02 PM
23
thoughts
"What do I say?"
I have been asked for advice, a few times, about how to handle, what to say, and what to do for someone after they have lost a loved one. I for sure don't have it figured out, but I can share with you, what worked for me.
1. Talk about the person. The most important thing for me was to feel like Ruby is remembered. Hearing people talk about her, makes my day.
2. Use their name. I love to hear Ruby's name. I miss out on saying it a million times a day, like I say, "Kate". I am excited to use her name, and love it when others do as well.
3. Don't be afraid. Being afraid, and not saying anything at all, is worse than saying the wrong thing. I appreciate a family that I always make eye contact with at church, and they always give me a warm smile. It makes me feel like they know I am hurting, and they want to acknowledge that.
4. Be honest. I loved it when someone told me exactly how they felt. I remember a friend telling me how she really struggled with her testimony for awhile, because of what happened to Ruby. It helped me to realize that Ruby had a really strong impact on not only us, but the people around us. It made me feel more comfortable sharing how I felt, when other people told me how they felt.
5. Share how that person has touched you. Getting emails about an exact example of a way that Ruby has changed their life was the most meaningful things to me. Knowing that my friend put down her laundry, and decided to play with her children that afternoon because of my baby, meant the world to me to hear.
6. Don't minimize the pain. Yes, time is helpful, but it doesn't make it ever go away. I think time changes those left behind, and enables them to better cope with a loss, but doesn't heal it. Hearing, "Oh, you will be fine in a year!!" doesn't make me feel better. Don't say, "Well, you will have another child." Or, "At least you don't have a lifetime of memories to be sad about." What most people say is, "She is in a better place."Any loss is a great one. A miscarriage, a stillborn, a toddler, or a grandpa. There is always pain and sorrow involved. When people minimize the loss, it had made me feel like I should not be mourning so much.
7. Everyone grieves differently. Allow others to grieve how they are comfortable. No one can tell you how to grieve. People cry at different times. Emotions are triggered by different things. People take different amounts of time to mourn, and be depressed, etc.
8. Don't judge. One of the hardest part of grieving for me has been to feel like I am being watched. I remember the first time I laughed out loud after Ruby passed away, and I instantly felt guilt, and looked around to see who had seen me. I might be broken and crying on the floor in the morning, but I get my self together, and can be a playful mom an hour later. It doesn't mean I have healed. It doesn't mean I have forgotten, or moved on. It just means I am having an ok moment! When I have had a break down, I have appreciated a little pat on my back, and a tissue discretely handed my way.
9. Don't ask, just DO. Yes, I needed my bathroom cleaned and I was too tired to even lift my arm, but if you ask what you can do, I wouldn't have said, "Please clean my bathroom." It was more meaningful when my friend showed up, stormed through my protest, and cleaned my bathroom and then left. Drop off dinner with out asking what they want. They only thing they want is their loved one back, thinking about dinner is the last thing on their mind. Play with their kids. Mow their lawn. Replant flowers.
10. LOVE. If you love someone, and expect nothing in return, you can't go wrong. There has been so many acts of love and kindness to our family. It was physically and emotionally impossible to thank everyone, and express how much we appreciated them. But I knew that they didn't expect that, and it made the acts even more appreciated. Love is the only thing that can lessen the pain, and by expressing your love with acts and words of kindness, you will make a difference.
(I will eventually post a more detailed guide of what to do for a family in the hospital, and other things that are hard to know, unless you have been through it. )
Posted by
Ani
at
2:05 PM
20
thoughts
Friday, July 13, 2012
Shhh!
This is Ani's sister, Danielle. :)
You may remember that last August, I asked for you all to send me an email explaining how Ruby Jane has changed your life. My plan was to compile everyone's messages into a book and give it to Ani and Matt, on August 12, 2012- the year anniversary of Ruby's passing.
I am almost finished with the book and will be sending it in to be printed soon- but I wanted to give one last opportunity for people to email me- if you have any thoughts that you would like to be included in the book.
You can email me at: dne29@hotmail.com or message me on facebook: Danielle Bewsey Edmonds.
It has been such an honor and privilege to read through your emails/messages and see the way that Ruby has touched peoples lives and hearts. August 12th is going to be a hard day- but I hope that Ani and Matt will be able to feel peace, knowing how many people Ruby has influenced. I sure miss that baby girl.
Thank you!
(please do not leave a comment on this post- if you have any questions, feel free to email me at the address above)
Posted by
Ani
at
11:16 PM
0
thoughts
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Missing our Ruby
Posted by
Ani
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9:48 AM
23
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