As the years pass, the anniversary of Jackson's birthday has become less painful and more of an actual celebration of his life. A big part of the transition comes as Carter (4) has begun to understand birthdays. He now helps pick the theme of the cake, and we talk about what Jackson might be doing in heaven. This may be the last year that Carter gets to make the decision alone since Cassidy (14mo) is developing quite an opinion on life. On what would have been Jackson's first birthday, we started a tradition of planting a tree and reading aloud some memories that we had written down before he died that we wanted to be sure didn't fade away with time. It is a true testament to the resilience of life as I browse through the birthday pictures of the last 5 years. Watch as our family grows before your eyes.
October 26, 2007
If that bump hadn't been in my belly, I'm not sure I could have made it through the year, much less the day.
October 26, 2008
Welcome to the birthday tradition, Carter Cook. Joy was back in our lives.
October 26, 2009
Carter is old enough to start helping.
October 26, 2010
First year to have a birthday cake in addition to a tree planting at our new house.
October 26, 2011
Welcome to the tradition, Cassidy Cook!
I think this year will always stand out for me. We were just getting ready to go out to plant the tree when I got the call from work that one of my patients was dying. It was an expected death, but it is never easy when a child is lost. I raced back to the hospital to be with the family. It was an extraordinarily difficult day, but it's just another way that Jackson's life has been able to help me know how to comfort another grieving family.
October 26, 2012
Birthday celebration, complete with a hex bug cake of Carter's choosing. We aren't sure if there are hex bugs in heaven, but if there are, Carter thinks Jackson probably likes them as much as he does.
Happy, Happy Birthday to my precious angel!
