Christmas 2009 - The Laney Extended Family

Sunday, December 27th, 2009 - We went to church in the morning and listened to two beautiful talks given by my brother Jared and his wife Megan. After church my mom had all of my dad's family over.

Samantha wearing her new outfit from Great Grandma Laney.

Laney holding her second cousin, baby Noah. Noah and his parents, my cousin Debbie and her husband Josh lives in Utah so this was the first time we have met Noah and Josh.

Christmas 2009 - Grandma and Grandpa Laneys

Saturday, December 26th, 2009 - Grandma Laney standing next to the Christmas tree.

Grandma Laney with her grand kids - Evan and Logan Felsheim and Laney and Samantha Ringhand.

Grandma opening her presents from Laney and Samantha.

Samantha, Laney, Evan and Logan with the brand new pillow pets.

Jared with his wife Megan looking at their new video camera.

We had a very nice time at Grandma/pa Laney's house. After we were finished opening all of our presents, Grandma and Grandpa Baur, Sara and her friend Nick, Jameel and Barb and Barry all joined us for Christmas Dinner.

Christmas Day - Grandma and Grandpa Ringhands

All of the cousins waiting outside the room waiting for the invitation to come in to see all of the presents. Starting with Emily Bender in the front, then Samantha Ringhand, Sarah Bender, Eddie Bender, Thomas Papke, Laney Ringhand and way back in the back with Grandma Ringhand...Jackson Papke. The youngest of the bunch.

My beautiful little girl standing next to all of her new cleaning supplies. She talked about getting cleaning supplies for Christmas all year. Her hot pink dirt devil is awesome. There is nothing like giving a child a real vacuum that actually picks up dirt.

All of the little girls got feather Boas and masks for Grandma and Grandpas trip to New Orleans this year. They look so fabulous when they wear them. I must say...there has not been a day that has gone by since Christmas that I have not found feathers throughout the house.

Sarah Bender and Laney playing with their DS.

Christmas Morning at our home

The bracelet Lance gave me when Parker was at Good Sam. It had one charm engraved with Parker's NICU number.

After Parker's passing, my mom found out that you can get jewelry made from his hand prints and foot prints. We had four charms created for my bracelet. Both hand prints and both footprints. We also had a gold tie take made for Lance of one of his hand prints, a silver pendent for my mom and a gold pendent made for Lance's mom. The jewelry turned out so beautiful.

For Christmas, Lance surprised me with four more charms. Three silhouettes with each of my kids names and birth dates as well as one locket. I put pictures of the girls in the locket.

Here is the bike that Mom-mom found for me. She gave it to Lance's dad to work on. Paul was able to completely restore it and now it looks brand new. It still needs a new basket on the front of it and then it will be perfect. This will give me something to ride when we take bike rides with the girls this summer.

The girls were given lee press-on nails in their stockings. Their hands looked so cute with their french tips. However, when we went to grandma's house that afternoon to open presents...they couldn't open their presents with their nails..so we had to take them off 30min. after I had put them on.

Both of the girls were given sweet little bracelets from Lance and I. I think they are already developing a love for jewelry like their mama.

By the debris in the background you may be able to tell that I completely over did Christmas this year. I think I was dealing with the stress of Parker by spending all of our money. I think I also felt guilty for spending all of that time at the hospital with him and not as much time with the girls. It's a good thing I started back to work today. (December 30, 2009)

Laney giving Samantha a big old hug after receiving a gift from her that she purchased at the Santa shop at Laney's school. I let both of the girls do the shopping this year for each other, Lance and I, and all of the grandparents. They really put a lot of thought and effort into each gift they chose. They were so cute when they watched others open the gift that they picked out.

Christmas Eve Morning with Mom-Mom (2009)

My friend Santa Clause with Lance's Grandmother (Mom-Mom).

Cousins Thomas and Jackson telling Santa everything they want for Christmas.

Second cousin, baby David sleeping soundly in Santa's arms.

Laney and Samantha enjoying every minute of sitting on Santa's lap.

Samantha and I have seen Santa a lot recently in plain close, so she knows "The Real Santa Clause" at least that is what she tells me.

The girls had a very good time on Christmas Eve morning at Johnnie-Lynn's home. This was a special party just for Mom Mom's great grandchildren. There were toys everywhere.

Our Family Newsletter 2009

Our 2009 Christmas/New Years Letter

For those of you that haven’t heard, 2009 has been quite a year for our family. The year started off with me entering the MBA program at Xavier University. We were getting comfortable in our new routine when we found out we were expecting a baby boy. Although unexpected, we were excited for the news. I naively thought I could do it all, work, school and have a baby.

Everything changed drastically when I began experiencing problems with the pregnancy. My doctors put me on bed rest after discovering I was leaking amniotic fluid. After ten weeks of bed rest, I went into labor and there was nothing anyone could do to stop it. On July 28, 2009, Parker was born weighing 2 pounds 1 ounce. He was three months early.

Parker was a blessing from the very beginning. He was adorable and had such a great personality. I was able to keep a blog of the NICU experience. This was the best way to communicate the unstable status of Parker to our family and friends.

Parker fought a good fight, but was ready to go Home on October 30, 2009. Ironically, he passed away on his due date. Lance and I felt very blessed during the three months we spent with our son. I was able to take a leave of absence from work and Lance’s employer was extremely flexible. We visited with Parker at the hospital every day. Before the flu season the girls were also able to visit their brother.

We continued to feel blessed during the downslide of Parker’s health. At this time we would like to thank everyone for their prayers, thoughts and letters of sympathy.

After Parker’s passing we strongly felt the urge to give back. We wanted to do something nice for both Good Sam and Children’s Hospital. Lance and I became passionate about donating mirrors to be used in the NICU and were ecstatic with the donations we received on Parker’s behalf. These mirrors will be used by NICU parents as they hold their little ones. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! We can not thank you enough for your donations.

As if we haven’t had enough of hospitals, Lance had a total knee replacement on December 4th. His rehabilitation will take about six weeks. Lance and I both will be returning to work after the first of the year and I will be going back to school in July.

This year was also a big year for the girls. Laney started Kindergarten and absolutely loves it. She is such a big girl. Samantha is cute as ever. I have really enjoyed the time I have been able to spend with her at home.

Our family is very happy to say goodbye to 2009 even though we learned so much. We have learned how important our family and friends are to us. We have also learned that some things are just completely out of our control and we need to rely on The Lord. We were taught patience, compassion, tolerance and that our lives can change in an instant. Most of all we learned that the biggest blessings often come in the smallest packages.

With Love – Lance, Lindsey, Laney and Samantha Ringhand

Donations

They may see the good you do as self serving - continue to do good; They may see your generosity as grandstanding - continue to be generous; They may see your caring as weakness - continue to care; For you see in the end, it is between you and God, It never was between you and them anyway

Several people have been asking if they can still contribute to the Parker's Mirrors project. The project has been completed. I would suggest donating to The March of Dimes. http://www.marchofdimes.com/

Thanks again for the tremendous support you have shown to me and my family.
With love,
Lindsey

We are ready!

Laney and Samantha dressed in their new jump suits and sitting next to their brand new "pillow pets". They were really excited this morning to open their first present. They said, "We get to open a present and it's not even Christmas yet!"

Today is Henry the elf's last day in our home. The girls really loved having him around this month.

The cookies left on the mantel for Santa.

This evening the girls sprinkled their reindeer food around our yard. The glitter will shine to show the reindeer where we live. The oats are for the reindeer to eat while Santa is inside our home putting our presents under the tree!

After the girls finished spreading around the reindeer food we put cookies out for Santa. The girls then blew kisses to their elf, Henry. Henry will be returning to Santa tonight and will not return until next year. The girls were super excited as they went to bed. They kept saying, "This is the best day ever!"

Christmas in Heaven

I see the countless Christmas trees around the world below
with tiny lights like Heavens stars reflecting on the snow.

The sight is so spectacular please wipe away that tear
for I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear
but the sound of music can't compare with the Christmas choir up here.

I have no words to tell you of the joy their voices bring
for it is beyond description to hear the angels sing.

I know how much you miss me, I see the pain inside your heart
for I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I can't tell you of the splendor or the peace here in this place
can you just imagine Christmas with our savior face to face.

I'll ask him to lift your spirit as I tell him of your love
so then pray for one another as you lift your eyes above.

Please let your hearts be joyful and let your spirit sing
for I am spending Christmas in Heaven and I'm walking with The King.

by Wanda Bencke

Thank you Tricia Hackney from NILMDTS for sending us this beautiful poem and pair of angel wings.

Parker's Mirror Project - Delivery Made

MIRRORS MIRRORS MIRRORS

Children's Hospital
Tuesday, December 15th Lance's Mom, Sandy and I made the delivery of clothing and mirrors to Children's Hospital. The drop off when extremely well. A group of four nurse practitioners met us in front of the main entrance. They brought a utility cart with them. We piled all of the mirrors on the cart within five minutes. The ladies were very appreciative. We were both hugged many times.
Thursday, December 17th - Lance's parents, Samantha and I made a trip out to Amish Country. We were on the hunt for child size rockers to donate to Good Samaritan. We were able to purchase 8 rockers. They were really expensive, but they are solid and will last forever.

We also custom ordered a trunk to put all of Parker's things in. We currently have blankets, hospital bracelets, pictures, and other items from the hospital in an old xerox box. It will be nice to have a nice trunk to keep it all together. The trunk will take three months to get in.



Good Samaritan
Saturday, December 19th - Me, my mom and Lance made the delivery to Good Sam. We were able to take all of the merchandise all the way up to the NICU. We really lucked out to see some of our favorite nurses....Renee, Kristy, Neka, Holly and Crystal. We enjoyed talking to each of them. The NICU staff were all really excited about the extent of our donations. To me it is just nice knowing that ALL of the money that was donated actually made it to exactly what we wanted to donate to the hospitals. Even though this was a lot more work for us, I was glad that we did the project this way verses cutting a check to each of the hospitals.

I will be making one last trip to Good Sam tomorrow to drop off two large bags of scrapbooking supplies. The night nurses make a scrapbook page for each baby that comes into the NICU. This gives me a good excuse to unload some of my supply of paper and stickers. I filled these two bags and barely made a dint in all of my scrapbooking stuff. I think I am a hoarder of anything craft related.

25 Random Thoughts

Lance's Random Thoughts

1. I love my family, immediate and extended.
2. I wonder at what age are you old?
3. I now understand why parents think their children are the cutest. Mine are.
4. If I eat asparagus my pee stinks.
5. Parker Alexander Maximus in the best name ever.
6. I still don't know what I want to do when I grow up.
7. When it comes to your children there is a fine line between discipline and beatings.
8. I like to be alone, hunting fishing and looking for artifacts.
9. I would like to spend more time with my wife, hunting, fishing and looking for artifacts.
10. I like to buy things.
11. I wait for catalogs in the mail daily.
12. I tell Lindsey she's high maintenance. I'm really lying.
13. I like to eat… a lot!
14. I don't like to be fat.
15. I am needy. I like back rubs, manicures and hot baths.
16. Win if you can. Monopoly, cards, etc… Someone has too.
17. Golf is not relaxing.
18. My 52" Samsung LCD TV is not mine. Hallmark channel, chick flicks and Barbie movies.
19. You can't teach, learn, pay for, or buy common sense.
20. I love cartoons.
21. I can't comprehend quantum physics.
22. My children make me nervous.
23. The Who is the greatest band ever.
24. My life is blessed.
25. I miss my little boy.

Lindsey's Random Thoughts

1. Why are there piles of stuff everywhere in my house?
2. I love the sound of my girls giggling and pretending together.
3. I was looking forward to seeing Lance interacting with his son.
4. There is just something so special about micro-preemies.
5. I want all of the people in thankless jobs to know how much we appreciate them.
6. I love love love the two women that clean my home.
7. Maybe I would like animals if I had one good experience with them.
8. I would like being a stay at home mom if both of my kids went to school everyday.
9. My hot steaming shower is the best way to start the day.
10. My husband thinks he is funny.
11. I can be kind of gross.
12. I am who I am.
13. Going to church with my family is fun.
14. I want to learn how to play the harp.
15. My goal is to simplify.
16. I just realized I married “survivor man”.
17. I am the furthest thing from a 1950’s housewife.
18. I could be happy anywhere as long as my family is with me.
19. My husband knows what buttons to push to really make me mad.
20. It is a lot of work to keep our house updated.
21. I would really enjoy working from home part time.
22. I love girls’ night out.
23. Self esteem is one of the most important things you can give your children.
24. I like having nice things.
25. My family and my faith keep me going.

Pictures of Mirror Project

Yesterday, December 9th, 2009 was my 30th birthday. I spent the morning volunteering at Laney's school in the Santa workshop. It was a lot of fun. The kids were so cute. I was able to wrap the presents the children bought for their family members. It was really enjoyable. The evening was spent putting the mirrors together for Parker's mirror project. It took a couple of hours to attach all of the legs to each one of the mirrors. The mirrors were topped with plaques. In loving memory of Parker Alexander Maximus Ringhand July 28, 2009 - October 30, 2009.

The plan is to deliver half of the merchandise to Children's Hospital next Tuesday and the other half to Good Sam next Saturday (Parker's nurses are scheduled to work). I have really enjoyed working on this project, but I will be glad when I can get the mirrors to the hospitals so they can begin using them.