The Sweetest of Goodbyes

Today was the day I had been dreading for the past 3 weeks.

Ever since I gave birth to my sleeping baby at almost 5 months pregnant, I have been both longing for and dreading the day I would say Goodbye.

After the birth, we were advised by the hospital that they would be arranging a simple cremation service and we would be notified by post when it would be. It took almost 2 weeks for the letter to come through and I worried that they would forget to notify me of the time/date to attend. 

I needn't have worried though as it turned up eventually, advising us that the cremation service would be carried out at Streetly Crematorium on Tuesday 12th December at 9.15am.

The roads have been awash with snow and ice the past few days after a big frosty downfall leaving all schools around the area closed for a few days and the roads treacherous for driving and walking on. I worried that maybe the service would be cancelled due to the poor weather conditions, but it wasn't gladly. We set out at 8am this morning after dropping our two young sons at their Nan's house who conveniently lives over the road. 

After driving carefully and rather nervously through the snow, we arrived at the crematorium and were introduced by the Reverend who would be conducting the service. She ran through what would happen as this was all new to us. We were never advised that the service would be so personal, a number of midwives at the hospital had mentioned that the service would be communial and we would share it with other grieving parents. But this was not the case. I felt sad and guilty that more people weren't there to pay they're respects to our baby. It was solely me and Stewart, clinging to each other lost in our own personal tidal wave of sadness.

The service started with Stewart carrying the tiny white coffin in from the funeral car and placing it onto the altar. He took his place next to me, his face wet with tears and pain. I held onto him, mostly as an anchor to keep me from falling and also as comfort for him. We listened and sobbed as the readings and poems were read out to us, each word resonating through us, striking every nerve within us. I couldn't take my eyes away from the coffin, my last chance to have my baby in the same room as me. I wanted to run over and grab it before the curtains were drawn around it, I wanted to prize the lid off and cradle my baby, never letting it go. I stared at the box through every sentence read and through every tear...I watched as the curtains were finally drawn and clung helplessly to Stewart as we both struggled to control what we were feeling, which was raw sadness.

I wanted more than anything to have my baby, why is life so unfair?

I should be six months pregnant now, I should be looking forward to holding it.

I should be looking forward to all the things that comes with having a baby and a new child...the new addition to our family.

I should be buying a new pram and a new crib.

I should be shopping for gender, knowing whether to buy pink or blue.

I shouldn't be feeling so empty, I shouldn't be sad at every moment I wont now experience.

I shouldn't be watching as my Husband carries our baby in a coffin.

I shouldn't be listening to prayers and readings or watching as my baby is finally laid to rest. 

I shouldn't be feeling sad when I see new babies that are introduced on social media feeds.
I shouldn't cry myself to sleep as I feel the loss of my baby, missing the bumps and nudges from inside my uterus.

I can never say that the service was not beautiful. As sad as it was, it was also very special to us. It was small, simple and personal. In a way, it was better that it was just us, the two main people who would feel the loss the most. I will always be grateful to the hospital and funeral services for providing this touching gesture without any pay from ourselves. It was absolutely amazing. 

And this final paragraph is to you, Harper Geary. We may not have got to hold you, we may not have got to keep you, but please remember that you have and will always have a place in our hearts. You are very much loved, I just wish I could have protected you as any mother should. One day I will be with you and I will take you in my arms and never ever let you go. Until that day, please be safe in my Nan's arms, she will always look after you. 

RIP Harper Geary 13/11/2017

Moving Forward

Following on from my previous post, I have had a few positive days.

I am not always going to feel so positive. There are going to be a lot of low days. I miss being pregnant, I miss my baby and I miss all of the days ahead that I am now not going to experience....I should be six months pregnant.

I should be feeling the baby bump around in my belly, I should be getting things ready and shopping for baby items....but instead I am busying myself so I don't think of all the negatives....instead I should be concentrating on the family I have with me.

Tomorrow will be a hard day, we are attending a service at the Streetly Crematorium for the baby.

It is going to be hard, but I hope I can then start moving forward a little. I hope I can see it as the baby being released to live freely in the sky. I have never been a big believer in God and Heaven but I like to think that there is something or someone up there who will take care of my baby whilst I am here...and that one day I will have it back in my arms. 

Life is for living and I have to continue to be there for my family. So the last few days we have done things as a family.

Things can only get Better

The Christmas Tree has gone up with the help of my husband and my two young boys. We brought new baubles as we do every year...with the boys choosing a new one each. Ethan (6) went for a circle bauble with feathers in it. Oliver (3) went for a cathedral which lights up. It looks very festive in our home now...with the added addition of the naughty elf. 

Then on Saturday we surprised the boys with a festive day out at Thomas Land. It was just what we needed as a family, a day together. It wasn't even dampened by the cold snow which was forecast for most of the weekend. The boys loved it, we kept it a secret until we drove through the gates of Drayton Manor and they're faces were a picture. 

The days ahead are going to a mix of good and bad, but I wouldn't be able to get through them at all if it weren't for these boys...and that includes my husband. :)

Sunday Morning we woke to heaps and I mean HEAPS of snow outside. The whole place was covered. There was no way I was driving in it, so we had a snow day. We went in the garden, threw snowballs.....made a snowman....and enjoyed more family time. These last few days have put a big smile on my face. Time is going to be the biggest healer...but these chaps of mine are the medicine! They are the best.

Lost Baby

It has been a while since I wrote on this blog....and to be honest its not for lack of wanting to. I have been pretty busy with work and then I became pregnant with my 3rd child. Anyone who knows me knows how I struggle with sickness, etc during pregnancy so this stopped me from wanting to even look at my computer screen.

Below is a video blog I recently did.

Its not an easy subject to talk about or even to listen to.

At my routine 5 month scan I was told that my unborn baby had no heartbeat! The words will constantly echo around my head. Since then I have been in emotional turmoil.

What is the best way to think after a miscarriage? How long do I give myself to grieve?

The past 3 weeks have been the hardest of my life...

Blog Update

Hi All
Its been a while since I wrote on here so I figured I would pop by, in between editing photographs from a wedding I covered, and update on recent stuff that has been happening.

So for a long time then I have wanted to write. Whether it be fiction or non fiction then I have always felt like I wanted to put myself out there in words, but I also have a passion for working within the television industry. Not in front of the screen, but behind....within the production team possibly or combining my love for writing and media and having some sort of broadcast journalism role. So last week I did my usual job search of any type of careers that may be waiting for me to apply within this industry. There were the usual 'too good to be true' vacancies, but I applied for a couple of jobs that I found on indeed.co.uk.

The first being a job within the HR department at BBC Studios. Not exactly a production role but a step in the door at least. I applied for an admin role at a local radio station too which again isn't within the team I would like to be in but its a start.

One thing that I applied for which has been torn in two as to whether I really want it or not is the BBC Trainee Journalism Apprentice Scheme. This is a training course which annually gets offered to so many people who apply (which I can imagine is probably hundreds) - The opportunity is for 10 months and involves possibly relocating to one of the BBC sites around the country and training in broadcast journalism. The training sounds very hands on. There is a big part of me that would love this opportunity. Although there is no guarantee of a contract at the end, it would be amazing experience. But the thought of relocating and spending time away from my husband and boys makes me not want it. My husband has been very supportive and has said that if I want to do it then I should go for it. Which I have done, the application has been completed and has been sent in a few days ago. I am pretty sure there is not much chance of me getting the position but the fact that I want it is making me want to apply for more positions.

As well as this then I have had some ideas for script and short stories which I will be putting together over the next few weeks.

Logging off now as I am about to watch Legion!

Writing Competitions

I have entered a writing competition tonight, its not that I expect or want to win, I just want to get into the habit of writing and getting my work out there. A lot of my work will be showcased here too obviously.

I entered Moving On (my short story I posted previously) into the Writing Ink Monthly Competition; a small online magazine competition with a prize consisting of a £10 Amazon voucher and the winning entry posted on their website.

I am currently enjoying making notes for future short stories, poems and articles. Its challenging my imagination and I embrace it thoroughly.  Sitting staring into space is getting me some looks but I play it off as tiredness or me having lots of things on my mind.

As much as I want to have people honour me for my work, I haven't really shared these stories on my personal social media pages yet. It's one thing admitting that I want to be a writer, another entirely to admit it loudly when I don't know whether or not I will fail.

I know I need to have faith and be confident in myself but this is a completely new field that I am venturing into...with there being so many talented writers out there, its not unusual for some to be hidden from view. So, for now this is my hobby, running alongside my daily life.....I love to hope that something will come of it but if it doesn't, then I am having fun all the same. :)

Writing...

The last post I made was a short story I wrote a couple of years ago. Its not perfect, and having gone through it tonight I have changed a few things from the original....and altered some grammatical errors, but other than that this story is how I wrote it originally.

I am going to continue to write stories and put them on here.

Hope you enjoy reading them... :)