Friday, September 25, 2009


"What you need to know about the past is that no matter what has happened, it has all worked together to bring you to this very moment. And this is the moment you can choose to make everything new. Right now." ~ Author Unknown

Well,I have been a bit absent this week.Not entirely intentional,just unforeseen and out of my control in the timing.You see,I have been busy closing a chapter in my life of sorts.Seems as though the last few years have held a lot of that.Closing of chapters I mean.Some of those chapters have been easier to close then others.Some I have eagerly bid farewell to.Others have been painful to let go of and have left me desperately trying to cling to them,not at all ready to see them end but knowing full well,it has been for the best.So this week I have spent,we have spent, time together as a family, closing a chapter that has been long over due.Our home,that we left almost two years ago,a home we put on the market after succumbing to the suffocating financial hardships after Zoey's lengthy NICU stay,has finally sold.For real this time.I say for real because I cannot even count the number of sales that have fallen through.But today, the new owners move in.We will hand over the keys and walk out the front door for the last time and that will be that.It's a good thing.Really it is.But getting to the point of calling it a good thing,has been a work in progress.This past week I spent an evening,by myself over at the house.I sat in the empty living room and had a good cry.It wasn't the physical presence of the house that I was crying for or going to miss,it was more of a cry for memories I was replaying in my head.They replayed in my mind with such crystal clarity and in vivid technicolor,as if they happened yesterday.Like Zoey's homecoming and our prayer circle we formed around her as we welcomed her home after 10 weeks in the NICU.I stood for a long time in the exact spot where we spent months in her makeshift hospital room"area",keeping her alive and getting her to surgery.I smiled as I pictured the boys riding their plasma cars around and around the downstairs .. inside .. because yes, it was that big.The noise often drove Mark and sometimes the girls, crazy but I thought why have a big house if you can't do stuff like that!I looked out the window at the yard and the patios strewn with toys and a playhouse and wished the boys still had that freedom because here,they have none of that,not even the yard.I could almost hear the older girls filing in and out with friends and boyfriends,making their way in and out as they went about their carefree teenage lives.All the family parties and celebrations.Roasting marshmallows at the fire pit.The list goes on and on.I primarily had to let go of the plans we made for the future that will never be because like the line from "Beautiful Boy " by John Lennon, "Life is what happens when your busy making other plans".The work left to be done there has been absolutely overwhelming,physically and emotionally.Although the inside has been empty for quite sometime,the garage,well, that has been another story.That garage looked like people had just left bits and pieces of their lives and ran.Fled their home land and actually that was pretty much how it went down.I was left to sort through tote after tote,after tote and the things I found,well, that would illicit more memories and more tears.Like the picture of Zoey,in this little photo album that Jake kept in his nightstand.It was her,strapped in her incubator, being ready to be life-flighted to Children's ... I had never,ever even seen that picture.Ever.Mark must have given it to him to help him visualize and see the sister that he would only see once in the first 2 and 1/2 months of her life.But as I write this,the job is almost complete.At least over at that house.My very organized and clean garage HERE is another story.This garage is the staging place and the in between till things get to storage.So my obsessive compulsive self needs to take a breath and deal with disorder for a little longer.I know it will feel wonderful,in many ways, to have that house out of our names and start clean but I would be lying if I didn't say that I had a dream,a far fetched dream,that somehow,someway,we would find our way back there.Unrealistic I know but I dreamt it all the same.We have always done fairly well to adjusting to change and loss and new normals and this,this is no different.That house is our past.That past was beautiful but I am convinced the future holds equal beauty and I know that the present,this day,far exceeds any beauty I have ever envisioned.Chapter closed.

*Just a little video of the little love.Pause the music,as usual,if you want to listen.And the picture ... Zoey's crazy,crazy hair,with the clip that she never keeps in about to fall out,which in about one half hour, will be getting a cut.Her second since coming home in June and her 4th since chemo began in October ... who would have thought???


14 comments:

Scrappy quilter said...

Oh mom that toe is so good. Brings back memories of when M use to do that too. I'm glad your home sold even though it's a letting go and difficult. Thankfully you will always have your wonderful memories. Big hugs coming your way.

My name is Sarah said...

Oh Zoey you are just so cute.

Stephanie said...

What is it about four walls and a roof? I'm so sorry about your house. Your post hit me hard.We've been fighting to keep our home for the last two years. We've had some really close calls, too close.Our house is not much to look at,just your typical raised ranch. but it's our home. It's where we are all safe. I'm sorry you had to leave, sorry you had to sell. I really know how you feel. We're hanging on by our fingernails.
On a lighter note, I love those little piggies!! She is signing so well. Can't wait to see the new hair cut! Extra hugs and kisses to you!

Bea Braun said...

Ah Heather, very hard, but it's just stuff. You've got 6 beautiful talented children, a gorgeous grandbaby, and a devoted and loving family. Blessings abound!

Lacey said...

Love seeing videos of my Zoey, makes me feel like I'm there with you guys. Thanks for the talk tonight. I'm going to bed in a minute I promise.

Stephanie said...

Oh wow, how I feel your pain.
It's funny how the dreams we have, the simple stuff, can be so hard to let go of.
To have space for your kids to play, and be kids.
To walk inside your house and NOT have to turn sideways to get by, just have the space for all the kids to lay down and watch a movie together, or to have their own beds.
Where we live, it's not horrible, it's not a cardboard box on the sreet somewhere..
But it just isn't home. I try hard to make it comfortable, but it just isn't home, you know?

Tina said...

Bless her...she is so adorable. Can't wait to see her new hair-do, but already know just how cute she'll look!

just jean said...

It's so good to see Zoey communicating....and in such a charming manner! And kudos to you, Heather, for your acceptance of the "letting go" process. Tears are good...it's part of the process and helps you move ahead, as you have always done so well.
Peace.

Googsmom said...

I love her toes. She is just so darn cute :){{{{HUGS ZOEY}}}}

Cheri said...

Oh I love that quote, so fitting! Oh boy we need to sit and have coffee...! I'm going to be in your area early November, maybe we can meet up then! It is so very hard to close some chapters...especially ones so filled with precious memories as your home held for you...but I also love that closed chapters mean a new beginning to new beautiful chapters waiting for more precious moments to be had. I know you know that, but still consider yourself hugged because I know it's hard to close the door. You have no idea how much I have loved our quotes... and I always find them so fitting for what is going on over here...different circumstances but new chapters to embrace all the same.

Love to you and "crazy hair" Zoey...your words, not mine! I love her hair! :) Reid watched the video with me and was so enthralled with her...so happy she is signing so many new things...she's doing AWESOME Heather, just awesome!!!

Cheri

Jamie said...

ya know hubby and I had a 950 sqft apt that we brought our little Madie home in..decorated her bright lil nursery and had our computer in her room cause we had no place for it...I would sit in her room in the computer chair listening to AOL radio lullibies and feed her at 3am...
Its always hard moving from a place you have such memories...I too sat in the apt and said goodbye. Have a toast to new memories and a healthy CUTE AS CAN BEEE Zoey and NEW memories...ok so a tad downsized...prefer to use the phrase "cozier" LOL YOu have a wonderfull family !
OMG Madie has CRAZy hair and hates clips as well! Pulls her bibs off too....Hee hee.if only I could put a plug on her drool!
(((BIG hugs)))))

ardith said...

I sympathize with your sadness over leaving your home. Even though it is just 'stuff' it is your precious stuff, one that holds so many memories, sweet and bitter. Treasure them and your darling family.

Jeanette said...

I grew up in the military and our motto was "Home is where the Navy sends you". That sounds so silly, but our new motto is the old cliche "Home is where your heart is". I hope that you have peace in your heart.

What a great video of Miss Zoey. She sure makes me smile from the bottom of my heart.

Anonymous said...

Love watching her move! Encore!

Belated Happy Birthday to you!

Barbara