Each picture has a story

The Foot Book

These are my three children. Well, their feet. One of our favorite things to do is to read books in bed. The Foot book by Dr. Seuss is one that they really enjoy. During Ava's 5-month stay at home with us [she spent her first and last month of life in the hospital, with 5 months in-between at home] J, E, A and I spent a lot of time at home indoors. A's deficient immune system, due to her absent spleen, was of great concern. The kids and I used plenty of Purell and stayed away from public places. 

The most difficult part about being in the hospital was being torn between being with either Ava or my boys. EB or I [or at times, both] were always by Ava's side. I cannot describe the contentment and joy that I felt to have all of my children with me. Once she was home, I took J and E to all of their sister's doctor's appointments, x-ray visits, with me. I would push E and A in the double stroller and J would walk / or I would carry A in her carrier while pushing J and E in the double stroller. Even though I had family members that would happily accompany me or watch the boys, I chose to be super-mom and do it on-my-own to the best of my ability. I'd carry coloring books, toys, medicines, pacifier, snacks... everything I needed to keep all three happy and entertained (but most importantly, to keep them with me)-- it just felt so good to meet all of their needs myself. I would give the world to have all three with me again.

Ava's Births
Ava Mia Bonifaz was born by c-section at Sharp Mary Birch Hospital, 3003 Health Center Drive, San Diego, CA at 2: 21 pm on September 05, 2006. 

She went to be with the Lord (born back into heaven) when she was 7 months, 8 days old at 7: 20 am on April 13, 2007.

Ava Mia Tile
This is the tile made for us at the hospital after she died. I chose the words for it. All I could think of at that moment was what I had known all along, she belongs to God. 

Heart Catheterization Bear
Ava Mia received this black bear (undressed) as a gift from hospital personnel after her heart catheterization when she was 4 months old. It has a big red heart on its chest and a red heart on the bottom of each foot. It now wears a pair of Ava's ballet shoe socks, Ava's red hospital band, one of Ava's extra purple dinosaur hospital band-aids across its heart, a red bow I purchased in Ensenada for Ava after her passing which she will never wear,....and ... the dress is an exact replica of the dress Ava was buried in, which my mom purchased for her at Stratesburg Children, a boutique of children's formal-wear that sells small doll dresses to match their girl dresses (the only difference is that Ava's dress came with a slip and small pearl accents in the stitching). I dressed the bear a couple months ago as I went through items of hers that I kept.   

Ava received a Birthday gift yesterday!

Thank you tia Aly, Eliana, Emmanuel, Aaron, tio Leonel :0)