I'm looking at videos this morning of Cora. I know she was in my life...I have proof! I have pictures and videos galore! I have pictures and videos of milestones, birthdays, holidays. She was in my life. How is it that I no longer have this sweet child in my life anymore??
The hardest part sometimes is saying to myself, "I don't have fighting when I go to the grocery store anymore." Or, "She's not swiping stuff from her preteen sister anymore." But, that's what made life, life. She portrayed the younger sister perfectly. She was able to annoy her sisters with ease. After all, she was only 4. And...isn't that what little sisters are meant to do?
I know in my heart that I need to celebrate the time I had with her instead of mourning the time I don't have with her, but right now? That's incredibly hard. I want that time with her. I want to see her little face when I go back to work after dropping her off for her class. I want to see her learn how to ride her bike without her training wheels. I want to see her go to kindergarten next year.
If it weren't for the pictures and videos, it would seem as if her life never existed. But, I know she lived. I was deathly ill for 2 months, on home health care and a PICC line, on meds for 7 months after that, and was in and out of the hospital for all 9 months. I felt her move inside my belly. I cried when she was born and I felt the warmness of her little body against mine when the nurses handed her to me for the first time in the recovery room. I was there for every moment of her little life. And I was there and felt her heart beat for the last time.
I did not choose to let her go. I had to let her go.
No parent would voluntarily choose to let go of their child. Sometimes...we have to. We have to because they're far too sick to stay with us. God knows. He had to give up His child too, but not because he was sick.
My heart aches for her. I long to hear her little voice..."I want my momma." "I love you momma."
She may not have had red hair or grey colored eyes, but personality wise...she was my mini me.
Some days are better than others. And lately...there's been more hard days than better ones. I cry, not because of life that's happening now, but because of the little life I am missing.
