Day 16: Seasons

The holidays are approaching. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and my birthday all occur within a month of each other. Add to that my husband's birthday as well as my sister's, mother's, mother-in-law's, cousin's, and step-dad's birthdays. And, most importantly, Julia's birthday. In the midst of so many celebratory days are also the anniversaries of the very hardest days I have experienced- the day of Julia's trisomy 18 diagnosis (Dec 1), the day Julia died (Dec 16), and the day of her memorial service and burial (Dec 20). The holidays are a very challenging time. We try to include Julia in the celebratory parts of the holiday season. We will celebrate her birthday. We hang her stocking and her ornaments. We will be thankful on Thanksgiving and cheerful on Christmas. But we will miss Julia and mourn her. Her absence will be felt more acutely than at any other time of the year. We will get through it and hopefully enjoy many good moments. Cohen will be much more into Christmas, just like his siblings and his cousins. Fun will be had. 

I will be very relieved, though, when January 1 arrives.