Thinking of submitting this to www.graphjam.com
Friday, October 23, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Memorial Brochure Inside
Baby Silas came into this world on a Sunday. He was born the same minute the Harvest Moon rose at 6:26 am, October 4, 2009. He lived until Thursday 12:45am, a little longer than 90 hours.
The majority of the 90 hours, he spent in his own home with his family. He was born in Filip’s playroom. With my midwife Liz, and her assistant Melissa in attendance, his father caught him, and gave him to me, his mother. I held him in my arms while JR cut his cord. Then we woke Filip up to meet his new baby brother.
Silas’ Mom Mom, Pop Pop, Aunt Jae and Cousin Tyler arrived and met him a half-hour later. He was laying in bed with me. Then, his Grandma and Grandpa arrived. Everyone got to hold him.
Later, Silas got to meet more friends. The next days Leeza with Morgan came. Leeza held him for many hours. Rebecca also visited, and held him.
Since he seemed to be uncomfortable, we took him to Dr. Staley, our chiropractor. He examined him, and gave him an adjustment. It seemed to help, he calmed down immediately. Noemi, the receptionist, held him and rocked him. That also seemed to soothe him.
So in 90 hours, Silas got to meet 16 people who were friends, family, and loved ones. This baby had the opportunity to be loved, cuddled and held by many people we knew. For those who know JR personally, would you expect his son to know any fewer people than that?
At this point, we don’t know exactly what caused his death. It was a mystery to the doctors at Children’s Hospital where he died. The events surrounding his death gave us the opportunity to rely completely on our Creator.
Psalms 16:8 says “I have placed Jehovah in front of me constantly. Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be made to totter.”
It was quite apparent that our God was holding our right hand during this hard time, as we navigated through medical decisions to make a choice that would keep our consciences clear.
Revelation 21:5 says “Look! I am making all things new.”
Looking at our baby boy, I see something Jehovah created. If he was able to make something as beautiful as Silas now, how much easier it will be for him to make Silas again, when those words in Revelation are fulfilled.
That is when He will call, and my baby Silas will answer. May we all be there to hear those voices.
The majority of the 90 hours, he spent in his own home with his family. He was born in Filip’s playroom. With my midwife Liz, and her assistant Melissa in attendance, his father caught him, and gave him to me, his mother. I held him in my arms while JR cut his cord. Then we woke Filip up to meet his new baby brother.
Silas’ Mom Mom, Pop Pop, Aunt Jae and Cousin Tyler arrived and met him a half-hour later. He was laying in bed with me. Then, his Grandma and Grandpa arrived. Everyone got to hold him.
Later, Silas got to meet more friends. The next days Leeza with Morgan came. Leeza held him for many hours. Rebecca also visited, and held him.
Since he seemed to be uncomfortable, we took him to Dr. Staley, our chiropractor. He examined him, and gave him an adjustment. It seemed to help, he calmed down immediately. Noemi, the receptionist, held him and rocked him. That also seemed to soothe him.
So in 90 hours, Silas got to meet 16 people who were friends, family, and loved ones. This baby had the opportunity to be loved, cuddled and held by many people we knew. For those who know JR personally, would you expect his son to know any fewer people than that?
At this point, we don’t know exactly what caused his death. It was a mystery to the doctors at Children’s Hospital where he died. The events surrounding his death gave us the opportunity to rely completely on our Creator.
Psalms 16:8 says “I have placed Jehovah in front of me constantly. Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be made to totter.”
It was quite apparent that our God was holding our right hand during this hard time, as we navigated through medical decisions to make a choice that would keep our consciences clear.
Revelation 21:5 says “Look! I am making all things new.”
Looking at our baby boy, I see something Jehovah created. If he was able to make something as beautiful as Silas now, how much easier it will be for him to make Silas again, when those words in Revelation are fulfilled.
That is when He will call, and my baby Silas will answer. May we all be there to hear those voices.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
More cookies?
Let's say you only want one box of Girl Scout cookies, when a Girl Scout comes to your door. She offers to sell you 5 boxes. You tell her you will purchase one box. She says 'how about 3?'. You concede, because it's not the 5 boxes she was expecting to sell you.
It was a simple marketing tactic that even a child can perform. She caused you to purchase 3 times the amount that you wanted to buy in the first place. Your motivation? Perhaps guilt, a sense of 'doing the right thing', or just wanting to get this transaction over with. There are many possible reasons.
Her motivation? To sell as many cookies as possible.
The media has always pushed getting your flu shot every year. This year, pharmaceutical companies expect to triple their sales (by a very conservative estimate) of 'pandemic' flu shots for the Swine Flu. (see http://edition.cnn.com/2009/TRAVEL/07/22/swine.flu.drugs/index.html )
Whether someone gets these shots or not is a personal decision. Smart marketing tends to get on the personal level though. Some people are great supporters of vaccines, and others are quite the opposite. Say you're an average person who got all your shots as a kid, and would get the flu shot if something you wanted to be a part of (a new job perhaps) required it. You're not the type though, to run out to get an unrequired shot on your own.
The media/government/pharmaceutical companies work together to 'educate' us as to what's available to 'protect' yourself. In effect, it's someone coming to your door offering to sell you this experimental*** vaccine for each member of your family. Children should get two, one in each arm. Also, they offer the regular vaccine that you, your spouse and kids should get as well for the 'normal' flu that actually kills more people than the pandemic flu.
'Whoa, that's alot of shots' you may say. "I don't trust all that N1H1 stuff, I'll just take the normal flu shot, and whatever is mandated for the kids, so they don't get kicked out of school.''
Sound's reasonable.
Ask yourself, if you never heard of N1H1, and did not have to worry about required shots for school, would you be even getting that 'reasonable' amount of vaccinations? With that decision you made, you probably purchased 3 times or more shots than you would have not being exposed to marketing. Isn't that much the same as a girl scout overshooting how many boxes of cookies you should buy?
When our friends or people we know say something about our personal health care decisions, it's easier to get our back up about it. This is justified, because this is a personal decision . It's generally not the business of anyone else.
However, we cannot allow clever (or even basic) marketing make this decision for us. Just because it's not a person telling you what you should do, does not mean it's not overstepping it's proper place.
Please, do research on how the immune system works. Look at test results from an actual study, not just the cliff notes from a magazine article. Learn about the risks of dying, and treatment for someone who actually contracts the disease.
We all need to avoid the tendency to make this decision the same way we make the decision to buy a $5 foot-long, or insurance from a lizard. It's more important than making a consumer purchase.
*** The N1H1 vaccine has been tested on many volunteers. However, no one can know the long term affects of this, since it's a new shot. It would be very difficult, if not impossible, to know if any vaccination is the cause of a chronic disease that took years to develop in a person's system.
It was a simple marketing tactic that even a child can perform. She caused you to purchase 3 times the amount that you wanted to buy in the first place. Your motivation? Perhaps guilt, a sense of 'doing the right thing', or just wanting to get this transaction over with. There are many possible reasons.
Her motivation? To sell as many cookies as possible.
The media has always pushed getting your flu shot every year. This year, pharmaceutical companies expect to triple their sales (by a very conservative estimate) of 'pandemic' flu shots for the Swine Flu. (see http://edition.cnn.com/2009/TRAVEL/07/22/swine.flu.drugs/index.html )
Whether someone gets these shots or not is a personal decision. Smart marketing tends to get on the personal level though. Some people are great supporters of vaccines, and others are quite the opposite. Say you're an average person who got all your shots as a kid, and would get the flu shot if something you wanted to be a part of (a new job perhaps) required it. You're not the type though, to run out to get an unrequired shot on your own.
The media/government/pharmaceutical companies work together to 'educate' us as to what's available to 'protect' yourself. In effect, it's someone coming to your door offering to sell you this experimental*** vaccine for each member of your family. Children should get two, one in each arm. Also, they offer the regular vaccine that you, your spouse and kids should get as well for the 'normal' flu that actually kills more people than the pandemic flu.
'Whoa, that's alot of shots' you may say. "I don't trust all that N1H1 stuff, I'll just take the normal flu shot, and whatever is mandated for the kids, so they don't get kicked out of school.''
Sound's reasonable.
Ask yourself, if you never heard of N1H1, and did not have to worry about required shots for school, would you be even getting that 'reasonable' amount of vaccinations? With that decision you made, you probably purchased 3 times or more shots than you would have not being exposed to marketing. Isn't that much the same as a girl scout overshooting how many boxes of cookies you should buy?
When our friends or people we know say something about our personal health care decisions, it's easier to get our back up about it. This is justified, because this is a personal decision . It's generally not the business of anyone else.
However, we cannot allow clever (or even basic) marketing make this decision for us. Just because it's not a person telling you what you should do, does not mean it's not overstepping it's proper place.
Please, do research on how the immune system works. Look at test results from an actual study, not just the cliff notes from a magazine article. Learn about the risks of dying, and treatment for someone who actually contracts the disease.
We all need to avoid the tendency to make this decision the same way we make the decision to buy a $5 foot-long, or insurance from a lizard. It's more important than making a consumer purchase.
*** The N1H1 vaccine has been tested on many volunteers. However, no one can know the long term affects of this, since it's a new shot. It would be very difficult, if not impossible, to know if any vaccination is the cause of a chronic disease that took years to develop in a person's system.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Memorial Service
The Memorial Service for Baby Silas Andrews is this Saturday, October 17 at 3:30pm
It is open to everyone, and is held at FSK Holiday Inn Conference Center.
It's located in Frederick, Md on 5400 Holiday Drive. This is right behind the FSK mall.
We are expecting a sizable attendance. Please come early to make time for parking and finding a seat.
It is open to everyone, and is held at FSK Holiday Inn Conference Center.
It's located in Frederick, Md on 5400 Holiday Drive. This is right behind the FSK mall.
We are expecting a sizable attendance. Please come early to make time for parking and finding a seat.
My Father, My God and Friend
This is the other song we will be singing at the memorial. Both of these songs are available in a vocal and piano version on the website.
Also, I have a scan of the piano score on my computer. Let me know in a comment if you want me to send it to you.
(Hebrews 6:10)
1. Life in this world can be hard.
Life in this world can bring tears and pain.
Still ev’ry day I will say,
“My life is not in vain.”
(CHORUS)
For God is not unrighteous,
And he remembers the love I’ve shown.
So he is ever near me;
With Jehovah, I’m not alone.
Yes, God is my provider
and my protector down to the end.
Yes, Jehovah is my Father,
My God and Friend.
2. Gone are the days of my youth;
Days of calamity now are here.
Still through the eyes of my faith,
My hope is bright and clear.
(CHORUS)
For God is not unrighteous,
And he remembers the love I’ve shown.
So he is ever near me;
With Jehovah, I’m not alone.
Yes, God is my provider
and my protector down to the end.
Yes, Jehovah is my Father,
My God and Friend.
(See also Ps. 71:17, 18.)
Also, I have a scan of the piano score on my computer. Let me know in a comment if you want me to send it to you.
(Hebrews 6:10)
1. Life in this world can be hard.
Life in this world can bring tears and pain.
Still ev’ry day I will say,
“My life is not in vain.”
(CHORUS)
For God is not unrighteous,
And he remembers the love I’ve shown.
So he is ever near me;
With Jehovah, I’m not alone.
Yes, God is my provider
and my protector down to the end.
Yes, Jehovah is my Father,
My God and Friend.
2. Gone are the days of my youth;
Days of calamity now are here.
Still through the eyes of my faith,
My hope is bright and clear.
(CHORUS)
For God is not unrighteous,
And he remembers the love I’ve shown.
So he is ever near me;
With Jehovah, I’m not alone.
Yes, God is my provider
and my protector down to the end.
Yes, Jehovah is my Father,
My God and Friend.
(See also Ps. 71:17, 18.)
Friday, October 9, 2009
He Will Call
This will most likely be one of the songs we'll sing at the funeral. You can download the song to listen to at the website in vocal or piano. It's song 111.
Let me know if you're interested in a chord chart for this. I spent some time this morning learning it and writing out a score.
(Job 14:13-15)
1. Life, like a mist, appears for just a day,
Then disappears tomorrow.
All that we are can quickly fade away,
Replaced with tears and sorrow.
If a man should die, can he live again?
Hear the promise God has made:
(CHORUS)
He will call; The dead will answer.
They shall live at his command.
For he will have a longing
For the work of his own hand.
So have faith, and do not wonder,
For our God can make us stand.
And we shall live forever,
As the work of his own hand.
2. Friends of our God, though they may pass away,
Will never be forsaken.
All those asleep who in God’s mem’ry stay,
From death he will awaken.
Then we’ll come to see all that life can be:
Paradise eternally.
(CHORUS)
He will call; The dead will answer.
They shall live at his command.
For he will have a longing
For the work of his own hand.
So have faith, and do not wonder,
For our God can make us stand.
And we shall live forever,
As the work of his own hand.
(See also John 6:40; 11:11, 43; Jas. 4:14.)(Job 14:13-15)
Let me know if you're interested in a chord chart for this. I spent some time this morning learning it and writing out a score.
(Job 14:13-15)
1. Life, like a mist, appears for just a day,
Then disappears tomorrow.
All that we are can quickly fade away,
Replaced with tears and sorrow.
If a man should die, can he live again?
Hear the promise God has made:
(CHORUS)
He will call; The dead will answer.
They shall live at his command.
For he will have a longing
For the work of his own hand.
So have faith, and do not wonder,
For our God can make us stand.
And we shall live forever,
As the work of his own hand.
2. Friends of our God, though they may pass away,
Will never be forsaken.
All those asleep who in God’s mem’ry stay,
From death he will awaken.
Then we’ll come to see all that life can be:
Paradise eternally.
(CHORUS)
He will call; The dead will answer.
They shall live at his command.
For he will have a longing
For the work of his own hand.
So have faith, and do not wonder,
For our God can make us stand.
And we shall live forever,
As the work of his own hand.
(See also John 6:40; 11:11, 43; Jas. 4:14.)(Job 14:13-15)
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Baby Silas 10/4/09-10/8/09
We're all over the place emotionally. Seems like I go from joking around, to crying, to telling the story over and over with no emotion. There has been so much support though. I'm very grateful for many things, like being surrounded by so many friends when he died.
Silas was struggling & looking uncomfortable from the start. We just could not pinpoint what was wrong. His vitals were all good, and he seemed to improve. Yesterday, the Dr. told us to take him to hospital b/c of his breathing. Before we put him in the car, blood started coming out of his nose & mouth. The paramedics came and took him to FMH, and then they flew him to Children's Hospital. He was in critical condition the entire time. He died at 12:45am today.
I know the whole thing is so shocking, and everyone is so sad. There have been so many things that have been a comfort to me. Silas is in Jehovah's memory, and I'll be among so many holding their babies again.
Also, this experience gave us an opportunity to prove our integrity. The FMH doctor was very confrontational about blood transfusions, which we refused. At both hospitals, they had obtained court orders to transfuse him anyway. The Hospital Liason Committee helped us reason with the Doctor into considering safer, non-blood alternatives. The Doctor became more reasonable, and was positive about allowing the transfer to Children's without him receiving blood.
At Children's, the care was excellent. This hospital is much more open to alternatives to blood transfusions. They exhausted every option available, but poor Silas' lungs were already gone. They were just about to disregard our wishes regarding blood in a last ditch effort to save him. However, my baby went into cardiac arrest, and died before they got the chance.
I am so grateful for all the kind words, prayers & assistance by my friends and family, and even people I don't know personally. Silas' little life of 4 days has touched so many people, and built up the faith of many.
Job spoke of his hope of a resurrection in chapter 14:15 where he said "You will call, and I myself shall answer you. For the work of your hands you will have a yearning."
Silas is going to answer that call, and will be able to live a life where he will never be bereaved. In the meantime, JR, Filip, myself, and so many more will wait for that day.
Again, thank you everyone for your support.
Silas was struggling & looking uncomfortable from the start. We just could not pinpoint what was wrong. His vitals were all good, and he seemed to improve. Yesterday, the Dr. told us to take him to hospital b/c of his breathing. Before we put him in the car, blood started coming out of his nose & mouth. The paramedics came and took him to FMH, and then they flew him to Children's Hospital. He was in critical condition the entire time. He died at 12:45am today.
I know the whole thing is so shocking, and everyone is so sad. There have been so many things that have been a comfort to me. Silas is in Jehovah's memory, and I'll be among so many holding their babies again.
Also, this experience gave us an opportunity to prove our integrity. The FMH doctor was very confrontational about blood transfusions, which we refused. At both hospitals, they had obtained court orders to transfuse him anyway. The Hospital Liason Committee helped us reason with the Doctor into considering safer, non-blood alternatives. The Doctor became more reasonable, and was positive about allowing the transfer to Children's without him receiving blood.
At Children's, the care was excellent. This hospital is much more open to alternatives to blood transfusions. They exhausted every option available, but poor Silas' lungs were already gone. They were just about to disregard our wishes regarding blood in a last ditch effort to save him. However, my baby went into cardiac arrest, and died before they got the chance.
I am so grateful for all the kind words, prayers & assistance by my friends and family, and even people I don't know personally. Silas' little life of 4 days has touched so many people, and built up the faith of many.
Job spoke of his hope of a resurrection in chapter 14:15 where he said "You will call, and I myself shall answer you. For the work of your hands you will have a yearning."
Silas is going to answer that call, and will be able to live a life where he will never be bereaved. In the meantime, JR, Filip, myself, and so many more will wait for that day.
Again, thank you everyone for your support.
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