Morgan Elyse Richard is my name.  I live in Lake Charles, Louisiana, with my husband, Eric, and our young daughter, Amerycal Grace, who turned six years old yesterday.  We did have a son, Tanner Eric, but he died at two months from SIDS.  We still miss him terribly.  He died last year; if he had lived, he would be a little over a year old.

Losing a child is one of the worst things a parent can ever experience, but we are relying on God to get us through the rough patches.  We also nearly lost Amerycal when she was born:  she weighed 1 pound even, but by the grace of God, she survived and is now thriving.

Unfortunately, being born early left its mark on our daughter.  Amerycal has cerebral palsy.  She walks on a wheeled walker; we are hopeful that one day she will graduate to crutches.  She has come such a long way and has proven to be an extremely smart little girl:  there isn't anything wrong with her intellect!

We are grateful to have our daughter, but I wish we still had our son.  Little Tanner Eric was such a good, easygoing baby.  He made parenting fun.  Then came the terrible morning when I found him in his crib, not breathing.  It was already too late when the paramedics came:  he died peacefully in his sleep; he died before I even went to check in on him.  He looked like he was asleep; the grey coloration of his skin told us otherwise.  It was one of the worst moments of our lives.

We are still grieving a year later, to a degree.  There isn't a day that goes by where we don't miss Tanner.  He would have been a great child had he lived, but we know God had a reason to take him home to be with Jesus.  He's now our personal guardian angel, and we are longing for the day where we will be reunited up in Heaven!

Amerycal had a great Fourth of July/birthday.  We went to our city's parade in the morning (she rode her bicycle; she has a special bike that she can pedal with her hands), and in the afternoon, we went to the park, where we enjoyed a picnic lunch.  We gave Amerycal cake and presents; she enjoyed herself emmensely.  In the evening, there was a special patriotic concert, followed by a mammoth fireworks display.  It was the perfect ending to a memorable day, but it would had been much nicer if Tanner were still here with us.

I know Amerycal misses Tanner.  She asks about him everyday, and when she says her prayers, she always asks God to bless him and to tell him hello from his big sister.  To hear her simple little prayers always causes me to tear up.

This weekend, there will be more fireworks.  We're not quite through with our Fourth of July celebrations just yet.  I know Amerycal is looking forward to them; she enjoys the noise and the nighttime flowers bursting in the star-filled skies!  In fact, with her, she wishes there could be fireworks every day of the year!  Watching fireworks is one of her favorite activities.

In addition to fireworks, Amerycal loves to ride her bike, go swimming, play with her friends, read (she reads at a fourth grade level, even though she turned six only yesterday), draw and color, go to the park, play house or mommy, and wear anything that is pink, purple, or teal (preferably all three).  She also loves anything to do with princesses.

When she grows up she wants to be the Little Mermaid.  That is her all time favorite movie.  Or she wants to be a mommy or a nurse, like her aunt Crystal, who lives in DeRidder, Louisiana.

Well, Amerycal is calling me, so I will go.  I will write in here again soon.  Take care, and may God bless you always!

~Love, your friend in Louisiana, Morgan Richard.  :)