Thursday, July 31, 2008

Seeing the good things in life

The last several months have been very difficult for Mommy and Daddy. As often as I can, I try to remind them of all the fun times we had together. Some days this has been difficult for them to do.

Since I became an angel, all the people that Mommy and Daddy know have teamed up to help take care of them. It is amazing all the things they have done for my mommy and daddy. There were hundreds of cards, presents, phone calls and visits! People brought so much food that Mommy and Daddy didn't have to cook until May! Because Mommy was nervous about being alone during her summer break, all her friends made sure she was busy every day!

One of my favorite things was done by Mommy's students and parents. They all chipped in to buy a tree and plaque for the front of the school. Then an anonymous donor donated a black marble bench to go with it. Here are some pictures:



In my back yard is a tree just like the one at Mommy's school. It was a gift from a whole bunch of Mommy's high school classmates.

In Grandma's backyard, her boyfriend made a rosebush garden in honor of me. It is so beautiful! I can't wait until it starts blooming!

Grandma works in a hospital and in the OB department, the walls are lined with pictures of babies born there. After I became an angel, they hung a picture of me and Daddy, even though I wasn't born there!

Last month, while Mommy and Daddy went on an island trip, all their friends and family went to the cemetery to visit me. They even made up a schedule so that I would have at least one playmate each day. Look at all the presents they brought me!

These are just a few of the things people have done for my mommy and daddy. It has helped Mommy and Daddy so much to see that there are still good things in life. I know that they are really grateful.

Look at my plaque!

At the cemetery where I am buried, they use plaques instead of headstones. This is so it looks more like a park than a cemetery. I got my plaque on May 24th, right before Memorial Day.

Mommy and Daddy worked really hard to make my plaque unique. They got special permission from United Feature Syndicate to use the image of Linus from the Peanuts cartoon since that is my name and I love my blue blankie, too.

Mommy and Daddy invited 16 people to an unveiling ceremony the day my plaque arrived. It was really fun because they released balloons with messages attached to them. I had a good time trying to catch them.

Here are some pictures of the plaque. There is a picture that shows the whole plaque, then a close-up of the plaque itself and the flowers.



Sunday, July 13, 2008

Hey...it's me again!

It's been a long time since I have done a post. I am an angel now and my job is to take care of Mommy and Daddy. I've done a good job for a little guy. I have given them signs so they know I am watching over them and always will.

The first sign I gave was to Daddy. He was praying for a sign that would let him know I was waiting for him up in heaven. Daddy is very skeptical, so I had to work hard to think of something that would be convincing. I finally decided I would mess around with the house alarm. The alarm is set up to give Daddy's cell phone a call when the alarm has been tripped. Over the course of a few days, I made the alarm call Daddy's cell phone numerous times. Daddy didn't seem to catch on, though, so I decided to call him from my own room! I did it four times in a row! Daddy checked all the batteries to to the alarm system, he checked the manual, he researched on the internet, but he couldn't find any explanation. The alarm had never done that before on it's own and it never has since then.

Mommy really loved the sign I gave Daddy, but she felt bad that I never sent one to her. Mommy is probably even more skeptical than Daddy, so I had to think REALLY hard about what to do for her. I came up with the perfect idea! One morning when she got up, this is what she found in the diningroom!


Am I good or what?! It's even the same size as my handprint. Mommy has vacuumed several times, so there is no way it could be left over from when I was still on earth.

When Mommy and Daddy went on their vacation to the island of Anguilla, I gave them one more sign. Mommy was really sad about leaving me at home, so I decided to come on the trip with them. I really had a lot of fun because I put my spirit into a bird.


I came to Mommy and Daddy's balcony every day and squawked at them to say hello. I stayed with them for a long time whenever I visited, just so they would know it was me.

Aren't all those signs neat? It's been so much fun watching over Mommy and Daddy. I miss them so much, but I try to make them feel like I am with them as much as possible.

I love you, Mommy and Daddy!

With Love, from Mommy and Daddy

Linus,

These are all our favorite pictures of you with us. We love you so much and we will never stop missing you.

Mommy and Daddy

Our first picture as a family

The first time you looked at me

The first bottle Daddy ever fed you

You and Daddy taking a nap together

One of our last days together while I was still on maternity leave

Look how much Daddy loves you!

A big hug for my precious baby

Another big hug

One of the first times you smiled for the camera

Your favorite time of day...bathtime!

Our first Mother's Day together

You sure were greedy with your toys!

Your first time to the zoo

Your second hospital stay

Daddy loved to hold you and jiggle you

At graduation from our Mommy and Me classes

Your first haircut

Tuckered out at the end of your first birthday party

You were so cute in your chicken costume!

Tackling Daddy on Christmas Eve

Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa's house

Two of your favorite things: Daddy and Blankie

Linus Drake Chalupa


Linus Drake Chalupa, 18 months, of Cedar Rapids, passed away unexpectedly on February 11, 2008. Funeral Mass will be held 10:30 AM on Friday, February 15, 2008 at All Saints Catholic Church. Rev. David O'Connor will officiate. Friends may call from 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM on Thursday, February 14, 2008 at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home, where a vigil service will take place at 4:30 PM. Friends may also call at the church on Friday after 9:30 AM. Interment: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.

Survivors include parents Erin and Taro Chalupa of Cedar Rapids; grandparents Marcell and Yumiko Chalupa of British Columbia, Mary Boland Twomey of Manchester, and Mike and Mary Twomey of Manchester; two aunts, Megan and husband Doug Cole of Ft. Collins, Colorado, and Abby Twomey of Manchester; and an uncle Chris Twomey and wife Lisa of Chicago, IL.

He was preceded in death by an uncle Marc Twomey.

Linus Drake Chalupa was born August 15, 2006 at St. Luke's Hospital Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the beloved son of Taro Milan and Erin Kathleen (Twomey) Chalupa. He loved his mommy and daddy, his blue blanket, having books read to him, and eating popcorn and cheetos. He had a winning smile that captured the hearts of all who had the opportunity to meet him. He was dearly loved and will be greatly missed by all.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations are made to the memorial fund established in Linus' honor.

The Hawkeye Fan






One Last Video

Here is one last video of me. I had just gotten into a phase where I liked to toss my toys all over the room (it's called cleaning up). Mommy and Daddy thought this activity was a little dangerous, but it looks like great fun, doesn't it?