Wednesday, September 16, 2009

September 16th- I am thinking about my MOM!


MY MOM



September 16th is a special day to me for 2 reasons
#1 Today is my mom's birthday.
She was born in 1924 and would be 85 today.





















This is Kimberlee Loy , named after my mom,
"Alois Evelyn Lewellyn
(Babb) McKnight".
My mom's given name was Alois, but everyone
that loved her called her "Loy"(0r mom, or grandma Loy)








Kimberlee was the only baby I had ,that I did not have my mother there
with me while I was in the hospital.


She had come to all the other births, being in the delivery room for Eric and Jonny. (but due to an
emergency C-section with Eric, she only got to see Jonny's)

On the day of Kimmy's birth, my
mom was on her way to
Houston Texas. She wanted to see if "MD Anderson" Cancer Clinic could
help her. She had cancer in her liver.

2 years prior to this, she had been
diagnosed with
breast cancer. She had a lumpectomy, then later a mastectomy, and then another surgery to do
reconstruction. She had tests every few months to make sure she was cancer clear. But on
December 1, 1993, I was sitting on her bed (6 1/2 months pregnant) when she got a call from her oncologist telling her that the most recent tests showed cancer had spread to her liver.
She was devastated, and so was I.



6 weeks later, I delivered a premature baby girl, C-section, due to placenta previa.
I didn't know how I was going to get along with 6 kids,
a big incision on my belly, and no mom.
The Dr. kept Kimberlee in the hospital and sent me home to rest and recuperate. I was pretty
sad to say the least. I wanted my mom, and I wanted my baby,
I awoke the next morning realizing how much I
was being blessed. I had just had a FULL night's sleep. The nurses at the hospital were being the substitute for my mom. They fed the baby,
changed the baby, etc. while I slept, and recuperated................. What a tender mercy in my time
of despair............. I was grateful.
Kimberlee was tiny, as you can see here. About 5 1/2 lbs.



















My mom did find help at MD Anderson. They started her on
chemo for the first time ever. She had significant shrinkage of the tumors.
The next 3 years would be ones of difficulty for
her, but SHE WAS HERE, and I was so thankful for every day.








Kimberlee "Loy" was a favorite for sure during this hard time.


















My mom gave it all she had, and she went down fighting, on November 16,1996 she passed away, all the while saying "huh-uh",meaning "no, no, no", she REALLY did not want to go.



















Here are some pictures of her and I over the
years. She and I had our troubles, pretty much
like any spoiled brat teenage daughter and loving
mother would,..... but I knew she was my best friend. I could tell her anything, but of course,
didn't, because I did too many stupid things. I would have been better off to tell her though, because she grounded me for weeks and months
at a time when she did find out.
Why did I think she was NOT going to find out??
Heavenly Father ALWAYS will tell a mother, sooner or later :)







Reason # 2 that this day is special to me is that on September 16, 2005,
my sister, 2 of my brothers, and I went to the Las Vegas Temple,(I KNOW this is San Diego, but I didn't have one of Vegas, so sue me, lol)and gave mom a birthday present. We had our dad baptized, and did the sealing for the two of them together and then had 4 of their 5 children sealed together.
4 down, 1 to go.............someday we will all be together forever, I am looking forward to it!!







Happy Birthday Mom, I miss you .............very much! Love 4-ever, Karen



11 comments:

Rebecca said...

You look so much like your mother. I seriously thought the first picture was a picture of you except that it looked like it was taken before your time. What a nice blog to honor your mother.

The Leggs said...

Those pictures of Kimmy being born bring back a lot of memories. Love you - what a special mom you have!

Shannon said...

A beautiful tribute to Grandma Loy. We thought of her yesterday too and were missing her. Why is Kimmy in a formal?

Daryl said...

I remembered mom's birthday, also. Spent many nights talking to her. A great mom. Good tribute.

Heather B said...

Awesome pictures! I was thinking about her yesterday. Do you think they allow blogging in the spirit world? :)

Anonymous said...

Shannon, i was in a formal just for fun! that purple dress was only $10 dollars and it fit perfect so i bought it (: thanks mom for putting those pictures up of me...... haha, when i was little i didnt like my middle name cause it was an "older name" and it was weird to me, but now i love it and i'm so glad that i have that connection with the grandma who i don't remember too well! love you mom!

Love, Kimberlee LOY Esplin

Shannon said...

It's a beautiful dress and modest too! Where did you buy a formal for $10? I'd be tempted to buy one for Natalie and put it away for 3 more years.

Eric Esplin said...

Mom. Did you put those pictures on by yourself!?!?!?:)

That was really nice.

Ann Mitchell said...

Your mom was a great blessing in my life! She was always so kind to me!!! Love those hairdos!!!

Allred Family said...

What a beautiful post and a beautiful mom. You look so much like her. I hope everything is going well for you. I got the picture and keep it on my dash in my car. I looks at it often. I would still love to get together. Paige

kellyclay said...

Karen you look just like your Mom. I don't know if I have ever seen a picture of her. I am sure she is a very special lady just like you are.