Caleb's birth certificate came today. I finally was ready to get a copy of it, plus we needed it for taxes, so it was good timing.
It was a bit startling, because there's a giant "deceased" stamp across it. I guess I didn't realize they did that. But I'm so glad to have it and that it exists, period. I know not every state issues birth certificates to babies born at Caleb's gestational age, but here in Nebraska, a baby born with a heartbeat is considered a live birth and gets one. It's such a relief to know that there's an official, real record of his short time on earth - that in 100 years if someone is looking up the history of our family, his name will be right there. Proof positive. He wasn't just a figment of my imagination, though sometimes it feels like it was all a dream.
I had to laugh, though, because they spelled my middle name wrong. Whoops. It'd be a funny story to share with him when he got older if he was around to do so. ::sniff::
Eeek, the big deceased across it made me cringe. Thanks for the reminder, jack asses! I am happy you did get it though. ((hugs))
ReplyDeleteWow. I got goosebumps reading this... that's awesome that you have it. Your little baby angel is watching over you and his sister :-)
ReplyDeleteWe got Oliver's certificate for tax time, too. I celebrate that he was born alive! It's just nice to have that acknowledgement from the government that my son was officially a living person, even for just a few moments.
ReplyDeleteMy husband is a tax accountant, and he heard someone say that claiming a baby who had died was somehow offensive to the memory, but I feel like little things like tax forms and birth certificates are how we acknowledge and remember. So often the loss of a newborn gets swept under the rug, and nobody wants to talk about it, and I feel like we have to do all of those little things to show that we remember.
Hey Lara! I am awarding you the Stylish Blogger Award! Please link back to my blog for the rules and the blog award image!
ReplyDeleteThat's nice you got that. We got nothing for our daughter because she never took a breath, even though her heart was beating. Breaks my heart. I did an obit in the paper so at least there was something written to show she existed.
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