Cheyenne's brother

from Crissy2400@aol.com

Cheyenne was almost two when her baby brother James was born. She wanted a girl, but she quickly adjusted. Cheyenne was very protective of him. One night, James was fussing in his bassonette. Cheyenne was very angry and her dad and I because we did not immediately go to him. The child who never spoke put her hands on her hips and told us "My Jamie crying. Go get him". It was her first sentence. James died right after her second birthday. At first she thought it was because she wished he would go away. Then she thought it was because she didn't want to share her mommy and daddy. It took a long time for her to understand that it had nothing to do with her. Cheyenne has bad days every once in a while. She will start to cry out of the blue. Sobbing, she will tell me how it isn't fair that she will never see him again. I tell her she will always have him in her heart and that to see him all she has to do is close her eyes and remember. Cheyenne is adjusting better now. The addition of her baby sister has brought a new aspect to her love of James. I overheard her telling her sister the other day, "The baby in this picture is your brother James. He died. He lives in Heaven with God.". I told her how sweet that was and she told me that because she is the big sister, it is up to her to teach Emily about James. She told me that she will never let her forget him. This year at Christmas time, we put James picture on top of our tree. Cheyenne's response was "Our tree is the best because we know who the angel on our tree is". I just want her to know that she is the best big sister anyone could ever have.