Your ideas on the gifts are fairly in-line with what I was thinking about doing. Make cookies or cupcakes w/ the kids, then take them to her at work. Bring her a large soda on a morning when she doesn't leave early enough to get her own. Have the kids make her something.
He left because he was missing something. I don't know what, but maybe you do. Make yourself awesome so he sees that the thing he was missing will be there if he can get you back.
Me: 34 W:33 T: 10 M: 6 S: 6 D: 5 BD: 5/14 Still together(ish) Not giving up: 7/14 D talk has slowed, a lot. Gradually working on things together. Still separate bedrooms. Slow and Steady wins the race.