An amazing beach play date on Sunday thanks to my very special friends helping pull that one off! , Wednesday was a short time at the aquarium with sister (they are both fighting a cold again so we took it easy, she stayed home from school and we cancelled 4 of his therapies that day) Then Thursday a celebration in class with fruit cut into letters so they could all spell their names. And a lot of World World integrated throughout. He loved his Word World banner and lunchbox. And the bag lunches with letter sandwiches for the beach seemed to be a hit as well.
The fact that he can have all of this going on still doesn't cease to surprise Mike and I. The beginning was so uncertain and so many health and development set backs along the way. We still have no idea what his life will be like, but thus far it's pretty amazing!
He's conquered so many obstacles set before him. And keeps charging through them, one by one. This boy has been a great teacher of patience. We have gone from being able to do our best to plan and foresee everything in life to living by ones. One more day in the womb, one more day surviving in the NICU, one more ounce taken in by mouth, one more release from an unknown amount of days hospital, one more med gone, one more second holding his head up, one room crawled through, one more symptom overcome, one step holding on, one step letting go, one letter sound, one more day of a good sugar number, and the list goes on. What this boy has overcome is more than I had done in my lifetime up until now. He's got more strength and stamina than I could ever imagine having. He's been through more pain and trauma than anyone I know. And this beautiful boy is smiling all the way.
If you are reading this, I thank you. For your support, for your positive energy sent his way, for your prayers, for your love. Whatever the method you have sent him healing, it has all made it. And he is such a lucky boy to have you following his journey. I can not thank you enough for being there for him and for us. I never thought I'd "need" so much. My preference is to give and help support friends and family. But this past four years I've taken more than I had in my lifetime. My family has been amazing, being there no matter what is needed and not expecting anything in return. Friends I didn't even know I had, have done for me what only the best of friends do for each other. It has been a remarkable journey and there is still such a long way to go.
But we have made it thus far. Those beginning days, I was wishing for my children to be 4 and 7. I thought of how lovely it would be as I sit through another IV attempt, another uncertain sleepless night in the hospital of what will the morning bring. When will we be able to go home. What will life be like when we get there. How will we all make it through.
I never imagined it could be so good. Again, thank you. I thank you. My sweet Ian thanks you. My husband thanks you. My daughter thanks you. May the next chapter of this journey be more exciting, in a positive way, than the first.
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| lots of fun a the beach but wanted to be carried down near the water. very out of character for him but might have been all the people there that day. |
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| once he got mommy and daddy together, he didn't want us to part from each other or him |
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| he loves to bring mike and i together to kiss... it's the funniest thing. maybe he knows how stressful our lives are and wants to make sure we connect. he's just a love-maker, this boy! |
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| on his actual birthday, taking a break from breathing treatments at the aquarium with sister |
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| the day after in class with his friends and hannah. i brought fruit letters, to spell their names, as a birthday treat |
Happy Birthday, Ian!!!
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