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19 Years Ago, I Wasn't Sure I'd Be Saying This Now: Happy Birthday!!

I had a remarkably easy life growing up.  Oh, sure, I had moments that I thought were incredibly hard--like moving to a new house during high school--but, in retrospect, were nothing. 

Nineteen years ago, I had my first real challenge in life, one that I can still look back on and think, "Yep, that was hard!"  I was pregnant with my youngest son, and started having problems at 10 weeks.  One doctor even suggested abortion, but we didn't want that. I spent the next 20 weeks on bed rest, mentally willing this baby to just hold on.  Due to a lot of prayer, me physically doing nothing, family and friends doing everything, and a very capable medical staff, youngest son managed to arrive alive. 



He didn't even weigh 3 pounds, but he fought hard and was out of the hospital after 6 weeks.  A week later, he again found himself in a hospital.  One week after that, he was home again.  I found myself constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop.  His long-term prognosis remained uncertain, and it seemed like we were always at the doctor's office or a hospital.   I learned how fragile health can be, but gradually learned to relax as he reached developmental milestones.

Leaving the hospital for the first time at 6 weeks old and a whopping 4 1/2 pounds!

We celebrated with the traditional cake and ice cream on his first birthday, and on subsequent birthdays, too--except for the years he requested birthday pie, instead.  (He's quirky that way!)



Everyone loves him; he's never lacked friends, and regardless of the grade he earned, his report card comments always said, "Is a pleasure to have in class." He's funny, smart, kind, determined, dependable, and a hard worker.  (And not easily embarrassed--he told me not to worry about keeping his birthday post short and sweet!)

Happy birthday, son!

Thankful thought:  Thanks for family and friends who provided prayers, countless hours of service and a listening ear to a bedridden mom.  Thanks to Dr. Tonya Sorensen who delivered youngest son, and for the neonatologists and Patty,his primary nurse, for caring for him those first six weeks. 

Comments

  1. reganApril 21, 2012 at 8:39 AM

    Isn't it amazing how things can be put into perspective!

    So glad he was able to group up to be such a sweet young man!

    You have a beautiful family!

    ReplyDelete
  2. BiancaApril 21, 2012 at 8:40 AM

    Congratulations on this milestone, thank the Lord you can! Wish him a happy birthday from all over here, a Big Dutch Hug so to say ;-))
    Have a great day!
    Bianca

    ReplyDelete

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