It's Great to be 8!

Sunday was my sweet Ian's 8th Birthday. It was 8 short years ago that terror struck our hearts and our little man was whisked away in a helicopter due to a collapsed lung. What would become of this outcome we did not know. Days turned into weeks and I was yet to hold him...that is what I remember most. I DID NOT GET TO HOLD MY BABY...Seven weeks old and I had not held him in my arms, kissed his head, smell his neck, all those things you do, those things that you assume you, as a mother will do right away...I did not get to do. Instead I looked at my son through a plastic incubator, hooked up to heaven knows how many machines. Tubes running all over the place, needles poking every inch of his tiny body. This was NOT how I imagined his BIRTHDAY to be...but it was.

Now, days have passed, years have passed. We have encountered too many doctors visits, shots, sutures, hospital stays, and worried nights, and now 8 years later, our sick little boy is Strong, Brave, Valiant, Humble, he is a constant example to me of what we can accomplish if we try. He is much like my father...who he is named after. He has many of his qualities. We did not know that at the time, when we gave him this name but it has come quite evident over the years that it is a VERY fitting name.

My sweet Ian, how I love every inch of you. How blessed we are to have you be a part of our family!! I will forever remember the day you came to us, the day we brought you home from the hospital, the day we had to take you back to the hospital, and the day you came home again. Your life did not start off as easy as we had hoped, but you have surprised us all and have come through with flying colors. You are a strong young man, I pray that will stay with you for the rest of your life. I pray that the Lord will continue to bless you, as you have blessed me and the rest of our family. We are all better because of your presence. You are truly a miracle baby, my miracle, my blessing. I love you!!