Could it really be?

Could it really be that my firstborn is 18 years old today?!  Happy Birthday, my amazing son!  I can hardly believe it.  What a long road it has been getting you here safe and sound, son.  When you were placed in my arms 18 years ago, as every Mother, I had great dreams for my sweet little bundle.  You were so tiny but very quickly we realized that you were very sick and might not stay long on this earth with us.  What a crushing blow that information was!  While other Mothers left the hospital dreaming of their little bundles' potential, I was on my knees begging praying to God that you would get to see your crib, first home, a sunrise; hear the ocean; and feel the grass under your cute BIG feet.  There was so much I wanted for you and the time seemed so short.  However, through God's grace, your path was to stay on earth and for that I will be forever grateful.  In the early years, I never could have dreamed that you would grow so tall, strong, and witty ... that you would indeed feel the grass under your still BIG feet and not just hear the ocean but swim in it ... that you would climb mountains to see God's glory and become a naturalist who has a wonderful gift with animals.  Happy Birthday, son! 





After the big teen's three cardiac arrests in his first 5 months of life, he had open heart surgery at 6 months of age.  The surgery turned out to be so complicated that he could not be moved from the RECOVERY room for more than a week. Then he spent another week in Intensive Care before needing to return to the operating room for yet more surgery!





But look at him now...the birthday boy!!


Blessings, Dawn