Happy Birthday William!

Happy, happy, happy birthday to our sweet William! You have brought more happiness to my life than I could have imagined. You brighten our home, you lift my spirits, you bring meaning and direction to my life, and you are the squishiest to kiss and hug. I adore you to pieces and feel so lucky to call you mine!

Twelve months ago to this day, and while in the delivery room of the hospital, I dreamed of this day. The day that you could breathe a little easier, the day you could eat a little better, the day your surgery would be behind you, and the day you were in your daily routine. I knew your first year would be rough, but I had no clue it would be this rough. I look back at the year 2013 with a sigh of relief that we made it to your first birthday. I will admit, although sadly, there were some days I thought you would never turn one, and so with that, your father and I say good riddance to last year and welcome this new year with a new energy and hope for your future. I do not want you to think, that I would take away last year. Of course it tested every ounce of our faith and endurance, but the lessons we learned were worth the price we paid. And of course, you were the ultimate prize at the end. And we made it. You made it. You have no idea how proud I am of you and your progress. It is nothing short of miraculous of where you are and what you have accomplished. You have hit your milestones, (even with open-heart surgery, gastrointestinal surgery and nearly 4 months in the hospital) and I have watched you battle your way through therapy, feeding and even your surgeries. You are a warrior and have fought for your life this year. You have taught me to not give up. To offer smiles even during the hardest of times. You have taught me compassion, love and patience. You have turned my life upside down and inside out and forced me out of my comfort zone. I have learned more these last 18 months (since we learned about your heart defect and DS) than I have my whole life combined. And for that, I am thankful, grateful and indebted to you. I have learned about what matters in life, about turning my will over to the Lord’s, to accept His timetable, and to go forward in faith. I do not profess to have all the answers, and there is still so much more to learn, but as your mother, and on your birthday, I honor you. I could not let another day go by without writing down my thoughts and feelings I have for you, and how I am eternally grateful to have you in our home. Your father, Cooper and I love you to pieces, as well as your extended family and we are blessed to have your infectious smiles, jazz hands and pure spirit in our lives. Happy first birthday my sweet boy. We made it!