Happy Birthday

4 years ago today, 7:43pm to be exact, I gave birth to the sweetest, most adorable little boy!  Just like your sister, you had a rough start.  I wasn't able to hold you for more than 2 seconds, but in those 2 seconds, I was madly in love with you.  You had the cutest newborn baby cry, I will never forget.  You were retracting, so our A.MAZING doctor put you on oxygen, where you remained for the next 12 hours.  After a couple of x-rays, it was determined the reason you were retracting was because you had a LOT of fluid in your lungs.  I was able to come into the nursery to nurse you once.  Because the epidural didn't work, mommy was given Stadol to ease the pain.  Not only did it ease the labor pain, but it made me extremely tired.  After I nursed you shortly after you were born, I went and settled in for the night.  My motherly instincts woke me up at 5am because I hadn't nursed you yet.  Daddy went and got a wheel chair and wheeled me across the hospital to the nursery.  As we came through the doors, I heard your cry.  I was nervous.  Scared.  Mad.  When I found you, nurse Mary had just finished putting an IV in your tiny wrist.  I was nervous, because the nurses didn't come get me to feed you.  I was scared, because you were crying.  I was mad, because the nurses didn't have the courtesy to come and wake your Daddy and I up to let us know what was going on.  You were in an isolette with oxygen.  I was able to stick my hands in the arm openings to touch you.  To let you know Mommy was there.  I talked to you.  I told you I loved you.  I started to cry.  I couldn't stop crying.  After being in the isolette over night, 12 hours, I was FINALLY able to hold you.  And hold you, I did!!!  I couldn't put you down.  I wanted to hold you.  Touch your baby soft skin.  Inspect every inch of your tiny 6 lb 3 oz 21.5" long body.  You. Were. Perfect.  In every sense.  I was smitten.  I was taken.  I. Was. In. Love.  Then, on the afternoon of the 5th, your blood work came back. Your Bili levels had spiked.  I couldn't hold you any more.  You had to go under the photo therapy lights.  The tears started again.  I couldn't stop.  Normally, new mommy's and baby's are discharged after 48 hours.  We stayed an extra 2 days.  Our doctor wanted to make sure the fluid in your lungs was gone and continue giving you antibiotics.  Finally, on January 8th, Daddy and I got to bring you home.  Our life changed forever.  Even though you were a VERY colicky baby, up until you turned 6 months, you were still the sweetest, most adorable baby boy!  A lot has happened the last 4 years.  You got a little sister, that you LOVE.  She is your best friend.  We moved...several times...hopefully, we are in our LAST HOME for a VERY LONG TIME!!!  We got a puppy.  We ended up giving puppy Minnie to Grandma and Grandpa Young because she was too much for Mommy to handle.  You started preschool.  You LOVE going to school and can't wait for Monday and Tuesday, so you can go.  You met your other best friend, Landon in school.  He was also our neighbor.  This school year, you have already met all of you IEP's that were set last March.  You were diagnosed with ADHD and SID (Sensory Integration Dysfunction) last June.  You started Ritalin last September.  See, a lot has happened!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HUNTER!!!!

Mommy, Daddy and Paizlei LOVE you!!!!

We are so blessed to have you as part of our family.

You bring more joy, love, mischief, laughter, and fun to our family.