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Happy birthday: I Love You Stinky Face

Happy birthday Kaleb! Every birthday a person experiences is special but I'm not sure one has held so much significance for me as your first birthday. In some ways I feel that it is my own, since it signifies the beginning of my own transformation.

I think back to this past year filled with all the tears, heartaches, prayers, cuddles, hope, and love. I am reminded of our bedtime story, I Love You Stinky Face. I read it to you each night while you sit on my lap nestled against me. Yes, it's the one that you try to hold and turn the pages while I'm still reading. At least once or twice during the story you will turn your little head to watch me with your big beautiful eyes as I read.

I love that book. It's a very cute story. The other night while rocking you and giving you a few extra cuddles I read the back of the book. The back of the book speaks to the unconditional love of a mother. In the book the mother's love is tested. This year has tested us but I hope you have always felt reassured of my love for you. It also mentions that the illustrations with their calm colors and pictures can make the scary stuff seem not so scary. I can vouch that you made what would seem scary and down right impossible, seem not so scary.  So while I read I must admit a revised version comes to mind, our own special version of the book...


"I love you, my wonderful child," said momma as she tucked me in. But I had a question.

But momma what if I was born a very tiny preemie?  Would you still love me then?

"If you were a very tiny preemie, I would sit by your side so you wouldn't be alone. I would begin to learn the language of the NICU so I could better understand your needs and I would say, 'I love you my very tiny preemie.'"

But momma, but momma, what if I was connected to monitors and had to live in the NICU instead of going home with you and Daddy?

"My heart would be very sad and look forward to bringing you home but I would come spend each day with you in your temporary home. And if you came with monitors I wouldn't mind, I would learn to handle all of those monitors as I pick you up and hold you tight and whisper, 'I love you my precious NICU baby.' "

But momma, but momma, what if I came with a diagnosis of Down syndrome and an extra chromosome that you hadn't expected. And that extra chromosome meant I would learn things in my own time and way? 

That extra chromosome might catch us off guard but we would work to figure out this journey together. As you show us life from a different perspective I would work to be the mother you need and make sure you have every possible opportunity. That chromosome would only confirm what I already knew; that you are simply extra special and uniquely you, and I would say, 'I love you my Down right perfect child.' "

But momma, what if when I did come home I came with oxygen and monitors and even ate my food through a tube in my stomach? 

"Then I would give your breastmilk through a tube if that is what you needed. And I would learn to handle your monitors and oxygen needs as that is what you need to grow big and strong. And I would lay you in your crib and say, 'I love you my sweet baby, accessories and all.' "


But momma, but momma, what if I had to have heart surgery that made you feel as if your heart was the one that would break? 

"Then I would hold you tight until it was time to hand you over to your medical team. I would be worried sick but I would let my heart break if that meant yours would be fixed. And afterwards I would say, 'I love you my little heart warrior.' " 


But momma, but momma, what if my future was a scary unknown that sometimes makes you cry with worry?

"Then I would look right into your eyes and say, 'I love you my child.' Because my child you are more than your medical file. You are my child, and every life is a big scary unknown. That is why we take it one day at a time and enjoy what we have today."

But momma what if my first year made your heart have cracks in it from breaking in ways you never thought possible? 

"My dear, those cracks are not really cracks at all, but rather stretch marks from where my heart would grow in ways I never thought possible. Those stretch marks would be created from new found love and respect for your daddy and brother, medical professionals, fellow parents, and you. Sure it would feel at times as if it were breaking but I would gain a lot more than I originally perceived as lost. I would kiss your chubby cheeks and say, 'I love you my mighty miracle.' "


Today I am so happy to celebrate your birthday and the first year of your life. You did it Kaleb. 

I love you my wonderful child. Happy first birthday. 

(Inspired by I Love You Stinky Face by Lisa McCourt)

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