Isaiah is TWO

Dear Isaiah,

Today, we celebrate.  Today, at 6:49 in the morning, you officially turned TWO years old!   I can't help but lay awake at that time, thinking back like it was just yesterday, remembering hearing your cry from the warming room as I laid yearning to hold you in my arms, as the doctor silenced the bustling operating room so that we could hear you.

Joy.  I felt joy.  

I didn't think you'd be able to cry, Isaiah; I had been warned that you'd be in so much pain from all of your ribs breaking from your expanding lungs that you'd be unable to cry.  

I remember living in the moment, soaking in every second, because I had the word lethal still in my head and I was so scared for you.  

But look at you.

That lethal diagnosis wasn't right in your case, and I am grateful every day. You proved those predictions wrong, buddy, and you continue to defy the odds.

We've been through some scary stuff the last two years: feeding tubes, respiratory failure, breathing machines, fractures, hydrocephalus, MRIs, X-Rays, surgeries....but you grow stronger, despite your challenges.  You continue to thrive and grow and do YOU.

Keep going baby.

Happy Birthday, we love you, Isaiah!

Love,

Momma and Daddy <3

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Hi everyone, sorry for the break I've taken from the blog...I'll explain it at some point, once I can find the words.  We're actually away right now, with Dave for work so that we can be together as a family for Isaiah's birthday. <3 I'm hoping to sit down and write about Isaiah's birthday party/cake for Friday. And hopefully I can get past whatever writer's block I have to post again. <3

Dear Isaiah

My dearest Isaiah,

As I write this, it is Wednesday, July 8, 2015.  It's just before 9pm and poor daddy had a long work day and I anticipate his arrival home.  I've just bathed you, read with you, and sang with you.  Your cuddles were extra sweet tonight.  After reading I Love You So..., I held you on my shoulder.  I felt you push off of your legs, trying to burrow into my neck as much as you could while we sat together.  I felt your cheek against mine and you sucked on your paci as you relaxed.

There was a time I felt like I'd never get to hold you like that.
I had worries of mattress pads, tubes and wires everywhere.

I've got your medical equipment all set up, ready for you to go to sleep before I slip it on your face (c-pap) and foot (pulse ox).  I placed you in your crib; you rolled over to your right side like you always do, grabbed a hold of your blankets as I placed them on you and wiggled into your comfy zone.  You hysterically laughed in your crib for a half hour before you went off to dreamland.  You feel it too, don't you?  That excitement?

Our lives are about to change.  Your life is about to change.  Your world is about to open up in such a magnificent way.

Tomorrow your custom wheelchair will arrive.

A wheelchair that doctors didn't believe would be appropriate for you.  They believed that just pushing a chair with your arms would break the bones in your arms.

But your bones are stronger than they think.  You are stronger than they think.

And we proved that thanks to Jack, his family, and friends.

Making his way down the hallway.

A video posted by mrsvickymartin (@mrsvickymartin) on Mar 19, 2015 at 1:47pm PDT

But now I sit here, happily anticipating you getting into your wheelchair.  You will be free to move where you'd like to move (except, no stairs, kid.), when you'd like to move.  To discover the world your way.

I've been asked how I am feeling about you getting your wheelchair.  If I've "accepted" that you will never crawl, walk, or run...What I have accepted is that your mobility is up to you.  Your body will decide what you can do.  You will decide what you want to push your body to do.  Maybe you'll decide you want to try walking in a year, maybe five years, maybe never.

And I we will support you 100%.

I am feeling excited about your wheelchair.  I am thrilled to see you roll on your own, to move alongside others.  I'm even excited for you to get into things you shouldn't getting into.

You have come such a long way, kiddo.  You made it through a birth that caused between 12-18 fractures (and that was a c-section!).  You've made it through three NICU stays, respiratory failure, needing oxygen, a bi-pap, a c-pap, a feeding tube, fractures at home, two surgeries, a PICU stay, a diagnosis of hydrocephalus...

Despite your obstacles, you smile.  I hope you use this tool to its fullest potential.  I hope it brings you where you want to go and helps you to continue to develop into the strong almost two year old that we love so much.

It's time to show the world that you've got moves kid, go get 'em.

Love,
Momma <3

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Dear Friends,
We're taking these next few days to get Isaiah comfortably introduced to his wheels.  Update on Monday, full of video and photos of Isaiah on the move! <3  His chair arrived during his PT appointment and after some adjusting from the DME and Isaiah's awesome PT, he is able to get rolling on his own.  He is LOVING it.
Love,
Vicky and Dave