September 19th, take 3...

Dearest Eve,

Happy Second Birthday! I cannot express in words what these two years have meant to me, but I'm going to give it a try. Your dad and I were talking last night about what we were doing September 18th, 2009. Getting ready for bed in the hospital, going to attempt a good nights sleep. You were born at 6:37pm on Saturday September 19th after seven minutes of pushing. I got to see you sweet face for the first time. It was at that moment I truly knew what a sacrifice it would be to give you back. Oh how I loved you immediately. I have been learning scripture since I was a little munchkin myself, and I know (in my head) that everything belongs to God. He made it all, and we are lovely, because we are loved. But oh how I wanted you to belong to me forever. That first night you struggled to breathe. I looked at your dad at one point and said "How much longer do you think she can breathe like this?" and we cried. And we cried. Then we cried some more. The nurses eventually came in and told us we had to sleep and they held you under the condition that if anything out of the norm should happen, I mean ANYTHING, they would bring you back and wake us up immediately. A few hours later when we saw you again you were beaming. I knew in my heart at that point that you were going to make it.

September 19th, 2010 was a day of sharing you with friends and family. We arranged your first birthday bash with meticulous planning. We wanted all of your friends, family, and loyal fans to be able to come see you in our home! You woke up sick and it was a little hectic of a day for all of us. We had to sit you in a bumbo chair to take your first birthday picture because you still weren't able to sit up on your own. It was in that chair that you took your first big bite of birthday cake and shared in my sugar addiction. Ohhhh it was good (: I longed so badly to see you without oxygen those 17 months that you were hooked up 24-7 and felt a little robbed of the joy of looking at your unhindered face. But, look where we are now. You needed it, you lived with it, and taught me to endure trials with grace. For "you know that the testing of your faith develops perserverence. Let perserverence finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." You figured out that one way before I did (:


And September 19th, 2011. Today. What can I say... you light up my life. I could have sang you Happy Birthday 100 times today just to watch your face light up as you bounced up and down and clapped. I think I made it to about 35 songs (: You have taught me what pure JOY is. It's not rushing through life to get from point A to point B as quickly as possible while trying to acquire as much as possible inbetween. You got a card today from Miss Kelli at the pharmacy where we get your prescriptions. Why? Because you engage people, you smile and say hi to a perfect stranger. I think there is a depth in your eyes that has developed from two years of medical hardship and softened your heart, not to mention your mother's soul. I am so blessed to be your mom that I almost feel bad for people who don't get to know you in some way. It has been really fun to write about you so people around the world can have a glimpse of the joy I get to have every day. You have your dads sense of humor which is just so darn funny. Thanks for loving me, Eve. I couldn't ask for more.

You have come so far in this past year physically, mentally, emotionally, relationally. Taking you to the doctor has become a fun time to show everyone how much you have changed. Keep going girl, you know what it takes and I'll be right here cheering you on (:

Love, Mom.