Decade Plus 1 = Our Miracle

Eleven years ago we went to a pool party. It was hot, it was crowded, and I was 100 weeks pregnant give or take a year. No one understood why I refused to take my swollen body into the crowded volleyball arena called a pool, but I knew something was going to happen quickly with this baby.

One hour after the party ended, we were at the hospital. Five hours later, Checkered decided to turn green and try to pass out. His explanation was that he had been up all night. At the time, I chose to ignore that comment as the epidural wasn't working. Then, just as the sun was bringing light to the day, our first son was born while Checkered sat down and drank orange juice.

That boy proved to be the sweetest baby ever born into our family. He was and remains the most even-keeled temperament here. He is kind. He is patient. He is considerate in the most adult-like manner. He is also the member of this family who has faced the most difficult challenges.

Through this beautiful boy we have learned so much. We have learned how one little virus and the dehydration it causes can lead to doctors screaming and ambulance rides and frightening hospital stays. We have learned about Oral Motor Apraxia and Duane Syndrome. We have learned about speech therapy and occupational therapy and physical therapy and eye patching. And we have learned to steel ourselves when experts tell us our son will struggle learning how to read, will struggle learning how to ride a bike, will always have deliberate, disjointed speaking skills, and will always have a head turn to avoid seeing double.

We've learned about tenaciousness. We've learned compassion. We've learned trust.

But most importantly, we've learned that God does hear prayers and He does heal. We don't know why the Lord chose to work through medical experts and beyond them to heal our boy, but He did.

And this boy? This boy who was first called, "handicapped" when he wasn't yet two years old? This boy who could only say the utterance, "Uh" for years? This boy whose vision was terribly impaired in one eye by age 2? This boy who still sees double if he looks straight ahead? This boy who suffered so many more issues than I feel comfortable posting?

This boy turned 11 yesterday. He reads! And he reads beyond grade level. He has fluent speech. He has 20/20 vision in both eyes and perfect depth perception. He is a great soccer goalie and scored a goal in hockey last week! He earned straight A's last year. He gave a speech and was elected to Student Council. Just call him "Bullseye"on the archery and bb gun ranges. And there is far more than I could ever tell you in one post. He is our miracle and as my mom calls him, " Our Wonder Boy."

Happy birthday, you precious, precious boy!