It couldn't have been a more perfect day. It didn't matter that the sun was shining or even that there was a perfect gentle breeze. It didn't matter that the temperature stayed a comfortable mid-70s range all day. It didn't matter for the obvious reasons. But it did feel like a special gift. The perfect weather to match a perfect day. It was a busy, bustling day with details to attend to, but there was a balance to it all. We wanted today to be special and planned those details accordingly, but it would have been a special day without the balloons, cake or decorations. From the moment Gabriel made his appearance, there was a joy present in the entire room. He is a child that radiates joy with his giant, wide-open mouth smiles and infectious giggles. His peek-a-boo grin and bright, inquisitive eyes draw you in. We already knew this, and have done our best to share it with you through this venue over the past year, but it is different in person. It is humbling to see so many respond with sheer joy at the smile of your child. If you are a parent, then you already know that anyone who loves or shows any kind of favor on your child, wins your heart as well. You already know your kids are special and if others can recognize that as well, then they are certainly quite discerning in your book, right? Anyway, I digress, as usual.
I just looked at the time. A year ago Gabriel was newly baptised and fighting for his life as we stood by and watched. We had only gentle touch and earnest, begging prayers to offer him. The nurses took pictures with their camera and ours and I remember as Josh pushed me back down the long hallways from Riley to my room over at IU, I wondered what kind of scrapbook I could make out of a few hours worth of pictures...if that is all we would have. What a strange, almost disconnected and random thought to have at such a time. The brain takes strange journeys during times of stress I suppose. Somehow we did sleep some that night and returned to Gabriel's side a few hours later, thankful we at least seemed to have a little more time. Today I had a 38 page scrapbook to display, mainly chronicling only our time at Riley. There was also another beautiful book on display, that I hadn't planned on. Kaci, together with the rest of the Wittmer clan, had used a site that converts blog sites into books. It was given to us just as the party started and we both humbly and proudly laid it on our donation table. What a year, what a ride. Just four months ago Gabriel's only source of nutrition came from a feeding tube, with only "practice" in the eating realm permitted. He was a champion refluxer and had a lot of ground to make up. Six months ago, he was on oxygen and a monitor, fussed if much of anything went in his mouth, besides a pacifier, was getting "brushed" for desensitization therapy 6-8 times every day, took anti-seizure medication, 3-4 breathing treatments per day, and was barely rolling over. Nine months ago, he was preparing to have a feeding tube surgically inserted, seemed to reflux or spit up nearly as much as he got in his nasal feeding tube, was at high risk for respiratory illness including rapid deterioration or going back on the ventilator if he got the flu. Today we watched him eat almost an entire cupcake and smile through the frosting smeared all over his face. I think that is all I need to say.
I just looked at the time. A year ago Gabriel was newly baptised and fighting for his life as we stood by and watched. We had only gentle touch and earnest, begging prayers to offer him. The nurses took pictures with their camera and ours and I remember as Josh pushed me back down the long hallways from Riley to my room over at IU, I wondered what kind of scrapbook I could make out of a few hours worth of pictures...if that is all we would have. What a strange, almost disconnected and random thought to have at such a time. The brain takes strange journeys during times of stress I suppose. Somehow we did sleep some that night and returned to Gabriel's side a few hours later, thankful we at least seemed to have a little more time. Today I had a 38 page scrapbook to display, mainly chronicling only our time at Riley. There was also another beautiful book on display, that I hadn't planned on. Kaci, together with the rest of the Wittmer clan, had used a site that converts blog sites into books. It was given to us just as the party started and we both humbly and proudly laid it on our donation table. What a year, what a ride. Just four months ago Gabriel's only source of nutrition came from a feeding tube, with only "practice" in the eating realm permitted. He was a champion refluxer and had a lot of ground to make up. Six months ago, he was on oxygen and a monitor, fussed if much of anything went in his mouth, besides a pacifier, was getting "brushed" for desensitization therapy 6-8 times every day, took anti-seizure medication, 3-4 breathing treatments per day, and was barely rolling over. Nine months ago, he was preparing to have a feeding tube surgically inserted, seemed to reflux or spit up nearly as much as he got in his nasal feeding tube, was at high risk for respiratory illness including rapid deterioration or going back on the ventilator if he got the flu. Today we watched him eat almost an entire cupcake and smile through the frosting smeared all over his face. I think that is all I need to say.
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