It's His Birthday...

Today is his birthday. It's been five years. Five years. It feels like a big milestone. He is five years old today. We are five years as "special" parents. We've made it five years.

Five years ago this day was without a doubt the weirdest and hardest day of my life. This tiny little boy came bursting into our lives, completely unexpected. The anticipation was great awaiting the arrival of our second child. I was one week overdue and we spent April 20, 2011 calling the hospital every few hours to see if they had space for me to come in for an induction. By the evening I was finally in labor and able to go in. I was excited and felt like an old pro because I'd done this once before. This time I was pregnant for two weeks longer than the first time and even more eager to meet this baby and experience the joy of seeing and holding your newborn. But that joy lasted for only a moment. Then I was holding the tiniest little boy and wondering who in the world this was and then they took him and we knew. We knew that something wasn't right. And just like that, joy left the day and in it's place was the strangest feeling. I think my only thought and prayer was,  "Please Lord, let him live."

And oh how he lives! He is happy and endearing. I think people sort of find him irresistible. He loves everyone and it seems that everyone who knows him loves him back :) I'm so thankful that God put us in the place we are for this season. Liam has a ministry. We truly believe that. For those of you who know him and see him I think you know this. And for those of you who aren't here, I wish you could see it. I know God has used and will continue to use Liam to minister to people. Our Father is so good! He perfectly placed us right where we are to be surrounded with the support Liam needs and people who love him and our family. His goodness is overwhelming to me.

Liam wanted one thing for his birthday, chocolate cake. Which of course we will have with dinner tonight. And he wanted people to eat dinner with him. He wanted all of his grandparents and he wanted another sweet and special family to join us. And of course, who can say no to Liam? The grandparents can't be here but his friends will be. A family who do not have any children close to his age and Liam loves every single one of them, kids and adults, like they're his best friends in the world. Thanks for loving him guys :)

Of course this is Liam's day but my best friend said to me today that it's also my day. It's my special mama birthday. God has used Liam to minister to me as well. We are facing a big transition. The move to Kindergarten. It has stirred up all the feels, just like his birth, diagnosis, and transition to preschool did. All I can do is trust. Trust that God loves him and holds him in His hand. I'm not always good at that.

But today we celebrate with all the joy. All the joy we lost five years ago today replaced with a joy we could not have imagined. We celebrate five years of ups and downs. Five years of knowing him and loving him. Five years of facing that he's different but knowing that he's special. Five years. We wouldn't trade them. He's ours and we could not be more proud of our sweet Liam James. Happy Birthday little man! We love, love, love you!