I'm Thankful for Owen

Many of you don't know the whole story of Aaron and Owen, and there's really just no way I could tell it here. It really should be a book. But I have to say that this holiday season I am most thankful for Owen. It's not that I don't love the other two, or even that I am not grateful for them, but it's just the miracle of Owen's first year that I am grateful for this season.

We got a call on Wednesday, Sept 5, 2007 at 4:30pm from DSHS. They asked us to come pick up Aaron and Owen as soon as we could. (there's a lot of history behind that call, but it was just that quick.) Mike was riding his bike home from work. I told Delores the social worker at the time, that we would leave after he got home and changed. It was an hour down and an hour back. We arrived home just after 8pm. (again I'm leaving out many details)

I got 1 hour of sleep that night--maybe. Both boys were sick, but Owen especially. He would eat and then cough so hard he would throw up all he had eaten. I had one bottle that he came with and Luke's old bottles were in storage. I went to the grocery store at 1am and banged on the window until they let me in. I almost kissed them as I checked out with my new bottles. All that night I couldn't keep food down him and he hardly slept at all. He was miserable and I was terrified he wouldn't live through the night.

In the morning I called our pediatrician (Luke's) hoping they would accept the DSHS insurance. They did! I took all the boys in first thing. We started round the clock breathing treatments, every 4 hours on Owen. He needed them to be able to eat and sleep. I learned how to work the machine, how to hold him right, the best position for feeding, etc. He was a tricky baby. My very good friend and RS President at the time came with me to the doctors office. She picked up the Rx's and later brought me dinner. I'm not sure what she had planned for that day, but it didn't get done. I never would have made it through that day with out her--and Dr. Pepper. (= My mom came on Friday and stayed the weekend. She was so great. Where would the world be without mothers?

It's been along bumpy road since their arrival. Owen was hospitalized in February for RSV and pneumonia. He was behind in all the milestones at every check up, but each check-up got a little better. Somehow around 10 months old, he just came alive. The Rx's started working and his body began to heal. He started crawling, and sitting and laughing and I guess he just started to feel good. He turns 18 months this Monday. You would never be able to guess the troubles he had. All the times I worried about him, and now he is a typical healthy handsome boy. He's tough and strong, yet tender and sweet. He's just easy to hang out with and play with. He's a teddy bear. He's every mother's dream baby. Just easy, good, and so lovable. I read somewhere that Owen means "mighty warrior." He sure fought to get better and didn't cry as much as he should have.

The other night I was changing him into his pajamas. He leaned over and hugged me. He gives the best bear hugs. I felt his open mouth on my neck, teeth and all. I almost jumped back shell shocked from other's bites in the past. But I didn't because this was Owen and he's never bit me before. He proceeded to give me a big blow fish/raspberry right on the neck, like I have done to him so many times. He pulled back to look at my face, laughing with a big smile--so proud of his new trick. I was cracking up--almost crying. He did it again and again. It was priceless.

Here's a shot of our family the very first Sunday after we received Aaron and Owen. The boys were 3 years, 13 months and 3 months.

I'm not sure if you can tell from the picture, Owen was super sick. His poor face all puffy and his body just limp. I'm sure you can see how tired Mike and I were from the deep dark circles under our eyes.

Here's a video of Owen laughing. It's one of my favorites. He's messy from his lunch, but he has a happy full belly.

This was in July, his curls are longer now, but the laugh is just as wonderful and he still has all his arm rolls of baby fat. And yes, I make a fool out of myself regularly, just to hear his laugh.

People say the boys are so lucky to have us. And I suppose they are. But in my heart I feel so blessed and so fortunate to have them. They have changed my life so much for the better and brought so much life and happiness. This is what I am grateful for this season.