(Belated) Birthday, Sahuarita Style!

It was the event we'd waited months for...celebrating Collin's FIRST birthday!! The party was held at the waterpark area of our club. We had it last evening (at Uncle Ryan's suggestion) and it was the perfect time as the sun was setting and a cool wind blew through to cool things off. We had a "rubber ducky" as the theme (Collin LOVES ducks!) and it fit in well with the pool as a back-drop.

We put together party bags with candy (from the pinata which was NOT injured during the festivities), little birthday rubber duckies, bubbles and beach balls which had a floating ducky inside each one. We made special cupcakes (in order to follow Collin's special diet) which had low fat, non-dairy and very low sugar...they had blue frosting and "floating" in the frosting were miniature duckies! Auntie Alexa blew up yellow helium balloons (in fact, she helped with all of the preparation details), which Collin absolutely loved. (Know any little kids who don't like balloons? Ha ha) It was festive and colorful and Collin was the perfect little Guest of Honor!!

The kids played in the waterpark...Collin is definitely a little "fish" like his aunties; he LOVES the water and now says "watah!" ha ha He got lots of really nice gifts, it was so much fun and I loved being able to share this special memory with Erin and Collin and the rest of our family. We only wish Collin's Daddy and the rest of our family & friends all over the world could have been there to enjoy it with us!

(P.s.-I apologize for the pictures being in random & sometimes "backwards" order. Please enjoy the pictures, anyway!)

Once upon a time...

I sat in a birthing room at the University Medical Center of Tucson and listened to a surgeon describe my precious grandson's chance of living past eight weeks as "about a ten percent chance". I vividly recall Collin's first day in the NICU...how scared we were, how foreign all of the protocol was and yet how kind and caring the wonderful staff of nurses, p.a.s and nurse practitioners were. (I even had a soft spot for the sweet young nursing students who manned the reception desk!)

I believe, with all of my heart, that those special people were God's instruments in the miracle which Collin's life has been. All of the special cares (especially the ones involving Collin's parents) each made an impact on the ability of Collin to live the wonderful life he is currently living. I KNOW that certain phrases,images and experiences changed Erin from a terrified new mom to a confident caregiver who gives the current medical team a "run for their money".

Going back to the NICU with a healthy (mostly) Collin was bittersweet. Turning the corner at the end of the Maternity Ward hallway is way too literal for comfort. Walking between the walls of picture memorials to former NICU patients is (and was) emotionally draining; yesterday my emotions ran the gamut from dread to exhilaration and a tiny bit of guilt that our little angel actually has made it OUT of that wing and is literally running back down it again! It makes me yearn to know the "end" of his story...every detail before it happens, about how he slays this "dragon" and lives happily ever after! Unfortunately it's real life and I have to watch as it unfolds.

Special nurses Gene and Cher (you've read about and seen their pictures on this blog before) were there; Cher came in on her day off. We were able to see other nurses (equally as caring and wonderful, but Cher and Gene had worked as Collin's main caregivers and definitely worked their hearts out to save and sustain Collin's life.) The nurse practitioner, Lisa, was there; it was awesome to watch our confident and intelligent Erin discuss the current "gastroschisis protocols" with amazing Lisa, who listened intently. A special treat was when Erin and Collin ran into Dr. Thai (the neonatal intensive care unit doctor who told Erin that she had to "buck up" and deal with Collin's illness at one point). Erin credits her with instilling the special resolve she has to champion for Collin when it comes to his medical care.

Please, enjoy the pictures. If you are inclined, say a special prayer for the special individuals who have answered the calling of caring for ill children. God bless them all!

They're Here!!

Erin and Collin made a surprise (to Grandpa N) visit to Tucson today! They will be here for a week and we have lots of fun planned! We spent today at Uncle Ryan and Abby's house...they made awesome hamburgers and we also had leftovers from Grandpa's birthday party. Collin and his aunties entertained us all with their dancing, paper airplane making and general adorableness (is that even a word?!)! We are so blessed and happy to have them here with us.

We'll be celebrating Collin's birthday belatedly this Tuesday at our pool. If you are in the area and would like to join us, please contact me!