Ohmystinkinheck

Kenny, Kenny, Kenny,

This is not going to be a long tribute son - you are more about action anyway. I am so thankful for the boy God is growing you to be. Your sweet, peacemaking spirit. The way you know just when to say, “Mommy, you look pretty in that shirt.” I’m amazed by how aware you are of people’s emotional needs around you and how unselfishly you pour out your encouragement. I see you already have the gift of exhortation. What a precious gift for your future wife to bask in.

There have been days…days and nights, when we thought we might lose you. From day one we dealt with everything from reflux (you sputtering and turning purple the night of your birth was no laughing matter), RAD, and I thought you just might be allergic to everything around you for a while.

So many mad dashes to the hospital, with you barely able to breathe, me in some phase of undress and your siblings in pajamas and once, without shoes. I’m sure we looked like the dregs of the human race, but who thinks of clothes and shoes or hairbrushes when their son is fighting for breath? Not me.

Sleepless nights of cradling you into my body so I could feel your heartbeat and know you were with me. At times I couldn’t sleep without you - my heart could not relax into the peace needed for sleep. Other nights exhaustion took over.

It has been more than a year since your time at Texas Children’s Hospital and you have grown so strong in the past year. You’ve always been robust, in spite of your health issues, but I see you growing beyond them.

You asked me a couple of days ago, “Momma, will I always have allergies?”

I passed you the Claritin pill and the shotglass of water and said, “Yea, probably. But y’know, it isn’t so bad.”

“Yea,” you said, “I could have what Emily has - she has leukemia.”

And you were right. Emily, the little girl in your class, recently diagnosed with leukemia has a hard battle ahead of her. I think of her parents and know the beginnings of their fears. We pray for her at night and are thankful that you are in good health now and pray for your continued good health.

I remember when you were inside my womb still and I asked specifically that you’d be strong, confident and a “boy-boy”. I wanted you to love to hunt and fish with your daddy - so you’d have that something special to share with him.

You are that boy.

An inner strength that surprises us.
A confidence that attracts everyone.
A love for anything and everything you can do outside while getting absolutely filthy.

I love you.
Oh, how I love you.
Happy Birthday.

14 Responses to “Half a Decade of Vim and Vigor”

1. Southern Belle

   Wow! What a beautiful tribute to your special son. I am a new reader to your blog so I clicked on your link from Texas Children’s Hospital and read that. I am so glad that he seems to be doing much better. What a heart wrenching story. I know as a mother it is very hard to watch our children suffer. You would do anything to be in their place instead. But God brought you through and I pray he continues to keep Kenny healthy. Merry Christmas.

2. MMM

   *sniffle*

3. Angella

   I`m all teary, Heather. What a great tribute!

   Kenny is a blessing, that is for sure :)

   Happy birthday, Kenny!

4. witchypoo

   This was a tear jerker for sure. How wonderful to write a love letter to your son on his birthday.Be sure to show it to him when he is a teenager.

5. Aileen

   What a sweet little tribute to Kenny.

   I’ve been on the other side of having to take my child to the hospital because they were so sick. It’s not fun. I don’t wish it on anyone. I’ll be thinking of Emily and her parents during this challenging time.

6. bethany actually

   Thank you God for little boys who love to get muddy and tell their mommas they look pretty. :-)

   Happy birthday, Kenny! I hope your wish comes true.

7. mamalang

   So sweet!

8. Pam

   Melting inside! We do the allergies, asthma and all that jazz here too. It’s a hassle, but you know, when put in perspective, it is do-able compared to other illness. Kenny really has a good outlook, bless his little heart :) Happy Birthday!

9. Nicki

   Hooray for sweet, loving, dirty mama’s boys. They’re the best. Thanks for sharing.

10. Mrs. Wilson

    That brought a tear to my eye. I hope that one day I’ll have a boy - you make having a boy sound like such fun. I’m busy reading the posts linked in this post as I was not yet a reader then. I also hope for good health for your little boy. Happy Birthday to him!

11. Mrs. Wilson

    Wow. I read the post about when Kenny got sick. Scary. Isn’t it great to have a God that you can count on when there’s nothing to do but pray? God is awesome.

12. Claire in CA

    I have one of those sweet boys, too, Heather. You made me teary-eyed, as well.

    Praising God for our sons, right now! :-)

    Happy Birthday, Kenny!

13. Bonita in Pink

    Hi there!
    New reader here!
    This post was so touching…
    Thank you for sharing and Happy Birthday to your little angel. =)

14. KYouell

    Wow. I must have arrived just after the last trip to the hospital because it feels like I’ve been here that long yet I don’t remember any of it. I know what it’s like to wonder how long you’ll be allowed to raise the son you’ve been entrusted with. Ours still has to be walked and patted to sleep at night because when I should have started laying a drowsy baby down to learn to fall asleep himself I kept on holding him. His breath was a reassurance I needed. Hugs to both of you from me.