we're keeping things calm
a quiet birthday at home
playing and laughing
When Ike-a-saurus was born at 10:50 am on August 25th last year, my body felt immediately calm. He was out, the doctor held him up for me to see, I heard a cry, I started to cry, and my body felt still and quiet for the first time in months. In an instant, the revolt against my pregnancy was over. My baby was born.
There is an irony here that is unmistakable. My body found a calmness just as the world itself fell away. But at the time, I didn't know the world was falling away. I was just happy to hear my new baby cry. And even though the doctors had to immediately put him on a ventilator, and I wouldn't hear him cry again for a long time, that one small noise fed my heart for days upon days. He was OK. He would be OK. And he was finally here – even though "finally" still meant 12 weeks early. We had survived a marathon, he and I. The shortest, longest pregnancy I'd ever had.
He was born on the first day of first grade for the wee one. It was a very busy day.
I think all of Austin stopped and held their breath when they heard Ike was coming. I think, maybe, we're all still holding our breath.
During those days in the NICU, when we would allow ourselves to think more than a few hours into the future, my husband and I joked about how Ike-a-saurus' first birthday would be filled with ponies and carousels and fireworks and unicyclists and a big brass band. Now that his first birthday is actually here, I feel a little guilty for not following through with our promises. And yet, the more I think about the day he was born – the things he went through, the things we all went through – I think a quiet a day at home with just our family is the way to go.
There was joy on the day he was born, lots of it. But there was fear, too. Fear, and uncertainty, and strangers, and bright lights, and loud beeps, machines, squeaky gloves, exhaustion, adrenalin, so much talking and information, me demanding to be taken to the NICU, even though I had to sit in a wheelchair while still hooked up to a catheter… It was not a quiet, family day. It was the kind of day when you have deer-in-the-headlights eyes, and a bag full of pee in your lap, and you don't give a flying flip who sees you like that because the elevator is the only way to get you to close to your new baby.
I didn't get to hold him when he was born. I didn't get to hold him for days.
We are making up for that today. We make up for that everyday.
Isaac Sawyer is 1. Did you know that superheroes have birthdays?
Happy birthday, my sweet boy. I love you so much.
Happy birthday Issac. You are so loved!!!
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And we love you too little Ike!
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Happy birthday IKE!!!
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Happy Birthday Sweetie!!! We love you so much!!!
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Happy birthday, Ike, The Boy Made Out Of Awesome.
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Super indeed! You are all super heroes! Love from the frozen north where my furnace is running this morning.
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Love you lots, Ike and family! What an incredible year it’s been.
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Happy Birthday Ike! (Happy Anniversary of Becoming Mom to Wee-est Super Baby to you! 🙂
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Wow, crying over here!
Happy birthday to Ike, and happy anniversary to Mom, Dad, big brother, and big sister, for making it to this amazing milestone.
I think a small family birthday at home is exactly what the doctor ordered. Enjoy hugging the hell out of those kids.
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So big! So wonderful. I remember first started following you when you were pregnant with Ike and I was pregnant with Noa. Noa will be one next week and I always think of her with Ike. They would have so much fun! Thanks for the updated photo.
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Happy, happy birthday sweet Ike!
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Happy Birthday, Ike!
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Happy Anniversary of the Day You Arrived, little man. You are a very special boy, you have touched so many lives, including mine. I wish you candles, cake, ponies, circuses and most importantly many more wonderful birthdays with your wonderful family.
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what an amazing day to celebrate a very special boy and his family. happy mamaversary, happy bday baby ike…and a quiet day at home sounds perfect to me!
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Congratulations and Happy Birthday!
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Oy Vey, Kari. That was beautiful!
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