Happy Birthday, Baby
Two years ago today a most precious soul entered my life and my world will never be the same. I had big plans to write his birth story in a post and to watch the video footage of his homebirth again. I am sentimental that way. I daydreamed about spending the day singing, dancing and playing with my son. Instead, we rushed through breakfast to get to an earlier appointment with the Orthopedic Department of Oakland’s Children’s Hospital to get a 2nd opinion on a possible tibia fracture he sustained on Monday.
Injury Day moments before the slide incident
Turns out it is a fracture and they casted him in a full leg cast. Poor kid. How did this happen? I can’t stop replaying the event in my mind. And why this day – his birthday? I was told that toddler fractures were common, and were often sustained on slides. Not only did he need a cast, but his father is in China on business. And to top it off, today is also our 3rd wedding anniversary.
After returning home and putting him down for a nap (which was short-lived due to discomfort), I ran out to get cupcakes and balloons. My plans for making homemade, organic, low sugar zucchini muffins were a distant memory. Sugar saturated, overly-abundant frosted cupcakes from the bakery beckoned. He wanted balloons. I had to deliver. My back now aches from trading my chiropractic appointment for his radiology appointment on monday.
Today did not turn out like I had planned. But neither did his birth. I thought my water would break, I would efface and dilate and he would enter the world in no more than 20 hours. Fortunately I had a successful homebirth, but only after 36 hours! My water broke at about 6 centimeters after being poked and prodded a few times by my midwife. Lesson learned. Things don’t always turn out the way we plan. “D” had a wonderful little gathering with our good friend and her children (my husband’s Godchildren) and my mom.
He has another party this Saturday with a great group of 2 year olds from our play group. I think “D” is handling it better than I am. Kids are resilient. Me – not so much. So the next 4 weeks will be an adventure and years from now this will just be a memory that we talk about at family gatherings.
Happy birthday, my goose. I love you more than you will ever know. Or do you?
Good Morning Punkin. This is his favorite breakfast; oatmeal. So we did a practice run with ‘the blowing out of the candle’. Good job.
His new birthday ring from the Wooden Wagon. He loved it!
Heading home from the hospital with his new cast (and new Elmo book).
Some furoshiki wrapped gifts on his table
His hyperactivity-inducing cupcake BEFORE and AFTER
Just before the cuckoo-craziness took hold, surrounded by new dinosaurs from Gramma
Just imagine if he had use of both his legs running around!
Back to normal
View of cast and chillin’ while he gets waited on
His first signature
Admiring his new signatures before he attempted to sign it himself
Holding “D” today and an hour after he was born
My two favorite guys
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July 8th, 2009 at 11:53 pm
Aint that the truth!: things never turn out as we plan! At least we can always take a positive out of the experience no matter how good or bad.
Sorry things werent as you envisioned on this special day, but it still looks like he had fun! I’m sure this will go down as one of those moments you will remember always and laugh about down the track.
Your son is beautiful. He seems to be in good spirits even in his little cast
Congratulations to you too Mommy
July 9th, 2009 at 12:15 am
Happy Birthday Dino!!! I am sorry you hurt your leg and hope it gets better quickly. By the way, your mom ROCKS…but you know that already. I hope you are running around very very soon. We love you, all the way in Chicago! xoxoxo Lots of hugs and kisses. Wish we could sign your cast!
July 9th, 2009 at 2:58 am
My sweet little boy. My heart aches knowing what you went through while I’ve been on the other side of the world. I can hardly type. I’m so sorry I wasn’t there to comfort you. Save some space on that cast – Daddy wants to sign it too.
I can’t wait to be at your birthday party Saturday, we’ll have fun. I’ll be on a plane tomorrow morning heading home, little Mr. I want to snuggle with you more than I can say.
Deborah, I love you. Thank you for being so strong with him and giving him a pillar to feel confident in through the pain. You are, by such a profound distance, the greatest mother, wife and woman on Earth. And I want to hold you forever my Angel. Or until our arms get tired.
Daddy’s coming home, to the most important place, and people, in the world.
July 9th, 2009 at 6:47 am
Oh, poor cutie-pie!
I’m glad you two still had a special celebration. My first was a successful homebirth after 36 hours of labor too! I feel you mama!
I love the wooden birthday ring. I’ve always wanted one…maybe in the Fall
July 9th, 2009 at 8:02 am
Great post and photos! Thanks for sharing your beautiful story:) Dino looks like he is handling the cast well!!
July 9th, 2009 at 8:15 am
First, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO DINO!!!
Second, CONGRATS to your 2nd anniversary of becoming a mommy!!!
Third,CONGRATS to both you and your hubby on the 3 year wedding anniversary!!!
Now, as for the plans not turning out as they should have, they rarely do. In fact, the more you plan the less likely the actual thing will turn out that way. I certainly didn’t plan to meet a man online and have a child together a year later. Whatever happened to courting, engagement, wedding and honeymoon? I didn’t get any of those. But it was the best thing that ever happened in my life.
The unpredictability of events teaches us to live in the present moment and make the best out of it, as that moment is our life. Some day when Dino is all grown you’d look at these pics and smile with joy even though it didn’t go as planned.
May God bless Dino and his wonderful parents.
July 9th, 2009 at 7:24 pm
Thank you to everyone who left a comment. He is in good spirits today and flailing his cast all over the house. He even found him trying to put the special shoe on, and he said “walk”. And he did – with my help of course. Kids are so resilient! Thanks again for all your support!
July 10th, 2009 at 12:58 am
Happy Birthday Dino! Hope you recovery is fast. Happy Anniversary to you! Looks like he was able to enjoy himself.
Homebirth rocks! 
July 10th, 2009 at 12:58 am
Forget to mention- love, love, love- the wooden ring! Awesome.
July 11th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
Happy Birthday
Love and healing .
I was thinking, Wow he looks so big… then I saw that giant cast! Poor guy, hang in there.
July 12th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
Thank you for sharing the story and the pics of your lil’ guy! And for being so supportive of my birth story!
The most amazing thing about birth is that it DEFINITELY gets you ready for parenthood, because for both parenting and childbirth, nothing goes the way you planned. But if you’re lucky, it’s beautiful either way.
Happy birthday to him. And happy Birth day to you!
July 17th, 2009 at 8:50 am
Sorry about his leg, poor guy. But looks like he still had a great birthday.
July 20th, 2009 at 4:36 pm
Hope Dino is feeling better! Sending well wishes and healing & love to him. Xo- Andrea
December 4th, 2009 at 12:18 am
Many-many happy returns of the day Dino! I really got emotional after reading your story and my wishes are with you guys and I just pray the very best for Dino. May god bless all of you.
December 11th, 2009 at 10:26 am
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