Dear Jadon, You are FOUR Years Old Today

2009

2013

Jadon,

Today you are FOUR YEARS OLD.  At times it is truly hard to comprehend.  Some days we wonder where the 4 years have gone and other times we look into your eyes and you seem infinitely older than just 4 years.  We have truly taken one day at a time and ended up right here…4 years later.

Like it was yesterday, we remember the day you were born.  We remember the pride we felt, the dreams we had for you, and the love that consumed us in your presence.  Although our dreams for you have changed direction, our love and pride for you has grown more than we could have ever imagined.

Jadon, you have changed our lives for the better.   You are our light and inspiration.  You have taught us things we would have never learned any other way.  You have led us places we never would have traveled.  You have led us to people (amazingly good people) that we never would have met.  You have taught us perspective, all those things that seemed “important” before you were born are distant to what truly matters the most.  You have taught us the meaning of unconditional love and hope.  Through you we have learned that life is more than what our earthly eyes see.  You have changed us in ways we never would have changed.  We thank God for you and these changes each day.

Our love will never change.  We want you to know that our love for you is eternal and you should never worry.

Don’t worry Jadon that you can’t speak the words “I love you” as we so long to hear…we can see it in your eyes

Don’t worry Jadon that your smile has gone…we can still see that little twitch in the corner of your mouth and that sparkle in your eye.

Don’t worry Jadon that you can’t speak the words “GET my crazy sister off of me before she tears my eyes out and rips off my ear”…we can see it in your scrunched up eyebrows.

Bug, we have done A LOT of coughs, a ton of suctioning, a whole lot of thumping, quite a bit of stretching and much more worrying than any family should – we have also felt and experienced more love than some families feel.  Your gentle attitude and desire to see tomorrow has calmed us and inspired us.

While, The SMA Standard of Care booklet doesn’t ACTUALLY state that we MUST tell you we love you 97 times per day or that we MUST give you 214 kisses per day…. IT REALLY SHOULD.  And here’s the deal … that is not going to change.

Happy Birthday fella, we love you so incredibly much,

Mommy, Daddy, and Sissy