Tyson Todd

The moment this sweet boy was born was perfect...it was everything I ever could have imagined it to be!  It was definately a moment where life is so good and you know miracles do still happen.  I didn't want to stop holding him...as a result we both ended up with the nasty meconium all over, I couldn't even do anything but laugh about it as gross as it was because he was so perfect, but I finally gave in and let them take him for a few minutes once we realized so he could get cleaned off.  But truly I didn't want to let him go.  He'd been through a war in the womb with me.  I almost couldn't believe he could come out so healthy and perfect after how difficult the last 3 months had been.  He was born strong though, I know that. 
On his birthday Sunday, my feelings were very tender.  It was a big day and milestone for all of us as a family I think, but I was literally awestruck that we had all survived the year together.  There were frustrations for me that day such as chemo and other cancer things that always alter our ideal plans and what I'd like to do, but I have tried to not focus on that and decided next year I want to take him out for his birthday (ok just part of it, we'll still have a family party) and spend some one on one time with me, maybe Todd will come too, but he so deserves it.  Hopefully I can do it a time or two before his second birthday, but somehow it made me feel better about things. 
This boy is a ball of energy...exhausting every day, but thanks to our challenges I thank God each day for his energy because it tells me he's healthy!  What a blessing!  He's tall and strong (seriously he pulled himself up on the edge of the table yesterday his feet were literally off the ground) and incredibly handsome...yes he takes after his Dad I think they look a lot a like and most everyone else does to.  Lucky he took his name then!  His eyes melt me, every time he looks into my eyes with his sweet brown eyes I fall totally in love with my little boy again.  I can't wait to watch him grown and learn and hopefully soon walk.  He's so close, but a little gun shy...it'll happen soon enough. 
I made sure to find a few of what I call "perfect moments" with him on his birthday!  My favorite was his rolling giggle at bath time his birthday night as we played peek-a-boo.  Just me and Tyson.  Gracie is normally the ONLY one that can make him laugh like that, it's a contagious uncontrollable laugh.  Every time I mentally chalk it up as a "perfect moment" nothing could be more perfect.  But this time was special, it was just us.  I imagine he'll grow up to be tall and handsome just like his father and probably have his father's same need to get out his energy.
Tyson LOVES when his Dad plays with him.  Every night when Dad gets home he cries til he gets to see him, so I recently started throwing him in the shower with Todd after he gets clean and he loves it.  He loves being thrown high in the air and hanging over dad's head.  He is into everything all the time and never wants to stop or be held.  He loves being outside and doing EVERYTHING big sis does to her dismay and great joy.  Every time he left that week in the hospital she would say "I want my brother".  He adores...seriously adores Gracie.  Like I said her silly nonsense makes him giggle uncontrollably and it is perfect, so perfect.  He is an AMAZING eater, he loves to eat and he eats well.  He'll eat just about anything.  Lately he loves blueberries and of course many other things.  He's hungry most the time...not uncommon around this house.  He loves bathtime and loves Gracie's bath time more he just laughs and laughs watching her take a bath.  He's loved swimming the few times we have gone. 
He has worn me out every single day of this year...except the few days I haven't spent with him in which Gracie has (usually cause i'm in the hospital with her and miss him like crazy when I don't get to see him) but I can't think of a day he hasn't made me smile.  I wondered how we would handle another child on top of cancer, but know that heaven above knew that we needed him to handle cancer.  To make Gracie smile, me smile and Todd smile.  To give us something positive to think about, not just dismal cancer.  11 months from Tyson's birthday Gracie will be off treatment.  I know right...almost sounds short.  And Tyson will have helped us get through with a smile on our faces.  Gracie as well, but we needed them both and I'm so thankful he is here with us even when I'm so tired my vision blurs and my head pounds. 
Thank you for being the best son a mother could have.  I truly look forward to every day and every year I get with you.  I hope it is many.  You are a true joy!!!!!   Happy 1st Birthday brother!
Pictures to come...