Happy Birthday Toby!

Six years ago today, I gave birth to a 7 pound 11 ounce baby boy. Today that now 40 pound boy is having a pillow fight in the next room with his best buddy (born on the same day!) Andrew.

Toby has enjoyed opening gifts, eating sushi for lunch (his request for which I am grateful), and generally being the center of attention. He has also relished listening to his birth story from the various family members who were there that day six years ago -- my dear friend Michelle, my mom, my stepdad, Greg's mom, and of course Greg. He especially likes it when Greg tells him that after 30 hours of labor his head popped out, he opened his eyes, and turned his head to look around. Greg was so stunned by this that the midwife had to cue him, "Are you going to deliver the rest of the baby?" Next, like most newborns, he promptedly defecated on both his father and mother in turn. Can't wait until he takes that one to school on Monday. :-)

This morning at dance I found myself in a pew praying to God for Toby's health and safety. Tears streamed down my face as I prayed and prayed with all of my might for his health...I love that little boy from the depths of my being and although I am accustomed to his health issues as they've become the norm, my heart still breaks for him every time I have to count carbs and give him insulin. This is only his second birthday having diabetes so I remember well his fourth birthday when he gorged on cheesecake (and not the Splenda version either) and candy from the pinata. My low-sugar birthday cake this year was far better than what I came up with last year and I have learned to put things like pencils and quarters in the pinata rather than candy.

So tonight as I prepare to tuck in the two six-year olds in the basement, I am deeply grateful that that 7 pound 11 ounce boy entered our lives when he did. Although I feel like I spend a lot of time being his nutritionist and his nurse, I have to remind myself that I am first and foremost his mother. I'm the only one that he has and I can freely love him up all that I want while he is still interested in my affection.

Happy Birthday Toby!