Happy Birthday Carson!!!!!

Six years ago my sweet little Carson came into this world at 27 weeks and weighing just 1 lb 14 oz. Just the week before my doctor admitted me into the hospital and told me he would be born soon, that my blood pressue would just explode one day and it would be an emergency delivery. I remember crying in that office wondering how could he survive. But then the doctor told me he had a 90% chance of living and each day he "cooked" that percentage would get better. Five days later, right before lunch, they came in to check my blood pressure. Sure enough, it was sky high. That evening I was wheeled into the OR. He didn't cry when he was born and he was whisked away quickly and I didn't even get to see him as they had to get him on the ventilator. Funny thing, what I really remember as they were cutting me open is that I was HUNGRY!!!!! In my church we believe in giving blessings to those that are sick. My husband and my brother-in-law were able to give him a blessing right after his birth. They blessed him that he would be able to serve a mission for our church. I wasn't there (I was being sewn back together), but they told me the Spirit was very strong. After that, I had no worries and was at peace.

His course in the NICU was amazing!! He had no brain bleeds and no problems with his eyes! He was in the NICU for 8 weeks and came home on oxygen. At about 5 months (2 months adjusted) old he started to sleep through the night and fall off of his growth curve. We then had to have a feeding tube that went through his nose for about another year. I became a whiz at holding him down and pushing that tube down his nose into his stomach, something I never would have dreamed I could do!! From the ages of 18 months until 3 years he had a gastrostomy tube in his stomach and we had a pump that would pump Pediasure into him all night.

He still has his struggles today. He is quite small, about 34 pounds. He has low muscle tone which is neurologic and because of that he is behind in gross and fine motor skills. He was recently diagnosed with Sensory Integration Dysfunction. The developmental pediatrician at first thought he might have ADHD, but NO!!! Sometimes his sensory issues distract him (hearing noises etc), but his teacher says he focuses really well and works hard. So at school he is in Speech, PT, and OT. But his brain is FINE!!! Though he will never play high school football or be a professional athelete, he is a smart little boy that will be able to do most anything he wants!! We love him so much and he adds so much to our family. Happy Birthday Carson!! WE LOVE YOU!!!!