Dallas turns “1” today!  Happy Birthday big boy!!!  I have slightly dreaded this day only because I knew it would force me to think back to one short year ago……

We went into the hospital on Wednesday morning, June 9^th, 2010.  This was not a day of excitement; it was a day of fear.  We knew he wouldn’t be able to breathe, and that alone was petrifying.  There was an incredible team of doctors and thinking back, they did a fantastic job of making us feel like this was a “normal” delivery (other than the fact that there were about 15 of them in the room).  And then it was finally over, he entered the world, we got a photo, and he was taken to the NICU.  With the speculation of CHARGE coming up just 5 days prior, we were looking for physical features of the syndrome immediately.  He was only hours old and the doctors were filing in to represent every organ system.  The news just got worse and worse…

"His sight is compromised by coloboma’s, his hearing is not normal, he has a hernia, his heart cannot function on its’ own without surgery, his nose is blocked and we’re not sure than we can operate, he has one kidney and we aren’t sure if it’s functioning 100%, he may have some brain “leaking” into his nasal cavity, we aren’t sure if his body is making the right hormones, and so on.”

I felt like we were being attacked, I couldn’t remember who said what and got so lost in all the terminology. I sat and wished so hard to just be sitting there holding Dallas and having the biggest stress be too many visitors.  But that wish evaporated every time a new person would come into the room….they started out every time by saying “Have you heard of CH….and I’d interrupt and say, “Yes, we know about CHARGE.” 

Fast forward one year and we can easily see that Dallas is every bit perfect for our family.  He’s an incredibly special boy and he warms hearts. J  So, stop by if you need your heart warmed up!!

Today is a day to celebrate all the good that has come Dallas’s way.  He makes us believe in miracles and teaches us to be happy.  He has been through a lot during his first year and with pink eye and an ear infection out of the way already this week, we are hoping he has a truly HAPPY Birthday.

The link below is to a slideshow that captures a picture journey of his first year.  You may need to download a recommended player to view the show depending on your computer.  Enjoy!

http://www.photodex.com/share/bauerjackie/apcg9mg4

We are celebrating his birthday tonight with family and will post some pictures and report back soon!