Happy Birthday Tylon Jacob!
You are fourteen years old today!
I have started this letter/blog post about five times in the last hour and I can’t seem to get past the first sentence. ( I keep choking up.) As crazy as you make me about your birthday, and all the activities you want to do, and all the plans, and all the yapping I listen to for months and months, up until it actually happens, it is all worth it when we wake up on July 4th and you are still with us.
When you were born the doctors said you wouldn’t live to see your first birthday. Oh how we partied on your first birthday, and then the 2nd, and 3rd, and 4th. We have been partying every single year on your birthday because we know what a miracle it is that you are still with us. We do not take your birthday’s for granted. We celebrate each 4th of July and the nation celebrates with us. Parade’s, picnic’s, fireworks, and celebrations all across the USA. I think God knew exactly when to send you to earth. He knew that you would want a PARTY!
The special needs you face are common. Mental retardation and heart problems are nothing out of the ordinary. But the chromosonal abnormalities that you have are extraordinary. Trisomy 9p is so rare that it doesn’t even have a name. The exact amount of extra material and where it was translocated is unique to you. The Drs have very little information about your genetic makeup. We think you are just a nut! You learn at your own speed and in your own way. Your big head is right in front of mine this very second trying to read what I write. You can pick out a few key words and you are making up the rest. You think I am telling the world that we are going to Target to buy you a new helmet. I love you Ty, but get out of my way!
You are both a challenge and joy, much like a typical child. I wonder often what the hell I was thinking when I brought you home, but I honestly can’t imagine this family without you. You are like the glue that holds us all together. You were and are the first piece of this family puzzle. If you hadn’t been such a joy and so rewarding to raise, I would have NEVER adopted all these kids. You started it all boy. I know when I read this to you, you will understand very little, but to the last sentence you will say, "I didn’t start it, I not."
There are not words to properly express my love and adoration for you. You wouldn’t understand them even if I had them. But you do know shopping and food, and that, I can do. So baby boy, let’s go to Target! It’s your favorite place on earth, and lets shop till we drop, and then eat till we’re sick. I will even let you stay up late and watch the fireworks, because it is, after all, your day.
To borrow your words, "I lucky" to be your mommy.
Happy Birthday Ty.
Happy Birthday Ty!!!! I hope you find exactly what you want at Target and that you get lots of fireworks on your special day!!
Sandi, your birthday posts never fail to make me teary-eyed and grinning.
What an amazing mom you are… and what amazing children you have.
I can see how bringing Ty home could make you want to keep going – his smile is contagious, and his eyes… are so full of love and devotion, it’s beautiful.
Ty – Happy birthday!!!! Congratulations on not listening to the doctors and what they said about you. You’re a special boy and a great brother!!! Have fun shopping and eating
Ty is so lucky that the entire nation will be partying with him tonight. He’s even luckier to have such a loving mother.
Happy Birthday Ty!
Sandi, you made me cry. Dammit.
happy birthday ty! because of your mom’s efforts blogging now all of us out here who follow your family can say, “WE LUCKY!” steve
Happy Birthday Ty!!!
Happy Birthday Ty! I wish I had a child just like you! Hope you pick out an awesome DS.
Happy Birthday Ty! Target and fireworks sounds like a perfect day!
Happy Birthday TY! Eat an extra piece of cake for me!!!!
Happy Bday Ty!!!!
That picture of you in the car seat is PRECIOUS!!!
YOUR HAIR is fabulous in it!!! I love it!
Soooo handsome you are!
Oh happy, HAPPY day to you, Mr. Ty!
Your handsome smile and winsome eyes are tearing me up today. Even though your photos are blurry thanks to all of those tears, I know just how lovely you are.
And happy day to you, Sandi. I know that this day means as much (if not more) to you than it does to Tylon.
Yo Ty! Your birthday has finally arrived. All of the months and days that you counted and hooray, it’s here! I adore you, Ty and I’ve never seen you face to face but your mom has told me so much about you. You are the coolest, nicest, toughest guy I know.
Have a great time shopping for your helmet and your DS stuff and at Pizza Jo Jo’s.
One more thing, Ty, please save me a piece of cake.
I’ll be celebrating here in the desert right along with your family and the whole nation. Enjoy the fireworks! Happy Birthday, Ty!
Happy Birthday young man!
God Bless!
happy birthday Ty! I hope target is great!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TY!!!!! Happy shopping, happy cake, happy life!!!! xo
Wow!! That made me cry!!! What a special young man!!! Happy Birthday TY!!!!!
Happy Birthday Ty!!!!!!!! I hope you’re having a great day! I’ll be thinking of you while I enjoy the fireworks!
Ty…. “you’re a Yankee Doodle dandy… born on the 4th of July!!” Have a great day!!
Happy Birthday sweet boy!!!!!!
Happy, Happy, Happiest of all 14th Birthdays, Ty!!! Birthday posts always make me cry, and this one takes the cake! You’re an extraordinary young man, Ty!! Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday Ty…!!!!!
Hope you have an awesome day…enjoy the shopping, pizza, cake & fireworks. How very special that the nation holds a huge party for your day.
Your family are very lucky to have you in it.
Big (((((((hugs)))))))…even 14 year olds still need hugs.
Lots of love to your Mama on this day too…((((Sandi))))
Don’t make me cry on vacation, Sandi! I’m scaring my hosts.
Woohoo, Ty! I’m a day late, but I really hope you had a blast at Target.
I just LOVE the way u r!!!!!!!! U r amazing!!!!!!!! Love the way u educate, and your reflexions about life. U r another dimention!
Happy Birthday to you Ty! Congratulations on being 14!
Sandi– the eloquence you use in expressing your love is awe inspiring! I know that I love my children as much as you love yours but I am afraid they’ll never know it because I cannot write it the way you do!!!
Thank you (as always) for sharing your lives!
Ty, I hope you had an incredible birthday. I think you should celebrate at least one minute every year with your swimshorts around your knees and your gorgeous butt hanging out.