Wink from Heaven: Caleb's 6th birthday

Friday, January 14, 2011

Caleb's 6th birthday

Happy Birthday dear Caleb!

Caleb had a wonderful birthday! There was such a special spirit in our home as we reflected on the past 6 years.

6 years ago we were driving to the hospital on cold winter morning to have a new baby boy. We didn't know if we would have even have the chance to say hello before we would have to say good bye.

6 years ago we were told we'd likely have days or weeks. We were encouraged to purchase a burial plot. We left the hospital on hospice care.

6 years ago we came home to a room full of hospital equipment and hearts full of worry.

6 years ago on my way to that hospital, I kept thinking to myself, in a few hours my life will never be the same.

It hasn't.

And I am forever thankful.

Each of the children helped pick a gift from the birthday bag to give to Caleb

A special friend

With a special delivery all the way from New Hampshire.

Thank you Ben. Tears.

Remind you of UP?

A special "I Spy" quilt from a special family.

A surprise visit from two of our favorite people!

Bright balloons snuggles and foot-rubs were the perfect gifts!

This special grandma shares the same birthday!

Granny B wrote Caleb a special birthday story.

You can read it here. Have a tissue ready.

The one and only Grandpa B

Brother Buddy Matthew "Match"

Uncle John and Aunt Alisa

Big Brother Josh'ers'

Little Brother Mitch'ie'

Pretty proud parents

15 comments:

Devon said...: YAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY CALEB!!!!!; January 14, 2011 at 7:21 PM
Brad and Hailey said...: So cute! Happy Birthday Caleb! I am totally jealous of your new puppy friend. He looks super soft and fun!; January 14, 2011 at 7:44 PM
Rebecca Jackson said...: Happy Birthday Caleb! Love the cute pictures!; January 14, 2011 at 8:27 PM
The Kings said...: Oh your accents make me smile!! :)
What a wonderful birthday. Those balloons are incredible!! Glad he had such a great day.; January 15, 2011 at 12:04 AM
Anonymous said...: Happy 6th Birthday Gorgeous! x; January 15, 2011 at 12:42 AM
The VW's said...: Your sweet boy is such a blessing to this world! Glad to see you guys celebrated him to the fullest! Looks like a love-filled day! Happy 6th Birthday Caleb! Hugs!!!; January 15, 2011 at 4:50 AM
Colleen said...: Happy Birthday sweet boy!!; January 15, 2011 at 10:39 AM
Bronx Cataldo's said...: Happy Birthday little man; January 15, 2011 at 11:14 AM
arianne said...: That picture of him holding the happy birthday sign just got my teary. I'm so glad the day was filled with love.; January 15, 2011 at 1:18 PM
Unknown said...: Yay!!!
Birthday LOVE~; January 15, 2011 at 4:45 PM
Lisa Christine said...: 6 years! Happy Happy Birthday!!!

By the way...I see that Caleb and Elisabeth have the same chair!!; January 15, 2011 at 10:04 PM
Emily said...: I don't know why but this post made me tear up. I love your sweet little boy so much. I'm so happy he got to celebrate such a special day with his family all around him. I love you April.; January 16, 2011 at 8:44 PM
Junior said...: Happy Birthday Caleb, looks like you had a fantastic day. Love all the pics and you have some very cool balloons. Love and hugs; January 17, 2011 at 6:38 AM
Becky said...: (crying) I love that boy...and you...and your whole (very large) family! xoxo; January 18, 2011 at 8:07 AM
Anonymous said...: I love the way he moves his head to the song as if swaying to the music. If he can't hear, he is picking up on the vibrations of the song or having his hand shaken because he is definately enjoying this attention. In my work with children with severe autism, I have found that these children also love that hand motion where you take their hand and gently shake it as you guys are doing in the video. It is good sensory input.; January 19, 2011 at 12:40 PM

Prayer for Caleb

(written by Caleb's Grandma in her weekly column -2008-)

In my family we have a secret code to communicate our love for each other when we are out in public. We wink. When one of us is about to perform or speak, we look for a family member’s face in the crowd. Then we wink at each other. Closing one eye and winking is our secret code for saying, “I love you. You can do it. You’re wonderful.”

About three years ago, my grandson Caleb was born into our family. He must have known before birth that he would never be able to speak to us because he was born with one eyelid permanently closed. So, he is always “winking” at us, always communicating, “I love you. You can do it. You’re wonderful.”

Caleb has one eye lid permanently closed because he is missing one of his eyes . . . and he is also missing his brain. All the doctors said he would die soon after birth. They were wrong. Caleb is three years old. He is a medical miracle. The doctors say he can’t see, hear, speak, think or move. Those who know and love Caleb understand he has his own unique way of experiencing the world and communicating his love to those around him.

After Caleb was born the hospice people told us to buy a burial plot and continually warned us of his imminent death. We soon learned you can not live well in a state of fear and sadness. We decided we could spend Caleb’s entire life anxious and scared he might die at any moment, or we could celebrate each day we were blessed to have him with us. In the beginning, my daughter April celebrated Caleb’s birthday every week instead of every year with balloons and cupcakes because we simply did not know how long we would have him with us. We stopped the cupcakes after we gained ten pounds, but the celebrating goes on.

We all prayed for a miracle when we first learned about Caleb’s condition. We got one. Caleb’s birth, life and mission have had a deep and lasting impact on our lives. His spirit, eternal identity and most of all the loving, individual relationship he has with each of us is truly a miracle. Because of Caleb we know that each of us has a divine purpose and that the physical body is a sacred gift we should never take for granted. We better understand the worth of a soul and the resiliency of the human spirit.

Caleb’s five year old brother Matthew said, “Grandma. The doctors said Caleb was going to die, but he didn’t. That’s the first miracle I ever saw!”

Sometimes Caleb’s baby brother Mitchell pulls out his feeding tube while they hold hands riding together in their double stroller. Sometimes the only intervention that can get Caleb’s heart rate up is when his older brothers Josh and Matty crawl in his crib, hug him and sing, “I am a Child of God.” ...If you have a moment please offer a prayer for the little boy who has never been able to utter a single word and yet has taught everyone who knows and loves him – all the secrets of a rich and meaningful life.