What's in 15?

1 couple:

Started a family that has grown to 5 people:

And this is the greatest accomplishment of our 15.

But 15 is so much more.

It's...

1 Wedding
2 Houses
3 Miracle Children
4 Apartments
5 Years of Parenting
6 Hospital Rooms in our Hardest Month
7 Cats and Dogs
8 Cars
9 Jobs
10 Bicycles
11 Hundred Memories I Treasure
12 Dozen Sleepless Nights
13 Bins of Blocks and Legos in our House Today
14 Vacations (outside of 25+ trips to California)

...and....

15 Wonderful Anniversaries Passed Together

15 is a great number.
We've learned so much since we were these kids holding hands and making vows.

Along our path we've had a lot of luck.
It's not been easy,
But it's been us.
And I wouldn't change a thing.
Because Us is just what I want to be.

Happy 15th Anniversary to my Drew.
Love you.

To Their Daddy

Drew,

Seventeen years ago I fell in love with you, practically on sight, for many reasons - the greatest of which was that I could see what a terrifically wonderful father you would be.  Then and now, I see a little spark - even in serious or stressful moments - in the corner of your eye... a constant presence of humor, of childlike wonder at all that is around you.  It's that, my elfish husband, that gives you the advantage, the edge over all the other dads around us.  That's how I knew you were the right person to share all of this with.  And these years have been a journey.  They've changed us individually and they've changed us together.  They've packed wonderful moments, lucky timing, prosperity and some scares and surprises.  And maybe we've seen that spark a little less at times, but it is always there.  And I was right, because you are the best kind of daddy.  You support us, you work hard for us, you are here every day and you have given each of our kids countless magical moments.  They love and admire you, and so do I.

Happy Father's Day.

Love,
Dzana

On Your First

Dear Macie Drew,

Before I ever saw you,

I heard you.

Your strong, robust timber of a cry filled that operating room

And my heart swelled with happiness

And with pride.

The second that I heard that cry I knew about

Your strength.

They brought you to a little sterile table that I could see over my right shoulder,

(If I turned my head as far as it could go.)

I saw your tiny little body

And it was pink,

As pink as could be.

I watched you struggle with the doctor and the nurses as they took your vitals

And I just knew about

Your determination.

That cry of yours,

So strong yet distinctly feminine,

Carried on through those minutes of examination.

It came with you as they placed you on my shoulder for

Our one minute introduction.

I touched your cheek,

I said

"Hello Macie Drew.  It's okay, mommy's here."

And you stopped.

Your little tiny eyes looked right at me,

And you stared at me as I told you,

For the first of many times,

About my love for you.

In that moment I knew that

All would happen as it should.

I felt peace and happiness in a world that contained you.

I believe you experienced the same.

I nodded to Daddy,

Reaffirming my wish that he accompany you to the NICU that was

Five floors above my head.

And I knew that he'd protect you,

That he'd tell you of his love for you,

That we'd meet again.

During this year you have taught me so much,

You have inspired so many,

By your persistence.

And that initial love, that initial pride I felt upon our meeting

Have grown one hundred fold.

In this year you have shown all of us that

You can accomplish any task in front of you,

Even those apparently insurmountable,

And that you will do so

In your own time.

When you decide a thing is to be done,

You just do it all at once.

Dear Macie Drew,

I join millions of other parents in telling their children

It is a pleasure to watch you grow.

But I admit,

You are unique.

You are special.

And I feel graced by the experience of parenting you.

On your first,

I reflect back on where you've started and

I feel nothing short of amazed.

I love you,

Forever and no matter what will come.

Happy birthday.

Love,

Mommy