27 years old!

Well, to start off my birthday, I woke up with Braxton at about 4 a.m. to feed him. Jackson surprisingly got up with me at that time as well. Jackson usually sleeps during the night while I'm up with Braxton. I didn't think too much of it though just because he did have the day off from work. While I was upstairs feeding Braxton, Jackson said he'd be using the bathroom (so he says). After feeding Braxton, we both go back to bed and the lights were off so I didn't see anything that was in our room. I started to lay down and put my glasses and elastics for my hair on my nightstand and I felt this flat wrapped object where I usually put my glasses. Of course once I started to lay down and take my glasses off Jackson instantly turned on the flashlight on his phone and pointed it over in my direction hoping I'd see what was on my nightstand. He didn't know that I already felt something there. So I opened the two presents with the assistance of Jackson's light that he was holding. He told me which one to open first. The first present I opened was the "Les Miserables" movie.

Jackson and I went to see it in theater and then my mom and I watched it a few weeks back on video. I really like the movie and think it was a well produced/made movie. So I told Jackson a couple weeks beforehand that I wouldn't mind owning that movie someday. Lucky for me, he remembered me telling him that I wanted it. Than the next box was a bit bigger than a movie box; I opened it and found that Jackson had bought me an Ipad mini! :)

I was so excited and couldn't believe it! So here we sit about 5 in the morning turning on the Ipad and setting it up. It was a great surprise! Thank you Jackson for my birthday gifts!

After going back to bed later after opening my presents, I woke up to a sweet message written by my mom that was posted to facebook with some pictures attached to it.. I really liked the post my mom shared with others about me just because it made me smile big just hearing her love for me and how proud she is of me. It was also nice to have this sweet message to share a little glimpse of what my life has been like along with everything I've done.

"(TEF) Tracheoesophageal fistula is an abnormal connection (fistula) between the esophagus and the trachea. Twenty-seven years ago Frank and I found out just exactly what TEF meant when our third child was born. Rachel has been a fighter since day one and with the help of a loving Heavenly Father, a wonderful pediatrician and some amazing surgeons she has overcome many obstacles related to her TEF. We have often referred to her as our miracle baby. How humbling it is to now see her with a child of her own. Happy Birthday sweet Rachel … we love you and are so proud of you!" (Below are the pictures she posted)

"April 1986"

 

"Mommy got to hold her before her big surgery to repair the fistula. (We found out after her surgery that the doctor was not really sure she would survive the surgery.)"

 
"First three months after surgery all was looking good."

 
"More complications arose and more surgeries were in store for this little fighter ... but fight on she did!"

 
"Rachel went back to visit her pediatrician in California years later just to give him a hug and say thanks!"

 "Every now and then Rachel still requires dilation of her esophagus!"

 "Because of her many, many stays in the hospital, Rachel grew to love and appreciate her wonderful nurses. She is now herself a nurse and we couldn't be more proud of her!"

 "27 years later!! This picture warms my heart and makes me so grateful to a loving Heavenly Father for allowing me to be entrusted with four amazing children and six even more amazing grandchildren!"

This post my mom made about me on facebook made me cry. Just because I honestly know that I wouldn't be who I am or where I am today if it wasn't for their loving care and guidance they gave me along the way. Not only that, but to now have a child of my very own and to see how much work it really is to take care of just one wee little baby; I can only imagine how hard it must of been for my parents to take care of me on top of having two other children at home, just because I was so sick. And I thank them profusely for it. Thank you mom and dad for taking such good care of me all these years and to just be there for me when I needed it. I couldn't have survived this life without you!

My birthday was mostly spent traveling and then celebrating Vern's retirement in Twin Falls Idaho, so we didn't actually have my birthday cake until the next day. So April 17th, Jackson made me a birthday cake and sang to me. He put the candles in ... so square-like and perfectly even don't you think ;) Thanx Jacks.

Can't believe I'm 27. Being 26 wasn't so bad, but 27, that's one step closer to 30. So I blew out my candles and made my birthday wish.

In previous birthdays I use to always wish that we'd have a baby, we of course haven't been trying since we got married but I have always wanted to be a mom and have kids, so that was just always what my wish was that someday I'd have a baby. As I'm holding Braxton in my arms while I blow out these 27 candles, I honestly didn't know what to wish for now. All I ever wanted was a baby and there I was holding my very own. So as my cake is starting to get covered with wax from the candles burning away, I finally made my wish and blew out the candles.

Even though we didn't go anywhere huge or elaborate to celebrate my birthday, I'm just glad to have Jackson and Braxton in my life to celebrate it with. And thank you so much Jackson for my birthday gifts! It truly was a great surprise that birthday morning! I've already watched Les Miserable for a third and fourth time now and have put the Ipad mini to use multiple times. Love you Jackson, and thank you for all that you do for me and for giving me the best gift of all, an eternal marriage with our beautiful baby boy! :)