Sam is EIGHT!

How in the world can it be?  Sam is eight?  I remember bringing him home to three very eager to see him brothers.  They watched his every move.  I should have never worried about what they would think.  They absolutely loved him and cannot even remember what life was like without him.  He has shown them how to love bigger and better, not to take things for granted, taught them major responsibility, and shown them how he just keeps going forward even with his big and little obstacles.

Before he was one, he was found to be extremely farsighted.  He wore glasses before his first birthday and patches too.  The boys thought he was adorable but worried about others making fun of him.  But we got used to the glasses and patches and thought he was the cutest person in the world.

When he was almost two, he had to have eye surgery scheduled.  It was a little stressful because it was his eyes, but he did great and continues to do well.  Not even a month after that, he had double hernia surgery.  Again, he did well; and we were glad to be done with all of that!

When he turned five, he was having a bit of trouble with accidents off and on.  A little while later, we found out why - diabetes.  That was and still is a biggie.  He will have to work with this the rest of his life.  He does well most of the time, but it's hard that we cannot just send him wherever with whomever - even to play sports or go on field trips.  It can be very limiting, but Sam is so fortunate to have three brothers and an extra special cousin who can take care of his diabetes. 

Now at eight, he has a really big and really weird looking "tooth" that turned out to be extra!  He goes to the oral surgeon the morning to have it taken out.  I am nervous because of the not eating in the morning and his sugar that has been off all week because of strep throat.  So I am looking very forward to getting him home and letting him rest tomorrow. 

He may not be up to watching Andrew run in his first ASU meet, but Will will be a good big brother and stay home with him.  Sam is sunshine, and he is fortunate to have brothers who love him so.

We are having cupcakes - white with buttercream frosting - at Sam's request.  They had monster trucks, sprinkles, and ring pops on top.  We will have a bigger party later, but popsicles at school and cupcakes at home sounded good to him.  We started our celebrating early on the way home from cross country this week by stopping at Chuck E. Cheese in Asheville!  He and his daddy had a great time playing games and getting tickets.  Mommy only contributed a little but had fun too!

I feel like Sam should be six - not seven or eight!  He is getting taller and growing up!  He is still our baby, but we have been trying to help him be who he will be!  It's fun to see some of Andrew, some of Peter, and a lot of Will in him.  Then there is the other part that Pete declares comes from my dad.  Then he is left handed like his aunt (Whitney). 

So Happy 8th Birthday to my special baby boy - the one who has kept me busy and kept my focus on the right place - the one who freely hugs me and kisses me and tells me over and over he loves me - the one who likes to "help" clean or pick up - the one who rubs my head when it hurts - the one who will be here for a while after the other boys leave.  Off to eat cupcakes!