Happenings.....Korbin's 4!!!!!

Look! My tongue is green!

Crazy! That is life in the Ireland house, always. I have come to accept the fact that I am a working mom. Not that all mom's aren't working moms, but I have to work outside my home. Thankfully I have a mother who takes care of my beautiful children, and thank you to my dad, Jay, for letting her be home to care for them. If not for "Ga-ga," it would be at least 100 times more difficult to go to work each day. Thanks mom and dad!!!
So, I work full-time. Thankfully, again, I actually do like my job and at the end of almost everyday I can say that I helped at least one person. Because I have the kind of job I have, I am blessed to also earn paid time off. So, because I do work full-time, and sometimes I feel like I miss out on some "mom" moments; I take the day off for the birthday of each of my children if they fall on a normal work day. This last Monday was that day for Korbin. My baby turned 4! How can that be?
4 years ago, John and I were at USF medical center, hoping to bring our baby home from the NICU sooner rather than later. After a week of being there and missing our other 2 boys (thankfully mom was there then too) we finally got to bring our tiny boy home. He was our smallest at birth and even smaller when we left SF, the only one who had to have preemie size clothes. Korbin went to school with me from February to May of 2006. That was one of my best semesters ever. My pregnancy with Korbin was a bit of a surprise, but never has he been anything short of a miraculous blessing! Shortly after he was born, Korbin received a Priesthood blessing at the hands of two Priesthood holders from our ward and his breathing problems were gone within 20 minutes. I was reminded that day just how much we are truly watched over by a loving Father in Heaven. It was by the His sacred power that Korbin was healed, and continued to be healed, for the remainder of that week. In looking at Korbin today, one would never know that we ever had the slightest worry. He is a joy to have in our family. Korbin is precious in every way. He is, so far, a combination of his brothers in physical appearance and attitude. He is smart, funny and full of spirit! What a blessing we have been given, to be Korbin's parents.
Korbin loves cars and trains, but not just any cars or trains. He likes cars from the Disney movie "Cars" and he likes Thomas the train and friends. He can put together puzzles in no time, and loves to be challenged by puzzles with lots of pieces. He wanted a train cake for his birthday, so that is what he got. The first one fell apart, so I spent mostly my entire day off of work baking, frosting and decorating cakes. You know what, though? I would do it all again just to see Korbin light up at the sight of his cake! He got lots of Cars presents, and he loved it.
Korbin, we love you and are grateful to have been blessed and valued enough by Heavenly Father to be your parents here on earth. We look forward to many birthdays yet to come!! Love you, Bubby!

Sticking his finger in the frosting.

Mommy even made tracks, look. Those are cracks (tracks in Korbin's language).

I am really tired, but must smile for the traditional "cake picture."

Why must Aidan always be silly? Because, he is his own self...that is Aidan!

That is enough already, I want to play with my new toys!

Look, I got a new puzzle. It has 100 pieces. (He has already gotten it 3/4 put together two times now.)

Our baby is turning 3!!!

I cannot believe how time flies! Just 3 short years ago we were welcoming our baby, Korbin, into our family. He was supposed to come on January 31, 2006, via a planned c-section, but there were a couple of emergencies and surgeries taking longer than planned that day. So, we were moved back to Wednesday, February 1, 2006. Just after noon, Korbin was born, via c-section, and almost immediately I knew that there was a problem. They quickly showed me his face and whisked him away, out of the room. I didn't hear his weight or his cry...not like the others before him. Then, there was Dr. Anderson, talking to Dr. Wolff, about getting my bleeding stopped. John left to be with Korbin and the rest of our family and finally my bleeding was stopped and I was sent to recovery. Not long after, my mom came into the recovery room. That is when the reality of something being wrong really hit, and I knew it was going to be bad. She told me that Korbin was having breathing problems and that Dr. Killfoil was there and planning on staying all day. I asked her to send John in because I knew that we needed to call someone to come and give our baby a Priesthood blessing. And as I waited for my husband, I cried. Never before had I felt such pain in my heart, the thought of my beautiful little boy hurting made me hurt more. We called for two members of our Church ward to come and give Korbin a blessing. They dropped everything to come and administer a blessing to Korbin and to me. Korbin very quickly recovered and Dr. Killfoil said that Korbin was doing well, so he was going to go home for some dinner but was only a phone call away. Within a few minutes, one of the nurses called the doctor back because Korbin had had a seizure. It was then that we knew Korbin would have to be flown to San Francisco to the NICU. I spent several hours in the nursery holding my heavily medicated baby that night, weeping when he was taken from me for transfer to the NICU. The next day John and I headed to UCSF to be with our baby. We spent a week there, with Korbin not having another seizure after February 2, 2006. When we were told we could take him home, one week after he was born, I cried again! This time I cried happy tears...my baby was healthy and we could take him home to join his brothers. What a blessing for our family!
Today, three years later, I am even more grateful that Korbin is a part of our family. One would never know by looking at him, that he spent his first week in the NICU. He is healthy, happy and continuously busy! He is a necessary part of this family...we would not be whole without him. He brings joy to our hearts and home. His smile lights up any room in seconds...and his mind and body are quick and whole. What a blessing we have been given!
Happy birthday my "Bubbie," we love you today and always!!!!