What a Difference a Year Makes (Happy 1 Yr old Gabe)

"Your son has Downs Syndrome"...those words that changes your life forever. That was a year ago when we found out Gabe had DS...i look back and still remember the heart ache then...how unprepared we were, how shocking everything turned out. I was looking at some of his old photos, some just within days of him being born..and realised i never shared 2 photos:

This one, i remember clearly. Gabe was barely few hours old. He was taken away to another hospital and i couldn't sleep after hearing the news. So i messaged Terry and told him that i didn't have Gabe's photo to look at him. He took this photo of Gabe in the NICU there..and i remember staring at this photo so many times, praying he'd be ok. It was my 1st photo of Gabe that i had...


This one was taken when i visited Gabe at NICU the next day. He looked so tiny n helpless....heartbreaking


But now, a year later, we're on a better road. Things are looking up, we're still learning but we're getting there. Gabriel is a cheerful, happy n temperamental boy. Yells n shouts now when he's angry. Can even fake cry to get me to go to him...

We're getting stronger aren't we Gabe boy. Lots of therapy and homework to do, but we'll manage somehow.

Still, there are lots of things i wish...I wish i could sleep for 8 hours straight. I wish Gabe ate tons of solids, I wish he'd start sleeping through the night instead of waking 2 times (Rach said some of her friends' kid still wakes to feed at 2yrs old..yikes....) and mostly i wish he'd put on more weight so he can do his major op sooner n get well.

But perhaps it'll all come together in time...meanwhile i have this cute lil baby whom i love dearly with all my heart n soul. Stay healthy n strong baby. Keep on smiling like there's no tomorrow. Know how much Mummy & Daddy adores you. You are always on our minds n in our hearts. Know how much your grandparents, aunties n uncles n cousins love you, rascal...

Sorry there's no big celebration..we'll do a big one for your 2nd Birthday ok?

But more important, we DID celebrate, jus a small one..at home...i bought a BAskin Robbins ice cream cake Winnie The Pooh themed...waited for Terry to come back and we sang "Happy Birthday" to lil boy. Mummy blew out the candle on behalf. Gabe had a small slice of cake. He requested for seconds, but i told him tomorrow...

1 year old..we keep telling him that he's a big boy now, and has to be good...think he understands???? We'll see...

Grow well, precious.

Happy 1st Birthday Gabe

Loving you always
Mummy & Daddy