Happy Birthday! 2 years of answered prayers-

"Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to you. . ."

10 voices are raised in song as the cake is carried in with 2 candles blazing brightly. Toby smiles and blows repeatedly. The flames flicker and flare back up. A puff from across the table helps him out and Toby joins the clapping and cheering. Grasping the knife firmly, he pokes the smiling monkey face repeatedly but refuses a taste. Soon he is down and walking confidently off in search of more adventures.

It's impossible not to let my mind wander back over the past two years.

Just a few weeks ago, Toby signed "all done" to the newly quieted oxygen concentrator and began roaming the house tether free.

Only three months ago, we were still wondering when he would finally get walking figured out.

A year ago, we were finishing a looong winter punctuated by frequent hospital stays.

And two years ago?

Two years ago, we heard Toby's first cry followed by two months of silence as he was quickly intubated and put on the ventilator.

Two years ago, we visited the NICU for the first of hundreds of visits, gazing in awe and grief at tiny perfection.

Two years ago, we began the journey of hope down the unimaginable path that brought us to this celebration today.

In the NICU, we were told that most preemies "catch up" by the time they're two years old. Today, I find that I don't even wonder any more if that's true or when it will be true for Toby. He has overcome a lot of challenges. And he still has more challenges ahead- challenges he would never have faced if he were not a preemie. He has scars which are everyday reminders. He has medication schedules, therapies, and cute little glasses- not to mention a hole in his belly. But that's ok. He's just Toby, following the path that God had planned for him before the foundations of the world.

And good things are ahead.

"I know that you can do all things:
no plan of yours can be thwarted."
Job 42:2