Last week, our Sweet Evan turned 6! I cannot hardly believe it. As I watch the memories from 6 years ago come up on Facebook, I still can remember him being this tiny, frail little thing that spent 5 weeks in the NICU. Now, he is 6! It is simply unreal.
In 2017, I had considered not having a birthday party for Evan. Then the unthinkable happened, and we needed to celebrate him still being alive. That was probably Evan's favorite birthday party ever! We had water games, and he loves the water almost more than anything. However, he could have cared less about any other party I've ever thrown him. He never really interacted with anyone. He doesn't get into gifts. Most of the snacks he can't eat. Sometimes he would eat cake. Sometimes he wouldn't. And then we never knew if he would have a seizure in the middle of the whole thing, and he'd be done with it all. Most birthday parties have left me feeling as if I had wasted a bunch of money and time. The only good part was that we got to hang out with our family and friends.
Early this year after some of Evan's friends started having birthdays, Stewart and I decided not to have a big party for Evan's birthday. We finally settled on having a lunch the weekend after his birthday. We would only invite his grandparents. We would serve the foods that he liked. We wouldn't have a theme, but Stewart would still make a simple cake. And we would ask his grandparents not to bring him any gifts. It was going to be a small birthday, and we hoped this would finally be a party that he would enjoy.
After I ended up having major surgery on April 8 and Stewart's family had some major issues come up (I'll let him tell you about that when he's ready), we wondered if the party was even going to happen. Things were looking pretty bleak, and we did have to move the party back one day. But can I just tell you? Everything worked out PERFECTLY! I mean every single thing - right down to the birthday shirt his Mimi made him!
On Evan's actual birthday, we had planned to go out to lunch as a family to McAlister's, and then I was going to take the boys to Target to get Evan a new pair of shoes. After that, I was going to take them both to get frozen yogurt. (Evan loves him some froyo!) Well, we did eat at McAlister's, and we had a wonderful experience! We saw a friend who gave him a treat and bought Zach a cookie. Then the manager came out and brought us not one but TWO pieces of cheesecake! Evan ate almost an entire piece of cheesecake! It was unbelievable! Needless to say, we were too full for a trip to Target and froyo. So we headed on home!
That night, Adrienne, Anna, and Daniel came over and brought Evan balloons and a gift. (Stewart, Zach, and Thomas were at Man Church.) Adrienne had made some yummy food, and Evan enjoyed playing with Anna and Daniel. That was such a nice end to his day!
On his party day, Papaw, Jo-Jo, and Gram all came to eat lunch with us. And what are Evan's favorite foods? Sweet potatoes, purple hull peas, mustard greens, and homemade macaroni and cheese. Stewart fried deer backstrap for those of us eating meat.
Then we had yummy cake and ice cream for dessert. Evan ate mostly ice cream, but he was a happy boy! He ate a ton!
Just as we were starting cake and ice cream, my best friend Diana and her family stopped by on their way through town, so we got to have some cousin time! What a fun day Evan had!
I am just so thankful that Evan's 6th birthday turned out the way it did. As I said, it was just perfect. You could just see how much he enjoyed himself. And with Evan, that is hard to do. God was so sweet to us to lead us to doing this kind of birthday. It was providential in so many ways. I have zero regrets. We celebrated our Sweet Evan in just the way he wanted!
In 2017, I had considered not having a birthday party for Evan. Then the unthinkable happened, and we needed to celebrate him still being alive. That was probably Evan's favorite birthday party ever! We had water games, and he loves the water almost more than anything. However, he could have cared less about any other party I've ever thrown him. He never really interacted with anyone. He doesn't get into gifts. Most of the snacks he can't eat. Sometimes he would eat cake. Sometimes he wouldn't. And then we never knew if he would have a seizure in the middle of the whole thing, and he'd be done with it all. Most birthday parties have left me feeling as if I had wasted a bunch of money and time. The only good part was that we got to hang out with our family and friends.
Early this year after some of Evan's friends started having birthdays, Stewart and I decided not to have a big party for Evan's birthday. We finally settled on having a lunch the weekend after his birthday. We would only invite his grandparents. We would serve the foods that he liked. We wouldn't have a theme, but Stewart would still make a simple cake. And we would ask his grandparents not to bring him any gifts. It was going to be a small birthday, and we hoped this would finally be a party that he would enjoy.
After I ended up having major surgery on April 8 and Stewart's family had some major issues come up (I'll let him tell you about that when he's ready), we wondered if the party was even going to happen. Things were looking pretty bleak, and we did have to move the party back one day. But can I just tell you? Everything worked out PERFECTLY! I mean every single thing - right down to the birthday shirt his Mimi made him!
On Evan's actual birthday, we had planned to go out to lunch as a family to McAlister's, and then I was going to take the boys to Target to get Evan a new pair of shoes. After that, I was going to take them both to get frozen yogurt. (Evan loves him some froyo!) Well, we did eat at McAlister's, and we had a wonderful experience! We saw a friend who gave him a treat and bought Zach a cookie. Then the manager came out and brought us not one but TWO pieces of cheesecake! Evan ate almost an entire piece of cheesecake! It was unbelievable! Needless to say, we were too full for a trip to Target and froyo. So we headed on home!
That night, Adrienne, Anna, and Daniel came over and brought Evan balloons and a gift. (Stewart, Zach, and Thomas were at Man Church.) Adrienne had made some yummy food, and Evan enjoyed playing with Anna and Daniel. That was such a nice end to his day!
On his party day, Papaw, Jo-Jo, and Gram all came to eat lunch with us. And what are Evan's favorite foods? Sweet potatoes, purple hull peas, mustard greens, and homemade macaroni and cheese. Stewart fried deer backstrap for those of us eating meat.
Then we had yummy cake and ice cream for dessert. Evan ate mostly ice cream, but he was a happy boy! He ate a ton!
Just as we were starting cake and ice cream, my best friend Diana and her family stopped by on their way through town, so we got to have some cousin time! What a fun day Evan had!
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| Evan, Zach, Devin, and Drew |
I am just so thankful that Evan's 6th birthday turned out the way it did. As I said, it was just perfect. You could just see how much he enjoyed himself. And with Evan, that is hard to do. God was so sweet to us to lead us to doing this kind of birthday. It was providential in so many ways. I have zero regrets. We celebrated our Sweet Evan in just the way he wanted!
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