HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY SAM!

It's almost hard to believe that it's been ONE WHOLE YEAR since our little Smidgey Smurf fought his way into this world...ONE WHOLE YEAR since we first heard the words Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome...ONE WHOLE YEAR since we left the hospital without the baby we came there to deliver, feeling robbed and devastated of what was meant to be such a celebrated occasion...ONE WHOLE YEAR since I had a single solid night's sleep (with the exception of that very first night Sammy was born, thanx to a MEGA dose of morphine)...ONE WHOLE YEAR since I battled to fit into our shower (it's a really small shower, okay)...ONE WHOLE YEAR since I had a little Smidgey kicking me in the ribs in the middle of the night...ONE WHOLE YEAR since I sometimes had to get up ten times during the night, still half asleep, to use the loo (we're down to only three times now)...Mmm, okay, guess there have been one or two positives there -just kidding, of course there's been heaps of positives like making new friends (whether it be in person or through cyber-connections) and having this whole new group of wonderful RTS angels enter our lives, who teach us every day about courage, hope, patience, love, acceptance, perseverance and, perhaps the most important, to never take anything for granted and to cherish every moment. Seriously though, thinking back that this time last year our little elf was lying so tiny and fragile in his incubator really leaves you in awe that you have made it so far and not only made it through, but that you've made it through in one piece and can still manage a smile and hey, even a laugh most of the time.

I also can't believe how much Sammy's face has changed since he was born. Of course his "cpap nose" eventually disappearing makes, I think, alot of difference.

So, here we are with our one year old Samuel Christian de Beer (aka Smidgey/Grumpy/Jokey/Barfy Smurf, Little Elf, Little Monkey, Fievel) having just celebrated a whole year of being Sam!

Sam was quite impressed with his very first EVER birthday card which he received all the way from Pearly Beach from his Granny and Aunty Alvie & Uncle Charlie and made sure he savoured and memorised every last word of it, even the barcode on the back (he's sure to be a clever lad this one).

And after thoroughly studying his card he spent some time showing his new friends on Noah's Ark all the other wonderful things you can use birthday cards for (Sam's very into "keeping it green"). Here he's busy demonstrating how to make a.......a.......a......funnel-type-thing?

Another cool new toy that has all sorts of shapes and colours and sounds on it, although the first few days with this toy were touch-and-go as one of the little cars make the sound of a siren which instantly made Sam cry (thank goodness it seems to have passed).

Sam all of a sudden has really started enjoying his baby food (although we're still only alternating between two flavours - oats & honey and creamy carrots & (you guessed it) honey. He even gets excited now when he sees me bringing his little bowl. On Saturday morning I made him pancakes seeing as he appears to be getting over his food-phobia and, if we had to wait for him to get his first tooth I might be too old and bent-over to reach the top of the stove (as it is I barely make it) but it was a no-go, the tiny micro-crumb of pancake hadn't even touched his tongue before he started gagging and coughing. But offer him a piece of cupcake mind you and all of a sudden that hectic gagging reflex disappears. Could it be that my son has a sweet tooth? I really can't imagine where he would have inherited it from seeing as I am a very healthy eater myself (of course my fingers aren't crossed behind my back, really!)

And there you have it....undeniable proof! I wonder what butternut tastes like with honey...and potatoes with honey....and chicken with honey...and pasta with honey!

Sam is still not sitting, although he does occasionally manage a few minutes here and there, but he loves being on his feet...in fact, it's almost a sure-fire way to get him to stop moaning when he's agitated.

Sam's crown that Meg made for him a few weeks after he came home from NICU last year became a little too small (we know that at least one part of his body is growing then), so she was kind enough to make him another one for Saturday.

And yes, we are still doing neuro-therapy every week and even occasionally make it through a few exercises before the scream/vomit assault begins.

And all the hard work (the hard work being the crying and tantrums which he puts a whole lot more effort into than the actual therapy) leaves Sam absolutely exhausted and, on a rare occasion, he even passes out for at least like ten minutes.

Meg had her very first official choir Eisteddford. It was so precious, when they first started singing I became so emotional and then I noticed how the rest of the audience were reacting with delight and loads of "aaawwwhhh's" and that made me even more emotional. This whole emotional thing is really snowballing lately - you should see how I bawl my eyes out every time someone else gets voted out of Idols, regardless of whether I actually liked them or not...in fact, even adverts make me cry lately!