My Birthday Boy

To my sweet boy on his 6th birthday,

I just am amazed at how fast time has gone by and you are already 6, no longer a baby, toddler or preschooler but a school aged boy. Isaiah was one of those sweet surprise pregnancies which we learned on Janessa's first birthday. We were very excited although many thought it was a bit quick to be having another. I knew pretty early on he was a boy and was completely thrilled. Very easy pregnancy and a c-section due to his breech presentation, just like Janessa. So no ideas to what was coming. He was small at birth 5'11 but so was Ness. Crazy thing is when he was born, one of his toes were deformed and Rick and I were sooo devastated about it. Lord only knew that it was nothing compared to what was coming. He then failed his hearing test at birth which was sureal with being an audiologist myself. He quickly lost all of his hearing within a few weeks which was quite devastating. But we adjusted. Soon after he started having feeding difficulties and the poor kid with literally scream for 6-7 hrs. daily for months. So I knew it was not colic and something was not right. He has no head control and I called the pedi. saying I needed to be seen immediately b/c I thought he had cerebral palsy. It was worse then that....

My pedi. saw him and immediately sent him to Children's and within weeks they had a diagnosis. Mitochondrial Disease. Well if you have ever done your own research on it online it is aweful. I thought for sure he would be dead within weeks. He was doing so poorly at the time. He needed a muscle biopsy and a spinal tap immediately b/c his lactate was so dangerously high. He was then put on a experimental medication which miracously worked for him. Many kids fail on this drug. But God had a purpose for Mr. Zeek.

Soon after he got his feeding tube and he was the boy he was going to be. Sure he had many hospitalizations but nothing life threatening. Through all of this Isaiah has been the sweetest and most loving kid I ever met. He will stroke you while watching his tv for which he absolutely loves. He always enjoys teasing Janessa by pulling her hair. He is just very easy going until you change the tv station of course. He loves to laugh at anyone playing catch and just being silly. He has quite the sense of humor. He is my most easy going kid. Such a love bug and certainly God's gift. Isaiah gave our family a great appreciation for the little things in life and not taking it for granted. He was the kid that we thought would not live beyond 6 months and look at him now. HE is so smart talking in sentences on a computer and just a little stinker at time but healthwise is doing amazing.

We just love you more than you can ever imagine. and are soooo blessed that God chose us as your parents. Wishing you a happy and healthy 6th birthday at the zoo.