Happy Birthday My Joshua Kayden

Today is my baby Kayden's birthday. So he isn't a baby anymore. He is officially 3 years old, but he is my sweet baby boy Kayden. His full name is Joshua Kayden Gale. I remember when I told people his name and explained that we would call him Kayden they said well what about when he goes to the hospital or something won't you get confused and I said at that time we won't be in the hospital very much! Boy was I wrong.

The day he was born I was actually babysitting kids. I had a doctor appointment that day and I had gotten up and was watching the kids and my back was really hurting. I called my mom and I told her that my back hurt really bad and she told me to go to the hospital. I didn't think it was labor because the contractions weren't coming and going like I thought they would, I just had a dull ache in my back. My appointment with my doctor was in the late morning and as I got the kids ready to go to the babysitter my pains kept getting worse and worse. We lived in Saratoga Springs at the time and my doctor was in Salt Lake and I was going to deliver at LDS. So I called Josh and told him that I was on my way up there early because I was in a lot of pain and I was going to meet him at his work with Lexi and then we would go from there. I drove from Saratoga Springs to Murray in labor with Lexi. To this day I am amazed that I did that because I remember by the time I got to Murray I was miserable and could not handle the pain anymore.

I knew I was in labor, but I wanted it confirmed so instead of going to the hospital, I stopped at my doctors office and told the receptionist that I needed to get back to see the doctor fast because I was in labor. They took me back and the nurse saw me and checked me and I was dilated to a 4 and was completely thin and I was in labor and she sent me to the hospital from there. When I walked into the hospital the staff on the delivery ward was expecting me and they were great. The nurse was awesome and got me checked in and hooked up to the IV and everything I needed within 45 minutes and that included the anesthesiologist. Everything was taken care of by early afternoon and all I had to do was wait. Kayden finally made his appearance shortly after 5 p.m. weighing in at 6 pounds 9 ounces and was 21 inches long (I may be off on numbers right now I get each one of my kids and their "stats" mixed up.) He was so small and so cute. I remember that he didn't really cry after he was born and the nurse was really concerned. They even had the newborn respiratory person come in and check him out because he didn't scream and cry like a normal newborn did. Little did we know at that time how sick our baby really was.

As most of you already know that when Kayden was 3 weeks old he was hospitalized for failure to thrive and then diagnosed as having Hypoplastic kidneys. His kidney were half the size that they should have been and had stopped growing in utero. Normal newborn kidneys are around 5 cm in size. Kayden were 2 and 2.5 cm in size. At three weeks old our baby boy was in Kidney Failure. He was transferred to Primary Childrens hospital and was there for about a week and then we were able to bring him home but he needed to be on sodium and iron and a special formula. That was only the beginning.

We have had a NG tube, a G-Tube, a GJ tube, different formulas, at one point he was taking 9 medications at one time, he has had growth hormone shots administered by me, iron shots administered by me or Josh, he has had calories added to his formula, he has had MAJOR oral aversions and other sensory issues, he has had a Nissen Fundoplication, he has had tubes and his tonsils and adnenoids removed, he has been admitted for dehydration on numerous occasions, he has had some bone problems related to his chronic kidney failure, he has developmental delays, at 2 years old he finally learned how to walk, and last but not least he was given a chance to have many more birthday because of a very caring and wonderful family who decided to donate their loved ones organs and my child was the lucky recipient of their loved ones kidney. And look at where we are today, celebrating his third birthday!!!!! Last year at this time he couldn't walk and we were getting him fat in preparation to have his name put on the transplant list to get his kidney, today we are singing happy birthday to him and having a wonderful time with him. We were singing Happy Birthday to him today and when we were done he said "Come on sing to me!"

Kayden, you are my miracle. I have been at your side through every single thing that I listed above and more. I worried many nights about you and prayed so hard for you so many times. I will continue to be by your side for many more years to come and when you need another kidney, I will be the first in line as a donor. I love you so much and we have been through so much, but you are here and you are THREE!!!! I am so proud of you and you are my hero and my miracle. You amaze me every day with how far you have come. I love you and I am proud to say that I am your mom and that I gave birth to you. I love you and hope that you had a Happy Birthday. Enjoy your football cake and your Woody and Jessie Doll. You have a special spirit and everyone loves you.

This is Kayden in September eating Nestle Chocolate milk powder.