The party was a blast, but the really big event was two days later when Eli officially turned one. We wanted to mark the occasion by doing something special, so we decided it would be fitting to pay a visit to the place where Eli began his life and--most importantly--to the people who made it possible.Unfortunately for us, but probably a good idea for the patients, the hospital has a new policy which prohibits visitors under the age of twelve. The security guard was unmoved by my pleas for special dispensation (and subsequent thinly veiled threats), so we had to settle for seeing a handful of the nurses in the lobby. No worries, that allowed Eli the extra treat of being serenaded by Ethel, the night custodian ("happy birthday dear Shorty...") astride her hospital version of a zamboni.
It was a very happy reunion. I loved seeing how excited the nurses were to see Eli, and he them. And it really meant something to Paul and me to be back at this place where we spent so many emotion-filled hours one year ago. When the clock turned 6:52pm, marking the exact one year anniversary of Eli's birth, it really seemed as if something magical happened. Paul and I both breathed a sigh of awe and relief. At times during the past year, we thought we would never see this day. But we made it. We now have a perfectly healthy, extremely happy one-year-old who is crawling, standing, babbling and starting to develop a real personality. We would have never gotten here without the help of these amazing women. So three cheers for the birthday boy, and at least another three for the nurses. We love you!
