Without the Birthday Boy

Ten years ago, at this moment, I was settling into life with a newborn, 14 hours after a storybook delivery. I was elated to be snuggling my baby boy in my arms. No matter how many crazy worries went through my head, I never imagined I would be here tonight without my son.

Josh would be SO happy to be celebrating double digits. And we would be happy to do anything he wanted for his birthday. The January before he died, we started the tradition of decorating the dining room with birthday streamers and a banner and balloons and really going all out in the simple ways that make a kid feel special. I could tell he was a tiny bit jealous of his little sister that day, and I was so looking forward to spoiling him in that same way for his birthday 6 1/2 months later. We never got the chance. We spent the days leading up to his 9th birthday trying to wrap our heads around the fact that our son would not be there to celebrate. Our little boy was dead. Forever 8 years old.

We spent his last few days making promises to him -- ways we would celebrate his birthday and spoil him when he woke up. Not "if." We would help him build the treehouse of his dreams. We would even call Pete from Treehouse Masters if he wanted. I would let him skip the next year of school if he wanted, and just spend time doing everything he had ever wanted to do. We meant every word.

On August 3, 2015 at 5:35 a.m., Joshua Quentin Kaye turned 10 years old, but he isn't here to celebrate, to hug, to spoil. I am doing my best to hug and love and spoil whoever I am with. I hope you will do the same. #ThisIsForJosh