Knits, Dyes, & Ties on a 6 year old boy

So yesterday was Samuel's 6th birthday.  I can hardly believe it has been that long but only for a moment...because soon enough I'm reminded it is entirely possible with THREE younger siblings screaming at me.  Samuel was much desired and while I've wanted all my babies, he was the one I thought about having the most.  Which is probably not unusual as he is our SECOND child, and second son no less.  Husband and I talked and talked and talked about when we should try for another baby and finally left it up to God...we were blessed with Samuel.

Of course he was my longest labor...I started counting my contractions at 6am but really had been in early labor all night however it wasn't until the NEXT morning, just before 1am that he finally showed up.  He was definitely worth the work and wait but I am anxious to hold this information over his head :)

So of course I have to show a few pictures from the past and then onto the recent and also daring birthday gift I made for Samuel.

Summer 2005 - He has always been so stinkin cute

Post Surgery October 2005 - repair of Aorta

Summer 2005 - Always been stealing big brother's toys

Not exactly sure of the date on this one but this is ALL Samuel....fun and playful

Wow!  Just looking back through the old photo files I was shocked at how far we've come with our boy.  I cried looking at the pictures of him in the hospital.  No parent ever wants their child to be sick or hurt and I'm no different.  I remember the day I took him to the pediatrician because he'd had a cold for a couple weeks and it wasn't getting better, he was 8 months and Dr. Bennett listened to his heart for a really, really, really long time.  He then says that he heard a new heart murmur and wanted me to have it checked out by a cardiologist in case he might need to be pre-med for dental work (incidentally he doesn't).  So I called and got an appointment within a week, ten days at the most.

I asked my mother-in-law to come along with me for moral support, she's an RN and I thought that if something might be wrong I'd want someone to help with the medical jargon.  Haha!  I think I was her moral support!  She went pale at Samuel's blood pressure numbers for his upper body and we never could get a reading for the lower half.  The cardiologist, Dr. Berg, came in and listened to his heart and then calmly explained what she thought was wrong and ordered a echocardiogram, which was done that day.  Three days later we were back at the hospital for a sedated MRI to confirm that Samuel was born with a congenital heart defect, Coarctation of the Aorta, in short his Aorta was blocked (big major artery), worse the blockage was in the arch of the Aorta.  Within two weeks of going to the pediatrician for a COLD we were booked for corrective surgery!  God was so amazing to us.  I look back at that time and remember how loved I felt by friends and family who came and supported us.  I wish it hadn't happened but since it did I see all the glorious things that came about from it.

Okay, enough reminiscing onto the current...and UBER healthy pics of a normal 6-year-old boy who only has to go once a year to the cardiologist.

Okay so I think I was a bit overly ambitious for this present but I think (as does the boy himself) that it turned out fabulous.  I found a discounted bolt of cotton blend knit fabric for $1.50 a yard.  Now I am getting to be a bit more conscious about my fabrics and buying quality, but for this gift I wasn't concerned about if it would last through Thaddeus just that Samuel would enjoy it.  So I went for it.  I cut out 5 t-shirts using another pattern from my Ottobre magazine...raglan tee I think.  I modified it to have the crew collar as it was supposed to be a hoodie (which I will make too).

Equipped with 4 boxes of Rit fabric dye I colored 4 shirts.  Sewed them all together then appliqued a tie onto each shirt.  Let's just say the gift went over very well, especially when I told him that he could wear one everyday to school and never repeat a shirt once.  Samuel has always loved ties and I love that this one can't get lost (well, at least I hope it can't).  I was super fun to dye the fabric, and I colored a few other items along with the shirts as well but you'll have to stay tuned for more.

Have a great week!