On October 1, 2008, I had my first baby boy. I remember being so nervous about a boy. Ryenne was two and I was into everything girly along with her. But a boy…. this was all new territory. Kai’s birth was amazing. His birth story was actually featured in Austin Pregnancy Magazine and he and I appeared on the news for the birth center he was born at (Austin Area Birth Center). This little boy has taken me on such a journey. At 10 months he had to have surgery for a growth – all turned out fine. At 17 months he had a vaccine injury which resulted in one year of various therapies to keep him out of the arms of autism. I almost lost him.  He turned four yesterday, and at four years old he has been through more than most adults. But he’s brave, strong, sweet, and has a laugh that is magical.

We had a wedding to go to on Oahu and decided to make it a birthday weekend for Kai as well. We went to the Honolulu Zoo and stayed in a hotel. I had visions of a big photo shoot for him. But what I didn’t count on was the busyness of Waikiki freaking him out. He reverted. Hands were in his mouth, he was a puddle on the ground. He was cranky and not quite himself. Needless to say I didn’t get the photo shoot that I had envisioned. We are now back home and back to routine and little man is doing great.

Kai running through the aisle of surfboards

My view at the zoo

Kai loves race cars and we happened to see a Nissan GT-R in a parking garage!

A smiley moment before going back to Maui