Who likes Rollercoasters?

On Sunday, Tyler will be thirteen years old....13!!!  I still cannot believe Aaron and I will have a teenager in just a few days.  I've been doing alot of reflecting over the last few days.

When I found out Tyler would be born with Down Syndrome, shocked does not even begin to describe the emotional roller coaster that followed.  While the coaster has gotten a little tamer, I don't feel like I have ever gotten off of it.  Only those parents who have dealt with having a special needs child can fully understand.  The ride has leveled out.  There are more fun sections, more exciting twist and turns.  However, every now and then, you are taken to the very top of the highest hill and plunged into a scary free fall taking your breath away and leaving you terrified.  When Tyler was three, he was on life support when his airway suddenly collapsed.  At one point, the doctors came in to talk to me about making decisions no parent should ever be faced with.  There were times I wondered if Tyler would ever make it to thirteen.

Yet, here we are!  I am currently working on Tyler's birthday letter.  I took a moment tonight to look at some of the letters I wrote to Tyler when he was smaller.  I spent some time in tears.  Happy tears for how far he has come.  Bittersweet tears because the time has flown by too fast.