(this is another sappy post so consider yourself warned…)
It is unbelievable to think that our son is turning 15 today! It seems like just yesterday that he was standing in front of me singing “Bonnie the Beautiful Butterfly” and so proud that he knew all the words and actions. (Thank goodness I have it on video – so cute!) Where has the time gone – just a blink of an eye! How is it possible that this little boy has turned into such a tall, handsome, responsible, reserved young man? I could talk about Hayden all day long because he is one of my favorite subjects.
What a joy Hayden is in our family! He has taken on the role of peacemaker in our home. He has a very tender spirit and strives to do what is right. He has an incredible testimony that not only we recognize but also other leaders and those that are around him. He magnifies his calling and honors his priesthood. Being the only teacher for a long time in our new ward, he has had to prepare the sacrament sometimes completely by himself but he does it willingly. One recent memory of Hayden is that he gets a little lightheaded when he is passing the sacrament especially on Fast Sunday. Brian and I both have been concerned about this and talked to Hayden about maybe he shouldn’t fast. Not fasting was not an option of Hayden – he moved his fasting to beginning on Saturday night and concluding before meetings on Sunday so that he could exercise his obedience. In that moment, both Brian and I were taught.
Hayden’s entrance into this world was dramatic to say the least. I remember every moment and detail of that day as if it was yesterday. He was 7 weeks early and had to be placed on a respirator. He had a hole in his heart and could not suck/swallow/breath. Brian and I were devastated. In fact, Hayden coded and stopped breathing on the way to the NICU. I remember watching the color drain out of Brian’s face as he watched them work on Hayden. In the few short moments he had been in our life, we both were already so in love with him and he was already “the brother” as Hunter affectionately called him as a 3 ½ year-old. The doctors including Dr. Hayden, who Hayden is named after, told us that at a minimum he would have to spend the next 7 weeks in the hospital and his prognosis was grim. I remember that Brian and our bishop, Bishop Bradshaw, gave him a blessing that promised him that he would recover because he had great work to do. The next morning, he was taken off the respirator able to breathe on his own and the hole in his heart was determined to be a heart murmur and not life threatening or requiring surgery. Hayden only spent 10 days in the hospital and did not have any real residual side effects from his dramatic entrance except for his eye issues that we realized later on.
But even with all of that, Hayden was so easy going and laid back unless he was pushed too far.
Hayden definitely inherited the infamous Hadlock temper. Hayden is slow to boil but once he is, he is a force to be reckoned with. (Right Grampy?!?!) But those moments are few and far between especially the older he gets. He carries his Grampy’s name and tries to honor and live up to that name. He holds it in high regard and really loves telling people that he is named after his Grampy.
Being his mom is truly a gift for me and he is a treasure I cherish. Hayden will just come and give me hugs or tell me he loves me for no reason. He was always the first one to run to Brian saying "Daddy's home, daddy's home..." and throwing his arms around Brian's legs to welcome him home. He takes care of his little brother, Bryson, as well as his cousins - never uttering a word of discontent or displeasure. In fact, often volunteering to help out. He stayed up to make sure that Meg had her puppies until 5am allowing me to go to bed because I was so tired.
Hayden – your dad and I love you so much and we are so proud of you. No matter what you do or who you are, always remember that you are loved and cherished. We hope you have a very happy birthday!
