Fourth time's a charm....Eli's 4th birthday gift

So many of you know the restrictions that Eli has lived with throughout his life of just four years, but many of you didn't realize he had never had a "Real" birthday party before. Sure we had a celebration for him each year but the past three birthday's didn't hold a "birthday" candle to his first birthday party ever on his fourth birthday...

Let me explain,
Eli on his actual first birthday had a severe life threatening reaction to his birthday cake...no not from eating it (although that would have been even worse) but just from merely touching it!
The Chocolate, eggs, or the other ingredients were the party pooper for his first birthday (we aren't sure which was the cause of his major reaction).
He hadn't had the first bite of cake, opened the first present, or had the chance to go outside to enjoy the birthday activites we had planned for him and it was cut short because of his reaction to his cake. So birthday #1 was pretty much non-existant.

Birthday #2, Eli had his own "special made" cake that was egg free and allergen free, but he didn't get to have ice-cream or any of the "birthday" foods we had prepared for his guests....we knew by then (after lots of tests) what things to avoid. Little did we know....he was not going to get to enjoy this birthday either.
We went outside to let the kids enjoy some water activites and we thought things were going well but Eli stepped out of the kiddie pool after a few minutes of playing and was wheezing and when he started to walk towards us he literally fell over on his side and couldn't get up and didn't have enough breath in him to cry or say anything.
I think I broke the speed record of getting to him and scooping him up. We didn't know at first what exactly had happened to him but later realized that the cold water, mixed with poor circulation from being in the cold water had caused him to have an asthma attack.
He also was unable to stand on his own and cried in pain if we tried to help him walk....this was due to severe muscle cramping from the water and activities. So long story short. Birthday #2 got cut short yet again. Needless to say we were all scared out of our minds that he had experienced a stroke! Thank goodness he hadn't.

Birthday #3...Eli wasn't able to have an actual party this year. He had just been at the hospital and was recovering from Pneumonia and bronchitis and a horrible sinus infection. We had held out til the last moment but knew that he couldn't handle a day of company and tons of activities. We decide this would just be a low key just a few family members type celebration. So Eli missed out yet again on enjoying a birthday party.
True. He didn't really know at this point what he was missing because he had nothing to compare things to, but as a parent we were just so sad for him to not know what having a party was all about and what it was like to really enjoy it with no restrictions.

Birthday #4.....We knew with all the breakthrough's and improvements with Eli's health that this year was the year that all he had missed out on would change. Eli's 4th birthday is May 25th and we planned a REAL birthday party for him this weekend. He got to go shopping and pick out his decorations, party supplies, activities, and even his cake. He was soooooo excited and asked me numerous times each day...Is it my party today?
Usually this would be annoying but this little guy's questions were music to my ears. We had an absolute blast planning his birthday and were anticipating a wonderful time for Eli. We were not disappointed and Eli for the first time experienced yet another miracle. All the years of waiting and wishing to have a real birthday party came true this year!

We played outside from 12:00 noon until nearly 5pm with out even a hint of breathing issues, rash, or need for medications.
He ate a normal birthday cake, had pizza and chips with his buddies and even ice-cream!
He ran around chasing his friends and siblings never missing a beat.
He not only played in the water, he jumped into the ice cold tub of water and played till his hearts content and we never had one second of problems.
Watching your kids play, and enjoy themself is so fun, but knowing that your child gets to thoroughly enjoy his very first birthday with no set backs after trying to for four years is a feeling no one can describe.
We owe our life to the miraculous change in Eli's over all well being to the power of great nutrition.
I can't say how or why it has changed his life, but I can say this....look at my baby now and tell me that it isn't from these products!
They didn't cure Eli's health problems but what it did do was give his body the tools it needs to allow his body to function the way it was designed to and that is why he had his first birthday party today.
Today was yet another step forward in the new life and new experiences Eli has to look forward to. This my friends is priceless and beyond words!!!