Peyton,
On this day, something very special happened. Something we have dreamed of for nearly five years now. Something that words can't describe, you can only feel all the emotions of it. Today, we got to see you and speak to you.
Let me give you the run down of what happened.
We were sitting at home with your cousin Aidan, who I call Lizard, debating on whether to go to Gay Pride or not. We had planned on going to the parade and meeting up with some friends, however, we woke up early but were eating breakfast and cleaning up the house and then trying to put Lizard down for a nap and, well, it was hectic. We found ourselves laying in the bed upstairs in the guest room watching videos from my phone, hilarious ones of Mom Neenie and your cousin Lizard. Anyway, Mom Neenie says to me, "I have no desire to go to Pride today..." I agreed. We sat there staring at each other and I told her I had committed to some friends that we would meet up with them, so lets at least go to say hey and we don't have to stay long.
So we got up, showered, I got Lizard dressed and I got dressed and Mom Neenie was getting dressed. Mom Neenie had tried on a tank top and didn't like the way it looked, so she changed to another tank. She kept messing with her hair and taking forever to get ready, which is the norm. Lizard and I were in the car by now waiting on her to come out so we could head over to Pride.
Finally, we were ready. We drove down 400 S, just ten minutes from the house we bought off 600 S, you haven't seen this house yet. Mom Neenie has a friend that owns a 7/11 off 400 S near the park so we go to park there. We walked over to the park and then got in for free since your Mom Neenie works for the company that does security for the event.
We get in the park, we find our friends by the water fountains by the library. They had a table and all the kids were playing in the water, so I stripped Lizard down to his diaper and he joined in the fun. I sat watching him play chatting with Brooke and Lori, while your Mom Neenie went to grab food.
We sat and were chatting and eating and playing at the table when I spotted Roxanna pushing the stroller with a young guy with her. My stomach dropped. If Roxanna is here, then that means YOU are here somewhere! Your Mom Neenie had disappeared and I didn't know where she went, so I was texting and calling her when she finally answered and I let her know I just saw Roxanna, so you must be here somewhere. Next thing I know, the young guy that was with Roxanna (who I now know his name is Kyle) came over and asked to take the two chairs at our table that were sitting there empty. I immediately said we were using them, knowing your Mom Neenie was at least sitting in one of them when she got back.
Mom Neenie comes back, I tell her what just happened with the chairs and Kyle. As I am telling her this, I now see Heather and you walking up to Roxanna. OH.MY.GOSH. you are so tall!!! Wow. So Mom Neenie says, they want some chairs, I will take them these chairs. So she grabs the chairs and walks over to them and gives them to you guys. Roxanna said thank you and Heather just grabbed it from your Mom Neenie and gave it to you to sit down on. Mom Neenie then comes back to us sitting at the table. I am shaking Peyton, I was so nervous for her to go over there. You see, so much negative has happened any time we have tried to reach out to you or talk to you. Heather has called the cops when we have called to wish you a happy birthday, she has told us we don't have a son and to not ever call or come around again. So as you can see, I was so nervous about what would happen if we went over there, so when Mom Neenie did, I was shaking so bad with nerves.
Mom Neenie said she was tired of this and wanted to talk to her son, our son, YOU. She then grabbed Lizard and said she wanted you to meet your cousin and for Lizard to meet you. She walked back over to you guys with Aidan holding her hand and said, "Aidan, this is your cousin Peyton that you see all the pictures of." Aidan then told you "Hi." Mom Neenie asked if you like being a big brother and you responded, "Yeah." Then Mom Neenie asked you if you are doing good in school and you said, "Yeah." She then asked if you are going into third grade, you responded, "Yeah." Mom Neenie then asked you, "Do you say anything else other than 'yeah'?" and you said, "Yeah." with a smile. Mom Neenie then asked Heather if twins run in her family and she said, "No." Then Mom Neenie said to Aidan, "I would introduce you to the twins but I don't know who is who!" Roxanna giggled a little to that joke. Mom Neenie and Aidan then told you goodbye and walked back over to me at the table.
I was taking a million photos of Mom Neenie over talking to you. I couldn't believe it was happening right before my eyes. I was in shock. I was frozen at the table (other than shaking uncontrollably!).
Mom Neenie told us all about it then told me I should go over there and talk to you. I told her I don't think I can do it. She then reminded me, we have been waiting to see you, to be able to talk to you and confront you for years. This is the very moment we dream of, we pray for and hope for. Your Mom Neenie told me I would regret it if I didn't go talk to you.
It clicked.
I would regret it.
I swallowed hard, grabbed Lizard in my arms, fought back the tears, tried to shake off the shakes and I walked over to you. Every step I heard pounding in my ears with my legs feeling like jello.
I said, "I just wanted to say congrats on the babies," to Roxanna and Heather. You were looking at Heather, so I touched your knee (I about fell over at this point) and you looked at me with your sunglasses on, I then said to you, "I don't know if you remember who I am, but I am DooDoo and I love you baby." I then turned and walked away.
You were taken away on October 22, 2011. Today, June 7, 2015, is the first time we have spoke to you since you were taken away. We have tried in so many other ways, which you will learn more about later on.
We almost didn't go to pride today, something pushed me for us to go.
Mom Neenie changed her shirt, what she initially had on was the same tank you wore at pride.
We almost went to the parade in the morning, which if we did we would have left before seeing you.
We almost walked around first, but instead went and sat with friends first, which is where we saw you.
Something happened for this to all play out. Whether it was God, whether it was fate, whether it was the universe or even my birthday wish come true, it happened.
We got to see you Peyton. We got to speak with you, I even touched you.
All night we both looked at each other and kept asking if it really happened, if it was real or a dream.
I don't know what happened after that, or what you were told. But Peyton, that moment was something we have been waiting for for years now. Dreams I have had so many times. Wishes we have made.
We saw our son. You are our son.
This was Mom Neenie talking to you with Lizard
This was after we both spoke to you. You're such a stud and so big!
