Sweet King Louie…

Yesterday sweet Lu came down with a fever and spent the night throwing up. It broke my heart to see him so small and worn out, especially knowing how much he’d been looking forward to his birthday. He was carrying around his Universal Birthday pin like a badge of honor and couldn’t wait. But then he got sick. Really sick. Today he rested most of the day, curled up and quiet, trying to gather whatever strength he could. We told him we could postpone everything until he felt better… that birthdays can wait, that there’s no rush.
But in true Luca fashion, he shook his head. He didn’t want to wait. Even feeling crummy, he wanted to celebrate his day.
So we did.
It was the gentlest little birthday celebration, but somehow that made it even sweeter. He unwrapped his gifts slowly, with this soft, tired smile that still managed to light up the room. He blew out his candles with all the determination of a kid who refuses to let a fever steal his joy. And he ate the tiniest bit of cake — just enough to say he’d had some, just enough to make it official.
Watching him push through, watching him choose joy even when he didn’t feel his best… it made me so proud. There’s this quiet strength in him, this resilience that shows up in the smallest moments. Even sick, even exhausted, he wanted to celebrate life. He truly is such a light!

And that’s who he is… tender, brave, full of heart.
Happy birthday, my sweet Sugar Cube. You amaze me more every year.