Ten Years Ago…

I’m thankful, this Thursday, to be a Mom.  A mom to three children, two of which have reached double-digit age.  Holy Cow!

So this post is for my middle child, who just turned ten.  TEN!

I remember the day you were born as though it were yesterday…

Nearly two weeks late, I was (way) more than ready to meet you.   

I awoke from a restless sleep, having tossed and turned with sporadic contractions, and wondered if today would be your birthday.

Half-way through a shower, our sewer began backing up, and your father called for service.  Since the tank lid was buried and he wasn’t sure where it was, he began to dig in the back yard, in hopes of having it exposed by the time the truck arrived.

By 10:30, your dad was covered in mud, knee deep in a pit.  And I was pretty sure today was indeed going to be your birthday. 

When I asked him how much longer, he offered me a shovel to speed up the process.  Sweet.  That would have been cute, if I could have seen the ground beneath my belly!

My bag was already packed.  It had been for a week.  Since both the doctor, and a technician, had confirmed you were a girl, I had a tiny pink outfit tucked in the top.

While your father continued to dig, your brother (20 months old) and I walked the yard, watering the flowers. 

The pains in my belly continued.

By 11:30, the sewer truck had arrived. 

I had my bag in the car, and Grandmom and Grandpop were on standby to receive your brother. 

Although the pains were still sporadic, they had begun packing a punch and I was ready to offer the sewer guy whatEVER help he needed to wrap things up.

It was 12:30, before I finally had your dad showered, in the car, and headed for Grandmom’s.  In spite of the fact I was practicing my breathing with a white-knuckle grip on the door handle, your father had to stop at Nuse’s Deli.

“You know, once you get to the hospital, they aren’t going to let you eat, and it could be hours,” he said.   “I feel like a chicken sandwich.”

With that, he parked and helped me (literally) into the deli, allowing me to pause on the sidewalk for a contraction.  Chicken sandwiches it would be. 

By 1:30, we dropped your brother off at Grandmom’s, drove to the hospital and had barely gotten checked in before the nurses were scrambling to find a stand-in doctor.  Lol!  Hours, my foot.

Imagine our surprise when the doctor announced, “Congratulations, you have a baby…boy!”

I looked at your dad and laughed, “No WAY!  Let me see!”

Sure enough, you were ALL BOY!

God loves surprises and you were the best gift he could have given our family.  We just needed to find a blue outfit…

…and a boy’s name, of course.  Lol!

You and your brother kept me hoppin’ those first couple years.  But, looking back, the time passed in a heartbeat.

I can hardly believe you are ten!

I see God working in your heart every day to make you the young man he wants you to be, and I’m so proud of you.

And thankful He gave you to us.

I love you! 

Happy Birthday!