Happy Birthday, TJ

It had been a long week.
For the past seven days
I’d spent the majority of my time
drugged
slightly inverted in a hospital bed
lying on my left side
trying in vain to stop labor.
Somewhere around 3:00 on the 21st
The nurses decided they weren’t going to stop it.
Like it or not
after only 27 wks and 3 days
the baby was coming.
They moved me to a labor room.
I say room loosely
as it was really just an ‘area’ bordered with red curtains.
Did I mention I was alone?
I was.
All by myself
with some grouchy nurses who checked in once in awhile.
Lying flat on my back strapped to a fetal monitor.
Later that evening
the contractions quit registering on the monitor
So the lovely nurses told me I was no longer having them.
Except, I could still feel them.
and they were hurting!
“It’s just all in your head” they told me.
And so began a lifelong general mistrust for the medical profession.
Around 11 o’clock
I got brave and moved the stupid belt myself
and wouldn’t you know it
it showed I was having contractions again.
And they said, “This baby is comin’!”
I probably smarted off, “I told you!!”
I’m pretty sure I bruised the arms of two of those nurses.
Not because I punched them, mind you,
but because they were kind enough to let me hold on.
And I was squeezing pretty tight.
They told me to wait - Dr Jain was coming.
(that was another pattern that seemed to develop -
waiting for the doctor to have the baby…)
She finally walked in the door
looked me in the eyes
and said, “Now, you can push.”
At 12:02am, April 22nd, 1987
a scrawny little 2 lb 15 oz boy entered the world.
Peeing.
And I was smitten.

We’ve always known God has special plans for this one.
Still aren’t sure what all those plans are
But His hand is clearly on him.
~
We share a love for movies
and a general dislike for musicals.
And food.
(We love food, we don’t dislike it - in case there’s any confusion.)
He’s generous
He’s a good friend
He’s smart
He’s an excellent mechanic
And plumber
He laughs heartily
He loves babies

and they love him
He’s thoughtful
And he’s my favorite 21 year old in the whole world!
I love you, T.
Happy Birthday!!