Happy Birthday

Today, October 9th, is a special day in our house. Nine years ago today, I gave birth to my first-born son. To say it was a traumatic experience would be an understatement. I was due on September 30th and they finally brought me in on October 8th for an Amniotic Fluid Index (AFI). They found absolutely no fluid and told me that I would have to stay. I asked them to tell me how big my son was, but the technician told me that she wasn’t allowed to check as it was not on the doctor’s orders. I was induced shortly thereafter and was then in labor for 25 hours. Toward the end of that time, the doctors tried to assist my son with forceps – boy was he stubborn! At that point both my blood pressure and my son’s began to drop. While I didn’t want to do it, I was told I had to have an emergency c-section. When I was finally able to hold my son in my arms, I was informed that he was 11 pounds, three ounces; and 23 1/4 inches long. His head circumference was over 15 inches! The doctor told me that even if they had been able to get his head out that they would not have been able to get the rest of him out without breaking his collarbone. So, I am very grateful for the way God worked it out to protect my son. The nurses told me that he was the second largest child to ever be born at that hospital! Now, if that technician had just looked at his size during that AFI…

But fast forward nine years… He has continued to grow, just coming back on the charts last year, but still in the 95-98th percentile in height. We’ll see where he is officially next week at his annual appointment. He is an intelligent, happy young man who makes me smile and laugh on a daily basis. Though we struggle with allergies, asthma, Autism Spectrum Disorder and ADHD, none of that gets him down. He smiles, he laughs, he imagines, he creates – he absolutely amazes me.

I love you, my son, thank you for making me a Mama.

I love, my God, thank you for blessing me with my son. Thank you for trusting me with his upbringing.

Happy Birthday!