Today the boy-child turns 18. Wow where did the last 18 years go? Did I really get that much older???? As I think back 18 years ago the room around me shimmers and the lights go dark, maybe that is the memory of the drugs. That day I was 1 week over due, thank you very much, shopping at Wal-Mart, getting ready for my graduation ceremony from DBU. I was shopping with Michael, Cassondra, and my parents. It was about 4:30 on a Friday night. We were supposed to leave Wal-Mart, go home to get dressed and be at Lakeview Castle by 6:00 for dinner. I started to feel “funny” and went to the front of the store to sit down and wait for everyone else to get done shopping. My feeling funny got a whole lot worse and I had my mom paged. I asked a kid in a blue shirt if he could page someone for me and he said “umm yeah it will be just a couple of minutes. Is everything ok?” I answered, “Yeah, I’m just in labor.” The color drained from his face and he almost did a back flip getting to the intercom. He stuttered and stumbled but he finally got her name out and everyone gathered at the front of the store.
We left for the hospital quite quickly. When we got there, they had me go directly to the floor and we called my brother to come to the hospital so Cassondra, age 3, would not be present for the birth of her brother. Not exactly how we planned it. I got into my room and all set up by 5:15, Michael and my parents were with me. A beautiful 8.1 lb baby boy was born at 5:35. Now those of you thinking “Gee what an easy labor, not fair!” You should know I was sick for 8 ½ months, lost 35 pounds, was hospitalized 3 times, and went into pre-labor 4 times. I feel this all counts!! At 5:45, my darling husband looked at the clock and said “Hey, everything is done here, we could still make it to the Castle for happy hour and dinner, and it is already paid for!” I was not so impressed with this statement. I still to this day, do not know how serious he was but one look at my face and he decided it was not such a good idea.
The next week my mother was shopping in the same Wal-Mart and heard a story from the cashier about a woman who had given birth there last week. Dang!! Only another ½ hour and maybe I could have owned part of Wal-Mart. Yeah, but I really wanted the drugs. The lights are coming back; I must be coming back to reality. As I think about all the trials and tribulations of raising my baby boy to adulthood I think about life in general. Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a book we were handed at 18 that explained it all? Well I guess we all have to figure it out as we go and make the best choices we can. At least he knows he has the love and support of his family backing him up. Ok, so I got a little deep with this post, sorry! Maybe I need some more of those drugs they gave me when I was in labor! All though if it means I have to go through pregnancy, labor, and delivery again, Ahhhhhhhhh just the thought of that sends me screaming. I am in my happy place, I am in my happy place, I am in my happy place. OK, deep breath, all better.
