No Whining Allowed

Today is the first day of summer!Woo Hoo!!!

It is also The Boy’s 17th birthday, double Woo Hoo!!!!!!!

I can hardly believe it was 17 years ago that I was still working at the salon, taking care of the Ab-Cat and waiting for The Boy to make his appearance. He was due the 7th. They made  him come out on the 21st.

My Mom had taken me to the hospital the morning of the 20th to be induced while Honey was at work. They said it would take a while. It didn’t take so long. Within  half an hour of applying the gel, I was in labor. So was another gal. The nurse said it must have been a good  batch.

I casually  called and left a message for Honey at work. And told him to come on over. The guy who delivered the message missed the casually  part. Poor Honey raced through rush hour traffic to arrive and wait with me until 3:07 a.m.

I need to backtrack here. I had some trouble during this pregnancy. There was second trimester bleeding, many ultrasounds to check growth rates, and much concern by the people reading the ultrasounds, who told us that there was a high risk that the baby would be premature. And they were hoping it would weigh at least  4- 5 pounds. The only thing that I remember they told me to do was lay on my left side (I think), cause the baby could grow better that way. And since I was standing on my feet at work, I cut my hours down at the end. We also prayed. A lot.  Back to the story.

So FINALLY, 2 weeks after our due date, I was trying to push this child’s shoulders out. And our Dr. said, “this is no small baby”.  And she was right. He was 8 pounds 8 ounces and 21 inches long. So much for the premature-tiny baby thingy.

We were SO thankful that he was fine and healthy. The Ab-Cat was more than happy to have a baby brother and told everyone she was the “Big Wister”. She had just watched  ”Bambi” about a hundred times, so we started calling him the “Young Prince” . But the name that stuck on him was Buddy. Or Buddy Bear. Or Bud-ly. He was just a dumpling and once again our world just got better.

Four or five months old.

First birthday party.

!8 months. Just before being diagnosed with chronic ITP. He had a lot  of colorful bruises.

2 yrs. Potty training, this was a year long process.

First day of pre-school. Dig the Barney backpack. He loved Barney AND Baby Bop. And Simba and THOMAS the TANK ENGINE and Batman and Star Wars and…….

4yrs. A common outfit. One of many.

5 yrs. Halloween. Outfit courtesy of The GrandFolk.

Happy 6th! A Hercules cake.

7 yrs. Came in 2nd or 3rd at the Cub Scout soap box derby!

8 or 9. Must have had a good hand!

The summer before 8th grade with Uncle Danny, brother of Honey. This was the week after his ITP came back with a vengeance after 9 years. He went into remission again a year later after a cocktail of “Boxer’s Brew”, consisting of steroids, chemo therapy and an immune suppressant drug. Thank you Lord.

With “The Girls”.

 On his “Make A Wish” fishing trip to Alaska with his Dad last summer. This was his biggest silver salmon.

 

The big, ugly Ling Cod. I love my fishermen!

He is a great kid with an even better sense of humor. We can’t wait to see what God has planned for his life!

Happy Birthday, Mr. Jiggy-Fly!