Happy Birthday to Us! Then & Now
I haven't blogged during the month of December in many years. If you've been around here for a while, maybe you know this birthday story. Regardless, I love to tell it, so here you go...
2009
It was late on December 10th of the year 2004. It was a Friday night and I felt the need to clean. The kitchen floor was a dirty white and needed to be scrubbed. Going against all who would fuss about me carrying a heavy bucket of water, I did it anyway. I tried cleaning the floor on my hands and knees but my big belly was in the way. I ended up cleaning every inch of the floor with a sponge under my foot while resting a hand on my lower back.
2011
Saturday, December 11th, 2004, my husband and I were attending a birthing class. Because of the time of year, the December due date classes were scheduled for a full Saturday instead of over a period of a few weeks. I was very tired and my back hurt. I assumed it was from my vigorous cleaning the night before. With Christopher, I was not able to eat much but I drank a lot. We were dismissed for an hour lunch and though there were plenty of places to go eat on base, I wanted to go all the way to Sonic - a good 30 minute round trip. I wanted a Cherry Limeade Slushie and a chicken sandwich. I remember that in the beginning of class we went around the room and announced our due dates. One girl was due in two days. I thought to myself, she's lucky. I was so uncomfortable and I still had a couple weeks to go. At 5:00, class was dismissed and we went back to Sonic for me to get another Slushie. I was still eating the same chicken sandwich from lunch.
2016
December 12th, 2004
Mom's Birthday. I woke up zapped of energy. My back was killing me. I assumed it was from the vigorous Friday night cleaning and from sitting on the floor during the birthing class. I was laying in bed in the room that is now Christopher's. Papa Bear and I had "separate" bedrooms. It was a very cold December but I needed to sleep with the air on to breathe. The only way to achieve that feeling was to sleep with the window open. I woke up that morning saying, "All I have to do today is call mom and say Happy Birthday." I finally called her after 2 that afternoon and without any enthusiasm said, "Hey.... Happy Birthday." I nearly cried because that's what you do when something is wrong and your mom asks you, "What's the matter with my Punkin?"
My husband drove me to the hospital a few hours later with my suitcase, pillow, popsicles, and camera, but after checking me out they sent me home and told me to walk.
2009
December 13th, 2004
My birthday. I did not walk when I got home from the hospital the day before. I sat on the sofa because it was too uncomfortable to lie down and it was quicker for me to get up if I had to use the bathroom. I felt like I watched the clock all night long. I went to the hospital for the second time at the crack of dawn in my pajamas and with all my stuff. After checking me out, they sent me home again and told me not to come back until my water broke. At 7am I was standing on the curb in my pj's waiting for my husband to pull up in the car while Navy, Marines, and Civilians went into work at the hospital. I glared and dared anyone to ask me anything. I had intended to wash my pj's and walk around the backyard. Instead, I whined through my pain and watched the clock.
2016
I was finally getting the best sleep ever, Papa Bear beside me in the ice cold room, when my water broke. It was nearly 11:30 at night when we got to the hospital. When they checked me into Labor & Delivery I had my face in the palm of my hand and heard someone say, "Happy Birthday!" Without any enthusiasm, I said, "Thanks."
December 14th, 2004
At 5:18 am weighing in at 10 pounds, Christopher was finally born. It wasn't until the following year that I fully appreciated our birthday trio and the years following became even more special.
The End
So that I don't leave Papa Bear out of the December story, Christopher was originally due on his birthday, December 29th.
©Photography courtesy of Daddy/Granddaddy