So if you guys have ever wonder why I am just a little different, here is an explanation that I wasn’t expecting but appreciate more than you could imagine than you could imagine!
My mother wrote this on my 30th birthday, today, september 11th, 2011. Yeah, World Trade Center 9/11. I know I know weird birthday, but damn fine parents!!! Try this out:
“Wow!! I can’t believe it has been 30 years today!! I remember how excited we were in the months, weeks, days and hours before you were given to us! On January 17th I had my first doctors visit and confirmed you were growing in my tummy! I remember telling your dad and how he was yelling and jumping and telling everyone that would listen. We went to Walmart that evening and bought your baby blanket! (sorry, it had a little pink in it cause we didn’t know if you were he or she then) We were so poor and was so unsure of how we would take care of you, but we loved you immediately. We remember the day you were conceived-it was a really good day. More details?-No? OK. I remember how you gave me really BIG boobies that hurt so bad even just walking across the floor. You made me vomit every evening, just as sun was setting. No morning sickness for me. No….you just had to do things differently from the very beginning. And then my belly started to grow. I felt you move inside me, first a little wiggle and that progressed quickly to kickboxing. Bout broke my ribs and kicked my bladder so hard, I would pee myself, just a little. Ha! I remember hearing your heart beat for the first time and how exciting it was. And then when you were about halfway here, we saw you on the ultrasound and found out you were a he. Take after your daddy, like that!!! Woohoo!! Oh, you were just what we wanted. Actually, I had just prayed for a healthy baby. You see, before I found out I was pregnant, I had really tied one on, was drunker than I have ever been in my life,….ever. I worried that I had hurt you, even though the doctor tried to comfort me. You continued to grow in me, squirming, kicking, and the never ending hiccups!! Oh MY God! The hiccups were day and night for days on end. You were supposed to be here on the 25th of July (ironic as that is Levi’s birthday) but no….again you were different and decided to stay and stay. I was like, ok little boy, this is not a 5 star hotel. You just come out of there so me and dad can hold you, touch you, squeeze you, etc, etc, etc. You swelled up my ankles and wrists sooooo big that I could not bend them. You were so far down in the birth canal I couldn’t get my legs together, which made walking and other activities almost impossible. I went to the doctor every day for 6 weeks to try and get you to come out!! I began to think you were an elephant. You waited almost 11 months. I remember the evening before you decided to come. I had cried a lot that day! I was so tired and about to burst. We ate dinner with mamaw and papaw and I actually sat my dinner plate on my belly. I have heard of people saying they were that big, but I really could do it!!! Holy shit. Your head was damn near to my knees and your feet way up under my ribcage. Remember, the alien movie! It felt something like that looks. I had already spent so many hours through the months talking to you, playing you music, reading to you. I needed you OUT! So after dinner, dad and I left for what we thought would be another night, tossing and turning. Sleeping was not easy…you know, kicking, hiccups, heartburn, etc, etc. Then bout midnight, I had to get up and pee (for the umpteeth time) and while sitting on toilet, my water broke and the pain began immediately! Wow, you were finally ready! Well, come on cause so am I! This is Part one!
Part 2…..So, I thought well I will take shower so I will be ready. Well, I woke up your dad who was like come on, come on. And I said this will take some time, so I got in shower. While showering, I heard and felt a big plop at my feet and I was like, holy shit, you just fell out! NO! It was just the shampoo bottle I had dropped. Damn, knew you werent going to be that easy. So, after shower, we started to hospital and had little scare cause water was bloody. Now what? They took me right in and they too were concerned that something was wrong, so we had some scary hours. After being in labor for 12 hours, they decided you were too big to come out. Really!! If I hadn’t been pregnant for a year maybe that wouldn’t have happened!! Never mind, get him out already!! So off to surgery and about an hour later they finally pulled and tugged and got your ass out of me!! Sweet joy! All that red hair on your pointed (like a conehead) head! Your were half grown and very verbal. (just like now) And how beautiful and healthy!! Your daddy thought he was the only dad in the world!! The nurses loved him because he was so excited! I pretty much loved him too!! You turned over the first day you were born! You just had to be different! And we loved you soooo much!
I remember when they first put you in my arms! It felt so right! You were perfect! It was just the way it is supposed to be! Oh, those first 11 months with you inside me were not always so pleasant, but I was so happy, when you came to us! We didn’t know exactly how to do do this, but we were going to do the very best we could. And the years went by…and now you are 30! Really!!?? Has it been that long? We weren’t perfect parents (doesn’t exist) but we did love you BIG, then and now! How lucky are we to have you?? You have made us very proud! You are a good man and yes, we gonna take little credit for that, but the rest belongs to you! At this point in your life, you will, as we all do reflect back and look ahead! There will be things that you would change and you will look forward and take those life lessons with you! Knowing what I do now, this is a most important time in your life. You have partied and had lots of fun, but these next few years are what really dictates who you are in the end. A time to really figure out who you are and why you are here. If I could give you anything to take forward, it would simply be for you to be a positive thinker and to always let that be what you project! The rewards from that are non-ending! Be happy, truly…be happy! It’s a really good habit. It takes a little work…but happiness is the best thing in the world. Remember, you can only be happy if you create it. When you figure out who you really are and are happy with the person you are, then you will be ready to share that happiness with someone, if you decide to.
I love you…I would die for you…Happy Birthday, my son!
Mom”
-Need a tissue?
