Wonderful Blessing

(As printed in the December 2002 issue of "The Langborgh Times." Please note, Bodi our cat wrote the previous articles in the issue. That's who Samuel is referring to in the first sentence.)

Hello, my name is Samuel. My parents told Bodi to turn the keyboard over to me for a while so that I can tell you about my birth from an “insider’s” perspective.

Mommy discovered she was pregnant last Fall. She kept the secret to herself for two days (which was verrrrry hard) but she wanted to surprise Daddy on Thanksgiving.

When his eyes barely squinted open at 5:30 a.m., Mommy saw that as her big opening. She handed him a card that announced I was on the way. He was so groggy he didn’t get it for a second and then didn’t believe her. He made her do another EPT thingy and then they both cried when it read “positive.” Very cool.

The sonagram showed I was a big and healthy baby. Mommy and Daddy think it’s from all the yard work I did while in Mom’s belly. I chopped hedges, weeded and planted the garden (that had me almost on my head!) and I even held big boards up for Daddy while he built the arbor for the Wisteria. I went to work with Mom. Well, I sort of had to, ya know. She was SUPER busy my first months in the womb ‘cuz she was in the midst of throwing the MRC’s big DisHonors Awards.

Grandma Marty came a week before I was due to help Mom get things ready at home. She was a huge blessing. I was due on July 28th, but Dr. Elliott said I was way up in the “North 40” and he didn’t see me “coming down any time soon.” He was a little concerned because I was big. So at midnight on August 1, Mom and Dad went into the hospital to induce me. I think “enticed” would be a nicer way to put it.

Grandma Joanne showed up the next morning to share in all the excitement. It was just a couple days after Uncle Jon’s wedding, but she’s a trooper and came anyway. At noon, she, Grandma Marty and Daddy went to lunch because Mommy was “just laying around.” haha

At 1:00 p.m. Mom’s water broke so she called Dad on his cell phone at the restaurant. Everyone rushed back. And there they all.....sat. Mommy only had a walking epideral so she was in a little pain, but the grandmas kept teasing her saying she wasn’t “feelin’ anything yet” and to “Just wait!!!” She thought it a type of cruel punishment, but they made her laugh. Daddy was a great breathing coach and helped Mom a lot throughout the day.

Then at 12:30 a.m., 24 hours after it all started, Mom started to push me out. I still didn’t want to come. Two action-packed hours later they decided they had to do a c-section. That was at 2:30 a.m., and they said we couldn’t get into the O.R. until 5:30...so Mom got a full epideral. She was very happy.

The c-section only took a few minutes. I came out at 6:02 a.m. on August 2, 2002. The nurses were astonished and kept commenting on my size and how alert I was. Daddy took some great photos! I was 10 pounds and 22 1/2 inches long.

Now that I’m on the outside, one of my favorite things is go to church. I like the hymns and all the people. I’ve made an art of sleeping through the sermon and absorbing it by osmosis. I love when my Daddy sings to me. And, of course, my crazy Mom always makes me laugh. I’ve been a bit of a “talker” since I was three months old. I think I can say “Hello.” I enjoy standing up (with assistance) and jumping “like a champ” in my bouncer. I love watching Baby Einstein and Veggie Tales videos. I’ve just started showing the folks how I can help them “read along” when they show me those kid books.

I’m an easy-going baby and people say very well-behaved. To my parents delight, I’ve slept through the night from the beginning. Most of my days are spenting going poopy, eating and napping. Other times are spent playing around. It’s a good life. I’m happy, and I’m thankful that God has placed me in this home. God bless us, every one!

~ Love to you, Samuel

That was written by Samuel when he was only 4 months old. ;o)

This is my Grandma Marty. She came all the way from New Mexico to see me.