I NO LONGER HAVE A BABY IN MY HOUSE....

*pout*

I am sorry to say that my baby is no longer a baby. Today is her 13th birthday. Can you believe that she is now a...

*heavy sigh*

TEENAGER!

That's right folks today my tiny 6 lb 6 oz Babygirl who arrived late at night on November 18, 1995 just grew up before my eyes.

Let me tell you a little something about her. When I was pregnant for her I really wanted a brother for my son. I wanted him to have someone to play with and wrestle with. About the time I was 6 months along I had a dream that the baby was a girl and that made me realize that this might just turn out to be a girl and that I should really open up my mind to the possibilities. My due date was December 13th and around the 6 1/2 month mark they noticed that my belly wasn't growing as it should have been. Every measurement came up short. I started having ultrasounds every other week to every week. She never let us see that she was a girl, but that was the least of my worries. My blood pressure was high (but they did NOTHING about that, thanks Government hospital...) and every ultrasound showed that her legs were crossed at the thigh and her arms were behind her back. Yes, that was with every ultrasound. I was beginning to worry that the baby I was carrying had something very wrong with it. On November 18th 1995 I threw a dinner party. Eight people came over. We had a blast. I was very uncomfortable and ended up standing up to eat. We ushered them all out around 8:30 because I was starting to feel not so good. I decided to take a bath to see if that would help. I was laying in the water pouring water over my stomach which helped a LOT. Then I realized that I was having contractions. Then I timed them.... I told the hubby that I thought it was time. He called the hospital and they told us to come straight in. So as planned, hubby brought my 16 month old son over to the neighbor's house. He helped me get dressed and we went to the Army hospital which was about 15 miles away. We raced over there. Just as we rounded the corner to the hospital I felt a really big pain down both of my sides. When that happened I saw what looked like a flash of light the pain was so intense. We got in to the hospital and the hubby took the wrong elevator. We raced across the hospital to the labor and delivery ward. Hubby went in to sign me in. One of the nurses asked when I was due (and after my contraction) I told her the 13th of December. She wheeled me in and said she would check me out. Cool. I stood up, my water broke and the head was crowning. Another really big nurse told me to get up on the table (um yeah that was possible!) she PICKED ME UP and put me on the table. They rushed in all sorts of carts with deliver/doctor-ly stuff and told me NOT TO PUSH. I wasn't pushing, she just wanted OUT! There were about 14 students who got to witness her making her debut. they held her up and all I could see was her tiny face with one eye open and a quick "WAAA!" There was no time for bonding because she was early and it was not a delivery room set up for this. They whisked her and the hubby off to the nursery and I was stuck there with a bunch of strangers. Oh and not to mention she came so fast I ended up with 7 stitches in my hoo-ha which they put in with no pain killers.

(I dare anyone talk to me about government health care...)

That's right, I AM tough as Hell, don't forget it.

Let me tell you that she was well worth the trauma. She turned out to be just great. We left the hospital together, her lungs were mature and she held her body temperature. I was psyched. She has always been different than most kids. She has never done what the other kids are doing, she has her own drummer with her own beat. I admire that. She is very honest, almost to a fault. She is very thoughtful and caring. Oh and not to mention one the the most fun people to have around. I just adore her.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABYGIRL

YOU ROCK!!!