Eight years ago, a very dear friend of mine had a frighteningly premature baby. Only 23 weeks, she was 1 pound and 12 inches long. After several months in the NICU, she went home on Christmas Eve. We've always kidded Friend and her DH that was very Hallmark Movie-ish! She is now a normal, happy healthy little girl. Tiny thing, but both of her parents are short (Friend is maybe 5', Dad is about 5'6" or 5'7"). So, she's never going to be a basketball player!
Her DH is a foreign service officer and they've been out of the country for the last four years. I did see Friend a couple of times last winter when she was here for some medical issues (which are successfully taken care of), but I haven't seen her DH or Daughter for that entire time.
They had a birthday party for her yesterday. Of course, I wanted to see Friend, so I went.
Much to my great delight, when the Birthday Girl came into the room, she came straight to me, hugged me, then climbed into my lap. She didn't really remember me, but they'd told her I was the one that gave her Mr. Puppy -- which she had tucked under one arm. It's a stuffed dog that was much bigger than she was when she was born.
Several of the people that came had kids near her age, so she had other kids to play with, got lots of neat presents -- I'd never heard of Calico Cottage, but I want one!! -- and good time was had by all.
I got to sit and talk with Friend for a good part of the afternoon and met a delightful guy that I also talked to a lot. (He's gay and married!)
Just, an overall good day. I was dreading the traffic going back (on my way northbound, the southbound lanes had been bumper-to-bumper and barely moving ) but it was clear sailing all the way south. I was driving into a storm, but that was better than a traffic-jam!!
-- Edited by Lady Marsali on Sunday 15th of July 2012 11:54:07 AM
That does sound like a fun party. The Birthday Girl must be a sweetie to be so friendly with people she doesn't know very well. You lucked out on the traffic flow!
That does sound like a fun party. The Birthday Girl must be a sweetie to be so friendly with people she doesn't know very well. You lucked out on the traffic flow!
She is a very sweet child. Cuddled up to me several times, wanted to talk to me and have me take pictures of her. One small meltdown, but it was dealt with quickly -- she doesn't handle a lot of noise and commotion well for long periods of time and a whole roomful of people got to be too much for her. Took her out for a few minutes to let her calm down and all was well again.
As the mother of two children who were born "early", it's heartwarming to hear others who have gone through it with success. Happy 8th birthday to the miracle baby!
Friend said something to me when I saw her last winter that just about broke my heart. She was having some pretty serious medical issues, very depressed and not dealing well with being a SAHM -- that was never part of her plan for her life. But Birthday Girl still has some issues -- not life-threatening or even really horrible in the long run. More maturity level. She's a year or so behind in things like that. She should out-grow it.
But... When she was born and extremely fragile, the doctors told them 'We don't have to save her. She's going to have a lot of serious problems and it's going to be a long, hard road for you all.'
They said, 'Do whatever needs to be done to keep her alive.' They had some scares and some really tough times. Poor child has had eye surgery several times and wears thick glasses (but with cute frames!). Otherwise though, she's physically healthy and strong.
Every time I start to feel sorry for myself (whatever the reason) I think of a few special people I know and then I think that I have it easy. There are so many people who have difficulties or hardships in there life that it brings me back to earth and puts everything in perspective. I do still have the occasional pity party but I try not to stay there too long. I am glad you got to count your blessings.
-- Edited by kapper on Monday 16th of July 2012 06:13:53 PM
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Make up your mind to be happy and happiness usually comes your way.
It was a tough adjustment for me becoming a mom. I never expected my freedom to be curtailed so much. Fortunately, my children are healthy and have "caught up" developmentally, physically and emotionally.
I went to the park the other day with my children. I saw a family pushing a double stroller, and one of the boys had braces on his legs. I watched as the father played with the one who could walk, and the mother took the one who couldn't down the slide so that he could experience that thrill as well. It made me seek out my children and give them a tight hug, thanking God for my blessings.
) but it was clear sailing all the way south. I was driving into a storm, but that was better than a traffic-jam!!
happy birthday to her.
