My Girl

 

10 years ago was just a normal day.   I felt like crap, but that was just a normal day when you are big momma pregnant, right?   That night as we went to bed I suggested that Nathan and I make a small bet about the size of the baby.   He said between 7 and 8 pounds (which was cheating, by they way).  I don't remember what I guessed, but it was 9 pounds plus.   When I woke up the next morning, I was having some pains.  It was the last day of the semester, though, so taking time to pay close attention to the pains was not really on the agenda.   

I got ready and went to school.   Had conversations with people - all the while "ignoring" the pains that were consistently coming every few minutes.   I called the doctor and they wanted to see me.  I informed the people in the office that whenever someone could take over my class, I would need to see the doctor.   Several - like 5 - people were there within a short period of time.   I told the assistant principal, "I'll be back."  After all, I was not even 37 weeks pregnant, so there was no way this was labor.  I drove myself to the doctor's office (something my husband has never forgotten) timing my pains that were now 5 minutes apart.

The good doctor took about 2 seconds to determine that my water had broken, and I, indeed, was in labor.   I called Nathan and told him he needed to come.   I called my mother; that is when I cried.   This was almost a month early.   I wasn't ready, and I was worried.    Everyone dropped everything and came running.   It was a long day.  I tried to not take any meds.  I wanted my epidural but nothing more.   When I got to where I could get the epidural, the doctor was not available.   I got the meds.   I slept a little only to wake up and make remarks about how unpleasant those pains were getting.   About 6:30, our precious girl arrived.  (She weighed 7 pounds exactly, so technically Nathan won our bet.   I still say that wasn't fair since I was wagering based an arrival a month later.) She was perfect.   And she is the best Christmas present I have ever received.  

Our Jillian is smart and creative.   She is helpful and thoughtful (most of the time).   She listens and is great about taking the advice given to her.  She loves her brother.   She is a planner extraordinaire.   She is sensitive.  She is a good speller and a great reader.  She loves fantasy and mythology.   She is beautiful, and she is expressive.  She can be slow as Christmas (ironic since she was in such a hurry to get here for Christmas 10 years ago), but she makes me happy.  

On her birthday eve, I can't help but hope that I am all she needs me to be.   Does she get all the love and attention she deserves?   Am I teaching her self-discipline and thoughtful decision making?   Do we demonstrate the love of Christ to her every day so that she can grasp the love of our Savior?   I sure hope we are accomplishing all that.  She deserves it.   Our precious Christmas angel.  Oh, how we love her!