On this day my oldest son turned 17 years old. He is now a young man, where did the time go! Now a junior in high school, with a full time job, girlfriend and a future in front of him.

Just because I am in a reminiscing mood, I am going to post his birth story. It’s not exciting, it’s not long, but is what happened when he was born. Back then 17 years ago I wasn’t a good writer, nor did I go into the detail I do today. I now understand the need, and the desire to remember things.

Reading my son’s birth story, makes me remember good things and remember bad things. The one main issue that his father and I are now divorced. Yes there were happy times, and those are the memories I remember more. I am completely happy with where I am now, with who I am, with my life, and the blessings I have been given. With the pain, there are always blessings in disguise.

I have cleaned up the spelling and I have changed names to protect my loved ones.

First Born

I was young and just out of high school. I stopped taking the birth control pill that I had been on for years in November of 94. I graduated from high school in December of 95, and we found that we were pregnant for the first time in January. We took a home pregnancy test and it came out positive right away. We were as happy as could be being that we were going to be new parents. Unfortunately I was supposed to attend college the next semester but because of when I was due I was unable. The whole pregnancy went wonderfully. I had no complications. The only strange thing about the whole pregnancy was my extreme craving for pickles. I ate them at every meal and more! I went to all my doctor visits like I was supposed to. At 40 weeks still no baby. I was so ready. At 41 ½ weeks my doctor finally decide to induce me. So on October 21^st, we headed to the hospital. My mother had traveled from Dallas to be with us. We arrived at the hospital very very early. Way too early for me! I was hooked up and ready to go by 8 am! I knew from the beginning that I wanted the epidural. So as soon as I could I got it. While I was nice and relaxed we played cards and even watched TV. I was so hungry throughout the whole time. At about 4:00 PM I was ready to start pushing. I pushed and pushed and pushed and pushed! He was a big baby and I was new to the whole pushing thing! I know it seems like I pushed forever but it was only about 2 hours. At 6:19 PM on October 21^st, my first son was born. He weight 8lb 10oz, was 20 ½ inches tall. Looked exactly like his daddy! Right after his birth I had the shakes so bad and did not feel well at all. Of course as soon as I could they brought me food, and frankly I didn’t know what it was but I was hungry any way! While I was eating my mother held the baby, and he looked right at her. As soon I was done eating I got sick all over the place. I could not hold down food, but I knew one thing that I could eat but the hospital would not have it, so I asked my son’s father to go home and get it for me. On the way home it was raining and getting very cold. He hit a curb and had two flat tires. Thank goodness he was able to get them fixed. He brought me my dinner, which was PB&J sandwich. Because of the troubles with the car my mother had to stay at the hospital too. It was a long night with 4 of us in the small hospital room. Sadly we left from the hospital that next day. I decided not to breastfeed, so when we left he became very jaundice. Lucky he got over that fairly quickly! From the beginning my son was very advanced. He rolled over just a week after we came home from the hospital. When we went home life was not easy being a new young parent. But somehow we got through!”

My son now is very grown up, very caring, responsible, a teenage boy. He is still incredibly intelligent. He has now come to the conclusion that he should keep in touch with me, instead of me always calling him. He is a hard worker in his job, and of courses love making money. Typically spends it as soon as he possible can. Although he has seen more in his life than I ever wanted to expose him too, it has made him the man he is turning into be. I am a very very proud mother. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t think of him, about what he is doing, what he is thinking, or what is going on in his life that day. Although I don’t get to see him much, he never leaves my mind and heart. I pray for my son every single day that he will be safe and happy. I can’t predict the future, but I see a future open with possibilities for him.

Now, not that this whole post is about me, but having a 17 year old son, makes a mother feel extremely old. No I am not say old in years, perhaps life times and experiences. But even more hard to swallow that my oldest son, the son who it feels like I just gave to birth to yesterday, is that I am old enough to have a 17 year old son. Like I said in the beginning, where has the time gone?

If I were to tell new parents one thing, one thing to do with their small baby, don’t rush things, enjoy every minute, and to remember every single ones of those minutes. Because before you know it, they will be all grown up, they will be men, or women, be taller than you, experienced in all of the new trends, technology and bright eyed looking into a life just beginning. It goes so fast, way faster than you think it will. Love your children, hug them, kiss them, cuddle them, and love them. I could certainly go on about this subject for ever.

Thank you for reading..More to come!