It was a hot & sunny August day and we were celebrating Jeff's 25th birthday by
going to a Mariners Game in Seattle. I hadn't felt very good the previous few weeks. One quick trip to the bathroom confirmed what I had suspected. Happy Birthday Jeff! We are expecting another baby! A Spring baby, what could be sweeter?
At the time I JUST started a job as a church secretary. It was perfect because our other baby, Jarrod, attended the daycare there. I loved watching him through the office glass as he joined his class marching in a single line to the lunch room. Like little geese following their mama, the two year olds would waddle by. There were two other women I worked with that found out they were expecting at the same time. Ironically, our babies were all born within days of each other.
At about 22 weeks along I found out I had gestational diabetes, and was put on a special diet. We did not know if we would be having a boy or girl, but we knew the name would begin with a letter "J". Now on a healthy new eating plan, my blood sugar was under control and I actually lost a few pounds (don't worry, I'd gained 30 by 22 weeks!) My stomach expanded as my extremities shrank. I felt amazing and looked pretty darn good for a pregnant lady.
By April, Spring was emerging from our first long, dark winter in Washington. The church I worked for surprised me and the other expecting mothers with a group baby shower. Not knowing what we were having, we received a lot of green and yellow outfits. The anticipation was building.
We had moved into our first home just a month before finding out we were pregnant. It was a little 960 sf bungalow. We moved Jarrod to a big boy bed and filled the crib with baby stuff. The bassinet was in our room...we were ready!
April 14th was a beautiful day. I woke up full of energy and decided to rearrange my bedroom. That should have been my first clue. As I lifted the desk I felt a surge of pain that radiated from my back to my abdomen. It wasn't enough to foil my plan for the room. A while later it became clear to me that something was going on. I used the restroom, and without getting graphic, nature had made it clear that the time was close. I decided to make dinner. I threw together some hot enchilada's, and I mean HOT. Then I took a little nap while Jarrod took his.
I must have slept well, because when I woke up I was having strong contractions...consistently. No need to become concerned, Jeff would be home from work in an hour and besides, I was in labor FOREVER with my first baby. By the time Jeff's carpool dropped him off I was on the floor with my face in the couch cushions. "Hurry up and eat! It's time!" He devoured a plateful of those enchiladas and we took Jarrod to our friends.
The contractions came hard and fast. My back never hurt so bad. When we arrived they told us to walk around the parking lot to speed things up. With each contraction my legs went limp. We only made it around the hospital once before getting admitted. At that time the Navy Hospital didn't administer epidurals. I received a shot of Stadol and was told I was experiencing "back" labor. About that time, the HOT enchiladas decided to make an appearance in the most unpleasant way...in Jeff. He kept blaming it on me, and I was too out of it to care.
Midnight came quickly. April 15th. This baby had decided it was NOT going to be born on any other day but it's DUE DATE. Only 5 hours of labor and it was time to push. A beautiful, strong cry. It's a Girl!!! We were soooo excited. We got our girl. Due to the gestational diabetes, the placenta had broken apart during delivery. As dad followed our beautiful daughter, Janelle to be weighed, I underwent a D&C. I think I kicked the doctor but I KNOW I said "Hey, what are you doing? Trying to put her back!?" Ouch.
When Jeff and I would talk about future children, I always said I hoped for a girl with fair skin and dark hair. This 8lb 15oz baby girl had a full head of dark brown hair just like her daddy. I couldn't wait to put some bow headbands on her precious head. At just over a week old we noticed that every time we lifted her arms to change her clothes she would scream. At her check up the doctor discovered that she had broken her collarbone during delivery because she came out face UP. I remember feeling so sad for her. So little and a broken bone already. My goodness, she was eager to see the world!
On this date, exactly 20 years ago, God gave us a daughter with the strong will and strength to do amazing things in her life. As I reflect on the past 20 years I can see how much her personality as a toddler carried through into adulthood.
She crawled at 5 months old, walked at 7 months old, and she was crawling out of her crib by 10 months old. When she was 11 months old I "lost" her. I found her outside, barefoot and in her diaper, climbing up the ladder to the slide on our new swing set.
When her little brother was born 2 years later we moved into base housing. One afternoon the 5 year old girl next door was teasing Jarrod. Janelle, not about to let anyone be mean to her brother, marched over to her and pushed the little girl down a hill. And to make sure the point was taken, she put her hands on her hips and yelled "Don't pick on my Brother!" About the same time, when she was 2 1/2 years old, dad tucked her into bed one night, only to see her 30 minutes later hand in hand with a stranger walking down the street towards our house. She was determined to get some candy. She snuck out the back door, walked in the dark about a block through the neighbors yards, crossed a busy 2 lane street, went through a parking lot and into the mini-mart. She proceeded to take candy to the register, when the cashier asked her where her mommy and daddy were, she said at home. A man in line said that he thought he knew where she lived and the cashier let him take her! I think of that now and I cringe. Gods hand was certainly on her then, and it is still today. Thankfully, she is no longer pushing girls down hills!
She crawled at 5 months old, walked at 7 months old, and she was crawling out of her crib by 10 months old. When she was 11 months old I "lost" her. I found her outside, barefoot and in her diaper, climbing up the ladder to the slide on our new swing set.
Her laughter is contagious and her heart is full. Watching her grow into the beautiful (inside and out) young woman she is today has been one of the greatest joys in my life. Janelle, your daddy and I are so incredibly proud of you. We love you very much! This song has a special meaning, and so I will close with this video.
Happy Birthday Janelle!
xoxoxo
