Joseph

Several Christmases ago I looked like this:

The first of the year, 1998, rolled around and I took a fall right on my rear on the ice of the driveway.  Ouch!
A couple of days later, evening time, I realized that I hadn't felt the baby move all day.  It happened to be the coldest day of our 14 years living in Alaska... 60 below zero.  Some temperatures came in at 65-70 below that night.  Children were scattered about the house.  Stephen was the proud owner of a farm...

Shasta was 8 and in the kitchen, reading the box of tuna helper.  My instructions to her were, "Read this three times, then ask for dad for help."  I bundled up and drove myself to the hospital, 30 miles away.

During some monitoring time, I had a couple of contractions.  They were about 10 minutes apart.  Not too painful.  But, when I contracted, the baby's heart rate dropped significantly.  The staff did not want me to go back home, they wanted me to stay and have the baby.  I called home, little ones were taken to a sitter, Shasta came with a video camera and her father.  I had a bit of pitocin, but my body kicked in with it, being my 6th delivery.  The baby required continuous monitoring and the midwife came in often.  She was a military doctor-midwife.  She had been my doctor for Nathaniel's pregnancy at that hospital.  Anyway, she kept trying to break my waters.  She wanted the baby to be birthed quickly.  The labor felt different and delivery was painful, but I knew from experience that the fastest way to end the pain was to push that baby out!  I curled up as close to the letter "C" and Joseph was born.  We discovered why his heart rate was dropping and why my contractions felt so different this time around.  There was absolutely no amniotic fluid around him.  It must have all leaked without me knowing, which is odd... But, there was none.  Dry labor and delivery.

But, what joy.  We'd had Joseph's name picked out for months.  We all loved the Bible story of Joseph.  Here's what the line-up looked like when our 1998 model joined the group:

He was the sweetest little baby!!

I recall thinking, "Surely he must have been sent from heaven!"

Everyone who met him adored him.  He was my little chicken chaser...

Artist extraordinaire...

Camping buddy...

And wouldn't you know it... the boy grew up.  Yesterday he went and turned 13 on me!
He is still so delightful.  He is one of the top of his classes.  His teachers say that everyone looks up to him and he is a leader at school.  Every day he comes in from school, heads to the table and gets his books out, starting homework. 

His college sister, Bek was working with him.  Then, after a couple slices of pizza, it was time for cake and gifts.  Joseph is funny with birthdays... he doesn't ask for anything.  He doesn't really even mention that his birthday is coming up.  He knows it is.  But, he just waits quietly... wondering if we're going to remember...

 Joseph has loved hats in recent years... a favorite red one was worn day after day, month after month... Hence, the cake.  Made by Shasta.

 His presents were at the end of the table.  I told everyone not to tell him that one of them was a bean bag.  I have no idea how he found out, but he asked to sit on his new bean bag to open his gift.  I asked, "Who told you that is a bean bag?  Who told him?  Who?"  I was being a bit silly, of course... but the boys were laughing... I guess the bean bag sitting up there just gave itself away...

Do you see that right there (picture above)?  It's his signature left cheek dimple!

His favorite color is red.  He wanted the bean bag for his room, which has red curtains and comforter.  I sleep well knowing that he now feels complete.  Lol.  But, the gift that got the most attention was his snuggie.  I am just laughing to type it.  For some reason all these boys want snuggies.  I don't know where they heard about them.  But, I found this one while I was out and about... it was the last one...

Happy Birthday, Joseph.  Many happy returns of the day!