Happy Birthday Amanda Mae

Twenty-nine years ago I gave birth to my first child. Amanda Mae. I’d been told in my early teens that I couldn’t have children because I had such severe endometriosis. I trusted all doctors back then. Heck, I was 17 so, what did I know?
Shortly after I got married I had to have a little female surgery. All went well, and I went back to life. Six weeks later I went back to the doctor because I wasn’t feeling well after the surgery. Everyone was shocked to find that I was indeed pregnant.
It wasn’t the easiest of pregnancies. I had to stay in bed a lot and off my feet. The baby was due around Thanksgiving, and I excitedly planned for the birth.
Of course back then they didn’t do ultrasounds, (did they have them?) so I didn’t know if it was a boy or a girl. We selected names for both Amanda Mae or Joshua Robert. Secretly, I wanted a girl!
Thanksgiving came and went. No baby. Talk about grumpy! Another week passed, no baby. Talk about really grumpy! Then I went to the doctor who did an amniocentesis to check on the actual due date for the baby. Sure enough, he pronounced, the baby is over due! 2 weeks!! Plans were made to induce labor a week later. Did I want to know the sex of the baby, the doctor asked? Nope, I wanted to be surprised.
I must say, that was the longest week of my life! No baby. The night before they were going to induce labor, my ex-husband came home, walked into our bedroom and said Happy Anniversary! And my water broke! I laughed so hard!!!
Eight hours later, I gave birth to the most beautiful, most perfect baby girl ever born! 8 pounds 13 ounces and 20 1/2 inches long.

I couldn’t believe how I felt. I was hit instantly with the biggest case of complete love that I’d ever known! I held her in my arms and I knew that this was the best, the most amazing miracle in my life!
As she grew I was always amazed at her intelligence, her drive and her abilities. Her natural curiosity has taken her far in her life. I am in awe.

So today, on her 29th birthday I want to wish her The Happiest of Birthdays, and an even better year ahead!!