June is a extra special month
The month of June marks the beginning of summer. This, for many people, means the beginning of picnics, fishing, water sports, and summer vacations with family and friends. For some it is the beginning of a new road, particularly those who have graduated high school or college. June falls directly in the middle of the calendar year, which means we have only 6 months left until 2023. But for me, the month of June holds a special meaning. Twenty six years ago on June the first was one of the greatest days of my life. It was the day that I received the most precious gift- a baby.
On June 1st 1996 my husband and I were both excited and anxious about having a little one added to our family. We had both already suffered a miscarriage with our first child, Sarah, so we were very eager for our second child to arrive. On that day we were expecting her arrival in only 3 weeks. Our morning started early that day as we gathered everything that we needed for an afternoon picnic we had planned with a few of our friends. I was making the list and checking it twice for the sandwiches and snacks that needed to be prepared and packed. My husband, Rodger, was busy gathering fishing supplies, the outdoor canopy, folding table and chairs. We spent most of the morning hustling and bustling between the kitchen and the garage loading up food and picnic supplies. After I finished everything that needed to be done in the kitchen, I told my husband that I was going to lie down for a quick nap before we left. I was sleeping so peacefully for about an hour when I awoke abruptly to a horrible pain in my back. I quickly got up and hurried to tell my husband that I thought I was having contractions. He immediately stopped what he was doing and helped me get ready to go to the emergency room.
We lived about forty minutes from the E.R. And I knew that the contractions could either get stronger or stop completely before we arrived. So many emotions were rushing through my mind. I was going to finally meet my baby girl! Once we were about 10 minutes away from the E.R. The contractions seemed to die down and I thought maybe it was a false alarm. It was around noon anyway, so I suggested to my husband that he should get some lunch. I worked at the newspaper office that was close by the hospital so we went there to wait for the contractions to come back. My husband had just finished his burger when the contractions came back with a bang. I alerted him and started making my way to the car as he followed and we hurried back to the emergency room.
Once we arrived to the emergency room, my husband ran inside and came back with a nurse and a wheelchair. They helped me into the wheelchair and carried me upstairs to the delivery floor. After quickly rolling me into a room and hooking me up to every monitor possible the nurse called my doctor. It seemed like only minutes had passed before Dr. Stutts arrived and was at my side calming me down and alerting me to everything that was currently happening and what I should expect during the process. I remember he grabbed my hands and told me that there was a complication and that I would need to have an emergency C-section. I wasn’t worried because he told me the news in such a calm and controlled manner, I trusted him completely. From that point on, everything was sort of a blur. The next thing I knew, I saw him holding our beautiful baby girl and heard her sweet cries. Dr. Rivas, the pediatrician, was there ready to check our new baby girl and made sure everything was all good. I later found out that the reason for the emergency C-section was because the umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck. Luckily, the birth was successful and safe and I had a beautiful baby girl. Yes, she was beautiful. She was eight pounds and five ounces of pure joy.
It was hard to imagine that just an hour or so ago this little one was deciding whether or not to come out into this world. For the past few months I had called her name, read her books and sang to her and now this beautiful baby girl was out in the world crying, stretching her arms and legs, and looking around with her big brown eyes. I remember looking over to her from across the hospital room and calling her name as she cried in the little crib they put her in. She stopped crying almost immediately and looked in my direction. I couldn’t believe it. She knew my voice and her name. It was a beautiful moment that I will never forget.
That little bundle of joy is now a grown woman, and she just turned 26 this past Wednesday. She is a beautiful, strong-willed, smart, fun, loving, charismatic, witty, and optimistic young woman. She is the most wonderful daughter and friend. She has so much more ahead of her and so many memories to make. I don’t know what life would have been like if she was not in it. So, I celebrate June 1, Emily’s birthday with a full heart! God gave me one of greatest blessings that day. Happy birthday, Emily!