Happy Birthday, John!!

It is hard to believe that 6 years ago I gave birth to my first child!! I can't believe how fast he has grown up. John was born on a Tuesday. That Monday I went into the doctor for a check-up.I was going twice a week to monitor my blood pressure and the size of the baby. They did an ultrasound and decided that my fluid was low and he was gong to be big so they scheduled an induction for that Thursday. On the way home I went by the office where I worked at the time and when I got back to the car, the nurse had left me a message. I called her back and she tells me that they had an opening for an induction come available for the next day, did I want it?? Of course, I told her I did. This was at about 5:00pm. She tells me that I can't eat after 6:00pm. I call John and tell him he has to come home right now so that I can eat. He does and we enjoy our "last supper" at Chili's. We were to be at the hospital at midnight. The nurse had warned us against getting their early---she said if we got there even 1 minute before midnight our insurance would be charged for the entire day. So we try to get some sleep, but I don't think we did. Now John has always dreamed of a speedy trip to the hospital and he didn't get that with either of our boys. We left the house in more than enough time and he drove about 50 all the way there so we wouldn't be early. We get there and get settled into our room. They start my IV's etc and get the process underway. Remember, it is 12:00am. My doctor comes in to check on us around 7:00 am........I am nothing. All of our family members start to arrive to the hospital around 8:00am as no one wanted to miss the birth!! I don't remember the exact times of the events that took place after this becasue it all starts to run together. At some point , the anesthesiologist comes into do my epidural. He gets it in, leaves the room and I wait for my next "pain-free"contraction. Only it never came. My epidural didn't work.The try 3 more times over the next several hours and are unsuccessful. At some point (I would guess around 6:00pm) my family leaves to go to dinner. The doctor comes in right after they leave to check me and I was an 8, so we call my family, they get their meals to go and rush back to the hospital. I am thinking that this is about the same time the nurse tells us that she just doesn't think I will be able to have him "this way" because he is too big. At this point I thought John and my mom were going to kill her. So we decide to let them try an epidural one more time just in case I have to have a C-section. Another anesthesiologist comes in and tries twice and finally gets an epidural in that works. I could have kissed that man!!!! Finally at 10:16pm John Andrew Gordon Jr. is born and weighed in at a whopping 7lb 6oz. I couldn't believe how small he was. He was the most beutiful baby and I am not just saying that because he is mine!!!! He has always been his own little person. A leader, not a follower and that is one of the things I love about him the most. He wants to please everyone. He cares about others and worries about their feelings and well-being. I know that God is going to do big things in his life and I can't wait to see what they are!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BIG GUY!!!! We love you !!!!!