Happy Birthday Jessica!!

I am the mother of a teenager!!!!!

My first baby was born 13 years ago yesterday??!! How did that happen??!! I mean, you hear all the time that “it all goes by so quickly” and you hold on to every moment you can, but it STILL goes by quickly.

Jess was born 3 days after her due date(ah, if only they all could have continued this!) As we walked into the hospital it was a cold crisp sunny day. By the time we walked out, 9 days later, Whatcom County was in the middle of one of the worst blizzards(‘96) I can remember.

On Nov 15, at 11:59pm she arrived after a safe labor and delivery. Our little Dutch/Polish “can only be blond and fair skinned”, Jess came out with dark skin, dark hair and NOT looking like your typical Dutch/Polish cross. After one look at her feet and toes, it confirmed, yup, they were her Daddy dearest's. At 8lbs 12oz, 22” , she was a nice healthy size. A pound of that must have been her feet. ;)

We spent very little time together before Jess started crying. Screaming really. I could do nothing to comfort her and talked to a nurse who smiled a tired smile and said under her breath something about why did get all the *emotional new moms* in one day. Seriously. “She’ll stop” she said.

She didn’t. Long story short, it hit them there was something wrong. Jessica had a good fever soon after birth. I did deliver after testing positive for GBS, but rarely does this cause problems and I was fed antibiotics while laboring anyhow.

Everything is a blur, the doctors took over and I sat in a puddle of tears in the camping room for 9 days while she was kept in an isolette the nursery with monitors and I.V.s entering everywhere, from three spots on her now shaved head to her feet. Two spinal taps. In the end she was fine. Still not sure what happened as they said the tests would not give clear results because of the antibiotics I received while laboring. Something was said about meningitis, so that may be why they were so aggressive.

9 days later, we slipped and slid all the way home on the ice roads.

Jessica has always been a very obedient child despite her over bearing first time parents(again, why couldn’t they all have continued this?!). She has been so forgiving to her Daddy and me as we learn to parent.

I am so thankful for the close relationship the Lord has given to me and Jess. She is not just *one of the children* anymore, she comes along side and offers great ideas and seizes opportunities to serve in the home. She is a real blessing to this mother! She loves the Lord and is daily dedicating her life to serving Him.

Jess and I had a big date on Friday afternoon. We hit Otion, Food Coop, Woods on Boulevard(the BEST), lunch, JoAnns, Piper Music..some places we have always wanted to go together alone. We watched from sunny Boulevard Park the “big storm” Friday moving across the county. Sitting in the sun on the boardwalk over the ocean, we watched the lightening and dark center move slowly inland. It was scary! It had brought rain, hail, sleet and inches of snow…all in one afternoon. What a treat to watch. BTW, I left my camera at home. Hence, no pictures.

Happy birthday Jess! May the Lord give us many more years together growing in His grace. May the Lord continue to give you wisdom, understanding in the coming years and a heart of love and joy in serving Him.