This Day is Such a Special One

Happy Birthday to Janica! Today my sweet little girl turned 5!

That means that five years ago today I was walking around the neighborhood, trying to speed up the labor, to get the contractions closer together. Jason and I went to the hospital that is about five minutes from our house at about 4:30 pm and Janica was born at about 6 pm. I was only pushing for about 15 minutes before Janica came out, and what I really remember is the midwife exclaiming "Look at all that hair!" Janica was born with a full head of black hair and has had beautiful hair ever since. Well, when she isn't cutting it off, that is. I really wish the story ended there. Unfortunately, she inhaled some meconium in the womb and had a low oxygen level, so no sooner was I holding my precious baby in my arms, than the midwife and nurses took her to the NICU. It was so scary! No one was telling me anything, and since I had just given birth, I was exhausted and wasn't moving anywhere. Jason went with Janica and I stayed in the delivery room, sitting there on the same bed where I had given birth, with no one to clean me up. Really not one of my favorite moments.

Eventually I was cleaned up and helped into a wheelchair so I could go to the NICU to be with her. She was hooked up to machines that monitored everything and because she was doing so well, the pediatrician agreed that Janica could go to my room with me - but only on the condition that I stayed awake to make sure she was still breathing. Believe it or not, after having been in labor for six hours without medication and pushing her out without any help, I was pretty tired, but for my little Janica, I gave it my best shot to stay awake so I could hold her through the night. I think I finally gave up around 3 or 4 in the morning and sent her to the nursery. Of course it all ended well and we both went home the next day. I mean it ended well other than her tethered spinal cord that caused her to have surgery on her spine with she was just 10 months old, but that is a post for another day.

Today Janica woke up with a smile and bounded into our room, demanding her birthday presents. Cute, right? For her party, we took her to Chuck E Cheese's, because a new one was built 10 minutes away, and because Janica had been reciting their slogan to us for the past several months. What can I say? Advertising works!





After the pizza and video games, we went back home for cake and presents.






Happy Birthday Janica! I am so grateful you are my Janica Sweetheart. I love your smile and cheery attitude. I really love how you have started winking at me and saying "ding!" Thank you for making me look like a better mom than I really am by memorizing scriptures and reciting them on demand. I only look good because you are so smart! I love how much you look out for your brother and sister. The three of you are quite a team. Thanks for being my daughter. You have made my life so much better just by being a part of it. I love you!