Slice of Life Story Challenge - What I Know For Sure - A St. Patrick's Day Birthday

     It's Day 17 of the Slice of Life Story Challenge, started by Two Writing Teachers.  I am writing around the theme topic of "What I Know For Sure." (See Day 1 for a full explanation.)

 

 

     It was spitting snow that day - St. Patrick's Day 1993.  From my high-rise room in Christ Hospital in Cincinnati, I looked out the window and couldn't understand why the world hadn't stopped to celebrate the birth of our first child, Elizabeth Anne.  Well, I know a few stopped to celebrate. She was born after 20+ hours of labor and an emergency C-section.  I remember trembling with anxiety when they had to rush me to the unexpected surgery, doctors and nurses swarming in.  In my March 1st post, I told a story about guardian angels, and watching over me that day was certainly one - the anesthesiologist.   He was of good cheer and Irish background - an Irish jig was playing in the delivery room, and he stood at my head, speaking soothingly and optimistically, smoothing back my sweaty hair and keeping me posted on what was happening.  In between reassurances, he hummed along with the music.

     The first words said about Libby was, "Look at all that hair!"  Well, maybe those were the second words.  The first were, "It's a girl!"  We hadn't know if she was a boy or girl, and those words thrilled me.  I was so excited!  She cried hardily, passed her APGAR scores with flying colors, and because it was a Cesarean, was shown to me only briefly and whisked out of the room before I got to hold her.  After recovery though, she was placed in my arms.  The nurses had put a little green ribbon in her dark, already curly hair.  What a fierce love children evoke.  I remember thinking I could hardly contain it.  What plans God had for her - plans for hope and a future!

     Today she is 22 years old.  She will be graduating from Miami University in May and getting married in June.  In August, she'll start her job at Nationwide Insurance in the Marketing Leadership program and will be moving with Jamie to Columbus.  Time flies. We are so proud of, not only her amazing accomplishments and intelligence, but of her kind and gentle spirit, her sense of right and wrong, and the goodness she puts into the world.  She's fun and full of energy, ideas, and conversation.

     What I Know For Sure:  Being a parent is one of the hardest, most rewarding, most joyful roles in life. I have the luck of the Irish because there's no one I would rather be than Libby and Katie's mom.