Another Milestone

And the middle child turns 16.
Do you remember as a child how slowly life moved? How one day in school could last for weeks and weeks. What happened to that joy? How did life speed up this fast? I blame technology. Especially any kind I don't understand.

Now this little nugget of joy that we are celebrating today came into the world while we were still attached to the Navy. He was born in a Navy hospital where Family Physicians did all of the prenatal care unless it was high risk. I liked that. Less interference. More willingness to let the woman's body do what it was designed to do.
Which with this child was to be in labor forever. I went into labor on November 30. He was born December 2. In the afternoon. For years I got confused and thought his birthday was December 1st. I was in labor so long that my primary doctor left to go on vacation. While I was pushing. I am not exaggerating. He tried to stay. Stayed until his plane was taxiing down the runway I think. Of course by that time, I didn't care who came in the room to catch that baby. I was just furious I wasn't leaving to go on vacation too.

After three short hours of pushing, out came my little angel who has done very few things the easy way from that day forward. I asked my husband to order a pizza while they were still tending to me in the delivery room. That was probably the hardest I have ever worked in my life.
Then I did something brilliant. Something wonderful. I made my husband spend the night in the hospital room with us. Oh sure, I think that is commonplace now. It wasn't back then. Plus, we had two 2 year olds at home. But, his mom was there with them and I knew where he was needed.

About the 15th time they came in that night to wake us all up to see if we were OK, words came out of my sweet husband's mouth that I had never heard from him before or since. Must be the genesis of that "cuss like a sailor" saying. First light of day, we were packing it up and heading home with our little December baby.
Who is now 16. Tell me again how that is possible.

*On a little sidenote, a wonderful fellow blogger and friend, Joanna Jenkins, has interviewed me over at The Fifty Factor. And, she's even giving away $25 to a lucky reader who comments over there and over here. So, since you're here anyway, you might as well go there, comment, and maybe win a little holiday cash. Good luck!