May 5, 1986

May 5, 1986, was a very special day for me! That day, 26 years ago, Steven was born. I tell him the story I’m about to tell you, every year — except this one, I think he’s beginning to grow tired of it honestly.

It started the night before: May 4, 1986. Mom was reading me some fairy tales or nursery rhymes in my bedroom (which is now Steven’s). I had a full-sized bed and we were nestled into my bed, but for some reason Mom just couldn’t keep the sheets clean. She had to keep going to the bathroom. Finally, early in the morning, she woke my dad to tell him she figured out that it was time for Steven to be born. Eventually, after he was awake enough to comprehend what she was saying, he called Grandpa George. Grandpa was supposed to stay with me while Mom and Dad went to the hospital. Well, the phone rang and rang (this was before answering machines), finally my uncle Jim (who is also my Godfather) answered the phone. What he was doing in town we still don’t know and he doesn’t remember; but in any event, Dad told him it was time for Steven to be born. Uncle Jim said he didn’t, “make house calls” (his words). Dad told him, “No, I want you to stay with Christy!” So Uncle Jim made his way over and eventually was next to me in bed. I drowsily turned over and saw him there. He said that Mom and Dad went to the hospital to have Steven. I nodded and dosed off to sleep again. I awoke May 5, 1986, to some sound in the kitchen just down the hall. Uncle Jim was looking around for pans. Finally, I made my way in and he asked me where Mom kept her pots and pans. I showed him, then he took some margarine out of the fridge and some eggs. “Have you ever had fried eggs before?” I shook my head. “You’re missing out! How about I make you some right here and now?” I agreed and he took a frying pan, melted the margarine on it and fried some eggs right there. A short while later, I looked out the kitchen window to see Daddy walking up the sidewalk, why he didn’t go in through the garage I still don’t know. When he made it inside he told me, I was now a big sister. It was some time after 9:00 am is all I know. After breakfast, either he or Uncle Jim took me to preschool (day school). We were decorating flower boxes that we had planted flowers in for Mother’s Day not too long before that. I had a beautiful flower box I decorated up for Mom and was bringing it home that day and Daddy said we could give it to Mom. Unfortunately, the flower box, ended up on the floor of the car because for some reason we had to stop suddenly in the hospital parking lot. No matter, Daddy helped me scoop it into a styrofoam cup (this was before people said styrofoam was “bad”). We then bought a plush baby bear cub in a diaper to give to Steven (I wonder where that plush went to now) because the flower was for Mom. After visiting with Mom and Steven, Daddy and I came home and he said he had a surprise he wanted to have for Mom and Steven came home. It was a huge banner that said “Welcome Home Mommy (heart) Steven!” It was in bubble letters and we could color in the letters (and heart and exclamation mark). I wonder what happened to the banner. Well, the rest is history! Steven was born May 5, 1986 — 9:00 am and was the first-born of the day; he was also Daddy’s birthday present (May 6 would have been Daddy’s birthday…I’ll write a tribute to him tomorrow and a second one on May 16)! 😀

Happy birthday, Steven

Well, that’s enough for tonight! Happy 26th Birthday, Steven!

And to the rest of you…

God bless!