Just another ordinary miracle today

Thirty one years ago I was a very scared 19 year old in labor. 

Today is my child's birthday. 

And I am meeting him for lunch.

May the miracles never cease.

Their miraculous selves

Years ago when West Wing was in it's hey day [and I - a rabid fan] Bradley Whitford won an Emmy for best supporting actor in a series. 
I will never forget what he said about his children in his acceptance speech.


I'd like to thank my children for their miraculous selves and for saving my wife and I from lives of terminal self involvement.


Touché Bradley. Touché.


Happy 8th birthday Bunny and Dolly!

But is it really nifty?

Okay, so here it is.

The last day of my forties.

Whodda thunk?

Certainly not me.

Tuesday is the big

5-0-!

And I am thinking they should bring back powdered wigs...

Perhaps we can leave the beheadings to times past

but I was kind of grooving on wearing this wig.

What do you think?

Burning down the house

We celebrated Bryan's birthday complete with cake 

and gifty bags at the end for everyone. The Dolly 

and the Bunny Rabbit cannot conceive of a party 

without gifty bags.

I really wanted to see what 30 candles looked like lit 

and Bryan had been grumbling some about how old he 

was getting [yeah, tell your story walkin' Dude]. 

So being the sensitive person I am I lit all 30! 

FIRE! FIRE!

Smoke central.

It's my child's birthday

Today is Bryan's 30th birthday. 

Several years ago Mom-of-Bryan [MOB] sent me this from an 

Ann Landers column. Her mother had given it to her back in 

1980 [the year of Bryan's first birthday] and MOB had carried 

it in her wallet until it fell apart so the beginning of it is 

missing.

...child we adopted will celebrate a first birthday then.

Amidst the joy and preparation of adoptive parents, people 

have a tendency to forget the heartache that was suffered by 

the birth mother when she parted with her child.

This poem is a reminder to all adoptive parents everywhere 

that a very big price was paid by a selfless woman who gave 

up her precious baby so he or she could have a better life.

                                        - Please no name or state, Just Grateful

A BIRTHDAY

It's my child's birthday

He just went dashing by

His eyes are sparkling with the excitement meant only for today.

Presents, kisses, hugs, cake, ice cream

It all seems so natural.

It's a day of looking back and looking forward.

But there is something different happening inside of me.

This should be a day of complete joy

A day of thanksgiving

But in the midst of all this excitement

I pause because my thoughts are about someone 

else for a time.

It's my child's birthday

I have no memories of his life growing inside me and 

fighting to be released.

Another someone was there

Another someone suffered for my joy.

It's my child's birthday

But someone somewhere is feeling emptiness inside,

I'm sure she is wondering what he looks like

If he is big or small

Wondering if he laughs much

It's my child's birthday

And in the midst of this blessed day that was given to me,

I have a prayer,

Oh, God, that I may never forget that someone suffered 

so much to give life to my child. 

That someone loved my child so very much that she gave 

him the right to live. 

May I never forget for a moment and especially now, today, to 

offer a prayer of thanks for someone, and that you, dear God, 

will always be there for that someone to help her through the 

hurts she will have when she stops to think that 

'Today is my child's birthday'. 

Amen.

Thank you MOB, I love you.

Happy Birthday Twinkies!

Number seven. 

The Dolly wouldn't let us say it to her until 9:14 this morning. 

Then she bummed out when Grammy and Poppy sang 

Happy Birthday to the Bunny at 9:00.

'It's not fair - they should wait for me to turn seven!'

Ahhhh - were all our problems this serious...

Disney: in the middle

I LOVE this photo.

I am in the front following my bliss...

The Bunny is next to me TOTALLY in to it.

[After every wild ride we get the requisite

'That was AWESOME!!!']

The Dolly is behind him Screaming. In. Terror. 

Gapetto is beside her sort of hidden but happy. 

Grammy has her whole face slammed shut 

and Poppy is just beginning to react.

Here are my babies last night at the Polynesian -

great place for viewing fireworks.

And to REALLY inject some birthday bliss

Bryan and his girlfriend arrived tonight.

Happy 7th birthday (tomorrow) little lovies! 

Disney: in the beginning

'Are you telling the truth?'

'What about school?'

"Does this mean we are not going to the skate park this afternoon?'

[Oh yes he did!]

More soon...

The secret...

Pssst - we are leaving for Disney on Sunday. 

The Bunny and the Dolly have no idea - 

a 7 year old birthday surprise of the highest order!

                       * * * * * * * *

This is our Cherry tree today - first day of spring!

Singing Happy Birthday!

The Dolly, Gapetto and the Bunny.

This makes me smile.

I live with kooks! (gratefully)

Happy Birthday Gapetto

To my trophy husband...

World's funnest dad (and handsome too!)

Dang good cook...

Family man...

Creator of things both wild...

and wonderful...

and one lucky wife's best friend.