Happy 20th!

I can’t believe it’s been 20 years since I officially became a mom. I am writing this so that my daughter can remember how she truly is a special part of my life.

I can still remember the time I found out I was pregnant with my first child. Oh no, it was not a planned pregnancy. It was full of drama in fact.

I was very sick, had a few x-rays taken and was under a lot of medication for my gastro-intestinal issues. One day, I was rushed to the emergency room and had to be admitted to the hospital because I was totally dehydrated. Of course as standard procedure, they always take pregnancy test at the hospital. So to my surprise (and my parents), there I was pregnant at 24!

The news went from “Congratulations, you’re having a baby” to “Sorry, but we have to terminate the pregnancy!” My doctor told me that since I’ve taken all sorts of medicine and a few x-rays, they need to terminate the pregnancy because there’s a high probability that my child will have mental and physical disabilities and so on and so forth!

So you can imagine the emotions that poured that day. I didn’t know what to do. Didn’t I have a say in this matter?

I was young, very sick, excited and scared all at the same time. And then as God always finds ways to work His magic, a certain OB/GYN gave me options! Whew, Dr. Gary Kaye has been my OB/GYN ever since! Without him, I wouldn’t have had a clear mind proceeding with the pregnancy.

So there I was, 95 pounds and pregnant with my first child. I wanted to do everything right and perfect. I have to take care of this child. So, I literally took the saying “eating for two” because by the 9^th month, I was 170 pounds!

I was almost 25 years old and I didn’t even know my water broke! I thought I just had a BIG accident after one of my loud sneezes. My parents, brothers and I just got back from church and we were watching a movie when I finally asked my mom, “I've been going to the bathroom a lot. Is that normal?”. So mom asked a few questions and then she told me that my water broke. That was sometime in the afternoon of May 28^th.

I then called my OB/GYN and he told me to proceed to the hospital.

There was no way I was going to the hospital without taking a shower. ( What was I thinking?). My mom was hurrying me up but I was taking my time. (Maybe subconsciously I was afraid of this whole birthing process?). When we finally got to the hospital, my doctor asked what took so long. I figured I was two weeks early, I have all the time, right?

My daughter’s godmother, Chiqui, was with me the whole time. Between labor pains, I paused and asked her to go ask my mom if the baby has to be circumcised as soon as he’s born. Everyone thought I was having a boy because of the way I was carrying I guess?

Around 5:29am on May 29, 1989, I can still remember the time I had to squeeze Chiqui’s hands so tight (sorry, Chiq) and naturally push (I guess I wasn’t thinking?) my 7 pounds, 8 ounces baby.

As soon as I heard her cry, I asked, “Is she healthy? Does she have a cleft palate? Is she normal?”

And everyone said, “She’s beautiful!”

She’s 20 and starting her own life. A scholar, going into her 3^rd year in college and in a happy relationship with her boyfriend of 2 years, my daughter will always be my little princess. ( I can't believe I was her age when I first arrived in this country 25 years ago)

Every year that we celebrate her birthday, I can’t help but remember the first day I found out I was pregnant and the first day she was born. I’ve seen her grow into this beautiful, smart, hardworking and caring person. Every day I thank God for having her.

My dearest child, I am so proud of you and I love you dearly. Happy 20^th to both of us!

(As a family tradition, we all wake up the celebrant first thing in the morning to sing her/him a Happy Birthday with candles all lit ready for her/hm to make a birthday wish; )

MORE Photos of the birthday girl