Happy 5th Birthday Reagan Wayne

Five years ago I started this day checking into Good Samaritan Hospital for a c-section. After four years of loss I thought that day would be a sad one. Both my parents were there to welcome the latest addition which made me feel comfort and fear at the same time. I kept thinking they would be the first to console me if things went wrong. When the nurse attempted to shave my tummy the clippers died, I was convinced that was a sign. All during the pregnancy I thought every check-up was going to lead to bad news. I had weekly ultra-sounds the end of my pregnancy, each week my doctor would say, "You have a fine looking boy" but I was still nervous.

Once inside the delivery room I was a wreck but remained calm on the surface. There is a funny tale of how I lost my balance on the operating table, grabbed for support and groped the anesthesiologist. We were all talking about Bill getting a vasectomy, that guy spoke up and confessed to having had one only for me to feel him up, those tables are very narrow.

Of course the day was filled with blessings. Reagan Wayne was beautiful and because of my regiment to control my blood sugars he weighed less than any of my children. I still gave in to my cravings but I rode a stationary bike after each trip to my favorite dive. Harold's Chicken Shack made a mint that year.

This is an un-official notice to the parents of kindergarten children that will enter Lisle School District 202 next year and spend the next 13 years as Reagan's classmates. I spent four years of hoping for a miracle thinking time was running out and then I was given the opportunity to be Rey's mom, therefore I think the sun rises and sets on this little piece of heaven. I know all parents feel this way but I am still in disbelief that he is here. I think he can do no wrong and even if there is videotape evidence =0). Seriously, I know he is just a kid that will go on to have moments of praise and times of scolding but thanks to my experience I will cherish every moment.

My team of doctors treated me like royalty and made my dreams come true. Though I was blessed with a talented specialist at one point I rushed to Target to buy a home monitor to hear Rey's heartbeat because I felt that there was no way I was bringing home a baby. I scrambled to use the device in my van in right there the parking lot, after a failed attempt to hear the heartbeat I turned it over to God. It was clear that a $20 device had nothing on God. My dear friend Kim Robinson reminded me that this story was in His hands and it was going to have a happy ending.

I confess to treating him like a baby some 5 years later, why not? I understand that at some point he will be too big to carry but for now I label that strength training. He has more nicknames than all four other kids combined, how many ways can you say happiness, which happens to be one of his pet names. I love all my kids but even the other four would tell you that Rey has made our family complete.