Dear Lauren,
Thursday, December 4, 2003 at 11pm Daddy asked Mommy if she wanted to watch a movie. The next day’s forecast called for snow, and lots of it, so Daddy was planning to sleep in on a snow day. Mommy was very, very tired but said OK so Mommy and Daddy watched Family Man. At 1:30am on December 5th, Mommy and Daddy went to bed. At 3:30am, Mommy woke up and told Daddy it was time to go to the hospital, the baby was coming. Daddy asked if she could go back to sleep for a couple of hours. Mommy said,”No,” and asked Daddy to time the contractions. Daddy was so tired that he wrote them down in military time (he has never been in the military). The piece of paper with the times is in your baby box.
Mommy called the doctor and he said to leave immediately for the hospital. Mommy, always the researcher, had decided that a hospital in Washington, D.C. would be the best to deliver the baby, about 45 minutes away. Mommy hadn’t factored in a blizzard. Thank goodness Daddy is from New York and not afraid of snow! (Actually, your Daddy isn’t afraid of anything; he is very brave.) Daddy drove real slow through the snow. Mommy and Daddy passed an 18-wheeler, side-ways across the highway, but that didn’t deter Daddy. At 6am, Daddy dropped Mommy off at the hospital door and went to park the car. Mommy checked in at the front desk and told the lady that she thought she might be having a baby. Mommy went to a delivery room and asked the nurse if they were going to send her home. The nurse laughed at Mommy.
At 9am, you were ready to be born. But, then you got stuck and Mommy pushed for 2 1/2 hours. Finally at 12:02pm on December 5, 2003, the doctor pulled you out! You had the cord wrapped around your neck three times so you weren’t breathing. A team of nurses and doctors took you and gave you oxygen and you started yelling! Daddy was watching and the nurse said, “You can talk to her!” So, Daddy said, “Hi, baby” and you immediately stopped crying. The nurse looked at Mommy and Daddy and said, “You can cry now” so Mommy and Daddy cried happy tears.
Mommy held you for a few minutes and you stared at Mommy. Then Mommy remembered that Daddy was in the room so she asked if Daddy wanted to hold the new baby. He held you too.
Mike and Vern, Mommy’s and Daddy’s friends, were waiting outside so they came in to see you. They gave you the cutest little golf hat and little golf clubs!
New York Grandpa and Grandma drove 7 hours through the blizzard to come see you in the hospital. They brought a stuffed bear for you. New York Grandma cried a lot (she does that when she meets a new grandchild!).
You were such a tiny, adorable baby. 6 lbs. 12 oz. and 20 inches long. The nurses called you “the baby with the dimples” and announced that even though you were the smallest baby in the hospital that day, you were the best eater! One of your nurses said she didn’t want to end her shift because she liked you so much! You slept beautifully in the hospital and Mommy and Daddy finally got some sleep.
On December 7, 2003 (your actual due date), Mommy and Daddy brought you home. You wore a maroon fleece sleeper with pink designs on it. Mommy thought she didn’t like pink. Mommy quickly changed her mind about that!
Mommy and Daddy were so very happy to have their new little baby.
Lauren, you make us smile. You are beautiful. You are kind and compassionate. You light up the room! We are so proud of you and we love you so very, very much.
Happy 6th birthday!
Love, Mommy and Daddy
Happy 6th Birthday Lauren!!! Have a great day today.
Diane ( Annie’s mommy)
Hi Lauren,
Happy Birthday. I am 6 too. I like being 6. I will send you a card.
Annie
Happy 6th Birthday Lauren!! I hope you have a wonderful day!!
Marilyn
Lauren-We hope you have a wonderful Birthday!! Is it snowing there today?
Carrie & Bella
Lauren,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! You are such a beautiful little girl and your parents are very blessed to have you. Have a great day today, enjoy the snow
Happy Birthday Lauren. I hope you have a wonderful day. We love you.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAUREN!! You are such a beautiful and sweet girl, enjoy your day!
Happy Birthday Lauren! I hope you have the best day ever!
Happy Birthday Lauren!!!
Happy Birthday Lauren x
Happy birthday Lauren! I hope you all have a great day and guess what? It is snowing here, wasn’t supposed to but it has been all day. God bless. In Christ, Joe
Happy birthday Lauren!! You share a birthday with my nephew, his name is Preston and he is 6 today too. I hope you have a WONDERFUL birthday!! You are a special little girl!!
Have a GREAT birthday today Lauren!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAUREN!
Happy Birthday Beautiful Lauren! It’s snowing a little bit at our house, and we love it! Enjoy your birthday and have fun getting ready for Christmas!
Thank you, Lana, for sharing the story – - I remember that day well!! We drove in 4-wheel drive at night to be there. One good thing is that there were very few cars or trucks on the highway! It was well worth the trip
Thank you for giving us this precious grandchild – and thank you for all you have gone through to giveour next grandgirl the best start in life. Can’t wait to see you all:D
Oh – and Happy Birthday, Lauren – We will be calling to sing as soon as we are both home!
Much love,
NY Grandma
Happy Birthday Sweetie ~
We hope that your party went well even with the snow! It was great to talk with you. Have a wonderful day!
Love,
Uncle Tony, Aunt Trish and the children
You are a good stroy teller. I voted you to write on the March news paper. Our groups turn is March.
God bless Lauren!
Azeb
Happy Birthday Lauren!!
Happy Birthday, Lauren. 6 is one of the most wonderful ages to be. You’ll love it, I’m sure. And, we will all love sharing it with you throughout the year.
Thank you, Lana, for sharing this wonderful story. You, indeed, are a splendid writer. And, you have so much to tell. Looking forward to all the sequels. Blessings to you all.
Happy (belated)Birthday to beautiful Lauren!!!