Six years ago today at about 7:30 am, I called my daughter, Angela, and she told me that I should be on-hold for the day. You see, Angela was pregnant and due on May 9 with my first grandson. When she told me that she was having another baby and gave me the due date, I commented that there was the possibility that the baby would come on her birthday, May 2nd. She wasn't happy about this because she wanted this baby to have its own birthday.
But, as fate would have it, Jackson Truman Graham (presidential name, don't you think) was born on his mother's birthday - May 2, 2003 at 10:30 pm. Truman is named after my dad (Jackson), and has his father's and great-grandfather's middle names (Truman).
The day started off rather mundane. I called Angela to see how she was feeling and that's when she said she might need me during the day. I was the designated Grammy to look after her two-year-old, Maeve, while she was busy giving birth to Truman. Maeve was my first grandchild and the love of my life. That is, until her brother was born.
As I was driving into the office, Angela called me and said that I should come on over. Her labor was getting stronger, and she needed to concentrate on the task at hand, and not worry about Maeve. However, when I got to their house, Angela's labor had all but stopped, Jim T had taken Maeve out for awhile, and Angela was alone. As soon as I walked into the house, she was in tears. I thought something was terribly wrong, but her tears were for her beautiful daughter and the fact that she wouldn't be her "baby" any longer. Later that day, those tears would turn to tears of joy.
When Jim T and Maeve returned, we went to the Warner Park Nature Center for a walk to help speed things along. We had planned to have lunch out and then I would take Maeve with me. But, God had other plans, and just as we got to the car to go have lunch after our walk, Angela's water broke and she was in full-blown labor.
I left them with the understanding that I wouldn't call them and interrupt, but they were to call me when they left for the hospital. We got a call about 6:00 pm and Charlie, Maeve, my parents, and me all packed up and headed out. Maeve was wonderful and let all of us walk her up and down the halls of Vanderbilt Hospital. We just kept waiting, and waiting, and waiting, and waiting.
Finally, shortly after 10:30, Jim T came out shaking all over. Truman was born! However, he didn't breathe for a period of time after his birth and Jim was visibly upset. Unlike at Maeve's birth where we got to hold her as soon as Angela had given birth, this time we only got to see Tru for about two minutes before he was whisked off to the nursery. When we saw him for the first time, his lips and hands were blue and his skin was very white. However, by the next morning, he was pink and beautiful, just as a newborn should be.
Angela is an only child. I couldn't figure out how a mother (or a grandmother) could love another child as much as the first one. But it's amazing how God just opens your heart to love this new little person in a totally different way than the first child. Truman and Maeve are perfect, beautiful little people to me. Each is unique in their own way.
So, on May 2, 2009, to two of the loves of my life, I say Happy Birthday to my beautiful daughter, Angela!!! And Happy Birthday to my favorite six-year-old grandson, Truman!!! I love you both very, very much.
But, as fate would have it, Jackson Truman Graham (presidential name, don't you think) was born on his mother's birthday - May 2, 2003 at 10:30 pm. Truman is named after my dad (Jackson), and has his father's and great-grandfather's middle names (Truman).
The day started off rather mundane. I called Angela to see how she was feeling and that's when she said she might need me during the day. I was the designated Grammy to look after her two-year-old, Maeve, while she was busy giving birth to Truman. Maeve was my first grandchild and the love of my life. That is, until her brother was born.
As I was driving into the office, Angela called me and said that I should come on over. Her labor was getting stronger, and she needed to concentrate on the task at hand, and not worry about Maeve. However, when I got to their house, Angela's labor had all but stopped, Jim T had taken Maeve out for awhile, and Angela was alone. As soon as I walked into the house, she was in tears. I thought something was terribly wrong, but her tears were for her beautiful daughter and the fact that she wouldn't be her "baby" any longer. Later that day, those tears would turn to tears of joy.
When Jim T and Maeve returned, we went to the Warner Park Nature Center for a walk to help speed things along. We had planned to have lunch out and then I would take Maeve with me. But, God had other plans, and just as we got to the car to go have lunch after our walk, Angela's water broke and she was in full-blown labor.
I left them with the understanding that I wouldn't call them and interrupt, but they were to call me when they left for the hospital. We got a call about 6:00 pm and Charlie, Maeve, my parents, and me all packed up and headed out. Maeve was wonderful and let all of us walk her up and down the halls of Vanderbilt Hospital. We just kept waiting, and waiting, and waiting, and waiting.
Finally, shortly after 10:30, Jim T came out shaking all over. Truman was born! However, he didn't breathe for a period of time after his birth and Jim was visibly upset. Unlike at Maeve's birth where we got to hold her as soon as Angela had given birth, this time we only got to see Tru for about two minutes before he was whisked off to the nursery. When we saw him for the first time, his lips and hands were blue and his skin was very white. However, by the next morning, he was pink and beautiful, just as a newborn should be.
Angela is an only child. I couldn't figure out how a mother (or a grandmother) could love another child as much as the first one. But it's amazing how God just opens your heart to love this new little person in a totally different way than the first child. Truman and Maeve are perfect, beautiful little people to me. Each is unique in their own way.
So, on May 2, 2009, to two of the loves of my life, I say Happy Birthday to my beautiful daughter, Angela!!! And Happy Birthday to my favorite six-year-old grandson, Truman!!! I love you both very, very much.
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