The End, Froggie!

Friday, February 09, 2007

Happy Birthday Wood!

Froga-lee has come out of hibernation to send happy warm wishes to the Woods. I just got home from a celebratory 10k jog (got to get up and moving after sleeping for so long) that gave my mind plenty of time to wander down memory lane, back to the days when you were just a little sprout.

I remember that you were born on a Saturday when we were out of school, so when Mommy and Daddy left for the hospital, I was in charge. It was not a good day to be in charge at home because the septic tank was overflowing into the downstairs bathtub when Daddy had to rush Mommy to the hospital. We kept the batthroom door closed and went down to the corner or over the Curfey's if we had to go. It was cold and icey and I probably did my best to babysit while watching Dr. Who.

We went to the Oesterlings the next day after Church and I remember having some kind of phone conversation about your name. I was very excited because I loved your first name and Mommy said it was name that would one day give you a challenge to pronounce.

It was hard to feed you when you came home from the hospital and Mommy was very sad that she couldn't breastfeed you. There was some stress because you had to gain weight before you could have your first surgery. I also remember being worried on the first Sunday we took you to church. I was 13 and I worried about how my peers might treat you and me. They were good to us and that meant a lot to me.

When you had your first surgery you were still a baby. I was so happy that there was corrective treatment available to you that I was amazed when Mommy said that she cried when they wheeled you out of surgery. It was hard for her to see tiny you in that raw condition.

The surgeons did such a good job when you were a baby. You were sooooo cute as a baby and toddler. Man and I would get you to to say these monkey ooo's and your eyes would get so big and round and we would just giggle. He gave you the knick name of Arwood about that time I think because you would tense up your whole body and become as stiff as a log. When your hair came in, it was blonde like mine. Your hazel eyes were so charming.

You weren't very old yet when I left home for college. I missed out on a lot when you were growing up but you really made an impression on me one Sunday when you soundly beat me at Othello. You could not have been more than 6 or 7 and you had out stratigized me.

I got married and I don't remember much of your next few years because we only visited once in a while. When the family moved to Utah, I loved talking to you about your high school classes and what you were learning. I loved hearing about your challenging track experiences. You recommended Robert Jordan books to me and I remember spending most of my last pregnancy with one after another Wheel of Time novels. They are compelling and frustrating and it says a lot that that baby I was expecting is now ten years old and Robert Jordan still has not finished that series!

I means so much to me to have seen you grow up to be so accomplished and to have met the difficult challenges of your life with courage and determination and faith. You are one of my heroes and I love you. Happy Birthday!