4 Years Gone By

I hate to sound cliche, but they just grow up too fast. My son is four. I am starting this post before his birthday because I know it will take me this long to do properly without having to stop and cry. Yes, I'm one of those mothers. My kids will probably ban me from recitals, championship games and graduation. I just can't help it. The mere thought of them doing something wonderful, a certain smile, a profound statement or question - and on come the waterworks. We all watched ET together recently and I always cry twice for that one. Ford turned to me and asked why I was crying and I felt a little silly. Then he came and climbed into my lap and everything was right with the world.


So, my little boy is four. I have posted things about my first child and I think that's a good place to start. Enjoy...





1. Were you married at the time? Yes.


2. What were your reactions when you found out you were pregnant? I was a little worried because I knew they would be closer in age than I had planned but I was very happy!


3. How old were you? 27 when I found out, 28 when I gave birth.


4. How did you find out you were pregnant? I knew as soon as I felt queasy. I just bought one of those stick tests and - voila! I tried to surprise Baxter with the results but he figured it out.


5. Who did you tell first? Besides Baxter, Abby was the next to know. I really went to great lengths to explain it to her in words she could understand.



6. Did you want to find out the sex? Yes! Since we had a little girl and for health reasons, knew this would be our last, we really hoped for a son. Somebody up there likes me! At the much-anticipated 20 week ultrasound in which those of us who like to plan things and decide on nursery colors find out the sex of their babies, he was very obviously a boy. Immediately after the announcement, Abby hurled her sippy-cup across the room. That pretty much sums it up and works as an explanation for the pictures in my slideshow of Ford wearing a dress. She just couldn't help herself.



7. Due date? January 16, 2005


8. Did you deliver early or late? 5 WEEKS early on December 12, 2004


9. Did you have morning sickness? I got a little nauseous but I never puked with either one


10. What did you crave? Chocolate and carbs and walnuts


11. Who irritated you the most? my mother and all of Baxter's family - especially Nana who told me that my butt was big - you just can't say that to a pregnant gal!



12. What was your second child's sex? Boy


13. How many pounds did you gain throughout the pregnancy? over 40


14. Did you have any complications during your pregnancy? I was put on bedrest again. Since I had Abby early, they were concerned when I started contracting at 32 weeks again. I was reading "East of Eden" (trying to keep my mind on something else) and my parents were visiting. It was my mom's birthday, 12/11, and at about 11PM I had a pretty high fever. My doctors didn't like that and told me to come in to the hospital. He was nonresponsive on the ultrasound and we made the decision to get him out quickly. More on that later...


15. Where did you give birth? In Savannah at St. Joseph's-Candler Hospital


16. How many hours were you in labor? I never experienced labor with Ford


17. Who drove you to the hospital? Baxter


18. Who watched? Baxter


19. Was it natural or c-section? c-section


20. Did you take medicine to ease the pain? I took whatever they gave me...


21. How much did your child weigh? 6 pounds exactly


22. Did your child have any complications? He wasn't breathing and they had to rush him to the NICU. Once there, he was placed on a ventilator, then a chest tube and given several shots of surfacton over the course of several days. He popped his lung once and they almost lost him several times. The first time I got to hold him, he was almost a week old. God bless those doctors who saved my precious baby boy. I still remember all of their names and faces and I only hope they have some idea of how many times I have poured out thankfulness from my heart because of them.


23. What did you name him/her? Baxter Crawford Crane, IV - but we call him Ford


24. How old is your first born today? 4




The most amazing part of being a parent is watching your babies become little people of their own. All babies have a way about them and each one is different. But it's not until later that you start to really get to know them. I have enjoyed every day of the past 4 years and I am still getting to know Ford. He can be a moody child and I sometimes find him frustrating. He sometimes finds me frustrating too but those can be his most endearing moments. If I need him to go upstairs so I can cool off, the first thing he does is stomp upstairs and firmly shut his door. Then a few minutes later, I will usually hear him with his little push-button guitar, playing a song and singing something like, "I just wanna do what I wanna do...." or, my personal favorite, "You Get Time-Out," which he has been perfecting since he was 2 1/2. I just love that little guy. So, happy birthday Ford. You really are my sunshine.