Jan 27, 2010 Happy Birthday, Daniel

Jan 27, 2010

Daniel,

Twenty-three years ago from yesterday I was carrying around a two week overdue baby wondering, is this the day? You were actually due on the day of your older brother’s birthday which was the 12th. Since I didn’t go into labor that day the doctor decided to try to induce labor. Twice it happened and both times were on a Monday. Your father and I would travel 30 minutes to the hospital, early in the morning with me not able to eat or drink past midnight; I would sit in a hospital bed with a Pit drip in my arm, watch TV and hope the contractions would begin. All day with no food! It’s amazing how many food commercials are on TV throughout a day. I was so hungry! Just little chips of ice were all I could have.

At the end of the first Monday around 5 pm the doctor came in and made the decision to send me home, wait another week and hope I would go into labor naturally. Of course, it never happened! We all joked about it saying, “This baby doesn’t want to come out and face his older brother”. I really couldn’t blame you. You were all warm and cozy.

Finally with the 2nd induction the following week toward the late afternoon the contractions began. They went along for several hours and when it came to the time of your birth you had been there so long your little head didn’t want to mold.

This meant a cesarean! I was afraid but knew it had to happen. I worried about your father. He was there for Tyler’s birth but could he handle a cesarean? The doctor assured him he could stay at my head with a drape to block his view. This meant I couldn’t see either. Being the nurse I was I would ask questions. My questions would range from “what are you doing now” or “is the incision being made”. I watched your father’s face go white a couple of times. I found myself trying to comfort him and I was the one on the table being cut open. Anyway, that was the way it was.

When your little head appeared, you began to cry. The doctor said to your dad, “look, he’s being born!” Your father peeked over the drape and I will never forget his words as they were funny to me at the time. He said “Oh no, it’s UGLY!” Now you have to understand your dad. He didn’t really mean to call you IT or say you were ugly. He just had never seen anything like this and he didn’t realize, with a caesarean, the baby is blue and covered with a film (sorry to get so detailed). I then jerked the screen down and watched a beautiful baby boy enter this world. It was now January 27, 1987 at 2 AM. You were named Daniel Lowell Parten.

We took you home and you were held by your proud two year old brother, Tyler. I remember Tyler counting your fingers and toes. I remember Tyler wanting to see you and dumping you out of your carrier onto the floor. You were 6 weeks old at that time. I remember Tyler pulling you around by your sleeper to pretend play. I remember holding you on my chest in the rocker and thinking to myself as I took in your sweet baby smell and touched your skin that I wanted to remember that moment for the rest of my days. Now when I close my eyes and I can still recall everything about that moment as if I’m still there.

You continued to grow. You were always getting hurt physically one way or another though. Always busy! Sometimes Tyler would be at fault and sometimes it would be by your own actions.

At an early age you were always drawn to a ball of any kind and you would throw them around. I do recall one time when you were very little we were outside and I was talking to your father. I could hear you saying in the background, “Strike one, strike two, strike three.” When I inquired as to what you were doing I found to my horror that you had a few frogs and a 2x4 board and was playing baseball with the frogs used as the balls. Of course I put a stop to it, but that was you. You always found a way to entertain yourself with sports. You continued to grow into an athlete who played and loved all sports.

You endured a lot from your older brother. You admired Tyler and usually backed down to Tyler’s demands. There came a defining moment though in your teens when you decided enough was enough. Tyler usually drove all three of you to school since he was older. Do you remember Tyler consistently making you and Anna Laura late, but since he was a senior it didn’t matter to him? It did matter though to you and your sister. You guys didn’t want any more marks against you for being tardy because of Tyler. So how did I handle this one? Remember I told you if Tyler wasn’t in the vehicle when it was time to leave then go on without him. Next thing I knew Anna Laura came in screaming and crying. I thought someone had been run over! I ran outside and found the two of you in a fight. Come to find out, Tyler came out to the truck and you were in the driver’s seat since he was running late. Tyler told you to move over and you refused. You guys went back and forth arguing for a bit. Tyler then got angry and slammed his books in your face and turned around to pick up his things that had spilled on the ground. Well, as I said, you decided enough was enough. You got out and with Tyler bent over, you body slammed his head into the side of my sister’s brand new car. Tyler got up and tried to walk away but you were long gone in the head by then. You attacked Tyler full force! By then I’m out there and Tyler yells, “You better get a handle on your son!” You were still trying to get to Tyler through me. As I said, that was a defining moment in your life. We laugh about it today but you two still had to come up with $700 to fix Christi’s car.

Both you and Tyler grew up and became the best of friends. Now you are in another defining moment in your life and I am so proud of the man you have become! I’m sorry you have lost your best friend, but he is still with you in your heart. You are a true man; loyal, caring, strong, wise, and a man of integrity who loves the Lord.

I have truly been blessed to have you in my life.

Happy 23rd birthday son!

I love you.

Mom