Thursday, March 27, 2008

IT'S EMMA'S BIRTHDAY!!!


Emma basking in the glow of her blueberry birthday cake.
Yes, I made the cake.
Sweet Emma turns 19 today, but we celebrated her special day last weekend at her Grandparent's house since she's away at college.
Today is the real date, the annual anniversary of her long tough labor. She was born with a purple bruised face and a cone shaped head thanks to the Hoover type suction device the Doc used to grip her little punkin head.
It was all a bit shocking and worrisome to a young father, but everyone said, "Don't worry, the purple bruising will subside and her pointy little head will smooth out in a week or so."
It did.
After a week, the little plastic rings I had been secretly tossing at her head when Mrs. FC wasn't looking, would no longer stick to her now smoothly rounded head.
Emma had other entertainments in store for us though.
Colic.
C-O-L-I-C.
Wowsers ... I fully expected her head to spin around and ancient Latin curses to issue from her mouth.
Her sister Katie was 15 months old at the time and once Emma finally quieted and was napping, we would creep around as if on eggshells, trying desperately not to wake her prematurely.
Then, suddenly we were past it. The colic was over ... we had survived.
The rest has been a splendid adventure. She's smart, adventurous, loving, and well, ... beautiful.
So now my baby girl, my middle child, is having her first birthday away from home.
Remember that?
The danger is that it might seem like just another day, but it's not ... not for those of us who love her.
We'll be thinking of her all day and wishing her happy birthday by all electronic means possible. Electrons and bits of data are poor substitutes for real hugs of course, but I'm thinking her best friend roommate, and her other dorm buddies will have an abundance of the real thing for Emma.
Happy Birthday Emma!
We love you.

28 comments:

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday Emma!
Lightnin

Anonymous said...

Awwww! You are such a sweetie of a Dad! I'm still panicky that mine is 13...away at college????? I'm not READY!!!! Happy Birthday Emma!!!

Anonymous said...

Well, you could always take up horseshoes instead. ;)

And Happy Birthday Emma!!
She is beautiful, FC. :)

Doug Taron said...

Happy birthday, Emma. You've obviously given your Dad a lot to be proud of.

threecollie said...

Happy Birthday!
I remember colic! (Who could forget?) At least the Mets won the series the last time colic impacted our nights....And our colicky one grew up a Mets fan. Go figure

robin andrea said...

Happy birthday, Emma. Hope it is a truly grand day.

Anonymous said...

Happy Super Special Day, Emma!

Seeing as your dad didn't make any Oblio (old indie cartoon) references, you know you are in his thoughts. That's a gift that might equal his hugs until you two can share the real thing.

Have a great day.

kathy a. said...

happy birthday, emma!

my daughter's 19th was in january -- also her first birthday away from home.

Anonymous said...

Happy birthday to your beloved Emma. I know all about colicy babies. My son was a doozy with it for a while, then, like you said, it went away and all was (mostly) well. I hope it's a super day!
momadness

Anonymous said...

The solution to your conundrum re: no longer being able to entertain yourself with Emma's pointy head is simple - either substitute out for much larger rings or - dare I suggest it? - JARTS.

Anonymous said...

Oh - see, I was so pleased with my stupid joke I forgot to say it...

Happy Birthday, Emma!

Jane Adams said...

Happy Birthday Emma.. all the way from Dorset in England. I hope you have a good one with all your friends! Jane

MinorcanMeteorolgist said...

Feliz Cumpleanos, Emma!
I, too, was born purple-faced, so you are not alone.
...At least your daddy didn't throw horseshoes at your head!

Dani said...

Happy Birthday,Emma!!!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday, Emma! Even though I don't know you, you're a charm in my book because you make your papa so happy and proud.

FC, I'm thinking it was a long hard labor and somewhat more memorable for Mrs. FC...Isn't it curious how one has colic and another doesn't? Dan's was unspeakably horrible- we were reduced to driving him endlessly around the block in the car. And you're right- he had it and then he didn't!

Happy birthday for you and the Mrs. too.

R.Powers said...

Thank you all for wishing my baby girl a happy birthday!
I'm calling her right now to tell her happy birthday and to check out your comments!
Thanks again.

Cathy said...

Happy Birthday to sweet Emma !

We parents who survived colic never forget. Forty years and I still cringe :0)

Thunder said...

Happy Birthday Emma!!

You poor dear young woman though, I only had to live with your (obviously insane) father for a few semesters of school! You've turned out so well considering!
;-)

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday to Emma! Hoping you had a great day.

Unknown said...

Thank you everyone!!! And thanks Daddy I love you! My first b-day away was pretty good but I missed all of you. I'm lookin forward to seeing mom tomorrow. Love you all!

Emma

Rurality said...

I am certain that such a sweet, sweet girl could never have had colic. I'm not sure why parents try to make perfect children think that they could have ever had colic! Shame on you... (And my parents too!)

SophieMae said...

What, no small town in France comments? Surprised you didn't name her Connie. 8-}

Happy Birthday, PF Princess!

R.Powers said...

:)
Thanks ... LOL.

SwampAngel65 said...

Aw, how cool for you to make her a cake! You are an awesome dad!! She's a beautiful girl...Happy Birthday, Emma!!!

Paintsmh said...

Oh I am late. Happy Birthday Emma!!!!!! So sorry to be late! But as they say better late than never!

R.Powers said...

Swamp and Paint,
Thanks!

Sharon said...

Colic, ugh. One of mine had it. Glad you all survived it, because she is a beautiful young lady. :) Glad she had a Happy Birthday, the cake looks awesome :)

R.Powers said...

Thanks Sharon!