MY BABY IS FOUR!!!

It was August.
August in North Carolina means it was unbearable.
Hot, sticky, and humid. (not a good combination)
I was miserable.
I was sick.
I could not eat.
Everything I looked at made me sick.
I was tired.
All I wanted to do was sleep.
Because I was a Mommy of two...that did not happen.
I thought I had the flu.
I was tired, my back ached, and I was nauseated.
I thought it could be a virus.
The hot August weather did not help matters.
My symptoms continued for a few weeks.
I did not have a fever .
I was not sick enough for a doctor.
My symptoms soon changed.
My tired, weary body could hardly go.
I was nauseated morning , noon, and night.
I could not cook.
The sight of raw chicken sent me flying to the bathroom.
Still, I did not know why.
I was in extreme denial.
My friends encouraged me to take a pregnancy test.
I laughed.
Hard.
No, that could definitely not be it.
I was sure.
I had two children.
One little boy and one little girl.
I had everything.
My "symptoms" continued for a month.
One day my doorbell rang.
It was one of my best friends, Karyn.
She stood there with a brown paper bag in hand.
"I thought you needed a reality check", she blurted.
She continued, " Take this and call me when you are done."
I opened the bag.
It contained a pregnancy test.
She was right.
I needed to know.
I wanted to prove that I was indeed NOT pregnant.
I called her back.
She stayed on the phone with me while I peed on a stick and waited. (aren't girlfriends the best?)
IT WAS POSITIVE!
I cried.
I was not happy.
How could this be?
It took me a few days for it all to sink in.
It took me a few days to tell Chad.
He was shocked, then excited.
He called everyone.
I threw up.
I continued to throw up for the entire 38 weeks.
Pregnancy is not something I am good at.
There was no "glow".
From the moment I had my first ultrasound, I knew I was in love.
There is something about that first picture.
The seeing it on the screen.
The hearing that first heartbeat.
It made everything real.
April 15th, 2004 came.
I was scheduled to have a c-section.
Cole was born that afternoon.
My life has never been the same.
Cole has never been a sleeper.
He has never been a great napper.
He has more energy than any one child should.
He is sweet as sugar.
His smile will make you melt.
He gives the very best hugs and kisses in the world.
He has completed our family.
He added the piece we didn't even know was missing.
I am more in love with him today than four years ago.
I did not know that would be possible.
Happy Birthday my little Cole man!!!