17 Years Ago Today

February 14, 1992

Seventeen years ago today I was at a Valentines Banquet. The last thing on my mind was that today I became a mom again! See, after many years of trying to have another baby, 2 failed private adoptions and a couple of years with an adoption agency, we had given up and bought a new car, dismantled the baby's room and pretty much given up. Little did we know what God had in mind for us! Because as we celebrated V-Day, our daughter was being born to a courageous birthmom named Redi. Redi & Lauren had a lot of health issues to start with so they left us in the dark for about 6 weeks. Then, on April Fools Day I got a call at work from Jim "We have a daughter!" I thought this was some sort of cruel joke, but it wasn't. That was Wednesday and we had until Friday morning to get ready to pick her up. Thursday night was the night we got a crash course in "Apnea: what to do when your baby stops breathing". Okay, now I was just terrified! On Friday we went down to the agency where we met Redi, who gave her baby girl a kiss and carefully handed over to her new mom. And thus, Lauren came into the family. (We had to pay for her on our Mastercard-- we had used our adoption money on a new car!)

Lauren is puzzle wrapped in an enigma. She is truly one of a kind and she loves being unique! She loves goth and Disney Princesses. She reads sophisicated literature and watches horror movies. She had her hand at being vegetarian until realizing that pastrami is meat and that she would have to actually eat vegetables. She has a facination with how the Holocaust happened and why people are so hateful. Her crushes come and go so fast you need a stat card to keep up. Every year she remembers a friend who passed away in 6th grade and leaves flowers at his grave so he knows someone still misses him. She is passionate about her friends and her bands and her thoughts. A lot of the time I feel like a facinated spectator of the Lauren Parade going by!

She and her cousin, Ashlie have always been close! They played dress up until the clothes fell apart-- they were their own early dance partners. These days it is all about Hip Hop dancing. I would tell you all about it but she won't let me watch her in class so I really don't know what it is.

In middle school Lauren approached me about becoming a cheer leader. Boy was this fun! Two catscans in one year--- tell me again that cheer leaders are not athletes? Lauren was a base-- which meant other girls climbed all over her and kicked her in the face. I have always had an irrational fear of cheerleaders so this was a difficult time for me emotionally. (At least she isn't blonde!!)



I am a lot happier with her love of theater and performing arts--- now there is something I can get behind. Plus she has suffered no choral injuries so far. Amoung other things, she is active in the Antelope Valley Children's choir-- that is her in the pink wig, in case you missed it!

Lauren is a Fan(atic) too!! See her top right corner, red shirt stretching out her hand toward her favorite band, Tokio Hotel! Lauren loves German Bands and the boys that go with! She likes guy-liner and blonde dreadlocks! And her plans for the future include getting the heck out of this forsaken town that she has grown up in and moving to Germany to teach english to boys with guy liner and blonde dreadlocks!


For her birthday this year she initially wanted to go to another concert of german boys but decided on a Tea Party if I promised to stop crying hysterically. She had her party early with a few of her Besties: Breann, the Other Lauren, Cora and Jackie. I got to go too... and I got to eat the yummy treats but otherwise I was the "Invisible Silent Picture Taking Mom". It was a lot of fun! Of course they acted like ladies... most of the time.... okay, they did flash gang signs at me but only once! Maybe twice!

Lauren, my youngest child. My Bunny Girl! Being your mom has been an adventure I am so glad I didn't miss. Your brother may have made me a mom the first time, but you, my girl, taught me that True Love Happens when your baby looks you in the eyes and smiles. Regardless of where you came from, You Belong to Me!

Happy Birthday to You Happy Birthday, dear Lauren! Happy Birthday to you!!!! Love Forever~ Mom