Happy Birthday, Zachary!

Thirteen years ago today we had our second child. Our first boy, Zachary Joe was born at 4:14 A.M. on July 23, 1996. He was my biggest baby at 8 lbs. 12 oz. This collage is from his 1st birthday party. The pictures below are for his party tonight. It's a "cheeseburger" cake and "French fries" that are iced sugar cookies. I'm excited because he hasn't seen it, yet, and won't until his party (hopefully!).

I was induced , so we got to the hospital on the 22nd, the evening before Zachary's birth. About six hours after he was born, my sister was holding Zachary, and she noticed he was breathing heavily and his chest was sinking in. We mentioned it to the nurse and she immediately became alarmed.

It turned out that Zachary had Group B Strep. He was put in the nursery ICU and was given antibiotics twice a day through an IV in the top of his head. The first 24 hours were critical and of course it was very scary, but after that, we knew everything would be okay. He stayed in the ICU for several days, but thankfully I could go in to feed and rock him. After several days they were able to move the IV down to his foot, which was much better. He also moved to a regular room for the rest of the time, which totaled a week. I was able to keep my post-partum room the whole time, even though I had been released. Of course, that week was difficult because we were so ready to take him home, but it was also hard because I really missed our daughter, Lauren. She was only 22 months old and I had never been away from her like that. She and Joe would come visit us every day and the last night we let her stay all night there with us. We ordered pizza and it was delivered to the hospital room. Lauren liked that and also thought it was neat taking a bath in the very deep bathtub! (It was huge and deep because of it being a post-partum room.)

After a whole week, we finally took our new baby boy home! It was so much fun having a boy! I didn't grow up with brothers so this was a whole new experience for me. Out of all four of our children, Zachary was the best baby. (Not that the others were bad...he was just the best!) He was calm and content and hardly ever cried. He loved to laugh and still does.

Lauren was so proud of her new baby brother. She called him, "Acky Doe". The afternoon we brought him home, I think she pulled out every one of her toys for him. Of course, he was not impressed!

Zachary is a worker now and has been since he was little. He gets that from his daddy. I like to work, but mine is more inside work and not "hard labor" like they do! He's also very handy to have around when I'm driving! If I'm driving in Oklahoma City...or anywhere else....Zachary tells me where to go if I'm not sure. He KNOWS where to go (sometimes that does get a little annoying (haha). This past weekend we were in Arlington (Dallas area) and he was telling Joe where to go - in that crazy traffic! I tell him he's going to make a good husband and he always replies, "Thank you!". Of course, I want the other two younger boys to be good husbands, too.


Mostly we're proud of Zachary because of his Christian example. As a young Christian, he is showing characteristics of a being a leader in the church by writing and doing short devotionals from time to time, leading prayers, helping serve communion, and leading singing. Right now he plans on becoming a youth minister when he grows up. His uncle Ken gives him a great example in that area (thanks, Ken!).

I look forward to watching Zachary continue to grow - physically, mentally, and spiritually - and thank God for blessing us with a great oldest son! Children are a gift from God.

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:13-14

P.S. I can't believe we have two teenagers in the house now!!