Happy Mother's Day!

May 8th, 2011

The greatest miracle of all is the only way I can describe the birth of Ryan. Miracle? You may say that all births are miracles, and I understand. The birth itself is a miracle, but the story of Ryan getting here is the miracle. Since it is Mother's Day, I felt it only appropriate to honor the best woman I know and to explain the journey it took in order for Ang to even experience her first Mother's Day.  First, I must tell you that Ang is a wonderful, selfless person. She is truly the most genuine person I know. That makes this story all the more wonderful. 

We all know the story that Ang and I meet in math class in high school. I never knew that God put her there for a reason, but thank God. If I have ever done anything right (which I doubt there is much), it was never letting her get away. We were married in 1996 and went through a great journey through up's and down's. We have the best relationship. Even after almost 20 years I still look at her and just want to hug the crap out of her. (romantic, right?) I love her! Well in the summer of 2006 we found out we were pregnant and this was quickly followed by losing the baby. To top that we discovered that it was a molar pregnancy which had turned to Cancer in her uterus and rapidly spread to her lungs. I can remember the drive home the next day and getting the call from Dr.Hwang telling us the tests were positive and that Ang was going to need a heavy regiment of chemotherapy. I can't imagine how Ang felt at that time, but all I knew is this sweet wife of mine was scared. I soon found out just what a fantastic woman she is because she took this Cancer head on. What a bad ass: bald head- bring it on, sick nights- bring it on,  lose of feeling- bring it on!  There was the most scary episode in the October when the Cards won the World Series, her counts got alarmingly low and she was the the girl in the bubble for a week or so. She was a champ. After months and months of Chemo she was finally cleared. We lived the life for a while, she let her hair grow back out, she got fit and she was back on top of the world. A couple years later we had another ordeal similar to before, but without the heavy Chemo. Unable to grasp if these were happening because of trend or chance, we sought the advice of every doctor from the Midwest to the East Coast trying to figure if we should try and have kids again. Well the Spring of 2010 we found out we were pregnant again. Third times a charm, right? Well it turned out to be just that- not only was it a charm, but a freaking miracle. A true miracle in every since of the meaning. 

Ryan came to us January 23rd, 2011 and Ang became a mother. Ever since that day she has been the best mommy. It was like she was born to do be a mother, it just came natural. She and Ryan have the best time together. He just lights up when ever he sees her. Mommy!! When he came out they had an instant bond. She glowed and at that time I knew she finally felt complete (or something like that anyway.) The first few seconds with him and they were already playing.  The first thing she said was, "heello my baby boy, I am your Mommy."

When we were in the hospital room she never wanted him out of the room. No nursery for Ryan. She was gonna be with her bear cub the entire time and never out of her sight. 

Once we were home and she was on maternity leave, she and Ryan hung out ALL day long. They became best friends. She discovered her first challenge as a mother: Colic.  Ryan was a colic baby for the first month. Late nights, long days of crying and fussing. We couldn't seem to find the right remedy to cure this crying. Ang stayed up late rocking her baby boy hoping he'd sleep long enough for her to get some sleep too.

Ang found out that chores were still something that had to get done so she recruited one of the finest workers to help her with her laundry. Ang loves folding laundry (well that is what I say so I don't have to do it) He has been a big help around the house. Ang is doing great at multi-tasking.

One milestone in raising Ryan was his doctor visits and shots. During his first shots, I think Ang was more nervous than Ryan, mostly because he is clueless what is about to happen.  The doc gave him the poke in the leg he was crying and sad. The lioness comforted her cub as only she can. 

Ang has always loved babies and baby clothes. She had bought Ryan clothes before she even knew the gender. She gets the biggest kick out of dressing him up. Here is a great example her dressing the boy. She proudly displays him in his one-piece skunk suit. By the way, she lays his clothes out every night so she knows exactly how cute he is going to look the next day.

Carrying on traditions is important to teach Ryan. She has gone as far as to make sure he learns family traditions early. Ang and I have always gone to St. Louis Cardinals games in the summer and Packers games in the winter. She made sure that during the Super Bowl he was in his Packers onesie and last week she got him his first Cardinals hat. Go Cards! Go Pack Go! Go Mommy!

No matter what, I know Ang is going to continue to be a great mother. Ryan is always going to need his mommy, so I am glad that she want to be with him all the time. She deserves this so much. I don't throw that around loosely, deserve. She has really been a great mother and our little man is going to be a great person because of her.  I pray he grows up to get her smarts, her sense of humor, the ability to be practical and most of all her genuine love. I hope that he realizes one day what a miracle he actually is and what lengths a great mother will go through to deserve that miracle. Happy Mother's Day Boo!




(see "Say Cheese" to view pics of Ang's 1st Mother's Day)




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