Monday, March 4, 2013

Happy Birthday, Tommy!

“I’ll give you some meds to take the edge off. It’ll make you feel drunk,” the nurse told me.

“I’ve never been drunk before,” I admitted.

“Oh.” She seemed surprised.

I was 19 and the only alcohol I had was a sip of my friend’s beer. I didn’t like it. It tasted like what I imagined warm piss would taste like. I had been a good teenager. I never got drunk, never experimented with drugs…nothing.

But I did get knocked up.

And I was about to have my son, even though I had no clue what I was doing.

He was born on March 2nd. I had never even babysat before. I was an only child and suddenly was given this infant to care for. I’m grateful that he was a good baby. He would only cry to eat and then would go back to sleep. He was patient with me as I figured out how to change diapers. He wasn’t offended when I screamed and flipped out when he got poop up his backside.

He was an easy going baby:

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Honestly, I think I amused him. He seemed to watch me while thinking, “How fun! This poor woman has no idea what she’s doing.”

He was such a handsome boy:






He even made it in the background on Regis and Kelly when they did their Beautiful Baby Search:




For awhile, he even insisted on walking around in this blazer.

 photo TieBoy2-1.jpg


As he grew, I knew he wasn’t developing as he should. I had the books (I needed them because seriously, I had no clue what I was doing) and they kept saying he should be speaking in sentences and he took his time with that. Thankfully he got early intervention and I believe that is what helped him to be at where he is today.

He was diagnosed with Aspergers and ADHD. He was never able to sit still. I noticed he was always moving. I’d get phone calls from his teachers almost on a daily basis. “Tommy can’t sit at circle time. Tommy can’t focus on his work.”

Some of my friends argued that boys were just like that. But I’m sorry, if your boy can’t even sit for five minutes…something is not right. If he can’t finish his work…ever…something is going on.

When he started on medication, it helped. He was able to do his work. He stopped having meltdowns in school. Sometimes he’d still cry, but only because he’d get frustrated when he couldn’t finish his work as fast as his friends.

I blinked and he turned 11:

 photo Old4.jpg

 photo NEwTie12-1.jpg

 photo NewOutfit6.jpg

 photo GreenSweater17.jpg

 photo BabyBlues10.jpg

 photo PilotBoy16.jpg

 photo TieBoy17.jpg



Happy Birthday, Tommy. You are a special boy who loves the weather and who is a patient big brother. I know Natalie can be, erm, dramatic.

I can hardly believe you'll be in MIDDLE SCHOOL.

You will always be my precious boy.

27 comments:

  1. Happy Birthday! What a cutie xoxo

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  2. Happy birthday Tommy! What a sweet post!

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  3. Happy Birthday to your sweet boy.

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  4. He looks EXACTLY like Tommy in that first picture, LOL, I was taken back! And yes, time sure flies. 11 already, wow. Happy Birthday!!!

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  5. OMG I just realized what I said. He looks exactly like Tommy. *head bang* It's Monday, excuse me. He looks exactly like TOM in that first picture!!

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  6. Happy Birthday to your handsome guy! Glad you took the steps to get him help-- as mom we have to be our kids biggest advocates.

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  7. What a handsome boy! Hope he has a super birthday!

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  8. Such darling pictures! Happy birthday to him!

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  9. What a sweet post to your not so little boy. Happy Birthday to him. His little pictures are adorable.

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  10. He's lucky to have you as a mom.

    Happy Birthday Tommy!

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  11. Happy birthday Tommy! I absolutely LOVE that first picture of him- adorable!

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  12. Oh my gosh! He is darling! Happy Birthday! (It's my daughter's birthday today. My baby turned 15)

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  13. This is so beautiful! I have actually never been drunk. And I'm 32 now! At the hospital after giving birth, I asked for children's liquid Motrin for my postpartum contractions. Anyway, I digress. This is wonderful. He's gorgeous.

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  14. You have two of the most adorable kids. That first baby picture? Seriously, that is the cutest damn thing I have ever seen. I just want to squeeze him. I have three gorgeous kids, and I still say yours, especially Natalie, are the best looking kids ever. ;)

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  15. oh.my.goodness, he is SO handsome! I love his smile :)

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  16. Happy birthday Tommy!! Sounds like he was a perfect "starter" baby to help you learn the ropes, huh?

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  17. That made me tear up! Because, yeah, you blink once and they are so big! Happy birthday, Tommy!!

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  18. Happy Birthday to Tommy! And thank you for sharing his story. He has the most amazing smile. I could feel the joy!

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  19. Happy Birthday Tommy! That blazer picture is adorable!

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  20. Happy birthday to Tommy!! Seeing all the pictures end to end like that was AMAZING!! I feel like he grew up right before my eyes. He is adorable!!

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  21. Awww! I loved seeing all the pictures since he was a baby! They grow up so fast. Hope he had an awesome birthday.

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  22. Happy Birthday, Tommy! I hope you had a great day!

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  23. Ahhhh what a sweet post. Happy Birthday to your boy :)

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  24. I can't believe he's 11! It doesn't feel like it has been that long, like...at all. Happy birthday to Tommy!
    (I'm opal_swirl on OD, but I mostly read you here now :))

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