Happy Birthday, Kasi ... big "17" tomorrow!!

Seventeen years ago about now (it's about 8pm), Roxanne was pacing around our living room. Bob had just arrive home from Washington DC where he had taken the bar exam for admittance into US Tax Court. Roxanne had been in labor for a couple days, but true to form, I think she was determined to wait until her dad arrived home. She always felt that everything was okay if Dad was home. The night before, her contractions had been about 8 minutes apart but never really got any closer. She was waiting!! He was home now and Evelyn Brown (William Brown II's mother), who is a nurse, had come by to check in on Roxanne. She was marching her around and around our living room -- she said that Roxanne wasn't quite ready to head for the hospital but this should help things along. I wondered if we should even head for be at all, but we managed to get a couple hours sleep.

Somewhere during the night, Roxanne assured me that it
was defintely time, so off we went!

And the long wait began ... we waited and we waited! I am indebted to Evelyn who came to Roxanne's room as soon as she could leave her job in another part of the hospital. I think her hand was permanently disfigured as a result of Roxanne's grip throughout contractions!! Finally, after 17 hours of labor, Kasi made her appearance and the world has never been the same since!! (The picture below will confirm that -- Kasi with my niece, Shara!! Typical photo!!)

(Left: Kasi with Regan in her arms and Marley beside her. She was about 6 years old!)


It is so hard to believe that it has actually been 17 years since she was born! She usually has had a captivated audience and that brought interesting reactions such as when a kind gentleman leaned down to tell her she was such a beautiful little girl. Her response, "Your breath stinks!" Now she's a typical teenager with the daily battle of hormones and logic -- and it depends on the day which of those win! She's lots of fun to be around and is also willing to share her faith in God openly.

She's a great traveling partner for me and we usually have lots of fun. What's really funny is when she talks to a friend and tells them she is riding with her "Nana"! Somehow, I guess most of her friends cannot comprehend a relationship such as we have -- we are truly blessed.

So, happy birthday, Kasi!! I'm not sure I am ready for you to 'grow up' even though you are well on your way. It doesn't seem possible that you can be a junior in high school -- another year and you will be off to college! It seems like just yesterday...