"Spooky" turns twelve!

The year is 1997 and the day is June 24. I had had enough of the miserable pregnancy and I would do almost anything to get my baby girl out! I had become quite close with my Ob/Gyn since Lauren's birth. We would even make time for the girls lunches out. I knew that a small bribe would do the trick! I was three weeks early, but was sure this baby was twice as big as Lauren. She was nearly 8 lbs three weeks early! I had my speech all ready..."it would be darn right dangerous to go one more day!" I walked into the office, presented my speech along with a gift bag and then begged her to take the baby out. I may have even shed a few tears.
She looked and me and said "Ok. Grab your bag and meet me in one hour." I was so prepared to argue when she told me no, I was stunned. "You mean I have to go deliver a baby today?" Reality started to set in. The veil of forgetfulness they always talk about was lifted.
I headed to the hospital and anxiously awaited my epidural, just like last time. The doctor broke my water and figured she could go see 20 or so patients waiting in her office across the street. Within minutes I went from please let me have this baby to begging everyone in the room to kill me! It was excruciating! The anethesiolgist sauntered into the room with his cocky, handsome self and gave me the epidural. I anxiously awaited relief from this hell I was in. 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 30 minutes pass...no relief! They are rubbing wet cotton balls on my belly asking where it hurts....Lower dummies! They finally decide to check me and "surprise!" There is a head down there! My doctor is called and takes what feels like 24 hours to run across the street. When I see her, I scream to get her *#@ gloves on! If you know me, shouting profanities, is not really in my nature. She gets her gloves on just in time to tell me to push. Then she says, "Reach down and grab her, Cheryl! I give her this "Do I have to do everything", look. I put my hands under her little arms and pull her tiny little body onto my belly. Ellyse Leigh Ann Haws arrives! She's nearly two full pounds smaller than Lauren, my bad. It must have been the donuts.
When I see her for the first time she looks back at me with the biggest, roundest, bluest eyes you ever did see. Her little mouth is in the shape of an O. Thus the nickname "Spooky!" She is just itty bitty and beautiful!
Ellyse was so so cute, but so so sad her first couple of years. She cried and yelled at us so much that we replaced the nickname "Spooky" with "El Diabla!" She even promted the statement "Ellyse doesn't care about love, Mom." from her three year old sister. One day though, and I don't even remember when it happened....Ellyse saw the world through rose colored glasses. She became this happy, sweet, loving, funny, beautiful blue eyed girl! She can get on the floor and be a companion to her baby sister and hold her own in a ball game with her younger brother. She even went to girls camp for the first timethis summer and shocked everyone with her bubbly personality!
It's not always easy being the middle child and it is for sure not easy growing up in this crazy world. I'm just grateful to have the privlage of sharing that with our little Ellyse!
We love you Lulu!
Happy 12th birthday!
xoxox
Mom