April Fools Day-Happy Birthday Tim!

Today is April Fools Day. Did you get someone good? Did someone get you good?

21 years ago today, someone got me REALLY good. 21 years ago today my youngest child, Timothy David, was born. Time sure flies…

Although we hadn’t planned to have Tim when we did, we had plans to have another child, and hopefully a boy after having had 2 girls. Tim’s Mum had a difficult pregnancy and labour with our second child. She was told not to get pregnant for a couple of years and let her body rest.

We were in the process of moving from the ministry that we serving in Oshawa, Ontario only a few weeks after Sarah was born. It was a stressful time for many reasons. We were packing to head to Calgary for our next, and what would be our last appointment in ministry. That’s where Tim was born on April 1, 1993.

I was coming home from the church office and when I got into the house I could hear my wife crying. So I followed the sounds down to the basement. We had one of those back-split houses where there were actually four levels with about 6 or so steps between each. I was at the second to last level before the basement and asked what was wrong. “I’m pregnant!” Wail….

I slid down that last set of stairs onto my a$$ at the bottom! We were in shock. But we knew that there was a reason (and not the obvious one either-smart Alecs). This was SURPRISE #1.

We finished packing and the movers moved all our stuff. We traveled across country with a colicky baby and a toddler I remember being sick as well. On top of that Mom was starting to feel that wonderful thing called morning sickness; except for her it was usually most of the day sickness. And riding in a small car with us was not pleasant.

Well winter came and went in Calgary (thank God!) and we were busy in our appointment expecting another May baby (same month as Sarah had been). We had taken precautions that this wouldn’t be happening again. I was scheduled for a vasectomy on…you guessed it…April Fools Day. Susan went into labour the day before. Her water had broken and the Doctors were quite sure she could just manage through until the due date if she took it easy. I wasn’t having any of that and demanded that they deliver our child. So this was SURPRISE #2.

Tim was born, blonde, blue – eyed (not the steel-blue of many newborns). Both his Mom and I are brunettes with Hazel and Brown eyes, respectively. The joke was that he was the mailman’s. But the mailman was a woman!!!! This was SURPRISE #3.

Oh, and what about that vasectomy? I managed to escape the blade because of the labour! That was a relief; not a surprise so much.

Although our little blonde and blue-eyed wonder was a surprise for us, he has filled our lives with joy and wonder ever since. Today I pay honour to my son. He stands almost 6 feet tall and has the build of a football player. I’m all of 5’6″ and 150 lbs. Over the years he has been my baby, my son, even my protector. In 2012 we both cruised to Hawaii and then spent 2 ½ days there. I’ll always remember him saying, “That was one for the books.” He was and still is a wonderful companion, friend and son.

We don’t live in the same city anymore. Tim moved to Victoria last year to be closer to his girlfriend, Jacquie. They are great together. It’s hard to imagine this day 21 years ago. I held a rather messy bundle in my arms for the first time and cried. And, silly me, as I type this my eyes are all teary again. I’m proud of you my son. Bless you. Happy Birthday!

April Fools Day-Happy Birthday Tim!