Mothers Day/Shirley Temple

I always wanted 5 children, 4 boys and 1 girl.  The girl was going to be the youngest.  We named our first born, a girl, Heidi, after Shirley Temple.  My wish was a little girl with brown eyes and brown curly hair.  Well that wish came true.  But instead of looking like Shirley she looks like Lucy from Charlie Brown. When she was born it was just a couple days before Mothers Day.  I was in the hospital for my first M.D.  I was so in love.  I thought that I would never be able to love another child like I loved her.

Then came our first son.   That same loving feeling.  I felt our family was complete.  We had a boy and a girl.  Our parents had a boy and a girl. 

Then I really wanted to have another baby.  So along came our second son.  I knew he would be my last so I treasured each day with him.  I probably over mothered him.  When he went to Kindy, we both had separation issues.  Then came college.  He came to me and said he had been accepted at Florida State.  We live in Ohio.  I said, "That's not funny, go to your room."  I really did say just that. 

Well, since I already knew how your heart feels like is pulled from your chest when the other two went off to college, I knew I would survive.  It was so wonderful when he came home a month later for homecoming with his girlfriend (now wife) that was a senior.

Now, I have to back up a little. 

When the second son was in the fifth grade, I was diagnosed with cancer.  (He is 36 and I am still here. ) No not breast cancer, sarcomas in my leg.  Last year I had a scare but it was not cancer. 

At the time I was a realtor.  I only lasted two years at this job.  I loved touring the homes but at that time we had to qualify people.  That I didn't like.  I was depressed after the three surgeries.  Sometimes I would cry and cry.  My husband's company had just opened a daycare.  The director, now a good friend, called when they were overwhelmed with children.  She'd ask me to come rock the babies.  So I would hop in the car and drive the 45 minutes each way.  It was great therapy.

Well one day this troubled little boy came to the day care.  He was a foster child.  The first day he tore everything off the shelves.  We were all wondering why the director said he could be there.  It took a couple of days and I started seeing him different.  I met my husband at one of the boys' basketball games.  He was already there and I sat below him in the stands with the moms.  I yelled up to him, "Hey, we got a new kid in Crayons (the name of the center) today, can I bring him home."  My husband said, "I'd rather have a puppy."  Seriously girls, I don't make up these things. 

I called Children's Services to inquire about him.  They said he was going to be adopted with his sister that was in a different foster home.  Christmas came and I got a puppy. 

6 weeks later as I was headed out the door with my bags packed to my oncologist.  I was a mess, I thought my cancer had returned.  Well...........the phone rang.  No cells then.  It was Childrens Services asking if we would be emergency foster parents for this child.  I was so excited.  I could do this.  I remember praying that I needed to help this child and I needed to be healthy.

So, I brought him home from school one day and he stayed.  We officially adopted him a year later.  He was so cute and full of energy.  Later a specialist said he had ADHD with a capital HD.  He also had several disorders, including seizures that started about 5 months after the adoption.  I earned every white hair on my head with this one.  I could list and list what all we went though but you wouldn't believe me.

Well, his birthday is this Friday.  One year I went to pick up a cake for his birthday on Mothers Day.  The clerk said, "Was he born on Mothers Day."  I was stunned because I didn't know.  I think the clerk thought I was Mother of the Year when I said that I didn't know.

I really didn't mean to go on and on.  This post was to be about Shirley and how it was connected to my daughter and my mother, and I got off course.  My mom had a Shirley Temple doll.  She saved it from her childhood.  My older brother destroyed it when he was little.  I got her the one in this picture for Mothers Day.  I have been cleaning out things for the garage sale and I can't find mine.  I have looked everywhere.  The other dolls that I would have put her away with are all where I thought they would be.  I am stumped. 

I want to wish all of you a Happy Mothers Day.  I know that some of you may not have children.  You can be a doggy mama, or have someone that you care deeply about.  That's the same thing.  HUGS

 

 

I borrowed the Shirley Temple pictures.  Please don't sure me.