Some Things Just Can't Be Planned

     I love numbers.  I like playing with them to see how many different ways I can make 'em come out right.  I like drawing with 'em; you know, write a number and use that number as the basis to draw a picture.  I even like it when I can sit down with some crayons and color pictures of numbers.  I jus' really like numbers.

     An' why am I talkin' 'bout numbers?  Well, today I saw the most marvelous and magical incident on Youtube.  That's somethin' else I like, by the way; the wunnerful system we have for sharing information.  But that's a story for another day.

     Today, I saw one of the miracles that so abundantly graces our world an' our lives.  Did you see that?  Did you get to see the video that was so exciting with numbers?  Oh, wait.  I haven't told you which video it is, have I?  Well, when I tell you, you're gonna' wanna' run right over to Youtube and watch it for yourself.

     Here's what happened.  August 8, 2010.  A new baby begins to give signs that birth is not far away, so Mama (Terri Riehle) an' Daddy (Scott Riehle) rush to the hospital in great excitement.  Labor is long and tiring and excitement, if not being replaced by exhaustion, certainly runs close competition with it.  More hours pass and it becomes evident that August 8, 2010 will NOT be the day that This baby makes her grand debut.

     Midnight soon becomes 1:00 AM, 2:00 AM, 3:00 AM and so forth.  Finally, as mid-morning begins to take over from the early morning march, hope rises once again for an arrival.  The doctor comments that its almost 11:00; wouldn't it be nice if the baby were born at 11:12?  But 11:12 comes and goes and the baby patiently sits still in her comfortable dwelling.

     More hours pass and Mama is tiring from the difficulty of labor.  Even more hours tick by.  Suddenly, at a little before 11:00 PM, things begin looking up.  Contractions increase.  The sense of pain that has hovered much too long is now in full-command.  The time is 11:00 PM and it seems as if this child is toying with everyone's patience and emotions.

     Right after Doctor Peggy Heis, the attending physician, asks Mama if she wants to wait awhile, baby indicates that she has other ideas.  Fortunately, Mama's answer was, "No!  Let's just get this over with; NOW!"

     But the waiting continues.  Minutes crawl by, while Mama just wants relief; she is exhausted.  Baby should be here.

     Several more minutes pass.  By now, no one cares about the time; they only want the baby to be born. Mama's vital signs are showing that she is gettin' weaker.  Doctor Heis says, "You Hafta' push.  You hafta' get this baby out!"  Then, it happens.  Fortunately, there is no conflict in scheduling between Mama and baby.

     Things begin to move fast; much faster than previously.  Before you know it, Mama heaves a sigh of relief as, indeed, baby has decided to be born at 11:12 PM.  Ella Rose Riehle came into this world in her own time; August 9, 2010 at 11:12 PM.  In case you missed the significance of that, here's a breakdown of that wunnerful event:

     In the eighth month, ninth day, 2010, eleventh hour an' twelvth minute of the day, Ella Rose Riehle was born;  8/9/10 11:12 PM.  What do you think are the chances of anyone close to her, forgetting her birthday?  I dunno' 'bout you, but I'm guessin' the forgetfulness clause won't even be included in this little girl's records.  In fact, I'm sure she is one of only a very small handful of people whose parents will always remember her date of birth AND what time she was born.  Oh, yeah.  I almost forgot to mention that Ella Rose came really close to weighing 6 lbs 7 oz.  She was only two ounces from bein' the baby who weighed 6 lbs. 7 oz., born on 8/9/10 at 11:12.  Wanna' see the video?  Here it is.

     Welcome to the world, Ella Rose.  I think you're gonna' like it here.

     Until the next time, keep a hug on.

 ~ Yaya