ABOUT ME: The Early Years On February 18, Brenda called her husband. Brian at work, and told him"it's time." As soon as he got done stuttering over the phone, "Oh boy, oh crap, oh boy," he raced home, (almost getting into an accident several times) and drove Brenda to the hospital. 15 hours later, I , Kayla Elaine was born on February 19, at one o'clock in the morning. Being born 3 or 4 weeks premature I was extra small, weighing only 5bs, 15oz.
3 months later,I was dedicated at Lakeview. The pastor remarked on how small I was by calling me "The pocket size version."As I stretched my hands towards the ceiling he said, " Look she's already praising the Lord!"
My earliest memory was when we lived in a trailer park. I was about 2-and-a-half years old. I remember running up the steps of the slide and sliding down, laughing. My mom stood in the background, smiling as her little girl got dizzy with giddyness.
We weren't to stay in the trailer park for long, our small family was destined to move many times over the next 13 years.
One summer, at the age of 3, I was camping with my family. While we were at the campsite, I fell into the fire. I remember people screaming, and my parents putting me on a lawn chair. I also remember my dad ripping off my shirt to pour a couple gallons of water over me. Blessedly, the only visible scar is from a 3rd degree burn on my right hand. People are always asking me about the scar. In the past, I've convinced some people it was from a shark or alligator bite. Of course I told them the truth as soon as I got done enjoying the horrified looks on their faces.
Later that year we had an exchange student from Japan. Her name was Miwa and she couldn't speak English very well. Being so young, I didn't undrestand that there were other languages. So every time I heard her talking on the phone with her family in Japanese, I thought that she was just being silly.
When my parents announced that I was going to have a little brother soon, I was very excited. My mom went into labor a few months later in the middle of the night. My parents went to the hospital while I slept and left me at home with Miwa. I woke from a bad dream and got scared because I couldn't find my parents. I started to cry loudly and just about scared the wits out of Miwa. She ran over and told me in halting English that my parents had gone to the hospital. She also let me stay up and watch tv with her. The next day, February 18., Wesley was born with a broken clavicle after only four hours of labor. My parents called me from the hospital so I could hear my brother cry.
The next day was my birthday. My mom begged the hospital to let her go home so my brother could be my "birthday present." He was the best birthday present I ever got. ( Although that scooter was pretty nice too. hmmm. Just kidding) |
