Throughout the duration of our mom's pregnancy Becky and I watched with excitement and anticitpation as our mom's stomach grew. We couldn't wait to play with our new sibling.
Our parents wanted to be surprised...soooo...we did not know whether we were going to have a little sister or brother. Although...everyone did seem convinced that Shawna was going to be a boy...her name was to be Jonathan. Well...weren't they wrong!
Then it happened...triple sisterhood began! Late one night just after Christmas...Becky and I were woken and taken to a friend of the family's while our parents went to the hospital. Our mom was rushed in and underwent an emergency ceasaren. The placenta had detached from the wall of her uterus causing heavy bleeding and potential death. Moments later our little sister was born...Shawna Del Voss.
Later that morning our dad came to get us...as we left we asked what the baby was...a boy or girl...our dad told us to guess...so we guessed a boy...he then said, "guess again"...so we yelled "a girl"...his response to that was, "guess again"...now that was confusing! He did finally tell us though. We got to the hospital and stopped outside of the nursery where our dad put on slippers over his boots and a gown. As he went in to get Shawna I said to Becky, "What if the baby isn't in there?" Our dad appeared moments later with a concerned expression on his face...that's when I began to worry. I remember asking where the baby was...our dad said he didnt' know...we then took off on a baby hunt. As we made our way down the hall we came upon a nurse pushing a screaming baby in a glass bassinet. I thought...'oh...I hope that's not my sister'...that's when I looked up at my dad and saw a smile spread across his face...'oh no...that IS my sister!' We took the bassinet and moved towards our mom's room. Although our mom was still groggy from surgery, she was happy to see us and her new screaming baby. Of course, Shawna immediately stopped crying once we were in our mom's room...it was as if she knew.
And everything else is history. Shawna was fortunate in that she spent only the very early part of her life as an Army brat. Shawna moved from Texas to Germany and eventually to Washington where our dad retired. Time sure has flown by...Shawna is now a sophomore at Pullman High School in Pullman, WA. She is turning 16 on the 26th of December.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOOG!
Boog, in case I haven't told enough...I love you very very much...I couldn't imagine my life with out you in it...regardless of any sibling rivalries we my have had...you are incredibly important to me! Enjoy your 16th birthday!
