Now and Then...

The picture above was my mother's idea. The original is on the left. That's me, back in the day when all pictures looked yellow. That was our clock that sat on top of the 600 lb, 25 in TV console which permanently indented our disco-shag carpet. It is set at 8:10... the time of my birth (a.m. if you were curious). You guessed it - that's yours truly behind the clock, rockin' the hair with my pajama top tucked in like a good boy, sleeves rolled up like a bad boy.

On the right is almost the same picture, with a different actor - Jackman. The clock survived me and my brother (although is doesn't seem to work). One of the columns is loose, and the clock face wants to fall out, but it's still hanging in there. It is noticeably set to 11:29, the time of the morning Jackman was born. That's the Man, the Myth, the Legend in the background sporting a size 3 pamper and his new birthday shirt. Nowadays if Jackman is awake, he's either grinning with that tongue stuck out, or laughing.

I'm not sure how much work it was for Ma to get that shot of me, but I'll tell you... that one of Jackman didn't happen in just one shot. Unfortunately, he had just learned how to sprint like an Olympian a couple days before, so getting him to be still was next to impossible. Setting his high chair in the background next to the dining room table was the easy part.

Even after all that, I really only took a few shots. Its amazing to me the little similarities between us in this picture: the grin, the hands, the way we're standing. But then again I know he's going to be different from me. I already wonder what kind of person he will turn out to be. Right handed or left handed? Math and science or art and literature? The band or sports? Car or truck? Alabama or .... well, let's not get carried away.

Anyway, even though he's only a year old now, we're starting to get little glimpses of who he is, and who he's going to be. I realize he's going to be different from me, I just hope I can always remember that's okay. I hope I can always remember God has it worked out who He wants him to be, and its mine and Lisa's job to mold him into that person.

The Birthday Cake...

Bob and Larry... Jackman's favorite's

The boy got a swipe at the cake...

Workin' on Bob...

Crashed...

I'm afraid the pictures just don't do the cake justice.

I'm torn. I don't want Jackman to have another birthday for at least a year, but I could handle another one of those cakes by the middle of the week (when we polish off this one). It was one of those cakes that you kind of felt bad about cutting into because it looked so nice... until you tasted it, and then you went into caveman mode and absolutely destroyed the artwork. Good thing we got pics.

Stephanie Douglas, a friend of our family from church, made the cake for Jackman. When you need some sweet stuff you should give her a call.

Sweet Tooth Fairy
Stephanie Douglas
205-541-7226
mamadouglas@gmail.com

Jackman's First Year
Over the past few days, I've been remembering Jackman's first days of life. During those days I couldn't have imagined what we've been through and where we are today. Jackman is a true miracle. One of his doctors even said so and that means a lot. I can't begin to imagine what he's seen in his career.

Jackman is your normal 1 year old, well kind of. He's walking everywhere, playing chase and peekaboo with his cousins. He's the happiest little boy! We are still working with him to relearn to eat, which is still really strange to me. Hopefully this time next year he will be eating fried chicken and mashed potatoes.

Thank you to all who prayed and help us during this past year. God has truly blessed us with so much. I can't say this enough.

I hope you will enjoy this video of Jackman's first year. In making this video, I've watched it countless times and still tear up. So you've been warned.

Lisa

Birthday Boy...

This time a year ago, my world seemed to be spinning out of control. My mother was in one hospital, my wife in another, and my newborn son was in a helicopter on the way to Children's. I was riding with my brother and father to go find out what was happening, and trying to figure it all out.

Jackman was a week and a day late. We went and visited my mother in the hospital before we went and checked ourselves in. It was a long night for Lisa. The next morning when we knew it was getting close, I posted his initials on facebook and got almost 200 guesses at his name. I was thrilled and excited.

He was born at 11:29am. We each got to hold him for just a couple minutes. Then the nurses noticed he was kind of choking and not breathing well. They tried a few things, and then told us they needed to take him to another room. Before I knew it, I had doctors telling me they needed to send him to Children's right away. I was by myself with my son, who I barely knew, and all my family was with Lisa wondering what was going on.

I cannot describe how afraid I was in those first few hours of his life. We were all supposed to be together, receiving guests loaded down with junkfood, squealing at the sight of the new baby boy... but that never happened. What was supposed to be the best day of our lives all the sudden wasn't looking so good.

A year ago today, I never imagined us here. Then we didn't know what would happen the next day. I honestly didn't know whether or not Jackman was going to live until I got to Children's that night. After going back and looking through the blog post of the first few weeks, I realize today is a special day.

As I was re-reading some of the old posts, I remembered how weak and helpless we both felt to do anything. I remember how I would cry during the day when I was by myself so that I wouldn't do it in front of Lisa that evening. I remember struggling to drive to Birmingham twice a day for months. I remember being physically, emotionally, and spiritually exhausted... Yet people would say they were amazed at how strong we were!?

It might surprise you to know this past year has been the weakest we've ever been.

The strength people see is God's. It is not Him giving us a dose of power like some kind of booster shot, but His Spirit literally carrying us along, especially when we were at our breaking point. What people don't understand is that we are still the same weak and worn out parents we were from the first hour... the difference is we've come to depend on God more. There are times when we temporarily forget what He's done for us, but He reminds us.

Today is one of those days for us.

Well, the boy is 1 year old. He had a happy day today. God's been good to this little family, and we know He always will be. He's proven Himself in impossible situations in the past. He's blessed us with the things we need. We know we can depend on Him in the tough times that will inevitably come. We've got it made.

http://harpertimes.blogspot.com/2009/08/resting-in-god.html