April 19, 2009 10:41 AM
Maddy's Sweet Sixteen!
Sixteen years ago I gave birth for the last time - at least I think so :)
Maddy was born 54 weeks after her brother Jonny. She was - as she has always announced to people she meets - #9. When she was three weeks old, Jonny was hospitalized for three weeks in ICU with a bout of pneumonia that almost took his life. When she was ten weeks old, he went in for another three weeks for a major emergency surgery.
My sweet little baby was blessed to have big sister Jasmine there to hold and love her when I couldn't be there. (Jasmine, if you are reading this, please know how grateful all of the family is for the help you gave us then!)
Despite the crazy start to her life - and the subsequent adoptions of three more babies with Down syndrome, Maddy proved to be the Happiest Camper of Them All. Always a smile and a joyful, positive attitude that continues to bless her family to this day, When she was seven years old, I published an article about her - and about having a child at 45 - called Mommy-Come-Lately. If you're an older mother - or thinking you might someday be an older mother - you might want to read it :)
From the earliest days, Maddy loved to sing and entertain. She had an amazingly in tune and powerful voice, for which we dubbed her The Voice Heard Round the World. I didn't realize until years later that her birthday was also the anniversary of the Battle of Lexington Green, which marked the beginning of the American Revolution with The Shot Heard Round the World.
Until she hit 13 or so, she greeted every visitor to our house with an offer to sing - and visitors who politely acquiesced were always stunned at what they heard. Nowadays she waits a half hour or so before asking :)
Maddy's Myers-Brigg test results place her as an Entertainer.
ESFPs radiate attractive warmth and optimism. Smooth, witty, charming, clever, voluble, and open to the environment - who represent about 13 percent of the population.They are great fun to be with and are the most generous of all the types. Performer would be the word which best describes an ESFP.
Maddy has starred in 27 musicals - including the title role in Annie, Dorothy in Wizard of Oz, Little Red Riding Hood in Into the Woods, Joanna in Sweeney Todd and - her favorite - Eponine in Les Miserables. Here she is in her very first role - Gretl in Sound of Music (with big sister Sophia as Marta) and a more recent one in Godspell, singing "O, Bless the Lord My Soul":
Maddy is still the full-of-smiles, making-everyone-happy, loving-life person she was from the beginning. Her favorite star is Doris Day - fitting because she comes across that way herself.
I love her dearly and always will.
Thanks, Maddy, for proving to me that it's never too late to have another child!
Posted in Family, My life | Permalink
Comments
What a beautiful write up! We at St. Francis are blessed to have Maddy sing at our church. She is one awesome young lady and what a voice! Happy Sweet sixteen Birthday!
Posted by: Renee | April 19, 2009 10:32 AM
Happy Birthday to Maddie! This article just brings a smile to my face. You are blessed, and Maddie is blessed to be #9. I hope Jasmine feels the blessing again soon.
Posted by: angie | April 19, 2009 9:27 PM
Happy birthday, Maddy- never was there are girl more deserving of the title, Sweet Sixteen!! May God always bless you. You are daily in our prayers. With love always, Greta & All
Posted by: Greta | April 20, 2009 8:48 PM
She was always positively adorable and is now an absolute beauty! And oh....those gorgeous dimples!
[Note from Barbara - Kim O's family were our next-door neighbors for many years in Petaluma, CA and our daughters shared many spend-the-nights :)]
Posted by: Kim O. | April 21, 2009 2:11 AM
I love that last line, and I've continued to think of it since I read this!
Posted by: Becky Miller | April 21, 2009 4:11 PM
