Riz.Daydreemz.Com [v17] S u n f l o w e r D a y s

Twenty-One.
Twenty-one years ago, Mommy and I had to stay in the hospital for more than a week after she gave birth to me. She had serious complications upon delivering me, which resulted to cardiac arrest. You know how it's like in tagalog movies? Life and death situations where the father has to choose which one to save, the baby or the mother? Mom and I had gone through all that drama. Mommy being revived by the doctors while little Rhiza being kept alive by an incubator. But what can we say? God has been good. He gave me a chance to see the world, and gave my mother another chance to live. Since then, May 21 has been our birthday.

Twenty-one years after, Mommy and I are in the hospital again. This time around, I am the one who has to take care of her. She's got complications on her liver, and we're still waiting for the doctors' diagnosis. So there I was last night, beside Mom's bed, watching her sleep, trying to read this book I got for my birthday (Let Me Be a Woman by Elisabeth Elliot). Also, trying hard not to think of the worst thing that could happen, and hoping to figure out which one comes first in God's list of reasons for letting this happen.

For my birthday, I could think of a lot of things I could have blogged here -- my quiet celebration at home with two of my closest friends, the psuedo-surprise party my friends organized for me last sunday in church, or my room's new and improved look (oohh.. I had a looong blog about this but the computer didn't cooperate, ugh). And though these events are all worth blogging, nothing beats this one..

The smell of chlorine, the feel of the crisp white blanket with UST Hospital logos all over it, the cold air on our cheeks, and my Mom and I post-celebrating our birthdays right there in the middle of that hospital room, knowing full well that God is in control.

Now when I think of the best birthday I've had.. even through a big storm, this year's has climbed the chart. Definitely.

Riz Blabbered @ 3:19:00 PM.