Sunday, September 14, 2008

September 15, Happy Birthday Edward!









Today my son, Edward is celebrating his 19th birthday! WOW, 19 years ago at 8 o'clock in the morning I pushed out of my 4'10 1/2" body a screaming 5 lb. 6 ounce little boy! Miracle of miracles. There is nothing that can prepare you, there is no book that you can read that will explain to you what happens to your heart in that moment. You are forever changed, your name is forever changed to 'Mommy', or 'Edward's Mom'. I could tell you how proud we are of him, with all of his struggles, being diagnosed at the age of 12 with Juvenile Diabetes, and how well he his handling his daily health care while at college. I could tell you how handsome he is, and funny, he's a really funny kid, great sense of humor. But, instead, I share with you his gift. He's a brilliant artist. I could show you all the masterful drawings he has done with the character he has created for his yet to be published comic book. I could show you his great aptitude with all that he has learned on Photoshop, while taking classes at Rhode Island School of Design when he was 13, 14 and 15. But instead, I share with you a drawing that we both did at the Museum of Natural History in New York City. Just pencil. The top drawing is his and the piece underneath it, mine. We sat side by side, and drew. Happy Birthday Edward, we love you!

21 comments:

Kim said...

happy happy birthday wishes to Edward.... :) :) whoo hoo and yeehah!!!
Amy :)
he must have been a little baby...I thought Charlotte was tiny at 6lbs 1 and 1/2 ozes...
though at 4' 10 1/2 you are very petite....
obviously the artistic talent runs in the family...
you must be very proud... especially with his health concerns too....
have a wonderful wonderful celebration !!!
xxx Kim

Amy Lilley Designs said...

Oh thank you Kim..thank GOODNESS that he was tiny...and a light weight for quite a while...really built up my upper body strength w/ all the lifting all those years! He's doing great, he fully understands the importance of managing his diabetes...this is what every parent of a child w/ diabetes wants... to have them to be independent...however scary, they must fly the coop, spread their wings, and become the person they are meant to be...and yes, the artistic talent runs w/ us...thank you thank you for all your good wishes for him!!!

Lilly said...

Wow, he is clever. Brilliant artwork. And sounds like you have every reason to be very proud of him. Lovely post.

Lux said...

What a lovely drawing he did ... Happy Birthday to Edward!

Unknown said...

Comgratulations.

Yes, you both are talented, but he got far more genes of talent than you use.

I can see how proud you are of him.

Enjoy your day!

Unknown said...

happy birthday Edward!!!! beautiful drawings!!!!!!

Azure Accessories said...

***Happy 19th Birthday Edward***
a truly talented artist...much success in his comic book to be published...you must be so very proud Amy!!!

Talent can't help but run in the family, especially with such a talent mother...:0)

Cheers

durano lawayan a.k.a. brad spit said...

Hi Amy,

I salute your sacrifice and the nurturing of Edward, who is on his way to become the great artist he was destined to be. Only a caring mother with pure devotion to the well being of her child, and who would inculcate the values of a decent human being; can raise a child to the highest artistic levels he could possibly reach. Congratulations! :-) --Durano, done!

Amy Lilley Designs said...

good morning Lilly...I say to people that he is light years beyond what I was doing @ his age...thank you!

Thank you Lux and Laane...we actually had postage stamps made of the drawing he did of the lion!...thank you for your good wishes!

Oh Triz and Heather, thank you on his behalf...he has created a wonderful character for his 'yet to be published comic'...and yes, we REALLY are very proud...

Durano...when Edward was diagnosed w/ diabetes, we ALL had diabetes...and for me, there was no other choice THAN to take care of him 24/7, while encouraging him in his art work...it was a great 'escape' and a tremendous way for him to express himself..he didn't even realize it at the time...I thank you for your kind words and look forward to his continued growth as an artist and a young man!

LisaLisa said...

Happy B-Day Edward....oh the time sure does go by fast..but then I say Lord thank you for this wonderful gift (my kids). To have the talent that he has is truly a gift from God and what a blessing it is. You should be so proud which I know you are. Even though we go through the struggles in life with our children I have found that they have made us all strong. Congrats to you Amy for being a super mom!!!!

Amy Lilley Designs said...

hey lisalisa...thank you also, for your kind words...so many of us, here in the blogosphere are so gifted from God in so many different ways, it's quite astounding, and we do acknowledge Edward's gift as well... I continue to find my strength in the Lord...

Unknown said...

Wow...he really does have a gift..you have every right to be proud! Would love to see more of his work!

Susan Helene Gottfried said...

Happy birthday, indeed. And congratulations, Mom -- you should be proud of yourself for having had a hand in making such an awesome guy!

Amy Lilley Designs said...

Hey Tammy...he really is good...knows it too...he has me on kind of a 'gag order', if you will w/ posting much of his work..doesn't want anyone getting any of his ideas...smart kid too!

Thank you for such a compliment Susan...it's a complicated relationship...but he is awesome..definitely!!!

The Muse said...

Duplicity and the singularity...
the drawings strike me with a vision intertwined and yet are pulsating on their own..much as you and Edward are perhaps...and as so many of us are as Mothers and Sons...
An artful, artistic and amazing dance...this thing called motherhood.
You are blessed!

Ah, Happy Birthday Edward!

Amy Lilley Designs said...

Muse, as you were writing, I was sending you an e-mail!!!! YIKES!...duplicity and singularity...perfect, and it definitely is a dance..this thing called Motherhood...your message..profound..thank you for your good wishes for his birthday!

Unknown said...

Happy Birthday Edward. One of the best gifts your Mother gave you is the ability to see someting and express it on paper.
You both have so much talent! Thanks for sharing these with us.
Have a wonderful year ahead!

The Success said...

Happy Birthday
Success for you

Amy Lilley Designs said...

thank you Lady Lynn and Success for your kind words and good wishes for Edward...I AM SO TOUCHED BY everybody's good wishes and thoughts for him!

all the best...

Anonymous said...

Wow, great read. Thank you for sharing something so personal with all of us here.

Amy Lilley Designs said...

Hey Amber...I think that presented well, it is well okay to share some really personal things on the blogs...this came spilling out of me...not too much thought...just happened!! Thank you for taking the time to read the post!