My beloved Andrew 

When I was pregnant with Drew, I always craved watermelon. I think that was all I had. The whole time I was pregnant the doctors kept telling me I was having a girl. I was so excited,  I had a girl’s name all picked out.  My baby girl’s name was going to be Natasha Lanelle Ivicic. I could hardly wait because I already had two wonderful boys, Michael and Scott. 

The day I went into labor, was just like any other day. I got to the hospital and was laying there in labor. All of a sudden there are 10 doctors or more in my room. All they kept saying was that they had 5 minutes to get the baby out, cause his heart was in distress. Last thing I remember was hearing them say we have 2 minutes to get this baby out. 

When I woke up I learned that I had a little tiny 6 lb. baby boy (imagine that). I was devastated. I wanted a girl. I had no boy names picked out at all. I finally decided to name him after my favorite cousin Andrew and my little brother Paul.  

We ended up staying at the hospital for 10 days since both Andrew and I got really sick. 

As he was growing up, at the age of 4, his older brothers were playing Pop Warner Football, they were the Raiders. Andrew could not understand why he could not play. His dad and I got him a small helmet; raider’s jersey and shoulder pads. After that we had to keep an eye on him cause if we didn’t he would run to the field and get on the line and charge the players.  From that time on, all he wanted to do was play football. 

In July of 1999 we moved to Bertram, he was starting 6^th grade. After the first day of school he came home all excited cause he had made a best friend, his name was Lincoln Floyd. He said he just thought Lincoln was cool. 

At that time as well, Jim and I thought that since we had moved to the country from the big city of Round Rock, that he needed a BB gun. Well that lasted a whole two days. The next day we woke up and he had shot holes in the vehicle windows, especially his brother’s (Scott) car. So much for a BB gun, we had to put it up. 

He started playing football in 7^th grade. He absolutely loved it. He also played basketball and baseball, but football was his passion. Throughout his whole Junior High and High School years, Jim and I never missed a single game. I remember when he was a freshman, it was homecoming night. The schedule said that he played at 6pm. The night before he calls and tells me that they changed it to 5pm. I was so upset because I was going to miss the game; we were not scheduled to arrive till 4:45pm. Jim knew how upset I was that we left Maryland that morning flew stand by all the way. Arrived in Austin at 4pm and made to the game as they were running on the field. He looked up at me with this HUGE smile. We had made it.  He was always such a joy to watch. 

His junior year he decided he wanted to be a football Coach, just like all his coaches. He would always tell me that his Coaches had nothing on him. That he was going to be a lot harder on the kids. But that he was going to be the coolest. Well, I am glad to know that he HAD become a COACH. I got letters from his 4^th & 5^th grade PE classes. The letters were referring to COACH IVICIC. That just made me the happiest MOM in the world, to know that before he was taken from me he had become a COACH

Andrew has had so many exciting moments in his life. From going to football camp in Boulder, Colorado with Tex. Going on a family cruise this past Christmas. Going to Port A for Spring Break, the races with his Dad. Not to mention the mall, Hooters and Chicken Express. Andrew was never home, but he was always home on curfew. 

Summer camp with him and Tex was something that Jim and I always looked forward too. They were so much fun. I think we played Slug bug all the way there and back. He would sit behind me so I could not reach and hit him. So I finally got smart and got a stick that would reach him. Tex would make us laugh all the way there and back. I think sometimes we got on Jim’s nerves laughing so much. Pikes Peak was an adventure of its own. We got up there and it was snowing in June, Andrew got car sick on the way up there and Tex was afraid of heights. We had a great time. 

Cruise was exciting as well. Andrew got sea sick. Poor baby, he tried to have a good time. His older Brothers came to me and asked if they could buy him a beer. I agreed and told them that they better make sure Drew got to his room safe. Next day he was not a happy camper feeling pretty bad. 

After graduation he decided that he wanted to go work with his dad. I asked why he didn’t want to work for me, his other two brothers and step brother did. His comment was, “Mom, I have heard you yell at Mike and Scott. I am NOT working for you”. You can only imagine how that made me feel. Needless to say I don’t yell at Mike and Scott anymore. 

He worked for his dad and was so excited because he had gotten certified to inspect asphalt. He was so proud of his certificate. He had decided he wanted to be an engineer till he found out it was a lot of hard math. He would always tell me what he had inspected. He really liked what he was doing, but also wanted to go to school and become a Coach. 

Andrew decided he needed a Tahoe. I guess the Green Dodge Ram and his Red Ford Ranger and two motorcycles were not enough. So he talked me into it, (I am sure you aren’t surprised) He could talk me into pretty much anything. He went around telling everyone he had me wrapped around his little finger. Well he was right. He was really proud of his Tahoe; some of you might have gotten a chance to see it. 

We had gotten Andrew registered for school, he had decided to go to CTC for his first year and get his grades up and then next year he was going to go to West Texas A&M. He kept telling it was because he liked the school. I knew it was to be closer to Tara. But hey, once again I agreed. 

A lot of you that have been out to the house knew that he would irritate me to no end and I would chase him around the house with a stick all the time. He also loved to wrestle with me and show me some moves. I would always beat him. We all know he was letting me win. 

Andrew was my baby and whole life, not a day goes by that I do not cry. Not because I am worried about him but, because I miss him more than life itself. He would come to the foot of my bed each and every night and tell me how his day had gone. When he walked in after being out which was every night, he we would come to me and give me a kiss and say “HEY GIRL”.  

Andrew, you will always be my baby boy. You will always be the love of my life. I know you are in a better place and I try not to be selfish and accept it. Please give me the strength on the days that I can not accept that you were taken away so young. 

I love you so much and will always be so proud of you. Not a day will go by that I will not think of you and wish you were here.

 Mommy