This is December 17,2010 and the sun is shining here in NW Ohio. Today is a special day for me. It has been 40 years ago today that I was in Freeman Hospital in Joplin, Missouri. It has been 40 years ago today that a brand new baby girl was born. (Where do the years go?)
She was tiny and beautiful. Only 6 lbs. and 7 oz. She had wide blue eyes, like her father and big brother and a wrinkled little nose.
Unlike 2 and 1/2 years earlier, when her brother finally made his entrance into our lives by emergency cesearen section, we were able, with this one, to CHOOSE the day she was to be born.
Our Doctor told us we could decide on the date, as long as it was within 10 days of her due date, which was December 26. (Yes, she could have been a Christmas baby.) Doctor didn't want to take a chance on my going into labor because he had some medical concerns with the previous pregnancy.
Her Daddy and I calculated this and decided, in order to stay a full week at the hospital after her birth, which was required at the time, and still NOT MISS OUT on the fun of our big family Christmas celebrations, that we would choose December 17th. It would work out perfectly for us. She was our BEST Christmas gift that year and this way we would get to show her off to everyone!
My parents came and took our 2 and 1/2 year old boy home with them and I was admitted to the hospital the evening before her birth.
Since our first baby had been born by emergency Cesarean, the Doctor gave me no other choice but to be put to sleep when she was delivered. It wasn't long before I woke with our little one being put into my arms.
I felt really good compared to when he was born after a difficult labor and then surgery and ongoing medical problems.
Also, with our little boy, all the babies stayed in the nursery, except for short feeding and visiting times. No one, except the baby's parents were allowed access to the babies, except through the nursery window.
Times were changing and with this one we got to keep her in the room with us most of the time. Grandparents could come and visit also.
Mom and Dad brought her brother to the hospital and we waved from the second story window. He looked so little and far away through that window,
I didn't realize until I saw him how much I already missed him, but because little children weren't allowed, meeting his new baby sister would have to wait for a few more days.
I had to stay an extra day before I could leave the hospital because I had a slight fever, but on Christmas Eve we were both released.
I have tried, but, can't quite remember if we even went home after we got our walking papers. I do know, we made the drive, which was about an hour, that same day to have Christmas Eve with his mom and family. His brother and his wife were there with their little one as well as his sister, husband and neice from Ohio. Grandma was excited about a new baby and having everyone there. Baby made grandchild number 4. (Sadly, my father-in-law had passed away a year after we married and never had the joy of knowing his grandchildren.) After spending the afternoon and evening there we went to spend the night with my parents and the next morning had Christmas Day with my side of the family. (Lot's of excitment wiht all 6 of my siblings and our families) This was the way we celebrated each year for a number of years, even after we packed up and moved our family to Ohio in the Spring of 1972 we stilled traveled back each December to have Christmas at the grandparents. (That changed after some pretty close mishaps when (I think, to the relief of our parents) we finally decided trips were better done when the weather was likely to be more favorable.)
Christmas evening we drove back to our own little house in Joplin with both little ones, and our Christmas goodies, tired but happy. At this point in my life it sounds a little crazy to me to have gone visiting a week after surgery with two little ones, but, that was how we did things then. We were young and being raised in a large family I could never have even imagined not going to Mom and Dad's to have Christmas with everyone!
Our baby was a tiny little thing and the Doctor was concerned that she wasn't gaining weight fast enough, so he had me wakeing her (well it was more like--trying to wake her!) every two hours for the first few weeks. Not an easy job, because SHE didn't really want to wake up and feed! It worried me some also, but, before long it seemed pretty obvious she would thrive so we settled into more or less the schedule she decided for herself.
From early on our little girl had a mind of her own and the majority of the time she pretty much got her way around most of us.
She was cute, little and a real charmer. She was shy around most people at first -- until she had them wrapped around her little finger -- after that they were fast friends forever --or at least until she found someone else to charm!
It was fun to have a sweet little girl around. I loved dressing her and combing her soft curls. We rocked and cuddled and sang songs. Her daddy thought the sun rose and set just for her and her brother loved her as well. You had to really watch carefully or he would come carrying her with her chubby little legs swinging freely. She never cried when he carried her, but learned quickly to hang on for dear life! (It really didn't happen to often, but he never dropped her, thank goodness!)
He was always on the go and getting into lots of things, but, she was more reserved and likely to hang back and cling to Momma or Daddy. She loved hugs and kisses and picking flowers.
Years later, about the time she was , not quite a teen, (much sooner than I ever dreamed and certainly before I was ready for it to happen) she started feeling the need for Independence. From that time on Mom and daughter have had to deal with personality issues that has made life sometimes pretty difficult for us.
Relationships are complicated and it isn't always easy to understand how or why things happen the way they do.
But, as things do, life goes on and we muddle through as best we can.
I want her to know that the phone call she made to me a couple of months ago was one of the BEST gifts that I have EVER received.
Also, I want you, my precious daughter to know that no matter what, I am so glad that you are MY DAUGHTER and I am so PROUD of you and the daughter, wife and mother you are! HAPPY BIRTHDAY APRIL