Friday, February 8

Show and Tell Friday

I know that Show and Tell Friday is supposed to be about something that is in your home, but I'm going to cheat a little this week and tell about something that was a big part of my life.

It was February 8, 1969 - thirty-nine years ago today. I was pregnant with our first baby. The night before friends had dropped in and stayed until the wee hours. I had sat on the couch in agony because I had indigestion so bad. I wished they would leave and of course they didn't. All night, I tossed and turned and got up and down. Finally, about 5 AM, I feel into a deep sleep.
I bolted upright. I'd dreamed I'd wet the bed. Yeap, I was in the early stages of labor. My hubby at the time (this is the one that passed away at 31 years old) wanted me to go to the hospital. I laughed at him. There was no way. I didn't want to lie there for hours waiting for my baby to be born and I got cantakerous and downright refused to go.

Grandma had told me that when I went into labor to rock in the rocking chair. She said it would help the labor move along more quickly and make an easier delivery. So I rocked... and rocked... and rocked...

At 12:30 PM I told my husband I wanted to go to the doctor's office. Yes, he was open Saturday mornings back then and all you had to do was walk-in. He was an old fashioned country doctor and the only day he ever took off was Sunday.

We got to the office and the doctor examined me. He told me to go to the hospital or I would have my baby in a snowbank. We had received a couple feet of snow the previous day and the snowbanks at the side of the roads were high.

So me and my husband started out, but when we got near the hospital I told him I wasn't going in until I went home and got my suitcase. Those were the days when they kept mother and baby in the hospital for at least five days. At 3 PM we arrived at the hospital and they took me to labor while my husband admitted me. They told me it would be a long time before I had that baby.

At 5 PM I asked for something to eat and a cup of tea. They brought me black tea and a little bowl of green jello. They rolled me out into the hall by the elevator to eat it. What a place to put a woman who was in labor. LOL That's when baby decided that labor would get a little more intense. My water broke and some poor elderly man who was walking in the hall almost had a heart attack. He went running for a nurse. You would have thought the devil himself was after the old guy.

The nurses whisked me back into the labor room. They examined me and told me that it would be hours before my baby was born. Ha! By 6 PM, I was in really HARD labor. They gave me a shot to ease the pain. At 6:30 PM they decided they needed to call the doctor. He was 15 miles away and it would take a while for him to get there.

The labor pains weren't too bad. I didn't find labor pains that hard to cope with. Of course I had that shot to take the edge off and it was like all of this was happening to someone else. I was spaced out!

At 7:15, they took me to the delivery room. I asked where the doctor was and they told me he was on his way. I asked them what was taking him so long. LOL He was definitely in no hurry to get there and I suspect they told him it would be a while before my baby arrived.

He walked into delivery at 7:32 and pulled on a hospital gown over his clothes. Michelle was born at 7:48.

So, in case you were wondering what I was doing 39 years ago, I was having a baby. Those were the days when you didn't know the sex of the baby until it was born. Surprise. William Joseph was not going to work for the baby's name. It took us the entire five days I was in the hospital to agree on a name.

That is one day that I will never forget. Now Michelle is grown and has two boys of her own. This afternoon after school, the boys and I went and bought Mom a birthday gift. We took it home and the boys hid it so she couldn't find it until tomorrow morning. Happy Birthday, Michelle. I wish you many more.

Show and Tell Friday is hosted by Kelli at There is No Place Like Home. If you'd like to participate, please follow the link to her site. It's fun and easy.

25 comments:

  1. Praying for Michelle to have a very blessed birthday.

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  2. What a great birth story...I really enjoyed reading it!
    A happy birthday to your daughter!

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  3. Mary!!!! Happy birthday, first, to Michelle....but I hafta say that your story of her birth was great.

    You say: "At 5 PM I asked for something to eat and a cup of tea. They brought me black tea and a little bowl of green jello. They rolled me out into the hall by the elevator to eat it. What a place to put a woman who was in labor. LOL That's when baby decided that labor would get a little more intense. My water broke and some poor elderly man who was walking in the hall almost had a heart attack. He went running for a nurse. You would have thought the devil himself was after the old guy." I had to laugh at this...too danged funny.

    And to top it off, another thing we have in common. Our daughter, the first born, was supposed to be a boy too. All along the OBGYN kept telling me from day one, it's a boy. So, like you said, we didn't know the sex ---She WAS supposed to be Michael Allen. Well nope. She became an Irene named after my mother. I think Irene fits better. LOLOLOL

    Happy day to you too. Loved your fond memories. It's great to be a mom isn't it? [once a mom always a mom]

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  4. Good Morning Mary,
    "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" to Michelle. I enjoyed reading the story of her birth. You have a beautiful daughter and 2 very handsome Grandson's. "THANK YOU" for sharing them with on on the Friday Show & Tell. I don't understand tho why they put you out in the hall just to have jello and tea. I had to LOL about the part where the man almost had a heart attack. That was just too funny. Times sure have changed from having babies. I am still doing good, just enjoying the time with my DH. Hopefully next week things will get back to normal. Take care my friend and have a great day. May God Bless You and Yours.

    Love & Hugs,
    Karen H.

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  5. What a wonderful story to get my day started off with a smile. It so reminded me of the new baby I had Feb. 3, 1964....we just celebrated his birthday last week and, in ways, it seems like it was only yesterday when he was born...in other ways, a lifetime ago.
    Happy Birthday to your baby!
    hugs, bj

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  6. A very nice story! Happy birthday to Michelle.

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  7. What a sweet show and tell. Happy Birthday to your daughter!

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  8. Mary,

    What a great story about Michelle's birth!

    Happy Birthday, Michelle! :-)

    I have a little surprise for you at my blog. Come on over when you get a chance. :-)

    Hugs,
    Tina

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  9. Mary, I meant to tell you that I love the photo of Michelle and the boys! It's beautiful! Tina

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  10. That was a very sweet story.
    Loved all the details.
    I always love hearing others stories of their deliveries.
    Happy Birthday to your girl!

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  11. Hi Mary, Thanks for sharing your story about Michelle's Birth! So Happy Birthday to Michelle! I enjoyed reading about your trip to the hopital and all that went on after you got there!!
    Michelle is a lovely looking daughter and two fine looking grandsons! No wonder you are so proud of them!! Love and Hugs Carolyn

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  12. What a great story my dear..you stubborn sweetheart..
    and Happy Birthday to Michelle..
    prayers going up for her too!!
    lovingly, Denea

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  13. What a touching show and tell, Mary! I'm so glad you decided to post this. :-)

    Happy Birthday, Michelle!

    She's in my prayers, too.

    Smiles,
    Michele

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  14. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICHELLE!!!! Great memories Mary, Thanks for sharing, your a great writer:)

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  15. That was a nice birthday present for Michele, the story of her birth in detail! I think all of us mother's remember every detail! They say we forget the pain, bet we remember the details, especially the funny ones!

    Katherine

    P.S. - I like your Easter cards below too!

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  16. Happy Birthday to Michelle! ;o) Hope she's doing better as her surgery date approaches.

    Have a great weekend, Mary. ;o)

    Love and hugs,

    Diane

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  17. Great story, Mary. Happy Birthday to your lovely daughter, Michelle! Love the photo of her and the boys. Have a blessed weekend!

    Hugs,

    Renie

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  18. Happy birthday to your daughter!

    I hate being left in hallways in hospitals!

    Barbara H. @ Stray Thoughts

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  19. Mary
    I think on the other side of 50, I am always trying to catch up. I read several post this morning. First of all your fan you made for your Mother will be cheerish. It is beautiful. Secondly, I always love to read why you are thankful. What a kind lady you happen to be and the pray list is so touching. Then I get to this precious memory story of the birth of Michelle and it as always was written from the heart. Excuse me but I had to laugh when you made your husband go get the suitcase. I had not been aware of how much Brandon looks like his Mom until this picture. Last but not least please wish Michelle a very happy birthday. My wish for her is Many Many More to celebrate.
    Peace be with you.

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  20. Thank you for that, Mary! I enjoyed the story of the birth of your daughter and the gift you and your grandchildren bought for her! I'm a Mary too! Thanks for visiting my S&T post.

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  21. What a wonderful memory of such an important day in your life and Michelle's. I hope she had an extra special birthday.

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  22. Mary, thanks for responding to my comments here at your blog. I have a Show and Tell at this blog: Work of the Poet

    At the same blog I have a contest called "Six-Word Memoirs" Maybe you'd like to participate...I'll publish the winning memoirs on my blog. :)

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  23. Happy Birthday to Michelle:-) Oh Mary, I so enjoyed reading about her birth...when I had Shawn it was still in the days where they kept you in for 5 days also! lol Like you, my doctor barely made in time...when I had Corey, he didn't make it, it's an intern that delivered him, he was in such a hurry! lol Ahhh, memories:-) xoxo

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  24. Happy birthday to Michelle!! I always enjoy labor stories! They are fascinating to me for some reason. I wanted to tell you your youngest grandson looks so much like my littlest boy. How old is he?

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