July 7, 2015
It is 7-7-15 and I'm patiently waiting for the phone call that will tell me Jen is in labor. It will take us almost 2 hours to get to the hospital, my mind will tell me it may be hours till Miss Ellie makes her arrival into this beautiful world but my heart will say something else and I will feel the need to get there quickly.
I know that on our way to the hospital I will be remembering many years back when we were expecting our first child. It was a hot summer day and actually our day started early in the morning as we were getting ready for Paul's nephew's fourth birthday party at Paul's parents house, it would be a BBQ with lots of food, which my mother in-law loved to prepare for as many people she could invite. They had a nice pool and Uncle Tony would play a little bit on the Ukulele.
Our morning started with Paul having lower back pain. He couldn't figure out why he had it since he had not lifted anything heavy that morning. I was kind of nervous since I was still new to the family and the only time I had met more than the immediate was at the baby shower my mother in-law and sisters in-law had given me the month before.
As Paul and I arrived at he parents house, mom Sis opened the door as she gave me a hug Paul was behind me and the first thing he said was how his lower back was killing him. Everyone greeted us and made polite conversation about how nice I looked and how big I was getting (which was true) but never having a baby before I really didn't know how big I was suppose to be.
Before the BBQ even started Paul sat and played cards with a couple of people and still talking about the pain in his lower back. Someone made a passing joke that maybe he was having sympathy pains. About an hour later his pain went away and mine started, the next thing I knew Paul and his mom were walking me into her bedroom. I laid down while Paul called the doctor. The next thing I knew all the women lined up at the foot of the bed talking as if I wasn't there. I had no idea of what they meant about my ankles being swollen and that I looked like I was due anyway, all I knew is I wanted Paul and my mother and to have these ladies leave the room. Paul came back just in time and said that the doctor wanted me to go to the hospital right away that I was in labor. All of a sudden I was being walked out of the bedroom and down the stairs as if I forgot how to walk. I knew that my in-laws were hoping for a little girl, they had lost their first grandchild to SIDS. Before we started down the driveway I remember my father in-law saying as he was closing my door they hoped for a little girl but would love a boy too. I so wanted to give them a granddaughter but God had other plans and he knows best.
Paul spent a good part of the night next to me. Of course we were still kind of newlyweds since we had only been married almost nine months, so I was not aware that Paul hated hospitals but he stayed right by my side. I had no pain except for the occasional cramping. We agreed since we didn't live far from the hospital that Paul should go home and sleep for a while. It was about 2:00 a.m. when the nurse came in to check on me, she had this panic look and asked me how long I had been in "hard labor", I told her I didn't know because I had no pain. She called the doctor and he came in at 6:oo and ordered x-rays (this was days before ultrasound) the doctor came in about 7:00 and he told me I would need a C-Section....had no idea what that was but what ever it was I knew it was something big because of the look on Paul's face. An hour later I was wheeled into surgery and our beautiful son Paul Jr. was born nine pounds 4 oz., I guess the ladies were right I was big.
So now we wait for our little Miss Ellie to make her arrival, last week the doctor said she was seven and half pounds, so I'm thinking eight to eight and a half pounds. We were blessed with four sons and Miss Ellie will make eight grandchildren. Life is Good.
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
Saturday, July 4, 2015
Memories July 4, 2015...Retirement
Memories
July 4,2015
It's been too long since I have had a chance to write in my blog..... but now as of four days ago I am now retired. That word RETIRED brings back memories of my grandparents and aunts and uncles. I never wondered if they worked although I remember my grandmother (Lena) worked in a factory in Oakland California and my grandfather and I picking her up after she was finished for the day. I really am not sure what kind of factory she worked at or where it was actually in Oakland but I remember a time when she would bring me a Peach and boy was it a big Peach, you don't see those in the grocery stores. My grandfather (John) must have retired early in his life, I know he had heart trouble but not sure if that was the reason, I just know he was around a lot.
I remember thinking I didn't at what age people retired, I thought maybe they had to be really old. Back then 60 was old, I don't really feel that way any more since I will be 65 soon.
Remembering back to others in my life who retired was my stepdad Bill or Billie as my mother called him. Bill and my mother were married when I was a year old so I grew up with him as my dad but really thinking he wasn't....at the time I could never understand where I got that feeling but that is another memory for later.
Bill worked for American Can Company in Oakland for many years. I remember we had one car and my mother would take Bill to work and pile all four of us kids in the car and pick him up at midnight.
People did things like that back then, not so much anymore.
I was married and had given birth to our four sons by the time Bill retired around 1980. Mom had told me later that the company had given Bill a party for his many years of employment with American Can and when he returned home she thought he was drunk because he speech was slightly slurred which she accepted because of the party.
Now retirement I had come to know is when you travel, spend more time with friends, family and do what ever pleases you, after all you worked for many years and earned this time in your life. Many months went by and Bill's speech became worse. He finally went to the doctor and was diagnosed with ALS. This would take his life five years later.
Now that I have retired, I'm not sure what it means for me although I do know it's a time that I will enjoy the early mornings, drinking my coffee and working a little bit in my garden. The last night I worked a dear friend asked me what I was wanted to do during my retirement. I told her I had given it a lot of thought. So I told her that I asked myself what makes me happy and it was the same answer I have always had.....get up early, read my Bible, enjoy my coffee, crochet, watch a movie, work in my garden, work in my craft room which right now needs a lot of work and see my family when ever I want. I love baking for family and friends and creating art. This also allows me to attend church more and pray for others, what more can I ask for accept to thank God for all the Blessings he has given me.
July 4,2015
It's been too long since I have had a chance to write in my blog..... but now as of four days ago I am now retired. That word RETIRED brings back memories of my grandparents and aunts and uncles. I never wondered if they worked although I remember my grandmother (Lena) worked in a factory in Oakland California and my grandfather and I picking her up after she was finished for the day. I really am not sure what kind of factory she worked at or where it was actually in Oakland but I remember a time when she would bring me a Peach and boy was it a big Peach, you don't see those in the grocery stores. My grandfather (John) must have retired early in his life, I know he had heart trouble but not sure if that was the reason, I just know he was around a lot.
I remember thinking I didn't at what age people retired, I thought maybe they had to be really old. Back then 60 was old, I don't really feel that way any more since I will be 65 soon.
Remembering back to others in my life who retired was my stepdad Bill or Billie as my mother called him. Bill and my mother were married when I was a year old so I grew up with him as my dad but really thinking he wasn't....at the time I could never understand where I got that feeling but that is another memory for later.
Bill worked for American Can Company in Oakland for many years. I remember we had one car and my mother would take Bill to work and pile all four of us kids in the car and pick him up at midnight.
People did things like that back then, not so much anymore.
I was married and had given birth to our four sons by the time Bill retired around 1980. Mom had told me later that the company had given Bill a party for his many years of employment with American Can and when he returned home she thought he was drunk because he speech was slightly slurred which she accepted because of the party.
Now retirement I had come to know is when you travel, spend more time with friends, family and do what ever pleases you, after all you worked for many years and earned this time in your life. Many months went by and Bill's speech became worse. He finally went to the doctor and was diagnosed with ALS. This would take his life five years later.
Now that I have retired, I'm not sure what it means for me although I do know it's a time that I will enjoy the early mornings, drinking my coffee and working a little bit in my garden. The last night I worked a dear friend asked me what I was wanted to do during my retirement. I told her I had given it a lot of thought. So I told her that I asked myself what makes me happy and it was the same answer I have always had.....get up early, read my Bible, enjoy my coffee, crochet, watch a movie, work in my garden, work in my craft room which right now needs a lot of work and see my family when ever I want. I love baking for family and friends and creating art. This also allows me to attend church more and pray for others, what more can I ask for accept to thank God for all the Blessings he has given me.
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