Grandmommy’s Notes in the Margin

I have one last birthday for the year…not counting the big one on Christmas Day.

But, today, is my Neil’s birthday. His was not without excitement either!!

My daughter Laurie had just turned 6 and was really excited about Christmas. We were having a baby…maybe for Christmas, maybe not. He wasn’t due until New Year’s Eve. But, she was excited about the prospect of being a big sister!!

I went to the doctor on December 21 and was already in labor. I had been having Braxton Hicks contractions for about 8 weeks, so I was relieved to find out the real thing was about to take place!

I called hubby and told him he needed to meet me at the hospital. My daughter was at school and it was already arranged that she would stay with a neighbor and my parents when “the time” came….and it was here!! Actually, my daughter’s school party was that day. I was the room mother in charge of the party!! I had been up late that night getting things ready and had asked another mother to take everything to the school…just in case I didn’t make it. I didn’t!!

Everything went pretty well. I did get a little tired before he came and wasn’t having an epidural (we did not have insurance, and I had done this before). But, the doctor ordered a shot of demerol, in case I needed it. Of course, the nurse asked just as I went into a major contraction. I was so looped that I nearly missed the birth! They all said I was saying all kinds of strange things!!

In fact, once the doctor told me it was a boy (I did not know what I was having), he asked what I was naming him. In my stupor, I said “Shasta” (that is the name of a store brand soft drink. I had been looking at grocery ads and making a shopping list inbetween contractions and they were on sale!). The next day, the doctor came into my room to ask me if I had another name for my baby besides “Shasta”!

Side Note: I just loved Dr Dube! He had been my doctor for many years and delivered both of my sons even though he wasn't delivering babies anymore.

While I was in the hospital, my daughter found all of “Santa Claus” hidden in a closet at my parents’ house. So, my stepmom told her that what she had found were gifts that I bought for her to have when I went to the hospital. When we were released from the hospital, hubby and baby and I went to Target before going home to “rebuy” Christmas for her. Joy!! I got in a lot of trouble for taking my 3-day old infant shopping!!

Oh well! He survived and today he turns 33! Happy Birthday, Shasta. I love you!

Twenty-one years ago today, my father died.

Our relationship had been strained and was only beginning to be as it should be.

I wish it had been different.

Hold your family close, dear ones. Life is too precious to let anyone come between you and your family. Don’t let hard feelings creep in. Love one another. Forgive one another.

Life is too precious.

I miss you, Daddy. Say “hello” to my wonderful Robert.

Thirty years ago today, I went to the doctor for my weekly prenatal visit. My doctor said everything looked good and I might as well go to the hospital and have a baby!

I did…several things were done to “jumpstart” my labor. Nothing much worked. About 8 hours later…around 8 p.m., the doctor said I might as well go home and get comfortable. It didn’t look like my baby was ready to come after all.

My husband and I were in 2 cars because he came to the hospital when I called him from the doctor’s office. So, off we went. Just as we came to Greenspoint Mall (Houston’s northside), the headlights on my car went out. NOT GOOD!

I took the exit and pulled into a little shopping area. We raised the hood and saw that the battery post had fallen out of the battery!! WEIRD!!

Well, it was a DieHard and we were across the highway from Sears. Off we went in hubby’s pickup.

And … guess what … my water broke!! Right there…in the middle of the store!!

Tired and embarrassed, I grabbed my husband by the sleeve and said, “Please hurry.”

We scooted across the highway and he put the battery in the car (after we convinced a wrecker driver that we only left the car behind because it was broken!). We were about 5 miles from home so we went there and called the hospital.

Other than that lovely happening, nothing else was going on so we decided to wait until I was having regular contractions. About 4 hours later, we headed to the hospital.

Four more hours and on December 19, 1979, my baby boy, Steven Curtis Comer was born. Four more hours (a lot of 4’s going on) and the doctor let me go home!! The hospital was VERY crowded and they needed the bed!

So, Happy Birthday, Steven…I love you.