Happiness Beyond Explanation

With the due date for my much wanted and longed for baby just past, the weather hit! Up the hill and over the road (through the field) to the to the old huntin' lodge we lived in became a feat some couldn't accomplish. My protective mate, who was gone long hours at work while I was at home on Christmas vacation from school, decided we should move to my parents' house until the baby came. We packed up the basinett and a few things and moved a few miles away to wait.

Little did we know, we would never return to our lodge home. We would never use cousin David's baby chest we covered with a fresh coat of white paint and decorated with decals. Our baby would not use the blankets, outfits, and other gifts generously given to us at a church shower and at school. We would never again sit under Phil's grandfather's table. More about that coming up in the next blog.

Sometime after midnight, beginning the new day of January 7, I awoke with regular pains. Phil and I watched a movie, and just before dawn, we were ready to head for the hospital in Houston, MO. Just one minor problem--the roads were covered with both ice and snow, it was STILL snowing hard and VERYcold, registering 18 below zero that night or the next, I can't remember which. Anyway, again my protective husband to the rescue!He decided we needed an escort to the hospital, a good 28 mile trip. He called "Brother Bill," or "Willy" as he fondly called his older brother to follow us. Always good in a pinch (or a baby's birth) Bill came to the rescue. Good idea . . . the snowplows hadn't run, visability was terrible. The only glitch, in the very slow trip, was when Phil decided he was nervous enough he had to stop and relieve his bladder. That worked out all right but must have gotten Brother Bill going -- either laughing or calling Phil names for stopping. We'll never know!

Arrived at the hospital. Long story short -- the doctor decided after several hours that I wouldn't be delivering that kid that day but kept me in the hospital. Too far home in bad weather to turn around and come back, so he said, and I'm grateful. Not long after that announcement, my water broke, and the hard labor began. Brother Bill made the treacherous trip back to Plato and picked up my sis-in-law Kay and my mom who both visited with me some, but I don't remember it well. Somewhere along the way, I was given demerol although I tried to go natural, and things became crazy hazy.

Actually, the labor lasted way too long with some collateral damage, but Joshua Phillip Hall was born at 7:55 p.m. and needed a moment to start breathing. His daddy said he was a little blue "around the edges"--fingers, toes, etc. But, I remember, Dr. Wall saying those famous words, "It's a boy!!" Before that I remember him saying, "Let's have that baby," and the forceps did their work and damage. :)

I will never forget Daddy saying, "Hi, you little bugger," and talking to his son so naturally. I never loved him more. I was elated, on some kind of natural endorphin, and didn't sleep the whole night. Phil spent the night in the waiting room and slept the night away. Nor did I see the baby all night either since we didn't breast feed as much back in those days, and the nurses took care of him.

The wing of the hospital was new and the heat in the nursery wasn't sufficient, so they put Josh in an "isolater" to keep him toasty. While we were in the hospital three nights, only two other babies were born, red-headed girls, both, so we knew we brought home the right babe.

On the fourth day, we came home from the hospital; the roads were still terrible. Friend and neighbor Dianne Ingalls came up with her studded tire car and held Josh in the front seat while Phil drove and I "lay" in the back. No sitting for me.

Joy! What joy to have a new baby!

On the second evening home, somewhere around supper time, Mom and Dad's neighbor, pounded on the door, saying, "Your house in on fire, and I think it's gone!"
To Be Continued.