On August 11, 1961, I was 26 years old, a young mother of Robbie, Sue, and Janine. And one to come, past due since August 3rd. The summer had gone by nicely. I had a friend living next door who had a baby named Charlene. Charlene had weighed 9 pounds 4 ounces and that was factored into every conversation we had. Robbie had weighed 9 pounds 2 ounces and she (I'm hoping her name will come to me before I'm done; her husband was named Theron) thought that was an okay weight but looka here, Charlene was 2 ounces more and that was even better.
We went to Hotel Dieux to have labor induced at 8 in the morning. There was no air conditioning and I labored until noon in a hot and airless room on top of a RUBBER sheet. My my my. You'd better believe me when I tell you it was extremely warm for that activity.
Katie was born weighing -- get this -- 9 pounds 5 ounces. All babies are beautiful, but she was more so. We came home on Friday and I could not wait for my friend to get home that evening so I could call her over to see what I had done while she was out of town. And listen. I was very gracious about the weight. I didn't even mention it till she asked. Gloat? Not at all.
Incidentally, not only was the hospital not air conditioned: neither was my house! The next year, we had air conditioning and never turned it off from then till now. I could not do without it today.
Happy Birthday, Katie-Girl.
Happy, Happy, Katie.
Happiness birthday to you, Katie! And many more...
Happy Birthday Katie! Have a great day.
Wow. What a story, Mom. Katie won the record in our family as the biggest baby. You have a good war story for bringing her into being. I am glad your story didn't include how I tried to pull her through the bars of the crib, being only 18 months old and ousted.
Katie probably won't get this message because of her computer issues, but I will post a birthday wish for her anyway. Here's to you, Katie. May your day be happy, may your wishes come true, and may you have many more.
Love,
Janine
Oh, Janine. How could I have left that out? I so clearly remember your coming into my room and saying, "No no baby. My bed." And then I'd hear Daddy sigh, throw back the covers, and carry you back down the hall to your new big-girl bed. And I can hear myself saying to him, on the fourth or the ninth trip, "Now, be nice," and him snarling back, "I AM." And of course he was. The pulling through the bars came a few days later when you figured out where to stand in order to reach the little baby.
And we survived.
Happy Birthday, Katie! It's too late for a phone call, but I'll try to catch up with you over the weekend. Hope your day was wonderful.
Happy Birthday, Katie. Where did you and the kids end up eating for lunch?
Mama, Scott said there is no x on Dieu. He said he used to drive by it every day on his way to work until they changed the name. For the record, he didn't want me to correct your spelling.
I loved your birth story. I especially loved the part about you wishing to top Charlene. I take some pleasure in telling people that Mary Catherine was my tiniest baby at 9lbs. 4oz, with Jimmy weighing 9lbs. 14 oz and Joe a whopping 10 lbs. 4 oz. It is a perverse pleasure, really. Most of my friends (and some of my sisters) talked about how tiny they were and couldn't deliver a baby bigger than 6 lbs......the dainty flowers!!
Happy Birthday Katie! I hope you had a wonderful day and were given the royal treatment by your family!
Happy Birthday Aunt Katie! I know I'm a day late, but better late than not at all! I hope you enjoyed your special day. Love your favorite niece (who promises to call next time I am in town)!
I knew it didn't have an "x" on it, but I was testing to see if anyone else knew it. Good for Scott being so alert and on top of things.
I knew it didn't have an x, also, but I was taught by my mother not to point those things out.
And I love children who listen and learn from their mother!!
you all crack me up! keep the stories coming. Happy Birthday Katie!
Carol
I told Elizabeth not to mention it, but geaux figure, she found it amusing, and was compelled to note my observation.