2/12/1978

I was due with my third child on 2/10, but went into labor on 2/12, I believe it was a Sunday. I was home alone with a pre-school daughter,not quite 3 years old and a toddler son, 17 months old. In those days one didn't know what you were having, boy or girl??? I had a sense of what to expect since I had already one of each and this pregnancy was so much the same as my first. About 5:30 AM I knew I was in labor, but it was early. All my labors were 12-16 hours so I knew I had some time. I worked in the kitchen, making and freezing casseroles to use later. Of course, as the day progressed, the contractions got stronger and stronger. Little ones around me, needed fed, diapers needed changed, naps needed taken, etc. About 3:00 PM the contractions were really getting strong, and I was having difficulty getting around. I was prepared for childbirth with Lamaze relaxation and breathing, but it was time to go. I called my friend Cathy Callahan who had agreed to be my labor coach, and she took me to the hospital, St Anthony's North. I had progressed well and the Lamaze was working. My OB doc was trying to avoid an episiotomy, but after pushing for 30 minutes, I screamed..."just do it"! And he did! It seemed like seconds later, my baby daughter was here. It was about 5:30 PM, if I remember correctly. She was so precious, and all her pieces and parts were in order. I took her home the next morning to meet her sister and brother. She was a good baby, easy to take care of, sweet, and no trouble. She had a personal fan club and there was constant entertainment for her to enjoy. I regret I had to go back to work when she was just 3 months old, but she always just went with the flow. I was a more experienced mother with her and much more relaxed. I could go on forever about this baby girl but will stop now, but rest assured she is loved as much today as the day I first met her!

Sunday afternoon

I was finally able to get my husband down for a nap. You see when he is awake his needs are constant. If I go off to do my own thing, he wants to know what I am doing, why I am doing it, and offers suggestions on how to do it. This reminds me when I was the mother of 3 preschool children. .....constant talking, motion and comotion. To add to the lack of "time for Joyce" my husband has been sick with a cold for about 10 days. Colds are miserble, I know this because I have had one myself a time or two. But of course, my husband's is the worse ever and he is keeping me infromed of his misery minute by minute. His bedtime ritual of medication, salves, sprays,eye drops and syrups is more complicated than any medical procedure I have ever done for a really sick person in all my years of hospital nursing. Luckily, my husband has a patient wife and I'll get through this and even sneak in some time for myseld along the way.