The First of Eight

This month is such a special one, it's birthday time for you...
We'd really like to celebrate this happy day with you
Zip-it-dee-a and Hi-dee-ho there's something we can do...
We'll sing a song that we all know...
Happy Birthday to you;)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

DANNY

Just thought you might like to know...

Thirty-two years ago today Michelle and I spent the day in our Conquista house cleaning and making all kinds of preparations to move into our first home. We were there from about nine in the morning until six that Monday night. After a day cleaning, aka transition, we went home to our apartment in Stanton. I made dinner for us and then we took a bath. I felt fine until after we got out of the tub. I felt my first contraction at 1930. I got dressed, got Michelle in her jammies and grabbed her bag and mine and headed to Grandma and Grandpa McCleary's house. It was about 2030 when we got there. Grandma opened the door, grabbed Grandpa's jacket, threw it at him and said, "we have to take Karen to the hospital." I told them to relax, that we were there, "just in case." You see, I was three days overdue and I wanted to watch the end of Little House on the Prairie.

At 2100 the show ended and I said, "OK, let's go." Uncle Gordon was the designated baby-sitter. He loved having Michelle over. They always had a good time together. Anyway, Grandma, Grandpa, and I got in the car and we headed to Long Beach Memorial. Grandpa drove down Spring Street instead of taking the freeway. A straighter shot to be sure, but although I didn't say anything...didn't want to be a backseat driver, literally, I was wishing, by now, that he had taken the freeway, but I just practiced my breathing. We got to the hospital at 2130 and...my first son was born at 2210...with no drugs, I might add;)

He weighed in at 8# 3 ozs and 20.5".

We stayed in the hospital until Thursday. Dr. Wells said that we could go home on Wednesday morning, but with the planned move into our new home, on the following Saturday, I wanted one more day of rest.

Thursday morning came and we were discharged. The lady that pushed our wheel chair out to the car let go of us when we were on a downhill sidewalk, because she didn't want to be in any pictures that were being taken. There we were, Danny and I rolling uncontrolled down the sidewalk..........aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We were headed for the curb and the parking lot! I had to use my Fred Flintstone Brakes to keep my brand new son and me from becoming victims of a runaway wheel chair and impending road rash.

Well, we made it home safely and that night Danny slept beside me. The crib had been taken over to our new home by Gordon and Rex, in one of the many loads of things they moved over to the house for us, while I was in the hospital. It was to be set up in our new home. He slept fine, as did Michelle, and Dan. I, on the other hand, did not. I didn't want to roll over on my new son and smother him, so I just cat napped that night. Friday we (I) packed more, made the necessary calls to turn off the power and water.

When Friday night rolled around I had found a large, empty cardboard box that I lined with blankets. I put it on my dresser and that is where Danny spent his second night at "home".

Saturday was moving day...I had left my car at Grandma and Grandpa's on Monday night

and so Gordon and Rex continued to load it with boxes and move them for us. Other family and friends came and helped with the furniture and by Saturday night our apartment #15 on Cerritos Ave. in Stanton, CA was empty... except for Danny and me. It was getting dark and with the electricity being disconnected there was no light in the apartment. I sat on the floor in the living room, of our apartment, holding my five day old baby boy, in the dark.

Dan finally came and got us and we were off to our new house at 2001 Conquista Ave. in Long Beach, CA.

We ordered pizza that night (don't people know that a nursing mother shouldn't eat spicy food) and everyone, yes, including me enjoyed it.

While we were eating there was a knock at the front door.

We answered it, and it was none other than Long Beach's Finest...yes, the police were, "just checking." You see, our house had been a rental and had been empty for awhile. I guess the neighbors were just making sure that we were supposed to be there.

BTW, no one ever fessed up to forgetting about leaving Danny and me at the apartment, but we sat in the dark for a couple of hours.

That Saturday was also the day that Gordon's MGB was stolen, but that's another story.

Sunday, we attended Long Beach Third Ward for the first time with our little family of four; Dan, Michelle, Danny, and me. Danny was the newest member of the ward.

And Danny, that was your first week of life.

I love you and hope your birthday was a good one, although I know that you probably worked.