False Labor

Tuesday June 30, 1992

Up at 7 a.m. I don't feel too bad. We take the truck to Thousand Oaks and leave it for a paint job. I call Ric at 7:30 and he answers. Darn, Chris is home. Her contractions have ended even though they were 5 minutes apart at the hospital at 4 a.m. this morning.

We go out to breakfast and I'm starting to feel bad. At home I force myself into the shower and at 11 a.m. I'm at the doctor's office to be sure I don't have pneumonia. The doctor doesn't hear anything, but prescribes antibiotic for good measure. I'm coughing bad and my chest and back hurt. I'm so tired and weak. At home I nap for an hour and feel well enough to go to Palmdale for Joey's hockey game. We have a great time, eat at the mall and shop some. We're home about 9. I sleep my way home.

Those darn Braxton Hicks contractions. Like most new moms, I have had them with every pregnancy. Too bad Mom had to call the house to see whether or not we were home or at the hospital. Today everyone carries a cellphone and can contact friends and family whenever and wherever they are. Such a huge convenience!

Chris Is In Labor

Monday June 29, 1992

I'm up and coughing worse and feeling drained and tired. Frank walks to the dentist, but returns home later quite ill. He has horrible pains in his stomach and some fever. He curls up and sleeps all day. He's feeling better by evening, but I decide not better enough to go dancing. I don't feel much like it myself.

Chris calls about 9 p.m. to say she's in labor, 15 minutes apart. We talk a long time. I pray extra hard tonight for her. I not only pray for her health and the baby's, but I pray that Ric will be there for her the way she needs him. I hope she has an easy birth.

Ahh! That makes me feel great to know that Mom is praying for me. Unfortunately, it was not to be an easy birth, just as it was not an easy pregnancy.

A New Baby on the Way

Wednesday April 17, 1991

I awake at 7 a.m. Can this be? I don't feel so nauseated. I have a little toast and juice. As the day progresses so do I. I wash a few clothes, pick up the house and clean the bathroom. My incisions feel alot better.

Frank comes home from his first day back at work and reminds me I have forgotten to take the antibiotic they gave me when I left the hospital. I take 2 before bedtime and one during the wee hours.

Judy is in Antelope Valley Hospital with Paul and Debby. Her water broke at noon in a garden nursery. She's still in (inducted) labor at 8:00 p.m. We go to bed wondering and worried. I can't sleep all night thinking of Judy, praying for us both.

In spite of her own battle with a deadly cancer, mom is up all night worrying about her daughter-in-law who is labor with her first child.