Our Baby

All families have a baby. The last child born. Our's is Robert. In keeping with trying to get a little history down, here is what was going on in our lives when Robert came to us.

We were moving into our very first home. The first one with a mortgage of our own on it anyway. We moved in during September/October and were so thrilled to be in our own place at last. Jade was three, R.B. was starting first grade that year, Summer was getting baptized in the coming July, and Tawna and Taya were turning 10. I was getting close to having all the kids in school and that seemed like a dream to me. I got us somewhat moved in and immediately started sewing for the many crafts I was making for the seasonal boutique we had at Nana and Papa's every fall for about 5 years. I know I made lots of different things and whatever I sold was what we bought extras and even Christmas for the kids with. As the boutique time approached I started feeling pretty rocky and thought I was having a terrible time with the flu. Tracy was expecting Kamber and she was born in Nov. About that time I realized I didn't have the flu. I figured this new baby would be coming in July…in good company with Summer and Jade. Not so fun for me as July is hotter than hades, but what are you gonna do, right? Also, getting the kids all in school was gonna be a few more years away. Life sure had some curve balls coming up for us.

Grumpy was working for a solar heating company and his boss assured us he had insurance for all his employees. We thought everything was fine. Before I could even make my first appointment with my Dr., we got the shocking news one day that authorities had shown up at the solar heating company and arrested the owner for tax fraud. Wow. The company folded and Grumpy went to work doing several things that brought enough money in to survive for awhile, but was having a rough time finding something that was a promising career builder. We put the house up for sale in a market much like this one. It wasn't selling. We found out we did not have any medical insurance, his former boss had been less than honest about many things. We just weren't having a great year.

We prayed about our situation a lot and not too many weeks later, Grumpy got a call from a job he had applied for months earlier. He had been calling this company every month for almost a year to be on top of the follow up, and finally his tenacity paid off. This was a good company that his Uncle Harold had worked for for many years. Southern Pacific Pipelines. We knew there was some upward mobility and lots of opportunity to grow with them, so we were thrilled. However, the company insurance had a waiting period, and of course would not cover any pre-existing conditions, so still no insurance for this baby.

After a lot of prayer and soul searching, I felt good about a decision I was making. We talked about it and decided to have our baby at home. We didn't have money for the hospital expenses. I had experienced pretty normal childbirth with no complications four previous times and so was comforted that the Lord would help us through this. I didn't want to incur more debt in our current house dilemma, and I knew things would be alright. I found an excellent midwife and started reading about home birth. I studied up on herbs and got a lot of help from the midwife on things I could do to prepare for a good experience at home.

Things progressed and the months passed by and soon it was July. I so wanted to have a 4th of July baby, but alas, the baby had other ideas. We were of course disagreeing on names but had finally come up with Ivy Elizabeth if a girl, and Robert Sterling if a boy. Finally, late at night I began some serious labor. I called the midwife, and she came over and brought a birthing chair. We set it up in our bedroom and began the long wait through the night. The labor was not bad until about 3 hours before birth. I remember thinking that “what do you know, that demerol really did help!” Now that I didn't have any, I could appreciate it. Very early on July 12th Grumpy put down the video camera (I'll explain that sometime) long enough to catch his son as he came into this world. He had never experienced anything like that before and was appropriately awed. Robert was here in all his 8 lb. 2 oz. glory. Nana was there to help me through this experience and was a comfort. She was in the room and watched it all. She was there and was watching the other kids so I could be taken to a Dr. that would do my stitches. Back then midwives were not allowed to stitch. That took awhile. Once home and resting in my bed I got a phone call from a long time friend of my parents. She was a realtor and wanted to know if she could bring some people by to see the house. I told her that was fine with me, but not to expect much as I had no idea what needed doing to make it presentable for clients to look at. I explained I had just given birth a few hours before, at home, so they could come if they wanted to, but I would be sleeping. They didn't come. (Whew!)

We sold our house in the next few weeks - another prayer answered. I was very sad about only being able to stay nine months in our first home, but we had a new baby in that same amount of time that was mine forever. We were able to rent a house just one street north of Nana and Papa, but had about a month between being out of ours and into that one. We moved our stuff into the atrium at Nana and Papa's and stayed in the basement until the house was available to move in. I experienced my first of several breast infections in the basement. So very painful. I got one every month for 6 months before I finally gave up and put Robert on a bottle. I had been so determined to start him off with the best, but it was not to be breast milk for him. He did adapt to formula well, and so we moved on. He was a joy to all of us. Summer just loved to help take care of him and was such a good little mother. He still remembers her being very much like a mommy to him in his early years. He was the only child I ever had that would let me sit and rock him. He would cuddle and was content to just be near me. All the other kids were always so busy with everything. Me too most of the time. Robert was a night owl like me and would stay up late. Gentle of spirit and slow to anger. Loyal and inherently kind. Some of the things I like most about him.

I hope you had a happy 25th this year. You are finally old enough to get married. LOL. We love you and pray always that you will succeed in your worthy endeavors and learn quickly the things you are being tried to learn. Most of all, we wish for you the happiness of a life well lived and well loved.

Robert for your momma's daddy, Sterling for your momma's paternal granddaddy. It's a good name.



Here with sweetie and fiancee, Jennifer. Good times, bad times, you'll experience them all. You guys hang in there - Life is Good.