Craig Dale's Birth Day

February 3, 1976. I was at work but had a doctor's appointment in the afternoon. Kristy Noel, age 4 yr and a couple of months, and Erica Jo, a month shy of 3 years, were at Pat's, the babysitter. I was due in about 8 days so I wasn't too anxious yet about the arrival of the baby. Although, I did remember Erica's quick arrival so if I stopped to think about it, I might have breathed a little harder for a bit. On the other hand, I thought, if I would wait long enough I might have this babe at home. If this baby came any quicker than Erica Jo, I might not have time to get to the hospital. Wishful thinking!

So I went to my doctor's appointment and the doctor (Wiedemier or Youngblade, don't remember which) said you are dilated. Go to the hospital now. (He must have had notes on Erica's quick arrival!) I said "can't". I have to go home and see my Girls and get my suitcase. I want you to go now. Sorry, have to see my Girls. After a bit of a discussion, he allowed I could do those things but be at the hospital by 5:00 p.m. So, I stopped back by work and told my co-workers and called Lanny and asked him to meet me at home. Then I went to Pat's and talked to my babies and reminded them of the new brother or sister they would soon be able to see and hold. After hugs and kisses, I went on home to get my suitcase.

It was a pretty mild day for February when Lanny and I made our third trip to St. Lukes. There was no trouble getting to the hospital. Once again, it was late afternoon as we made our way down 14th Street to the middle of town and checked in at the hospital. We were ushered into the labor room where all the preliminairy checks and measurements were gotten out of the way.

In those days, they put the expectant mother on a guerney and wheeled her down a story or to the cold, cold delivery room. Was the theory that germs won't grow in an ice cold room? or was it just for the convenience of the doctors and nurses, gowned to the teeth? No blanket, dressed only in hospital gown and laying on a slightly padded delivery table. Always, with me, the first rite of business was to break the water which almost always brought on the final stage of labor and in this babe's case, it was no different. Labor was hard and quick and after a short hard labor, there he was, beautiful, tow head baby boy, laying on my chest. His daddy was in the waiting room.

The nurses swaddled Baby up and took him across the room. I knew that they would circumcise him while we were still in the delivery room. Done, they again gave the babe to me to embrace but wait! the poor babe was bleeding from both ends! He had blood trickling out his mouth! What's wrong? Oh, the doctor said, I clipped his tongue. "Nothing serious." What a relief but . . . poor babe, this had been a rough day!

Daddy was in the hall and was to get a glimpse of his new son before they wheeled us off to the nursery and recovery room. Unfortunately, as he was admiring the 8 lb 3 oz bouncing boy, the nurse came by and, noticing my palor or other evidence, whipped the sheet off me and called for supplies to stauch some heavy blood flow. Himself, caught unawares, immediately turned more pale than his wife. His eyes rolled in his head and he swayed unsteadily on his feet. Fearing he was going to fall atop the gurney onto me and his new son, I interrupted the nurse tending me to tend my husband! They got him down, with his head low and maybe smelling salts, and soon he was revived and strong again.

Later, in our room, these new parents examined minutely their new son. He did sport one birth mark but it was small and faint and he'd probably outgrow it. Mama, of course, supposed he looked like this family member or that one and his father said "He looks just like Craig Dale".

So babe and Mama recovered nicely for a couple of days while mother and father debated names and wondered if we would ever decide on something other than Baby Boy Hofmeister. Finally, filling out the papers we proudly named our new son, Craig Dale Hofmeister. Craig, because it was a nicely masculine sound and Dale after his Grandpa, Lanny's dad. I hope Craig likes his name because he might have been Eric Vaughan Hofmeister!

Little sisters couldn't visit the hospital in those days and Gramps and Granny came to care for the little girls. Mama couldn't WAIT to get home to them and to introduce them to their new brother, Craig. At home, the girls fell in love with him and wanted to hold him, give him a bottle and kiss and hug him. As winter moved to spring, I would load three babies onto the stroller and walked each day for fresh air and exercise (my Dr. Spock baby care book, always near). We played in the park, went to children's hour at the neighborhood library and met and visited with neighbors. I was now, a stay at home Mom with three beautiful children and I enjoyed every minute of it!