This will be a long post as both me and Karen have a lot to say about Katy. I hope I remember the facts right, but if not, I’ll correct it. Here is my version:
In 1977, number four was added to our growing family. Kathryn Amanda Hoag was born on April 6. I don’t remember too many details of the birth itself. I know I was there in hospital for it. She was born at the Olmsted Community Hospital in Rochester, MN. This was my third time, so I was experienced by this time. I will try to get some more details from Karen.
Karen has some problems nursing Katy. (She mentioned nursing in her version below, so maybe I’m thinking about Kristy – someone can correct me) She just didn’t take to it right away. I remember Karen getting more and more frustrated as Katy wouldn’t nurse. So, the more frustrated she got, the harder the nursing was. Kind of a vicious circle. I might have given her a blessing, I don’t know. I hope so. Finally things calmed down and Katy began to take to it. She was probably hungry and had no choice by this time. But, it had us worried for a while.
Katy was a sweetheart. (still is, actually) But, so shy. As you all know, she got over that. I remember the least little things would upset her. A vivid memory I still have was one morning we were eating breakfast in the kitchen. I was sitting on one side of the table and she was on the other side. She was probably about 2 at this time. Maybe younger, I’m not sure. I looked over at her and made a face at her. She looked at me and burst out crying. I guess I had scared her. So, I had to comfort her and I knew I could always get a rise out of her if I wanted to tease her. We are good friends today and I’m grateful for that, so I guess she has forgiven me.
Karen’s version:
What I remember about Katy’s birth was the Relief Society had a bazaar (one of the last ones done in the church) in March and I wanted to participate so I was hoping Katy wouldn’t come until after that! Also you were still recuperating from your old-fashioned pneumonia. …She was born (if I remember right) on Good Friday, April 6, 1977. (It was near Easter anyway, maybe a week before Easter?) (Editor: She was actually born on a Wednesday, Easter was the following Sunday, April 10) Katy was the only baby who had to be induced because she was overdue.I think Matthew and David were on their way to school when we went to the hospital for her birth. They suggested the name “George” for the baby. No ultrasound was available then so we didn’t know if Katy was a boy or girl. If it was a boy we planned to name him Ryan. If girl, we decided Kathryn for my grandmas Lederman and Rupp and Amanda for my mother.We came home on Sunday from the Olmsted Community Hospital. I remember sitting on the couch holding/nursing Katy and looking out the front window in the living room and also looking out the sliding door in the dining room (where I was sitting I could see out both windows at once) and seeing lush green grass and leafed out trees. It was gorgeous, a truly early spring for Minnesota. And I felt so blessed having her in the springtime. Katy was a cute little girl with dark hair the first few days. After we got home from the hospital she had blond hair. Didn’t notice the change in color until Allen Currit, a neighbor pointed it out. It had been so gradual.
The first six months after Katy’s birth were hard becuz Kimmy was only 17 months old when Kathy was born. So I had 2 babies in diapers. It was a busy time but after awhile they played well together.
I called them chocolate and vanilla: Kimmy in dark hair, Katy with blond. We’d go grocery shopping and people would ask if they were twins (when they got a bit older). Kimmy was tiny and Katy was regular size so they seemed about the same age to onlookers, I guess!
Dad