The following was written by Karen. She remembers more about those days than I do, so I am indebted to her for Kristy’s birth information:
OK, we’re in the “modern” days of the 1980s so ultrasounds can detect what the sex of your baby will be so when Kristy was growing inside me we took advantage of this new technology. It’s a girl!
Since we had two K’s in Kimmy and Katy and I got to decide the girls’ names I chose (or we becuz Dad had some input in her middle name) Kristin. No, I was not watching the TV show “Dallas” at the time. Guess there was a Kristin in that series. (note: she’s the one who ended up shooting J.R.)… I went with Kristin for the third “K” (or 4th with my name!) Think it may have been on the list of names for future babies I wrote down as a college student, along with Kimberly. I have an aunt Christine who people said I looked like, but no, Kristin is not an updated version of my aunt’s name. Elaine, as Kristy’s middle name is from Dad’s grandmother or step grandmother’s name. He can correct that. (Dad: She was my grandfather’s wife, but the only grandmother I ever knew.)
I was appalled after I came home from the hospital when I realized Kimmy and Katy had learned what Barbie Dolls were becuz Veryl Firl had taken care of them one of the days while I was having Kristy. Her kids or grandkids must have had some at Veryl’s house; of course she allowed KK to play with them. I’m sure KK were ecstatic. Our household was never the same!
Kimmy (1975) and Katy (1977) were close to ages 3 1/2 & 5 when Kristy was born. So they along with their little friend Megan and perhaps Abby Anderson were our welcoming committee when we arrived home from the hospital. They were so excited for this new baby, they were beside themselves. Trying to remember if all three girls slept in the same bedroom, Kristy in the crib and Kimmy/Katy in my old double bed. Would’ve been a crowded bedroom. David was very sensitive to Kristy and her needs. Whenever she cried he said, “Mama, the baby’s crying!” He’d stand by her bed and watch her and soothe her.
I remember that the December after she was born on Sept. 20, 1980, all the kids came down with chicken pox, starting with David. I didn’t want the baby to get the chicken pox so I said nobody could touch her, else she might get them. That hurt David the most. He wanted soooo much to touch her, hold her, etc. As I looked back on the chicken pox for the 4 older kids, I realized that Kristy probably did get a light case, one on her head and one on her bottom. Thought the head one was cradle cap and thought the bum one was a rash!
She was a cute little blondy, like Katy became. We loved her and spoiled her and pampered her. She could do no wrong! Both Katy and Kristy were born at Olmsted Community Hospital in Rochester. I asked for “no smoking” rooms so I had the equivalent of a private room both times! I took advantage of the quiet and wrote notes about my babies and my impressions during my hospital stay. Wish I could put my hands on those notes.
I was Relief Society president from 1979-83, four years, four months and yadayada days! So Kristy, as a baby, went with me to meetings, visits to the hospital of members of our ward or out of town patients. She “broke the ice” when I’d visit people. First, we’d talk about the baby and then get on to other things. One gal was there in the mental health section and grew so attached to Kristy that she sent her a Raggedy Ann doll she made and a red and white sweater and hat set she knitted. The woman was probably in the hospital 3-4 months.
Seems like Kristy and I would walk to the Lutheran church down the block in the afternoon about the time Kimmy and Katy would be walking home from school. We’d wait for them and all would get excited to see one another.
Dad got to see Kristy’s birth as he did David, Kimmy and Katy. Matthew is the only baby that neither of us saw the birth happen. It was either the south who weren’t up to date or maybe 1967 was too early to allow parents to be part of the birth. We were too dumb as parents to ask for that maybe. Anyway, I vowed never to not see a birth of my babies again.
Also Matthew only nursed 6 months, again becuz I was a dumb mom! The rest nursed at least a year; Kristy a bit longer. With David I learned to use real foods to feed him instead of baby foods like with Matthew. Got a simple little food mill to grind the people food and feed to him. Or cut things into small pieces. Real food is more nutritious for babies and less costly and no chemicals or so much salt. All good reasons. Maybe some of this came about becuz David was born while Dad was at BYU and I interacted with “smarter” people! I continued the practice with the girls when it was time for them to eat as well. They had baby oatmeal but if I remember right most of their diets were real foods right from the beginning.
So now we had a nice family of five children.
Thanks, Karen – Dad